Latest news with #Sparkman
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two men accused of stealing oilfield equipment in rural Canadian County
CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) — Two men have been arrested after investigators say they stole a trailer loaded with high-value oilfield equipment in rural Canadian County. Just before 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, GPS showed unauthorized movement of two trailers owned by Ovintiv Oil & Gas that had been parked near NW 150th between Alfadale and Radio Road, according to the Canadian County Sheriff's Office. Edmond Police investigating after truck driver found impaled on rebar Canadian County investigators confirmed the theft with Ovintiv, who had trail camera photos that showed a silver Chevy Avalanche towing one of the trailers. The truck and trailer were stopped near NW Expressway and Mustang Road, where investigators reportedly found copper wiring and industrial batteries in the trailer, and burglary tools, a severed hitch lock, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the truck. 47-year-old Jason Lee Sparkman from Muldrow and 43-year-old James Shawn Freeman from Oklahoma City were arrested in connection to the theft and booked into the Canadian County Detention Center on the following charges: Grand larceny Trespassing with intent to commit theft Possession of burglary tools Possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia Malicious injury to property Conspiracy to commit a felony Engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses across counties The Canadian County Sheriff's Office says Sparkman and Freeman both have prior burglary convictions and a history of property and drug offenses. Sparkman's bond was set at $26,000 and Freeman's bond was set at $20,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Most US Christian leaders believe climate change is real: Study
A mammoth 90 percent of American Christian leaders — from Catholics to evangelicals — believe in the reality of human-induced climate change, a new study has found. However, these same leaders are typically silent in their beliefs and fail to share that understanding with their congregants, according to the study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'Because of leadership's silence on the matter, rank-and-file Christians think most of their leaders do not believe,' senior author Gregg Sparkman, an assistant professor at Boston College, said in a statement. As a result, Sparkman explained, those same congregants 'feel hesitant to even discuss climate change with their fellow churchgoers.' Sparkman and author Stylianos Syropoulos, now an assistant professor at Arizona State University, drew their conclusions based on a survey of 1,600 Christian leaders across the country. Of these leaders, they found that nearly 90 percent said they believed in anthropogenic climate change to at least some degree. Some 60 percent of the leaders replied that humans play a major role, while 30 percent said they felt that people have had more minor impacts, according to the survey. Breaking the data down further, the researchers observed that more than 80 percent of evangelical or fundamentalist Christian leaders believe that humans have contributed to climate change. Nonetheless, the authors also found that about half of the respondents have never discussed this issue with their congregants — and that only a quarter have mentioned it more than once or twice. A second survey included in the study showed that U.S. Christians broadly underestimate the prevalence of their leaders who believe in climate change. Although these participants guessed that about half of their leaders were climate-change deniers, only about 10 percent truly fell into that category, per the study. In a third set of survey results, about half of 1,000 respondents were informed that 90 percent of Christian leaders believe in manmade climate change. That newfound awareness then increased their perception that other church members believe in or are opening to discussing this fraught issue. As such, more respondents answered that taking climate action would be consistent with church values, while voting for politicians who oppose doing so is not, according to the findings. 'We find that informing Christians that the majority of their religious leaders believe in man-made climate change leads them to realize that climate action is in line with their morals, and voting for politicians who deny climate change may be at odds with their faith,' Sparkman said. Noting that every year, droughts, fires, floods and other extreme weather events become more common, he stressed that 9 out of 10 Christian leaders already believe that humans have a role to play in these phenomena. 'If this truth gets out and they break their silence, it will help Christian Americans come to faith on this dire issue,' Sparkman added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
07-04-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Most US Christian leaders believe climate change is real: Study
A mammoth 90 percent of American Christian leaders — from Catholics to Evangelicals — believe in the reality of human-induced climate change, a new study has found. However, these same leaders are typically silent in their beliefs and fail to share that understanding with their congregants, according to the study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'Because of leadership's silence on the matter, rank-and-file Christians think most of their leaders do not believe,' senior author Gregg Sparkman, an assistant professor at Boston College, said in a statement. As a result, Sparkman explained, those same congregants 'feel hesitant to even discuss climate change with their fellow churchgoers.' Sparkman and first author Stylianos Syropoulos, now an assistant professor at Arizona State University, drew their conclusions based on a survey of 1,600 Christian leaders across the country. Of these leaders, they found that nearly 90 percent said they believed in anthropogenic climate change to at least some degree. Some 60 percent of the leaders replied that humans play a major role, while 30 percent said they felt that people have had more minor impacts, according to the survey. Breaking the data down further, the researchers observed that more than 80 percent of Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian leaders believe that humans have contributed to climate change. Nonetheless, the authors also found that about half of the respondents have never discussed this issue with their congregants, and that only a quarter have mentioned it more than once or twice. A second survey included in the study showed that U.S. Christians broadly underestimate the prevalence of their leaders who believe in climate change. Although these participants guessed that about half of their leaders were climate-change deniers, only about 10 percent truly fell into that category, per the study. In a third set of survey results, about half of 1,000 respondents were informed that 90 percent of Christian leaders believe in manmade climate change. That newfound awareness then increased their perception that other church members believe in or are opening to discussing this fraught issue. As such, more respondents answered that taking climate action would be consistent with church values, while voting for politicians who oppose doing so is not, according to the findings. 'We find that informing Christians that the majority of their religious leaders believe in man-made climate change leads them to realize that climate action is in line with their morals, and voting for politicians who deny climate change may be at odds with their faith,' Sparkman said. Noting that every year, droughts, fires, floods and other extreme weather events become more common, he stressed that nine out of ten Christian leaders already believe that humans have a role to play in these phenomena. 'If this truth gets out and they break their silence, it will help Christian Americans come to faith on this dire issue,' Sparkman added.
CBC
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
As U.S. tariffs roil markets, Canadian businesses build on European ties at world trade fair
In a sprawling exhibition centre in Hanover, Germany, thousands of businesses, including 250 from Canada, are taking part in one of the world's largest trade fairs focused on industrial technology and innovation. Rows of booths and flashy displays are meant to spark conversation, but much of the discussion has been about the U.S. tariffs, which have roiled markets, compromised relations and forced some businesses to accelerate their push for new trading partners. "I was scared, I was very nervous, but it has been absolutely overwhelming to see the response and the reception we are getting from European markets," said Brad Sparkman, president of Ontario-based Innovating Finishing Solutions. As both Canada and the European Union (EU) take stock of the tariffs levied by the U.S., their most important trading partner, businesses are trying to assess exactly how they will be impacted — and whether they can mitigate some of the economic hit by strengthening other trade relationships. On Wednesday, the Trump administration introduced a 20 per cent across-the-board tariff on the EU, and on Thursday morning, a 25 per cent import duty on foreign cars went into effect, including on those made in Canada. Cooling relationship with U.S. customers While Canada appears to have been spared in Wednesday's announcement, it is already grappling with a 25 per cent tariff on certain Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy. Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the tariffs a tragedy for global trade. At the Hanover fair, business people say they have been left confused, dumbfounded — and even hurt. Sparkman, whose business is mainly focused on using robotic technology to paint automobiles, fought back tears as he told CBC News about how some of his U.S. contacts aren't as receptive to working together in the current climate. "I feel like we are losing a really good family member," he said. "The fact that we can't continue to do business like we once did, it saddens me." WATCH | How Sparkman is growing his business in Europe: This Canadian businessman was nervous to venture into the European market — but it's working 17 minutes ago Duration 1:16 Sparkman said he started venturing into the European market a few years ago, because he suspected trade with the U.S. could become more burdensome. Now, to try to alleviate the effects of the tariffs, he is considering doing more production in the U.S. and branching out further into Europe. His operation, based out of Orangeville and Peterborough, has partnered with the Japanese automation company FANUC and is doing some work in Germany, where cars and brands like Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz are the biggest export. More trade with world's 3rd-largest economy More than 4,000 companies are involved in the Hanover trade fair, and about a quarter of them are from Germany, the world's third-largest economy. Canada is this year's partner country for the annual expo, with Canadian companies taking part alongside representatives from the provinces, some municipalities and universities. In recent weeks, there was a spike in interest from Canadian businesses looking to take part in the trade fair. Jayson Myers, the CEO of NGen, an Ottawa-based non-profit focused on technological development in advanced manufacturing, said that 80 Canadian companies signed up in the past two months, a time when the tariff issues become more dramatic. " I don't think we will ever replace our economic relationship with the United States, but the problems over the last couple of months really showed the urgency … to find new markets, find new customers," he said in an interview with CBC News in Hanover. The EU is Canada's second-largest trading partner, following the U.S. In 2024, the 27-member bloc exported $84 billion in goods to Canada, while Canada exported $34 billion to the EU. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which provisionally came into effect in 2017, regulates trade between the two partners — but the agreement has not yet been ratified by 10 EU nations due to a number of concerns they hold, including some around food safety and access to public procurement contracts. Germany, which ratified CETA in 2022, saw exports to Canada hit nearly $25 billion in 2023. Canadian exports reached just over a third of that. Chris Wyatt, head of sales and marketing for Kubes Steel, a metal fabricator based in Stoney Creek, Ont., frequently exports products to the U.S., and he said he believes the States will likely remain a key customer despite the tariffs. He decided to set up a booth at the Hanover fair because he was hoping there could be European demand for his company's products. Wyatt concedes there isn't much of an opportunity now but said there could be in the future as Europe moves to ramp up its defence spending. How protectionism could backfire Hartmut Rauen, the deputy executive director of VDMA, a German association of more than 3,000 mechanical engineering companies, believes that Canada and Germany can collaborate more when it comes to green technology, automation and artificial intelligence. While he understands that the U.S. has lost a high proportion of its manufacturing jobs, he said he doesn't understand the Trump administration's strategy of trying to increase investment through protectionism. In the short term, he said, the U.S. will have to keep importing highly specialized German technology, since its factories can't produce that now on their own. But with the tariffs, it will cost more — and Rauen said he thinks there will be a noticeable impact for consumers. "It might end in a disaster for the U.S. economy and also for the world economy," he said. When German outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the trade fair on Sunday, he warned against the "misguided path of protectionism," praised Canada and said Germany stands with the "independent sovereign country." The visit by Germany's leader and some of the reaction from the German business community was encouraging to those in attendance, and industry experts hope it could translate into actual trade. "There's not one panel, not one event I attended this week where there was not a strong sign for standing up with [Canada]," said Yvonne Denz, the CEO at Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecution rests case after DNA evidence presented in Upstate murder trial
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — The trial for a man accused of stabbing a woman to death in Greer continued Friday. Defendant Zachary Hughes walked in the courtroom and smiled at those sitting behind him. Hughes was often seen nodding in agreement with his attorneys. FULL COVERAGE: Zachary Hughes Trial The defense immediately began the cross-examination of investigator Jarrad Sparkman. Hughes's attorneys focused on Sparkman's investigation into the victim's fiancé, Bradley Post. Attorneys asked about a delay in taking Post's cell phone, a 'clone phone' they said had access to victim Christina Parcell's Apple ID. TRIAL DAY 1: Following postponement, jury selected for highly anticipated Upstate murder trial 'The clone phone you talked about, the way that that was cloned was just through sharing Apple IDs right?' asked defense attorney Andrew Moorman. 'Yes sir,' replied Sparkman. 'Bradley Post wouldn't give you that Apple ID, would he?' Moorman asked. 'He didn't initially,' Sparkman answered. TRIAL DAY 2: Victim's fiancé testifies; neighboring surveillance footage headlines Upstate murder trial After Sparkman, the state called the Greenville County Medical Examiner to the stand. Dr. Claire Rose testified that Parcell was stabbed 35 times, six stab wounds of which were to the right side of her neck. 'The appearance of all the sharp force injuries are consistent with a knife being used,' Dr. Rose explained. TRIAL DAY 3: 'Apparent drag marks:' Graphic images of Canebrake murder presented in trial, victim's sister testifies A DNA analyst said his findings show Hughes's DNA under the nails of Parcell's left hand. The prosecution then rested its case. 'A match between the minor DNA of item 2A and the match between Zachary Hughes are approximately 825 million times more likely than a coincidental match to a random unrelated individual,' said DNA analyst, Timothy Nafziger 'The state rests your honor,' Solicitor Walt Wilkins said. 'The state rests,' added Judge Patrick Fant. TRIAL DAY 4: Phone records: Suspect, father of victim's child spoke day of Upstate murder The defense motioned for a mistrial, which was denied. Afterwards, the defense then motioned for a directed verdict, meaning the defense does not believe there was enough evidence against Hughes to proceed – which was also denied. The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday at 10 a.m. The judge said Hughes will have the weekend to decide if he will testify. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
