Latest news with #Spradlin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Warrant out for man accused of assaulting Austin peach vendor
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Police are working to arrest a man seen on video attacking a fruit vendor in northwest Austin. The attack happened over the weekend at North Loop 360 and Spicewood Springs Road. 'So I was here Friday, and came back Saturday as usual, as I've been doing for the past three years,' said Rosie, the vendor. She asked us not to use her last name or show her face out of fear for her safety. She believes the attack was a hate crime. This past Saturday, however, was far from typical. Rosie said a man set up a canopy near her stand, came up to her while she was with customers, and demanded she move. 'I tried to reason with him and tell him we could share the space,' Rosie said. Then things escalated. Video from Rosie's friend shows the man – who police identified as Lucas Spradlin – push over crates of peaches and then start pushing employees. 'He threw me on the ground and started punching me,' Rosie said. She has to wear a wrist brace now, but it's what the man said that stuck with her more than any physical injury. 'He started insulting me about my race and sexual orientation. I'm a two-spirit Indigenous person,' Rosie said. 'Calling me all types of names. Being very derogatory.' Police have a warrant out for Spradlin on three charges: Assault with Injury, Class A Misdemeanor (2) Criminal Mischief, Class B Misdemeanor It is still too early to determine whether law enforcement will officially pursue prosecution of this as a hate crime. Hate crimes are defined in Texas as an attack 'motivated by prejudice, hatred or advocacy of violence.' 'I'm just trying to do things in a good way. But people like him don't listen, they don't care about those things. they only care about hate. and hate doesn't get you far,' Rosie said. At the writing of this article, Spradlin was not in custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Open Forum held in Kilgore for upcoming candidates
KILGORE, Texas (KETK) – With Kilgore set to enter one of the most significant election cycles in recent memory, an open forum was held on Monday allowing candidates a chance to share their viewpoints on current issues. The forum took place at the Kilgore First Baptist Church and ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. During the event, candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions asked by moderators and vocalize why they would be a good fit for their respected office as Kilgore residents begin to prepare for local elections which will be held this May. Several different positions will be up for election this year, including spots on the Kilgore ISD school board, Kilgore College Board of Trustees and the position of mayor. Ronnie Spradlin is currently serving as the Kilgore Mayor and has held the position since 2010. Spradlin will be running against local business owner Darrin Mallett in the upcoming election. Mallett joined the race with the focus on improving city functions and services. ' Its good to see a community to care about what's happening in their politics and keeps their local officials cognizant that they're watching' Spradlin said. Mallett spoke about how it is time for some with a new perspective to take over office. ' We've had the same mayor that's been here for 15 going on 16 years and I'm looking to bring that new fresh perspective' Mallett said Three seats are currently up for re-election on the Kilgore ISD school board. place 5, which is currently held by Lloyd Vanderwater, place 6, currently held by Rachel Harrington and place 7, currently held by Dana Sneed, are all up for re-election. Johna Tritt and Ubaldo Meraz will be running for place 5 as Vanderwater will not be seeking another term. Harrington will be running for re-election in place 6 and is currently unopposed, and Sneed will be running for re-election in place 7 against Rudy Galvan. Two seats on the Kilgore College Board of Trustees will be up for re-election this May. Jason Steele and Larry A. Woodfin will be running for North Zone, Unit No. 2, Place 8. Verenice Ordorica, Jeanne Johnson and Ruth F. Williams will be running for Central Zone, Unit No. 3, Place 9. East Texans will have a chance to voice their political preference when voting on election day on May 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Worth clergy members speak out against school vouchers, rally public school support
Fort Worth clergy members from various churches gathered together on Wednesday to preach a common message that can't be found in a Bible verse: 'Say no to school vouchers.' Pastors for Texas Children hosted a town hall on Wednesday, April 2, at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church to highlight support for public schools and voice opposition against proposed school voucher programs, also known as education savings accounts. There were about 100 community members in attendance who listened to four local pastors speak out about what they say is a brewing injustice to public school children, especially the most vulnerable. Rev. Mary Spradlin, senior pastor at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church; Rev. Michael Bell, senior pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Church; Rev. Ryon Price, senior pastor of Broadway Baptist Church; and Rev. Tom Plumbley, senior pastor of First Christian Church, spoke during the town hall alongside Rev. Charles Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children. 'The way that you disrupt a democracy is you stop educating the people,' Spradlin said. 'Make no mistake, that is what is behind this.' Spradlin said her congregation advocates unapologetically for public schools. She is part of decision-making committees at Arlington Heights High and North Hi Mount Elementary, where she hears about the obstacles educators are constantly facing to meet state requirements and serve their students. Her advocacy work is rooted in speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves, she said. Spradlin called on attendees to contact their local representatives and members of the House Public Education Committee, which meets Thursday to consider related bills. The discussion and call to action came as Texas lawmakers in both the House and Senate have been considering legislation that would allow state dollars to be used for children's private or home schooled education. Such proposals have been sought in the name of school choice, giving parents the option to enroll their children somewhere besides their local public school. A major focus for Gov. Greg Abbott since 2023, vouchers are now back in the spotlight in the current legislative session. Pastors for Texas Children is self-described as an independent ministry that, in part, advocates for legislation 'that puts the needs of Texas children, families and communities first.' The organization's website advertises a statement urging clergy members to sign, which calls on lawmakers to 'to honor our sacred constitutional obligation to provide quality, fully-funded public education for all Texas children.' The statement describes vouchers as a subsidy that infringes on religious liberty. 'All authentic faith is voluntary. It deserves no tax support from the state of Texas,' the statement reads. 'We urge all Texas legislators to do their sworn duty before God to support 'public free schools,' as the Texas Constitution explicitly states and as Moral Law clearly commands.' Laurie Duke, a former special education teacher of 15 years in the Arlington Independent School District, told the Star-Telegram she attended the town hall because she believes in public education 'wholeheartedly.' 'I know that the kids I work with are going to be the ones that get hurt the most, and I refuse to let that happen under my watch. I support Pastors for Texas Children's message,' said Duke, who is now a part-time organizer with the Texas American Federation of Teachers, a statewide union. Price, of Broadway Baptist Church, spoke about his 14-year-old son who has autism and is thriving because of the intervention and aid provided to him by public educators. He also mentioned the late L. Clifford Davis, Tarrant County's first elected Black judge and a civil rights lawyer who helped desegregate North Texas schools. Davis passed away in February at 100 years old. Price said 'we ought not to be going back' after those like Davis 'fought the good fight.' 'I keep hearing, 'Well, our public schools are dying… And what I want to say is, 'If you take your hand off of their neck, they would live,'' Price said. 'Our legislators are killing our public schools, and then have the audacity to tell God and everybody else that they died. We are saying that they are alive and can be well.' Bell, of Greater St. Stephen First Church, said he is a graduate of Fort Worth Independent School District and a teacher who taught in Fort Worth and Longview ISDs. He called school vouchers 'a promise that comes with fine print no one tells you about' because it doesn't cover the cost of private education, he said. 'Frankly, private schools don't always want to take in students who need the most help,' Bell said. 'They can say no to a student with special needs. They can say no to a student who's behind the grade. They can say no to a child who doesn't speak English at home. And when they do say no, where does that child go? You and I both know the answer, don't we? They go back to the same underfunded public schools now with even fewer resources because the resources that should have remained in our public classrooms serving every child are now siphoned off into a system that only serves a select few.' At the end of the meeting, attendees stood up and joined hands in prayer led by Plumbley, of First Christian Church. 'We now go from this place enriched, prepared to be the people that have been called from beyond ourselves with a motivation beyond our own enrichment,' he said. 'To make the schools of this state better, to enrich the children of our state and to make a stand for democracy…' 'Amen,' the crowd responded.
Axios
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
"The Wild Wild West End Oral History" preserves Atlanta's punk scene
While most of the world was fretting about the Y2K fallout that never happened, a motley crew of musicians, artists and skateboarders turned a sprawling West End warehouse complex into a punk rock hub. Driving the news: Emory University's Rose Library on Thursday night will screen the first part of "The Wild Wild West End Oral History," Ivette Spradlin's time capsule of the DIY culture that emerged at the former Candler Warehouse in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A Q&A will follow. Zoom in: The interview collection is a companion piece to Spradlin's book of portraits and quotes from the people involved in the scene while the culture brewed. Fun fact: The warehouse complex is now called The Met, which was purchased last year by North Carolina-based hospital Atrium Health.
