Latest news with #Stahl
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘60 Minutes' legend Lesley Stahl says she's ‘angry' at CBS boss Shari Redstone over Trump lawsuit
Lesley Stahl, who has spent decades as a correspondent for the seminal Sunday night newsmagazine 60 Minutes, is making it clear that she is 'angry' with her corporate boss for looking to settle Donald Trump's 'frivolous' civil lawsuit against CBS News. The legendary newswoman also said she is 'pessimistic' about the future of 60 Minutes, adding that 'we're in very dark times' and that she's already preemptively mourning the potential destruction of the long-running program amid an upcoming merger and the president's attacks on legacy media. In a wide-ranging conversation with The New Yorker's chief editor David Remnick, Stahl sounded off on CBS parent company Paramount's efforts to make Trump's $20 billion lawsuit over the way 60 Minutes edited an interview with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, which the president contends was done 'deceitfully' to interfere in the 2024 election. Following Trump's return to the White House, Paramount's top shareholder Shari Redstone has pushed for a settlement as the company needs the administration's approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which pro-Trump business mogul Larry Ellison backs. Additionally, Redstone has not only pressured 60 Minutes to ease up on its Trump coverage amid the lawsuit and merger drama, but also criticized the show over the way it's covered the Gaza war. Amid the discussions with Trump's legal team about a settlement, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News chief Wendy McMahon – who had said they would not apologize as part of any deal with the president – abruptly resigned. Paramount's board has reportedly offered Trump a $15 million settlement, which is in line with ABC News' capitulation to the president, but Trump is demanding at least $25 million and an apology. Asked by Remnick what is behind the president's lawsuit, Stahl — who has interviewed Trump four times — said that it is an effort 'to chill us,' noting that 'there aren't any damages' suffered by Trump. 'I mean, he accused us of editing Kamala Harris in a way to help her win the election. But he won the election,' she added. Trump's legal team has since argued in court that the interview caused the president 'mental anguish.' Labeling it as a 'frivolous' lawsuit, Stahl went on to describe Owens as a 'hero' to the newsroom while lobbing criticisms towards Redstone over the 60 Minutes producer feeling the need to step down. '[H]e was being asked to either not run pieces or to change parts of the stories, and he was standing up to that. I don't know, frankly, if there was one request that led to it or just an accumulation, one after the next,' she said. 'That was just painful. Painful,' she continued, speaking about Owens' resignation. 'Everybody at '60 Minutes'—I think everybody, most of us—really appreciated his standing up to the pressure, and saw him in heroic terms. So when he announced that he was stepping down, it was a punch in the stomach. It was one of those punches where you almost can't breathe.' Adding that McMahon had also served as an 'intermediary between us and the corporation, and she sided with CBS News,' Stahl then expressed disappointment over the likelihood that Paramount will settle with the president. 'Are you angry at Shari Redstone?' Remnick wondered, prompting Stahl to reply: 'Yes, I think I am. I think I am.' At the same time, though, the veteran CBS reporter said that while Owens being forced out may have been a bridge too far for much of the staff, she claimed he urged everyone on the show to stay. 'Bill Owens leaving was a line, and here we all are,' she stated. 'He asked us not to resign. He explicitly asked us not to resign. Because it was discussed that we would leave en masse.' Stahl also said it was 'hard' and 'not a small thing' that Redstone had been applying pressure on the news division over its coverage, making her wonder if 'any corporation should own a news operation' going forward. 'It is very disconcerting,' she proclaimed. As for CBS News' new 'corporate overlords' at Skydance if the merger goes through, Stahl said she's 'praying' and 'hoping' that they'd allow the network 'to be independent' and for journalists to do their jobs. Still, she acknowledged that it could be a 'little Pollyannaish' to believe that will be the outcome. 'I'm not optimistic. I am not. I'm pessimistic,' she told Remnick. 'I'm pessimistic about the future for all press today. The public doesn't trust us. The public has lost faith in us as an institution. So we're in very dark times.' Stahl also expressed concern about the fragility of press institutions as a whole, especially with mega-billionaires and large conglomerations pressuring the news organizations they own to soften their coverage of the current administration while they cozy up to the president. 'The pain in my heart is that the public does not appreciate the importance of a free and strong and tough press in our democracy,' she lamented, adding: 'We are a headache. An expensive headache. And that's part of the fragility.' Amid the continued push to reach a settlement with Trump, Democratic lawmakers have warned the Paramount board and Redstone that paying the president to kill the lawsuit could run afoul of anti-bribery laws, considering that the company is hoping to coax the administration to approve a merger. The California State Senate has now opened an inquiry into Paramount over whether it violated state laws on bribery, inviting both Owens and McMahon to testify. Paramount executives, in fact, have even discussed the possibility of being held liable or criminally charged if the business settles the complaint. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has since threatened to sue the company if it reaches a settlement with the president.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'60 Minutes' reporter Lesley Stahl says she's angry with CBS' Shari Redstone over Trump lawsuit
Longtime CBS journalist Lesley Stahl admitted she was "angry" with Paramount Global chairwoman Shari Redstone over how things are being handled over President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the network on Friday. The "60 Minutes" reporter discussed the ongoing lawsuit and its effects on her program on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcast. She reflected on top producer Bill Owens stepping down in what she called a "painful" experience after he claimed that he was being restrained by the network on what stories to produce. After CBS News president Wendy McMahon's abrupt resignation, she called the situation at the network "hard" and partially blamed Redstone for putting pressure on them in what appears to be an appeasement to the Trump administration. "To have a news organization come under corporate pressure—to have a news organization told by a corporation, 'do this, do that with your story, change this, change that, don't run that piece.' I mean, it steps on the First Amendment, it steps on the freedom of the press," Stahl said. "It steps on what we stand for. It makes me question whether any corporation should own a news operation. It is very disconcerting." '60 Minutes' Producers Rail Against Trump's 'Bulls---' Lawsuit, Dread Prospects Of Paramount Making Settlement Still, she declined to use the word "turmoil" to describe the situation, although she revealed there was consideration for journalists to leave "en masse" after Owens' resignation. Stahl added that there's a sense of "fragility" in the press now thanks to things like Trump's "frivolous lawsuit" and a lack of trust in the media. Read On The Fox News App "The pain in my heart is that the public does not appreciate the importance of a free and strong and tough press in our democracy," Stahl said. "Even the Founding Fathers recognized that we need to have a strong fourth estate to hold our elected officials accountable, and to continue to cleanse the system. The public doesn't seem to want what we do to be part of our public life." She predicted Paramount Global, CBS' parent company, will ultimately settle with Trump to complete a merger with Skydance Media. If that were to occur, she hoped that the new owners would "hold the freedom of the press up as a beacon." The interview was recorded before news broke on Friday about Trump rejecting a $15 million settlement for his $20 billion lawsuit. Fox News Digital confirmed that the president's team is demanding at least $25 million and an apology from CBS News. Last October, Trump sued CBS News and Paramount for $10 billion over allegations of election interference involving the "60 Minutes" interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired weeks before the presidential election (the amount has since jumped to $20 billion). The lawsuit alleges CBS News deceitfully edited an exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker, who asked her why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to the Biden administration. Harris was widely mocked for the "word salad" answer that aired in a preview clip of the interview on "Face the Nation." '60 Minutes' Reporter Lesley Stahl Admits Worry About Future Of Legacy Media: 'I'm Very Dark About It' However, when the same question aired during a primetime special on the network, Harris had a different, more concise response. Critics at the time accused CBS News of deceitfully editing Harris' "word salad" answer to shield the Democratic nominee from further backlash leading up to Election Day. Stahl denied there was any effort to make Harris look better and that the network simply aired two different halves of the answer. She claimed the lawsuit is being made only to intimidate them. "What is really behind it, in a nutshell, is [an effort] to chill us. There aren't any damages. I mean, he accused us of editing Kamala Harris in a way to help her win the election. But he won the election," Stahl said. Fox News Digital reached out to CBS and Paramount Global for a article source: '60 Minutes' reporter Lesley Stahl says she's angry with CBS' Shari Redstone over Trump lawsuit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘60 Minutes' Veteran Lesley Stahl Expects To Soon Be 'Mourning, Grieving' Paramount Settlement Of 'Frivolous' Trump Lawsuit
Long-tenured 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl is fully expecting a settlement of Donald Trump's 'frivolous' $20 billion lawsuit, but she dreads what will follow the resolution of the case. 'I'm already beginning to think about mourning, grieving,' Stahl said in a podcast interview with New Yorker editor David Remnick. 'I know there's going to be a settlement,' she added, and 'I know there's going to be some money exchanged' given that Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of CBS parent Paramount Global, needs government approval for the pending merger with Skydance. (Deadline reported Wednesday that Paramount has made an eight-figure settlement offer, which has been rejected by Trump.) More from Deadline Paramount Offers Millions To Trump To End $20B '60 Minutes' Suit & Let Skydance Merger Go Through Trump 101: Why POTUS' Lawsuit Against CBS Over '60 Minutes' Is Seen As Dubious – Analysis Lester Holt Signs Off As 'NBC Nightly News' Anchor: "Facts Matter" After the settlement, Stahl speculated, 'We will hopefully still be around, turning a new page and finding out what that new page is going to look like.' Trump filed suit over a pre-election episode of 60 Minutes even after defeating Kamala Harris and winning re-election last November. He claims that CBS News wronged him by serving different edits of an interview with Harris to different CBS outlets in the course of promoting the segment, something that is standard practice in TV news. Legal experts universally agree there is no merit to the claim, but a number of news outlets have recently had their corporate parents pay settlements or otherwise capitulate to Trump after he applied pressure. Stahl's comments on The New Yorker Radio Hour come as uncertainty about the top-rated CBS newsmagazine continues to mount. Longtime executive producer Bill Owens departed in April, citing pressure from Redstone and other corporate executives concerned about the show's coverage of Trump. CBS News chief Wendy McMahon also exited recently. Stahl described the departure of Owens as 'a punch in the stomach …. one of those punches where you almost can't breathe.' Owens urged staffers not to quit and instead to keep advocating for tough coverage despite Trump's muzzling efforts. His pleas came as employees were openly discussing an 'en masse' exit from the program, according to Stahl. Asked if she would expect 60 Minutes to change 'radically' under Skydance's control, Stahl said she is hoping Skydance CEO David Ellison and his executive team 'hold the freedom of the press up as a beacon, that they understand the importance of allowing us to be independent and do our jobs. I'm expecting that, I'm hoping that, I want that, I'm praying for that.' Remnick inquired if there is 'a lot of optimism … at 60 Minutes that that will be the outcome,' and Stahl replied, 'No. But there's also not a lot of dark thinking, either.' Throughout the interview, Stahl lamented the steady decline of public trust in the media, which has been amplified by Trump's tactics. When she once asked him about his intensely combative stance with reporters, he told her that he operates that way so that when negative reports about him surface, 'nobody will believe you.' The explanation 'sent a chill through me because I thought, 'Wow, he has thought this through,'' she said. 'This isn't something that's a casual, angry' mood because ''the press said something yesterday about me.' It was thought out, it was a strategy.' Stahl described having a 'pain in my heart' about the state of her profession more than five decades after she joined CBS News to cover Watergate. (After joining CBS in 1972, she segued to 60 Minutes in 1991.) The average citizen 'does not appreciate the importance of a free and strong and tough press in our democracy,' she said. They don't grasp 'that we have a function to fulfill,' she added. 'The public doesn't seem to want what we do to be part of our public life.' Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Agencies that protect Lake Michigan prepare for summer season
On a recent chilly morning, the Lake County Sheriff's new Marine 1 boat was bobbing lightly with the water along a dock at the East Chicago Marina. Then, Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit Sgt. Scott Shelhart turned on the boat's shore balance technology and the boat became still — like a buoy. The boat will be fully integrated into the sheriff's marine unit this summer, said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. 'The capabilities of this boat exceed what we've had,' Shelhart said. 'Our goal is lifesaving and protection.' As the Memorial Day weekend holiday kicks off the summer season, the Lake County Sheriff, Porter County Sheriff, U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources are tasked with protecting the roughly 26-mile Lake Michigan shoreline from the Illinois state line through Porter County. This summer, the Lake County Sheriff will have three boats available to assist in water emergencies like a stalled boat or a drowning on Lake Michigan, Martinez said. Last summer, the marine unit began testing its new boat out on the water, but this will be the first summer the new 44-foot boat will be utilized, he said. With three boats, Martinez said the department will be able to conduct boat safety checks, patrol the water and respond to emergencies. 'Having this new boat, along with our older boat and another smaller boat, it allows us to cover more areas of Lake Michigan,' Martinez said. 'It will limit the response time and allow us to have an additional boat out there as well.' The new boat has updated technology that helps with navigating difficult waters, said Lake County Sheriff's Department Special Operations Commander James Stahl. 'This boat really allows us to get to our destination much more quickly,' said Lake County Sheriff's Department Chief of Police Vince Balbo. The U.S. Coast Guard has to patrol all of Lake Michigan, Stahl said, so depending where its boats are stationed the closest Coast Guard boat could be in Michigan or Wisconsin. But, having three Lake County Sheriff's boats for water rescues will improve water safety responses, he said. The U.S. Coast Guard's Northwest Indiana station is in Michigan City, said spokesman Lt. Joe Neff, and its stations in Chicago and St. Joseph, Michigan support Michigan City if needed. The Michigan City station has one 29-foot boat, he said, and it is only staffed during peak hours. The most common calls on Lake Michigan are for boat maintenance and a person in the water, Neff said. When a call comes in about an emergency on Lake Michigan, Stahl said the Lake County dispatch center receives the call, which triggers a response from the department's marine unit. Then, the aviation unit is deployed, he said. The U.S. Coast Guard's command station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, listens to a radio frequency, Channel 16, to list for emergency calls on Lake Michigan, Neff said. The dispatcher can then dispatch its station or request assistance from counties to respond to the emergency, he said. There have been instances where commercial boats have responded to a boat maintenance call after hearing the information on Channel 16, Neff said. In some cases, the U.S. Coast Guard doesn't respond because the county marine units have already responded and handled the situation, Neff said. But, typically, Neff said the Coast Guard does respond to calls. 'Most of the time there is a response action that is being taken, and then we work with the county and the other agencies out there to effect the quickest response for that case,' Neff said. The Lake County Sheriff's Department has been 'very helpful' in assisting Porter County with calls on the shoreline, said Sgt. Benjamin McFalls, the public information officer for the Porter County Sheriff's Department. The Porter County Sheriff's Department has a marine unit that patrols the county's nearly 10 miles of shoreline, McFalls said. The department recently acquired a 2007 27-foot Boston Whaler Challenger patrol boat to help with lakefront responses, McFalls said in an email. The Porter County Sheriff's Department bought the boat from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Lake County helped Porter County prepare to acquire the patrol boat. 'The funds to purchase the boat were provided by generous donations from private businesses,' McFalls said. 'The staffing for the patrols will be done by off-duty (officers) being paid mostly from a grant obtained through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The patrols will focus on the busiest days when boaters are on the water.' Emergency calls are responded by the United States Coast Guard, Indiana DNR, Lake County Marine Unit and fire agencies with boats, McFalls said. The Porter County department and other police and fire agencies respond from the ground. Representatives from the cities of Gary and Portage were unable to comment on their role in protecting the shoreline. The LaPorte Sheriff's Department also helps when needed, and Porter County officials will help across county lines, if needed. 'We will assist with manpower, drones, ATVs, or whatever else is needed,' McFalls said. 'It is imperative for all public safety agencies along the shoreline to work with each other to provide the best possible protection to citizens who may need assistance.' The DNR responds to any bodies of water owned by the state of Indiana, said Conservation Officer Terri Millefoglie. DNR officers work with local marine units and the U.S. Coast Guard to respond to calls on Indiana's portion of Lake Michigan and inland state lakes. Calls from the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton are also directed to the DNR, Millefoglie said. The national park has a separate — but similar — team that responds to its calls. 'They're just on the national level, and we help their agents with anything they would need,' Millefoglie said. 'We all work together.' Because the Indiana lakeshore is 'such a vast area,' Millefoglie said it's important to have communication between the different agencies. 'Since we're so spread out, the more we have, the better we can provide assistance to our citizens,' she added. 'There's not very many of us in all those entities, so when we come together, it's helpful.' The Lake County Sheriff's Department also stations crews on ATVs at Gary and Whiting beaches to offer patrol support, Martinez said. The department also has two jet skis that can be used for some water emergencies, Stahl said. The Lake County Sheriff's Department has an aviation unit and drones that can help locate boats or people in the water during an emergency, he said. The department has eight drone pilots, Balbo said, and they have helped with locating boats and people in the water ahead of the aviation unit arriving. 'I'm very proud of the technology and the equipment that we have for our officers and the training that they have,' Martinez said. 'We have the resources, we have the training and the equipment to ensure the safety of not just the beachgoers of Lake County but also visitors that come here.' To stay safe this summer season, boaters should ensure their boats have safety equipment, like flares and life jackets, and gasoline, Stahl said. Swimmers should pay attention to water conditions before going for a swim, he said. The DNR also gives people basic water safety tips to try and decrease incidents, especially during the summer when they're most common. Basic water safety tips include: discussing the dangers of water with your family; telling someone where you are going and when you will return; going with a buddy; staying away from flooded or fast-moving waterways; wearing a life jacket; keeping a watchful eye on children; and avoiding alcohol. The DNR also recommends boating safely by assessing water levels, reducing speed in unfamiliar areas and designating a sober boat operator. Life jackets worn should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved, according to the DNR. The National Weather Service also has a webpage — — where people can check lake conditions before getting in the water. 'Most incidents we have occur in the summertime, so please do what you can to stay safe,' Millefoglie said. akukulka@ mwilkins@
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Agencies that protect Lake Michigan prepare for summer season
On a recent chilly morning, the Lake County Sheriff's new Marine 1 boat was bobbing lightly with the water along a dock at the East Chicago Marina. Then, Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit Sgt. Scott Shelhart turned on the boat's shore balance technology and the boat became still — like a buoy. The boat will be fully integrated into the sheriff's marine unit this summer, said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. 'The capabilities of this boat exceed what we've had,' Shelhart said. 'Our goal is lifesaving and protection.' As the Memorial Day weekend holiday kicks off the summer season, the Lake County Sheriff, Porter County Sheriff, U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources are tasked with protecting the roughly 26-mile Lake Michigan shoreline from the Illinois state line through Porter County. This summer, the Lake County Sheriff will have three boats available to assist in water emergencies like a stalled boat or a drowning on Lake Michigan, Martinez said. Last summer, the marine unit began testing its new boat out on the water, but this will be the first summer the new 44-foot boat will be utilized, he said. With three boats, Martinez said the department will be able to conduct boat safety checks, patrol the water and respond to emergencies. 'Having this new boat, along with our older boat and another smaller boat, it allows us to cover more areas of Lake Michigan,' Martinez said. 'It will limit the response time and allow us to have an additional boat out there as well.' The new boat has updated technology that helps with navigating difficult waters, said Lake County Sheriff's Department Special Operations Commander James Stahl. 'This boat really allows us to get to our destination much more quickly,' said Lake County Sheriff's Department Chief of Police Vince Balbo. The U.S. Coast Guard has to patrol all of Lake Michigan, Stahl said, so depending where its boats are stationed the closest Coast Guard boat could be in Michigan or Wisconsin. But, having three Lake County Sheriff's boats for water rescues will improve water safety responses, he said. The U.S. Coast Guard's Northwest Indiana station is in Michigan City, said spokesman Lt. Joe Neff, and its stations in Chicago and St. Joseph, Michigan support Michigan City if needed. The Michigan City station has one 29-foot boat, he said, and it is only staffed during peak hours. The most common calls on Lake Michigan are for boat maintenance and a person in the water, Neff said. When a call comes in about an emergency on Lake Michigan, Stahl said the Lake County dispatch center receives the call, which triggers a response from the department's marine unit. Then, the aviation unit is deployed, he said. The U.S. Coast Guard's command station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, listens to a radio frequency, Channel 16, to list for emergency calls on Lake Michigan, Neff said. The dispatcher can then dispatch its station or request assistance from counties to respond to the emergency, he said. There have been instances where commercial boats have responded to a boat maintenance call after hearing the information on Channel 16, Neff said. In some cases, the U.S. Coast Guard doesn't respond because the county marine units have already responded and handled the situation, Neff said. But, typically, Neff said the Coast Guard does respond to calls. 'Most of the time there is a response action that is being taken, and then we work with the county and the other agencies out there to effect the quickest response for that case,' Neff said. The Lake County Sheriff's Department has been 'very helpful' in assisting Porter County with calls on the shoreline, said Sgt. Benjamin McFalls, the public information officer for the Porter County Sheriff's Department. The Porter County Sheriff's Department has a marine unit that patrols the county's nearly 10 miles of shoreline, McFalls said. The department recently acquired a 2007 27-foot Boston Whaler Challenger patrol boat to help with lakefront responses, McFalls said in an email. The Porter County Sheriff's Department bought the boat from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Lake County helped Porter County prepare to acquire the patrol boat. 'The funds to purchase the boat were provided by generous donations from private businesses,' McFalls said. 'The staffing for the patrols will be done by off-duty (officers) being paid mostly from a grant obtained through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The patrols will focus on the busiest days when boaters are on the water.' Emergency calls are responded by the United States Coast Guard, Indiana DNR, Lake County Marine Unit and fire agencies with boats, McFalls said. The Porter County department and other police and fire agencies respond from the ground. Representatives from the cities of Gary and Portage were unable to comment on their role in protecting the shoreline. The LaPorte Sheriff's Department also helps when needed, and Porter County officials will help across county lines, if needed. 'We will assist with manpower, drones, ATVs, or whatever else is needed,' McFalls said. 'It is imperative for all public safety agencies along the shoreline to work with each other to provide the best possible protection to citizens who may need assistance.' The DNR responds to any bodies of water owned by the state of Indiana, said Conservation Officer Terri Millefoglie. DNR officers work with local marine units and the U.S. Coast Guard to respond to calls on Indiana's portion of Lake Michigan and inland state lakes. Calls from the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton are also directed to the DNR, Millefoglie said. The national park has a separate — but similar — team that responds to its calls. 'They're just on the national level, and we help their agents with anything they would need,' Millefoglie said. 'We all work together.' Because the Indiana lakeshore is 'such a vast area,' Millefoglie said it's important to have communication between the different agencies. 'Since we're so spread out, the more we have, the better we can provide assistance to our citizens,' she added. 'There's not very many of us in all those entities, so when we come together, it's helpful.' The Lake County Sheriff's Department also stations crews on ATVs at Gary and Whiting beaches to offer patrol support, Martinez said. The department also has two jet skis that can be used for some water emergencies, Stahl said. The Lake County Sheriff's Department has an aviation unit and drones that can help locate boats or people in the water during an emergency, he said. The department has eight drone pilots, Balbo said, and they have helped with locating boats and people in the water ahead of the aviation unit arriving. 'I'm very proud of the technology and the equipment that we have for our officers and the training that they have,' Martinez said. 'We have the resources, we have the training and the equipment to ensure the safety of not just the beachgoers of Lake County but also visitors that come here.' To stay safe this summer season, boaters should ensure their boats have safety equipment, like flares and life jackets, and gasoline, Stahl said. Swimmers should pay attention to water conditions before going for a swim, he said. The DNR also gives people basic water safety tips to try and decrease incidents, especially during the summer when they're most common. Basic water safety tips include: discussing the dangers of water with your family; telling someone where you are going and when you will return; going with a buddy; staying away from flooded or fast-moving waterways; wearing a life jacket; keeping a watchful eye on children; and avoiding alcohol. The DNR also recommends boating safely by assessing water levels, reducing speed in unfamiliar areas and designating a sober boat operator. Life jackets worn should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved, according to the DNR. The National Weather Service also has a webpage — — where people can check lake conditions before getting in the water. 'Most incidents we have occur in the summertime, so please do what you can to stay safe,' Millefoglie said.
