Latest news with #StateStatute
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Security Cam Shows Cat's Heartbreaking Reaction After Being Left at Shelter
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Footage of a heartbreaking animal abandonment has been shared online after a person left a cat uncaged on a front porch before quickly walking away. The incident occurred on Monday, May 19, 2025 at approximately 12:15 p.m., according to Josh Reyes, director of operations at Plainfield Area Humane Society (PAHS), New Jersey. Just five minutes later, the cat was spotted by the Shelter Manager, who happened to be checking for donations at the front entrance. "She was beginning to move toward the busy street when we found her," Reyes told Newsweek. "Thankfully, we were able to safely secure her in time." In the footage, a person in a hood walked toward the porch of the rescue, letting the cat out of a cage and leaving her there, with a busy road nearby. As they walk away, the feline looks back but thankfully did not move before being discovered by the rescue. Pictures from the security footage of the moment the cat was abandoned on the front porch. Pictures from the security footage of the moment the cat was abandoned on the front porch. Plainfield Area Humane Society PAHS Initial evaluations by the shelter's staff revealed that the cat is young, friendly, and appears to be in good health. Notably, she has expressed mammary glands, which suggests she may be pregnant or recently gave birth. Per New Jersey state law, the cat will be held at PAHS for seven days, after which she will become available for adoption. "We are committed to finding her a loving and permanent home," Reyes said. "She deserves a life where she never has to experience abandonment again." Animal shelters continue to navigate large intake numbers in 2025. Recent data from Shelter Animals Count shows that 1,944 animals were surrendered as of April 25, 2025, an increase of around 11 percent compared to the same time in 2024. "Shocked cat didn't run thank gosh," said Rachel, while Laura added: "So sad, broke my heart when the cat was watching her walk away." While there is currently no information about the person who abandoned the cat, Reyes and his team are hoping that the public can help identify them. Abandoning an animal is a criminal offense in New Jersey under State Statute. PAHS shared the surveillance footage on its Facebook page, hoping to crowdsource leads and raise awareness. In response, members of the community have shared their outrage and concern for the pet. "Our goal is to understand what led to this situation," Reyes said. "A simple phone call to our organization could have changed everything for this cat. Shelters like ours are overwhelmed, but we will always do our best to help—no animal should be left behind like this." PAHS urges anyone with information about the individual in the video to come forward by contacting the shelter directly.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sub teacher arrested after guns found in his car blocked from teaching at DCPS schools in future
A now-former substitute teacher was arrested Tuesday after he was found to have several weapons in his vehicle on a Duval County Public Schools campus. Abdiel Alexander Badillo-Martinez, 29, is facing charges of possession of a short-barreled gun, rifle, or machine gun; and carry concealed weapon or firearm in any elementary/secondary school facility, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrest report. Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, a Southside Estates Elementary School employee told the school safety officer that Badillo-Martinez told her 'that he was homeless and had to keep his firearm in his vehicle because he had nowhere to keep it,' the arrest report said. The employee said she learned this information Monday when she assisted him with getting a locksmith to open his car when it was on campus, the report said. She saw a gun on his floorboard and told him he couldn't have a gun on his campus. RELATED: Substitute teacher arrested after guns, ammo, knife found in his car on campus, Duval Schools says The school security officer and a sergeant went to speak with Badillo-Martinez and Principal Teresa Dowdell-Brown said in a message to parents that students were 'cleared' from the building while police were investigating and 'limited the movement of students throughout the entire school.' When Badillo-Martinez's car was searched by police, they found 'that the substitute had multiple weapons, an extensive amount of ammunition, and a knife stored in his car,' Brown's message said. Criminal records obtained by Action News Jax show Badillo-Martinez was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana back in October 2023, and a misdemeanor traffic offense for driving without a license in December 2023. But according to DCPS, a person is ineligible for employment if they have been convicted of two misdemeanors in the last 5 years. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We sent DCPS questions asking how long Badillo-Martinez had been employed with the county, and how he was able to bypass the county's background screening. Here is what DCPS said: 'Substitute teachers are not directly hired by the school district. Rather, we contract with a substitute teacher provider, ESS, who conducts hiring for temporary instructional personnel. Here is a link where you can learn more information: 'That said, substitute teachers – just like school district employees – must undergo a stringent Level II employment and criminal background check which includes submitting to fingerprinting that is processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. This is in accordance with state statute and our hiring guidelines. Below is an excerpt from Board Policy 6.08 which outlines the district's policy for employees and contractual personnel, like substitute teachers. 'For additional reference, here is a link to State Statute that outlines the Level II offenses disqualifying individuals from employment in any position that requires direct contact with students in a district school system, a charter school, or a private school." Brown said in her message that 'the substitute will be blocked from working in our school or in any Duval County Public School in the future.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Here is the full message from Brown that was sent to Southside Estates families: 'Hello Southside Estates families, this is Principal Brown calling to make you aware of a concerning situation that played out on campus earlier today. 'It began late yesterday afternoon when one of our staff members became aware that a substitute teacher had a weapon stored in his car. This morning, the staff member reported that information to school police. The police investigated and discovered that the substitute had multiple weapons, an extensive amount of ammunition, and a knife stored in his car. 'While the police were investigating, we cleared the students from building 11, which is where the substitute was teaching and limited the movement of students throughout the entire school. Once the investigation was completed and building 11 was determined to be safe, the students returned to their classrooms. 'The substitute, whose name is Abdiel Badillo-Martinez, was subsequently arrested and faces multiple charges. While it does not appear that he was armed while in the classroom or in the school building, it is illegal to have firearms anywhere on school property. As a result of this incident, the substitute will be blocked from working in our school or in any Duval County Public School in the future. 'In addition, while I am grateful that the staff member made the report this morning, information of that nature should have been reported immediately. I assure you that I am addressing this aspect of the situation as a human resources matter, as well. 'The safety of your children is our first goal, and we all share in the partnership to keep our campus secure. In that regard, I appreciate your partnership in keeping our students and staff safe and for your support of our school. Thanks again. Good-bye.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's veto ups ante over trash with city council
Upping the ante in a zoning dispute involving the city council and St. Paul's designated new citywide trash hauler, Mayor Melvin Carter has vetoed the memorialization, or recording, of the March 19 council vote that blocked FCC Environmental from pursuing a trash truck maintenance, dispatch and refueling facility at 560 Randolph Ave. The City Council voted 5-0 last month to support a zoning appeal filed by the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation, driven by neighborhood residents opposed to a new trash truck facility planned on Randolph Avenue, about two blocks off West Seventh Street. The zoning change effectively blocked FCC Environmental from situating 30 trash trucks at the former tow lot, though the company was able to do so anyway as a result of the mayor's declaration of a local 'state of emergency,' which the council this month agreed to extend by 90 days. The result, for now, is that FCC Environmental has been able to pick up residential garbage from trash carts citywide, as long planned, though it leaves open the question what happens in 90 days. The company, based in Texas and Spain, is in the midst of seeking the city's site plan review for its proposed compressed natural gas station, to complement truck washing and maintenance at 560 Randolph Ave. Citywide collection began April 1. The mayor's decision to veto the council's memorialization of its March 19 vote is intended to keep the appeal of a Planning Commission decision off the books, thereby rendering it invalid. It's unclear if the council has enough votes to override his veto. 'Our successful launch of the citywide partnership with FCC Environmental Services has now completed its second week of operations, delivering essential services to St. Paul households as planned under our seven-year contract agreement,' said Carter, in a four-page letter to the council dated Monday. The council's decision to adopt 'the memorialization required by City Charter and State Statute … undermines our legal standing, contractual obligations, and long-term service stability,' Carter wrote. 'By reversing a valid zoning clarification without a proper legal basis, the Council risks disrupting trash hauling operations across St. Paul, exposing taxpayers to litigation, and sending a deeply troubling signal to future investors and developers.' The zoning dispute hinged on whether 560 Randolph Ave., which is zoned for 'light industrial' uses, can legally sustain dozens of trash trucks serving the entire city and a compressed natural gas facility. The zoning code is silent on those particular uses, but city officials likened them to a Public Works yard, which is indeed allowed under 'light industrial' zoning. The Planning Commission voted to support the interpretation that the proposed trash truck facility was 'substantially similar in character' to a Public Works yard, but the city council voted 5-0 to support the appeal filed by the West Seventh/Fort Federation, even with FCC Environmental scheduled to begin citywide collection less than two weeks later. At the time of the council's March 19 vote, Council President Rebecca Noecker noted that the Planning Commission failed to review comparisons of how much traffic is generated by a garbage truck facility compared to a Public Works yard, whose trucks are generally lighter than garbage trucks. 'The impact on pedestrians, on traffic … is simply different,' she said at the time. Noecker, who represents the neighborhood, also emphasized that the Randolph-West Seventh Street intersection is a designated 'neighborhood node' under the city's Comprehensive Plan, which highlights certain intersections as priorities for planning, transit, pedestrian safety and neighborhood amenities. She noted that city staff failed to include 19 of 27 letters to the Planning Commission in commissioner packets before their public hearing, including key documents provided by the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation around site planning. At Noecker's urging, the council voted 5-0 to support the appeal. Council Member Cheniqua Johnson was absent and the Ward 4 seat formerly held by Mitra Jalali was vacant at the time. Neighborhood residents, taken off guard by FCC acquiring the Randolph Avenue tow lots, have brought up safety concerns around the proposed trash truck facility, noting large trucks would drive in and out for cleaning, maintenance and refueling on a near-constant basis. They've said the industrial use undermines longstanding efforts to create a better pedestrian path to the Mississippi River and add residential uses to and near the site, which sits in an industrial area near the former Schmidt Brewery. Meanwhile, FCC Environmental has made no secret of its hopes to cement contracts with more cities in the Twin Cities, raising concerns with opponents that far more than 30 trucks may someday be situated at 560 Randolph Ave. Carter, in his letter to the council this week, noted that Noecker and the council voted to support changing the site's zoning to 'light industrial' as recently as 2022. The mayor spelled out a legal basis to support FCC Environmental, which bought the site last summer. 'Minnesota courts have repeatedly instructed municipalities to interpret zoning ordinances in favor of property owners where ambiguity exists,' the mayor wrote. 'Because FCC's proposed facility is reasonably similar in function to permitted public works operations — such as the city's own facility at 899 Dale Street — it meets the legal threshold for approval. Even when alternative interpretations exist, a reasonable claim by the property owner must prevail.' The mayor also noted that the city's 2040 Plan 'explicitly permits industrial uses within areas designated neighborhood nodes, particularly where those uses predate redevelopment. In fact, other industrial facilities—including City-owned ones—are already operating in neighborhood nodes all over St. Paul.' Under FCC Environmental's seven-year contract with St. Paul, the company will employ about 60 workers and service 90% of the city's street and alley routes as of April 1, with St. Paul Public Works crews serving the rest. Hearing more planes overhead? There's a runway project at MSP airport St. Paul Midway Cub adds more than 100 shopping carts after dry spell Letters: We need St. Paul councilors with business sense Jurors convict man in fatal shootout that followed St. Paul funeral reception St. Paul man convicted of fentanyl conspiracy
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Johns County commissioners clash over voting rights during meeting
There was a debate at the dais during this week's Board of County Commissioners meeting in St. Johns County. Rather, a debate over who the commissioner chair says should have been there. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Commissioner Chair Krista Joseph and Commissioner Sarah Arnold got into a clash over the rights of a county commissioner to vote on items during a meeting after Joseph tried denying Arnold's ability to vote since she did not attend in person. Joseph pointed out Arnold's absence shortly after the meeting began, before the roll call. After Arnold acknowledged she was virtually in attendance, Joseph asked, 'Do you have an emergency, ma'am?' Arnold responded, 'No, Commissioner Joseph.' Shortly after, Joseph said, 'If you don't have an emergency, you can't vote, but if you would like to partake in the meeting, that would be fine.' Arnold then turned to interim county attorney Rich Komando. 'Does Commissioner Joseph have the legal authority to prevent me from voting?' she asked Komando, 'I believe it was my constitutional right granted to me by the voters.' Komando responded, 'Correct,' then explained he was unaware of any legal grounds for commissioners to prevent Arnold from voting based on her attending the meeting virtually, rather than in person. Joseph later pushed back on this, referencing St. Johns County's rules of voting during meetings. The rules Joseph referenced are 4.501 and 4.502, which read: 'Unless otherwise required by State Statute, ordinance, or indicated by these Rules, all action by the Board shall be by majority vote of those Commissioners present…Every Commissioner who is present when a question is called, unless he/she is excused as provided in Rule 1.401, shall give his/her vote in the affirmative or negative.' Joseph claimed that since Arnold wasn't physically present, she did not have the right to vote. But the interim county attorney said this was not the first time a commissioner has called in virtually, without an emergency. He added that no rules, specifically, exclude those who virtually attend meetings from voting. 'You don't have the legal authority to infringe upon the constitutional rights of each commissioner, just like she couldn't do to you,' Komando told Joseph after she asked if she could introduce a motion denying Arnold's ability to vote. Over the phone, Joseph told Action News Jax she doesn't believe this opinion falls in line with county rules. 'I definitely think there needs to be a secondary interpretation of the word 'present' and what that actually means,' Joseph said, 'I wanted to make sure before roll call that she had the right to vote or didn't have the right to vote, and, based on my board rules, she wouldn't have the right to vote.' Commissioner Arnold didn't answer Action News Jax's calls to her work cell phone and office phone. But someone, on her behalf, did respond to our email to her office, saying she would be able to provide a statement responding to our questions. We are still waiting to receive this response and will update this story when that happens. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
OBN arrests one in human trafficking investigation
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, one person has been arrested in connection to a human trafficking investigation. Officials say OBN's Human Trafficking Unit arrested 23-year-old Mikayla Lee on Thursday, February 27, for trafficking an underage female. LOCAL NEWS: Federal fugitive last seen in Oklahoma City, police say This investigation began in January of 2025. Evidence showed that Lee was facilitating the trafficking of the victim, including posing advertisements on sex websites and arranging meetings for the victim. According to the OBN, Lee was arrested and is facing charges of Human Trafficking of a Minor, Child Sexual Exploitation, Transporting a Person for the Purpose of Prostitution and Using Computer Access to Violate State Statute. Citizens and victims can learn more, get access to resources, or anonymously report suspected human trafficking by visiting OBN's 'YOU ARE NOT ALONE' page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
