Latest news with #Tarver
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Baxley man charged with murder, GBI reports
BAXLEY, Ga. (WSAV) — A Baxley man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to the death of a 41-year-old, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Tuesday. Ty'Relle Tarver is charged with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault in connection to the death of Jeremy Beckworth, a GBI spokesperson reported. The 18-year-old Tarver was taken into custody and booked into the Appling County Jail Tuesday, June 3. On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, around 11:30 p.m., the Baxley Police Department (BPD) responded to a 911 call that reported a man had been shot near the intersection of Highland Drive and Edgarton Road. Officers found Beckworth with a fatal gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead on the scene, a GBI spokesperson said. The BPD then requested the GBI conduct a death investigation which indicated that Tarver shot at Beckworth and his girlfriend several times. Beckworth was taken to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office in Pooler for a complete autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death. This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Baxley Police Department at (912) 367-8305 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Community colleges get 2nd shot to offer 4-year degrees, but not everyone is sold on the idea
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor J.B. Pritzker's proposal to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees was revived under a different bill with one week left in the legislative session. The bill passed the Executive Committee with eight in favor and four against it, despite strong opposition from the House Black Caucus. Bill preventing AI instructors in Illinois community college courses passes Senate The bill would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees in specific areas such as nursing, cybersecurity and early childhood education. Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl (D-Northbrook), who is leading the bill in the House, said it also helps working parents who can't easily access four-year colleges. 'It's about the local health care center that's got two dozen respiratory techs who came from the community college who are in their 30s who could be full respiratory therapists if only they could find a way to do this program 10 minutes from their home, 10 minutes from their workplace in that couple-hour gap,' Muhl said. 'Before or after they start their shift when they do have the childcare that doesn't interfere with the rest of their day.' But not everyone is sold on the idea. Some Republicans raised concern about property tax increases and House Black Caucus members said it would hurt minorities and underfunded universities. One of the universities that was mentioned in the conversation was Chicago State University. Illinois may update missing person database policy with bill in Statehouse Illinois has 12 public universities and 48 community colleges, the third largest system in the country. Rep. Curtis J. Tarver (D-Chicago) said the bill is a bad temporary solution for institutions like Chicago State, and he didn't shy away from mentioning the Black Caucus' disapproval. 'Chicago State is hemorrhaging and you as an administration are handing them Band-Aids and they need stitches. Then you come in and you provide a bill that's going to be even worse for them with 11 community colleges within 25 miles of them,' Tarver said. 'I'm saying as we sit here, the Black Caucus has an issue with the bill and the sponsors are obviously aware of that. It's not a secret.' The initial bill in both the House and the Senate stalled after not getting called in committee, with some lawmakers removing their co-sponsorship. Now it heads to the House floor, where it could face some challenges. 'The way that I do math it's very very difficult to get to 60 Democrats,' Tarver said. 'And if you take 21 off the 78, I think you have a very difficult path.' Bill heading to Pritzker's desk to prevent time limit on anesthesia Representatives from the Illinois Community College Board and Rep. Katz Muhl said some public university presidents, including Chicago State University's, were part of drafting the bill and are on the board. The presidents sent emails noting they do not have an official position on the bill. However, Tarver and Rep. Norine K. Hammond (R-Macomb) said the universities didn't really have a choice, since they depend on state funding and since the proposal was mentioned by Pritzker. 'This letter is a result of threats to our four-year universities. I don't respect that at all. This letter is coerced,' Hammond said. For community colleges to implement four-year degrees there would need to be demand for the classes, or they could build upon an existing program. 'So there's no instance in the way that this is laid out where suddenly, a college decides 'I want to build an advanced manufacturing baccalaureate from scratch,'' Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board Brian Durham said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sunshine in his pocket: Memory of lost 'brother' fuels Patriots' Will Campbell
The phone started to ring as the band played Justin Timberlake's 'Can't Stop the Feeling.' Will Campbell sat on a white leather couch wearing a green pinstripe suit, surrounded by his closest family members. When he answered the phone, with the Patriots on the other line, his dream came true and those around him couldn't believe it. Advertisement The shock wasn't because Campbell was drafted No. 4 overall. It was the lyrics to the song that echoed from above. 'I got that sunshine in my pocket. Got that good soul in my feet.' The surreal moment at the 2025 NFL Draft brought the family so much joy – and also served as a reminder of who wasn't there. When the 21-year-old arrived in the green room, his aunt, Lindsey Braddock, handed Campbell and his brother, Thomas, a photo of her son, Tarver Braddock, who passed away last year at the age of 16 in a fire. Campbell, who loved Tarver like a brother, and Thomas each placed the photo inside their suit pockets, keeping their best friend close. Advertisement 'And then right before Will's phone rang from the Patriots, 'Sunshine in my pocket' was playing on the loudspeaker,' Lindsey Braddock said. 'It's really crazy - kind of like he was there with us.' 'It's crazy just the way that God works,' Campbell added. 'He sends you so many signs of the person that you lose.' The loss of Tarver Braddock deeply impacted the community of Monroe, La., and devastated the Braddock and Campbell families. A junior in high school, Tarver loved to make others laugh and relished every chance to root for his cousin. In his favorite 'drip,' he was a fixture at Campbell's LSU games. When Campbell was drafted and his dream was realized, Tarver was naturally on his mind. While Tarver's spirit was there, his presence was missed. Advertisement 'I think that he was with us every second, and we joked because he would have been living it up in the green room,' said Holly Campbell, Will's mother. 'Like that is totally his vibe. The flashier, the better - life of the party. He would have been savoring every moment. We definitely felt his presence.' The family aims to turn the tragedy into something meaningful through the Tarver Braddock Foundation. During a challenging and emotional year, Will Campbell has done everything he can to preserve his cousin's memory - and to give back in his name. Tarver Braddock was a shining light It was hard not to smile around Tarver. Advertisement There were many layers to the charismatic teenager. He played football, and baseball and was on the student council at Neville High School, and he gave back, helping on church retreats. Tarver loved his family, and they adored him. He was a fierce protector of his sister, Stella. For Campbell, calling Braddock his cousin would have downplayed their relationship. 'We were brothers,' Campbell said. 'The only thing we didn't share was a last name. We did everything together - me, him, and my brother. Our family is very close… That was one of my best friends since he was born.' Sisters Lindsey Braddock and Holly Campbell lost their mother, Debbie, when their children were very young. That's when they decided that the two families would help raise each other's children – Will, Thomas, Tarver, and Stella. Advertisement The families live 5 minutes from each other in Monroe. The Campbells and Braddocks did everything together. A teacher, Lindsey taught all of them in fourth grade at Sallie Humble Elementary School in town. She's the self-proclaimed disciplinarian. Holly is the softer one of the group. 'We just kind of rallied and raised each other's kids,' Holly said. As they grew older, Tarver and Will got closer. Campbell thought Tarver was the funniest person on earth. They riled each other up, often getting into mischief, even in church. 'Will was this 6-foot-6 giant of a person that everybody thought was so mature and so grown up. But when he was with Tarver, he acted like a 12-year-old,' Lindsey said. 'They just were so silly and so rowdy. Tarver was a character. That was his whole mission, to make people laugh and to make people smile.' Advertisement The families were a traveling pack, rarely missing an LSU game and the chance to see Campbell develop into the top offensive tackle in the nation, even on the road. They sat near the sidelines or in the stands wearing his No. 66 jersey. Tarver was his No. 1 fan. When Campbell committed to LSU, he was there in Baton Rouge to help him move into his first dorm. 'They've not only been supportive through football, but that's just how we are with everyday life,' Campbell said. 'It doesn't have anything to do with football. That's just a part of it. We're just that tight of a family, and I have that good of people around me, which I'm very fortunate and blessed. It means everything.' A prolonged year of mourning Campbell entered his final season at LSU in pain. A 6-foot-6 offensive tackle, he was used to being hit, but this was different. Advertisement 'It was probably the most difficult stretch of my life,' Campbell said. On Feb. 3, 2023, his childhood friend, Luke Moses, took his own life. In the 15 days that followed, two of his high school teammates, David Jackson and Martavius Martin, each died. Once he thought he had a chance to breathe, the grief didn't stop. On Oct. 16, 2023, Will's grandfather, William L. 'Billy' Husted III, died at the age of 71. Three months later, Will Campbell got more devastating news. On Jan. 5, 2024, around 4 a.m., a fire started and moved quickly through a mobile home where six teenagers slept. The group was there on a hunting trip in Jefferson County, Miss. While the other boys, including Thomas Campbell, survived, leaping out of the windows, Tarver died at the scene. Advertisement 'I believe it was the pot belly stove on the patio, and I think the wind shifted, and it was all such in a hurry,' Lindsey said. '(Tarver) was the one that would handle all the plans … He was just very, very like that. He was in charge. The fact that he didn't survive, was truly mind blowing to everyone that knew him.' The loss was crushing for the family. The tragedy happened four days after Campbell played in LSU's bowl game against Wisconsin. After losing three friends and his grandfather, Campbell had one brother hospitalized and another gone. The devastating loss created a hole for the projected first-round pick to carry through his final season at LSU. Advertisement 'Obviously, it's a family's worst nightmare,' Holly Campbell said. 'A student-athlete has a lot on their plate in a normal circumstance, so this was heavy. And (Will) really did channel all his emotions and just stayed focused. I really can't say enough about his support system in Baton Rouge. He pressed on and stayed the course.' Football became Campbell's ultimate release. 'It was a long lead-up of things that just kept hitting me off the field,' Campbell said. 'I just think that my outlet was football. That was a place where I could walk into the building, forget about everything that is going on in the world, and just go and focus on what I love to do.' Tarver Braddock Foundation Holly Campbell used to pick up her young sons from elementary school and take them to the local mall in Monroe. Campbell has memories of standing on the sidewalk outside, ringing a bell to help raise money for the Salvation Army around Christmas time. He recalls times he went with his church to give food to the homeless. Advertisement His family always preached giving back. 'It was instilled in us. It's important to us to always serve. I think that's what God has in mind for us,' Holly said. 'There's nothing more important to me for them to be a good human and not just a good athlete.' As Campbell developed into an obvious NFL prospect, his plan was always to start a foundation. He and his aunt dreamed of starting a charity to help people in need. After Tarver died, that plan was put into motion much quicker than anyone ever wanted. Lindsey and Brett Braddock started the Tarver Braddock Foundation and Will instantly became it's most recognizable spokesman. They aim to bring joy to others through random acts of kindness. Advertisement They've donated money to a local children's museum, a playground, a ministry, a youth baseball program, and more. They've handed out scholarships to students and helped families in need. 'Over these past two months, my aunt and uncle, while I was flying around the country and ended up in New England, they gave out like 10 college scholarships to kids around the Northeast Louisiana area,' Campbell said. 'There's no act that's too big or too small.' Along this journey, Campbell has put his face on Louisiana billboards. He's run football camps in honor of Tarver and the foundation. Before the draft, he and Lindsey delivered a car to a teenager in a single-parent household. He called his aunt the next day to ask, 'What are we doing next?' For Campbell and his family, the outpouring of support for the Tarver Braddock Foundation has been uplifting. After the draft, donations from Patriots fans poured in. Advertisement 'I feel really super blessed that Will has this platform to speak out about it,' Lindsey said. 'And the fact that he chooses to talk about Tarver, I think, is healing for him, instead of burying it and just hiding the pain. 'I think it would be really easy for a young person to just mask it and pretend and not talk about it, but Will's heart is like that. He's very giving. He's very loving, and he adored and cared so much about Tarver, I think he realizes and knows that he can make a real difference to carry his legacy on. It means the world to all of us in our family.' A fitting reminder Leading up to the NFL Draft, Campbell lived with Louisiana native Jack Bech. The TCU wide receiver lost his brother, Tiger, on New Year's Day in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. Advertisement Campbell talked to his friend about grief and the little things that would give him joy. Every so often, Campbell was reminded of Tarver in some form. 'It's just so crazy, because I lost my brother (Tarver) the year before, and then he had lost his throughout this process,' Campbell said. 'I was able to kind of be there and walk him through what it's going to be like, and he also shared stuff that he sees, or his family has seen that reminds them of the one that they lost. 'Seeing the smallest little thing that will remind you of them, it's so cool. It's like them being there.' Little did Campbell know, it would happen on draft night. Advertisement When Lindsey arrived at the green room, she saw Will and Thomas in their similar pinstripe suits. With Will wearing green and Thomas blue, she envisioned Tarver donning one just like them but in a different color. He would've relished the moment and celebrated as Campbell's phone rang with the Patriots on the other line. Instead, his picture sat inside a pocket in their custom-made jackets. It's the same wallet-sized photo that Lindsey gives to everyone who receives a gift in their son's honor. Her husband, Brett, explains to the recipient who Tarver is and how he's blessing them with this donation. The Tarver Braddock Foundation's logo is a rising sun, symbolizing Tarver's light and his family's goal to keep it shining in his memory. As the Patriots called Campbell on draft night and his green room phone rang, the family was in awe as meaningful lyrics echoed from above. As Justin Timberlake flowed from the speakers, Campbell walked to the stage. In that moment, that photo and Tarver Braddock was the 'Sunshine in his pocket' making a great moment even more meaningful. Just like always. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LSU Health Shreveport honors supporters during inaugural Rasberry Lectureship
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – LSU Health Shreveport hosted its inaugural Rasberry Lectureship on Thursday, May 1, 2025, while also honoring longtime supporters W. Clinton 'Bubba' Rasberry and former Louisiana State Senator Greg Tarver. The Rasberry family donated $2.6 million to the LSU Health Shreveport Center for Medical Education, located at 1365 Jennings Street, to establish the Rasberry Family Endowed Lecture Series. This lecture series will bring leading experts to campus each year to share the latest advancements in medicine, science, and technology. Michael Curran, PhD, Professor of Immunology, MD Anderson Cancer Center presented the inaugural lecture titled, 'Cancer Immunotherapy: Today's Breakthroughs, Tomorrow's Possibilities.' LSU Health Shreveport leaders say this lecture series is one of many enhancements which help attract and maintain talent in Louisiana. 'One of the most important things that LSU Shreveport does is, we produce the future physicians and health care providers for north Louisiana,' said Kevin Flood, President and CEO of LSU Health Shreveport Foundation. '70% of the physicians that practice here in north Louisiana were either educated or trained here at this institution.' CPSO keeps kids safe this summer with first aid, CPR training Flood said it is important to recognize those whose support has been instrumental in the success of the hospital and that is why the Foundation honored former State Senator Tarver. 'For over 42 years, as his public service, he did anything and everything to make sure that north Louisiana had access to the best healthcare and that is through supporting the medical school and our hospital,' said Flood. 'We just want to thank him for his continued support of what we try to achieve everyday here at LSU Health Shreveport.' Mr. Tarver said public service was instilled in him as a child. 'My mother taught me, and I tell young people, I tell my kids 'you've got to give back.' The best thing in the world is giving back to people,' said Tarver. 'We all need to work together to give back to the needy people. We need to work together for the benefit not only of the city or the state but of this country.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CPS, teachers union reach tentative deal as lawmaker floats state takeover
The Brief Tentative Deal Reached: Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have a tentative contract agreement, which likely includes 4%-5% annual raises and more prep time for teachers. CTU members will vote Monday on it. State Takeover Proposal: State Rep. Curtis Tarver has introduced a bill to place CPS under the Illinois Finance Authority, citing ongoing budget issues. He plans to hold hearings on the proposal. Uncertain Future: Neither Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson nor CTU have commented on the deal, and questions remain about how CPS will fund the agreement. CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have reached a tentative contract agreement after several months of negotiations. The deal now heads to CTU members for a vote. What we know While details of the agreement have not been fully released, the deal is expected to include annual raises of 4% to 5% and additional classroom prep time for teachers. But questions remain about how CPS will fund the contract—and whether the state may need to step in. Lawmaker Proposes Takeover Democratic state Rep. Curtis Tarver said the agreement does not address the district's ongoing budget concerns. He has introduced legislation that would place the Illinois Finance Authority in control of CPS. "This is not new precedent. This happened in the past when CPS was borrowing to the hilt and unable to balance its books that's responsible to taxpayers and most importantly to students who attend those schools," said Tarver. A state takeover would be controversial and remains a long shot, but Tarver said he wants to hold hearings and bring stakeholders to testify. "A lot of individuals profess to care about children. A bill like this will allow us to tell if it's really about the children as opposed to the adults in the room," Tarver said. RELATED:Illinois lawmaker proposes state takeover of Chicago Public Schools What's next CTU's bargaining unit will vote on the tentative deal Monday. If approved, it will go to the union's House of Delegates and then to the full membership for a final vote. Neither Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson nor CTU have commented on the agreement. Elected school board member Ellen Rosenfeld said, "We hope if this happens, it sunsets when the full board is elected in 2026." The Source FOX 32's Paris Schutz reported on this story.
