Latest news with #Sample
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nature reserve bridleway connects two villages
Two villages have been connected by foot for the first time via a bridleway through a nature reserve. The 2km (1.24-mile) route between Firsdown and Pitton, east of Salisbury, will be enjoyed by walkers, horse riders and cyclists, said Wiltshire Council. It runs through Roundbarrow Nature Reserve, land that is being transformed from an intensive dairy farm to chalk grassland by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Councillor Paul Sample said: "This bridleway will give residents and visitors a front row view to see landscape restoration in action – and will encourage people to get out and about to enjoy nature and all its benefits." More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire The reserve is being created on 120 hectares of former farmland being leased to the RSPB by the council. It is hoped the reserve will attract ground-nesting birds such as the rare stone curlew and lapwing. The idea for the bridleway came after the council sought local opinions on ways to enhance the area. Mr Sample said: "We look forward to welcoming people to this very picturesque part of the county and for them to enjoy the resurgence of wildlife in the adjacent fields." Patrick Cashman, RSPB site manager for Wiltshire's nature reserves, said the charity was "delighted" to be working with the council to "achieve something meaningful at scale for wildlife". He added: "This is a rare opportunity to create a new downland nature reserve from scratch. "Users of the new permissive bridleway will be able to witness the changing view over the coming years from species-poor grasslands and crops towards a more colourful vista as a haven for the characteristic birds, bees, butterflies, and blooms of the Wiltshire chalk." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Ex-dairy farm to be turned into RSPB reserve Group given £50k to turn land into nature reserve Bid to transform former farm into nature reserve Wiltshire Council RSPB
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Portland archbishop ‘stunned' at unprecedented selection of new pope from U.S.
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Catholic leaders in Portland are reacting to the selection of the new pope after the Vatican selected as the church's new world spiritual leader. Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, is . That was one of the reasons the announcement came as a 'shocker,' according to , Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Portland chef couple tapped for national food series 'When the announcement was made, I can honestly say I was stunned,' Archbishop Sample said. 'You know, being from the United States originally, I just, I didn't think maybe the rest of the cardinals of the world was ready for an American pope. But here we are.' The results came as a surprise to the archbishop. However, it always lingered as a possibility since Cardinal Prevost had a high position in the Vatican as head of the Dicastery, the person in charge of overseeing the appointment of bishops throughout the world, Sample said. 'It was a shocker, it was a shocker. And I don't mean that in a bad way but I just, it was like, 'Wow, I did not expect that,'' he explained. In terms of what he hopes for the new pope, Archbishop Sample said he feels 'encouraged' about the fact that Pope Leo XIV is from the United States and will likely understand the church in America and 'the challenges that we face here.' Shooting near Portland preschool involved security guard 'It's always exciting because, you know, there's a change. And we're all excited now to see what direction, you know, he will move us in, what kind of leadership he will provide, what sorts of matters in the life of the church, and in the world, are going to be a focus for him,' Sample said. The St. Mary's Cathedral in Portland is holding a mass of celebration for the selection of a new pope on Sunday at 11 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is the Trump administration's conflict with judges a constitutional crisis? What to know
As President Donald Trump's administration enters a legal tug-of-war with the nation's judges over controversial policies, and actions escalates, constitutional law experts are sounding the alarm that the country could be inching closer to a constitutional crisis. What would a constitutional crisis involve, and when and how would it get triggered? Over the weekend, the administration defied a federal judge's directive issued from the bench to turn around two flights carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, after which the president and his top officials said that they would push ahead with the deportations despite what the court said -- while also pursuing an appeal. MORE: Trump administration ignores judge's order to turn deportation planes around: Sources Administration lawyers took a similar position when judges ordered funding cuts from agencies such as USAID to be restored or for spending to be unfrozen, according to court documents. Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU Law School Richard Pildes, who has been involved in many federal court cases, told ABC News that such defiance of the courts undermines the judicial branch and could have serious consequences. "I would say, we are dangerously close to a constitutional crisis. Maybe we're dancing kind of on the edge of a constitutional crisis," he told ABC News. James Sample, a constitutional law expert at Hofstra University who has been involved in federal cases, agreed that the country is on the "precipice" of such a crisis, noting that the courts are limited in being able to enforce their rulings. However, he noted, courts are designed to be deliberative with cases. "The courts are essentially saying, we need to slow down," Sample told ABC News. "The executive [branch] may ultimately get what it wants. … But if the executive gets what it wants without a process, then not only the individuals lose, but all of us lose justice." Sample said constitutional scholars have differed on what exactly defines a constitutional crisis. "The one thing we can say for certain is that it's not an on-off switch," Sample said of constitutional crisis. "It's not a binary. It's a position on a spectrum." MORE: Timeline: Trump's race against courts to deport alleged gang members under Alien Enemies Act Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer echoed that sentiment in an interview with CNN this week. "No one really knows. People have different views on that," he said. Sample said the Trump administration's actions are sliding closer to the concerning part of the spectrum -- a development, he said, that could never have been foreseen by the nation's founders. "What we are experiencing is not a blitzkrieg against [political] adversaries, but rather a blitzkrieg on the part of the executive against the rule of law itself. That is a defining characteristic of a crisis for the rule of law," Sample said. Aside from the Confederate succession leading to the Civil War, the experts ABC News spoke with said that past examples of constitutional crises ended up blowing over, such as when President Franklin D. Roosevelt threatened to go forward with a military tribunal against a Nazi sympathizer from Long Island during World War II. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately gave the president the power to go forward, according to Pildes. In some cases, the executive branch has stepped in to enforce court orders, such as when then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the National Guard to the South to adhere to the Brown v. Board of Education decision and integrate schools. "All of those [past examples] are sort of an individual, discrete issue, not a kind of more pervasive or systemic disregard of the courts and rulings of law by the executive branch," Pildes said. The Trump administration's actions, in contrast, the experts said, are unprecedented because of the speed both at which the administration is enacting Trump's policies and opponents are challenging the administration's moves in court. "The executive has some capacity to change facts on the ground before the courts can act and it can be hard to undo some of those actions, even if the courts end up concluding that they were unlawful," Pildes said. Sample compared it to a computer being so overloaded it can't process the information. "The volume of what is happening, and the speed at which it is being undertaken, is crashing the constitutional hard drive," he said. MORE: Trump administration escalates legal battle over alleged gang member deportations The situation has been played out over the last couple of weeks as Trump has claimed that he would abide by court orders that issued temporary restraining orders over his policies, such as deportations, mass firings of federal workers and discharging transgender service members; however, court documents have indicated that those orders were not followed in many cases. Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have also gone after Judge James Boasberg on social media after he issued from the bench a temporary restraining order against the administration in a case challenging the president's executive orders to deport Venezuelan migrants. "We have not historically seen the idea of attacking judges [or] attacking courts for rulings with which we disagree and attacking the system itself," Sample said. "That's a problem." Despite unprecedented pushback on the courts, the experts said that the judiciary does have tools to prevent a crisis. Pildes noted that while courts face a challenge when it comes to enforcing their rulings against the executive branch directly, they can still take some actions to get an administration to comply. Judges have threatened to use contempt findings and fines, and Pildes said those warnings can be serious. "If there are lawyers involved in advising to defy a court order, or participating in defiance of a court order, there can be sanctions against those lawyers. Their bar licenses could be at stake," he said. "Then, if there are misrepresentations that lawyers make in court, that can also be sanctioned against the lawyers," Pildes added. "Sometimes that very sanction is enough to get them to comply. But if it's not, the courts can start imposing fines." "As the executive defiance kind of goes on, more and more officials would have to be involved in going down this path with the executive of not complying," he said. Sample, however, noted that if a court chose contempt, it could further test the waters of the Constitution as the U.S. Marshals Service, which is under the jurisdiction of the executive branch, would be involved with enforcing an order. "It's not far-fetched to believe that the Trump administration would, in the face of a contempt order, just simply tell the U.S. Marshals Service not to enforce it," he said. "This goes back to that same principle that the glue that holds the constitutional structure together is not just law, it's norms." There already has been some pushback from the top levels of the judiciary against Trump's rhetoric. Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked the calls for impeachment of judges with a rare statement this week. "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," he said. MORE: Trump continues to call for judge's impeachment after chief justice's rebuke Trump dismissed Roberts' statement in an interview with Fox News, claiming Roberts did not directly mention him by name. Trump and his allies have continued to verbally attack federal judges who have issued TROs on implementation of his policies and executive orders. Sample and Pildes said that given their actions so far during the last couple of weeks, it is unlikely that the Republican-controlled Congress will step up to curb Trump's rhetoric and action and force him to comply with the public opinion will play a big part in preventing the country from entering a crisis, they argued. "The tool, the arrow in the quiver of the courts is the legitimacy and the public's faith in the legitimacy of the process playing itself out of those rulings. One of the things that is a hallmark of a civilized society is that if the citizens believe that a process was fair," Sample said. Pildes noted that as the Watergate scandal unfolded and then-President Richard Nixon was forced by the U.S. Supreme Court to release audio tapes that implicated him on impeachable offenses, public opinion had already turned on him and his allies in Congress to the point that he resigned. MORE: Trump funding freeze a blatant violation of Constitution, federal law: Legal experts Pildes added that public opinion can be expressed through economics, which federal leaders watch attentively. Business and stock markets are typically weakened if governments and the rule of law are disrupted and that could force the executive to rethink their resistance to the courts, he said. "If we get to [a constitutional crisis], you can imagine easily a lot of turmoil that would actually show up in the market show up in the economy. People will stop wanting to invest here," he said. Sample said the country's current polarization will make it harder for a public consensus, but he believed that generally, Americans would be speaking out against anything that leads to a crisis. "Even if you are hardcore MAGA, and you think Donald Trump is a benevolent authoritarian, there may come a time where the next leader, with authoritarian leanings is, from your perspective, not so benevolent," he said. "So, if Americans want to push back against authoritarianism, they need to stand up and be willing to say I oppose authoritarianism, even if it might be producing the short-term results that I desire." Is the Trump administration's conflict with judges a constitutional crisis? What to know originally appeared on
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Ricko Dupri Sample Launches New Initiative to Protect Independent Artists' Rights Through Creative and Legal Advocacy
Multidisciplinary artist and legal advocate Ricko Dupri Sample announces a new initiative focused on protecting independent artists' rights. By combining expertise in storytelling, music, and intellectual property law, Sample aims to bridge the gap between creativity and legal protection in the entertainment industry. United States, March 12, 2025 -- A New Initiative to Safeguard Independent Creators Ricko Dupri Sample, an accomplished writer, filmmaker, musician, and legal advocate, is launching a new initiative dedicated to empowering independent artists through legal education and advocacy. Drawing from his experiences in literature, film, and music, Sample aims to provide creative professionals with the knowledge and tools to protect their intellectual property and navigate the entertainment industry's legal complexities. 'Many artists are unaware of their rights when it comes to contracts, royalties, and ownership of their work,' said Sample. 'Through this initiative, I want to ensure that independent creators understand the legal protections available to them and have the resources to safeguard their artistic contributions.' Sample's initiative will include workshops, educational content, and strategic collaborations with legal professionals to address common challenges faced by artists, writers, and filmmakers. From Storytelling to Legal Advocacy Sample's journey into creative advocacy began at a young age. Initially drawn to acting and science, his passion for storytelling emerged in 2018 when he participated in the Bigfoot Script Challenge. Inspired by his mother's stories about Bigfoot, he developed a TV pilot that later became his debut novel, Bigfoot Untold, published through Tellwell Talent. His literary career expanded with The Three Mysterious Tales, inspired by Indonesian folklore and real-life events. At just 14 years old, while in his second year of undergraduate studies, Sample authored the book, demonstrating his early commitment to storytelling. His most personal work, Refuse to Lose, documented his father's battle with stage-4 bladder cancer, COPD, and legal struggles that nearly displaced their family. This experience heightened Sample's awareness of the legal obstacles many individuals face, igniting his passion for advocacy. Bridging Creativity and Law In addition to his literary achievements, Sample pursued higher education in both the arts and legal studies. He earned an Associate's Degree in Visual & Performing Arts from Green River College while finishing high school. In 2019, he moved to California to study at the New York Film Academy (NYFA), where he honed his skills in acting, screenwriting, and filmmaking. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his studies, leading him to explore another creative outlet—music production. During this period, he independently released four instrumental albums: First, Summer, Enjoy, and Sunset. These projects solidified his ability to tell stories through sound and composition. Despite facing challenges in music distribution and artist rights, Sample remained undeterred. His struggles with contracts and ownership disputes deepened his interest in intellectual property law. Determined to understand the legal intricacies of the entertainment industry, he pursued a degree in legal studies at American Public University System (APUS). He returned to NYFA in 2024 to complete his film studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude in August 2024. 'Artists pour their heart and soul into their work, yet many struggle to retain ownership of their creations,' Sample explained. 'This initiative is about giving independent creators the knowledge they need to secure their rights and thrive in the industry.' A Vision for Independent Creators Sample's initiative will focus on providing educational resources on copyright, contract negotiation, and intellectual property rights. Through partnerships with entertainment lawyers and industry professionals, he aims to offer guidance tailored to the unique challenges faced by independent artists. His goal is to create a supportive network where writers, musicians, and filmmakers can learn about their rights and gain legal protection for their creative works. By combining artistic expertise with legal knowledge, Sample continues to push boundaries, ensuring that creators receive the recognition and security they deserve. For more information on Ricko Dupri Sample's work and upcoming initiatives, visit his official platforms: Ricko Records is an independent multimedia company founded by Ricko Dupri Sample, specializing in music production, literature, and film. With a mission to support independent artists, the company focuses on empowering creators through education, advocacy, and innovative storytelling. Media Contact Ricko Records Ricko Dupri Sample To learn more about Ricko Dupri Sample and his work, visit his official platforms, including his Website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Amazon Music. Contact Info: Name: Ricko Dupri Sample Email: Send Email Release ID: 89154969
