Latest news with #TheOlympian
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
HUNTER: Scolding, posturing has not solved one MMIWG cold case
We all remember the scoldings. Daily, we were told that the crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) was our fault. In some ways, it was true, but in most ways, it wasn't. So we launched a commission that cost a zillion dollars and had a pre-determined outcome. Reality, however, scorched the commission's narrative and that of Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. Now, six years after the final report was released in 2019, with a so-called action plan, Red Dress Days and myriad other faculty lounge-inspired endeavours, MMIWG remains a national crisis. Little has been done except for the go-to vibes. 'Many of these murders of women and children could be easily solved, but it's like the government has an aversion to doing anything,' one homicide detective told me. 'They don't seem to want to bring closure, justice and relief to the families and communities affected.' Easier to scold and virtue signal than to do anything constructive. South of the border, it's a different story. It's a commitment and a promise. On Thursday, Washington state's newly minted Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit announced they arrested an Arkansas woman in a nine-year-old cold case. While the victim was an Indigenous man, the result was an arrest and a charge of second-degree murder. According to The Olympian, George David, 65, was a respected master woodcarver and a resident of the Port Angeles area. He was found murdered on March 28, 2016. David had just returned from visiting family and attending a funeral in British Columbia. Tina Alcorn appeared in Clallam County Superior Court on Tuesday. She remains in custody, held on $1 million bail. Cops say Alcorn was on their radar as a primary suspect early in the investigation but fell through the cracks until last month. 'This case has never been forgotten,' Port Angeles Police Chief Brian S. Smith said. 'The renewed investigation, bolstered by our partnership with the MMIWP Task Force, reflects our commitment to justice and to honouring George David's memory.' It's startling when you consider the hundreds of faces of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country. Seemingly forgotten, except for the wails of anguish from their heartbroken families. Instead of arrests and answers in Canada, victims' families are left with tiresome platitudes and a numbing limbo. A small coterie of loudmouths and their bureaucratic enablers leave survivors high and dry. In the U.S., detectives with the new MMIWP are making arrests. More than 40 years after 18-year-old Terri McCauley was murdered in Iowa, investigators made an arrest there. McCauley was a member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. 'She could have been a successful person, a Native female, who could have made a big difference in this community. And unfortunately, that was taken from her,' family spokesman Joshua Taylor said. McCauley vanished after a night out with friends in the fall of 1983. She was last seen getting into a vehicle outside a Sioux City watering hole. Her body was discovered days later in a wooded area miles away. She had been shot to death. More lost promise. HUNTER: Iowa MMIWG cold case bust shames virtue-signalling Canada HUNTER: Winnipeg serial killer reveals MMIWG inquiry did nothing COLD CASE EXPERT: MMIWG death tally likely double Thomas Duane Popp has been charged with first-degree murder. 'I want to commend our cold case team for their work on behalf of victims and families,' Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said. 'This is a milestone on a long path toward accountability. The Legislature funded this work because so many people would not give up the pursuit of justice for their loved ones.' And in Canada? MMIWG families are like those stranded in Casablanca in the classic Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name. They wait, and wait, and wait. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun
American Military News
06-06-2025
- American Military News
Soldier killed pregnant wife with machete, dismembered her in HI, officials say
A soldier stationed in Hawaii admitted to killing and dismembering his pregnant wife in July 2024, Army officials said. Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II pleaded guilty during a court-martial in Hawaii to voluntary manslaughter and other charges in connection with the deaths of his wife, Mischa Johnson, and unborn child, according to a June 5 news release from the Army. Pfc. Johnson was ordered by a military judge to serve 23 years behind bars, which is the maximum, officials said. The 29-year-old also is to be reduced in rank and dishonorably discharged, according to officials. Mischa Johnson was six months pregnant when she was reported missing last summer from Oahu's Schofield Barracks, McClatchy News previously reported. In February, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel referred several charges and specifications against Pfc. Johnson, according to a news release at the time. That meant he was headed toward a military trial. Under his plea agreement, the cavalry scout 'admitted to killing his wife and unborn child in the heat of passion by striking (his wife) in the head with a machete,' officials said. The couple had been fighting, 'and then things escalated to violence,' according to officials. Pfc. Johnson 'also provided specific details of his actions following their deaths, to include dismembering the bodies with a chainsaw and then using his car to transport the remains to a dumpster on Schofield Barracks,' according to officials. The remains 'have never been found and are presumed to have been transported to the island's trash incinerator,' officials said. Pfc. Johnson reported his wife missing about two weeks after he killed her, officials said, 'and (he) even participated with community search parties that spanned the island to look for her.' He was linked to the killing through DNA, blood and other evidence in their home, according to officials. Pfc. Johnson apologized during court proceedings, saying, 'My wife didn't deserve that. She wasn't trash,' Hawaii News Now reported. He also said that, 'I failed as a husband. I failed as a father and I failed as a man. … I'll forever be sorry,' per the outlet. Pfc. Johnson will serve his prison time at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, officials said. ___ © 2025 The Olympian Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Incredible images solve mystery around tiger not seen in years: 'Essential pieces of the puzzle'
An elusive tiger that hasn't been spotted in three years reemerged on a trail cam with a surprise: two tiger cubs. The tiger, a female known as F22, was first seen in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand in 2022, according to The Olympian. But after that, she seemed to disappear, causing officials to lose some hope. In December 2024, officials discovered tracks — one large set accompanied by two smaller sets — near the border of Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary and neighboring Thungyai Naresuan East Wildlife Sanctuary, prompting them to set up additional trail cameras to spot the tigers that made them. After taking pictures over several months, images from February showed F22 and two cubs, believed to be between four and six months old, all in good health, according to experts. The trail cams also spotted a variety of other animals in the area, including a leopard, a pack of wild dogs, herds of sambar deer, gaur (a large bovine), muntjacs (a small deer species) and wild boars. This kind of monitoring is crucial, as it helps track and record populations, as well as occasionally make amazing discoveries, like a recent sighting of the Sunda pangolin on Thailand's Ko Pha-ngan island. Tigers have been critically endangered for years, with an all-time low population of about 3,200 spread across the 13 countries that make up their natural range, according to the World Wildlife Fund. But conservation efforts have proven effective. A report from Thailand's Western Forest Complex, which includes the Thungyai Naresuan East mentioned above, showed tiger numbers had tripled between 2007 and 2023, according to CNN. The outlet also noted that other species, like deer and wild cattle, tigers' main prey, were also on the rise. As WCS Thailand director Pornkamol Jornburom said, it signals the results of "more effective management." "When we conserve tigers, it actually leads to conserving many other species: not only the prey, but also the habitat," Jornburom told CNN. Saving endangered species is critical to the survival of every living thing and person on the planet. "From the mighty whale to the humble dung beetle, wild animals are all essential pieces of the puzzle," the WWF explained. The organization also highlighted that many species play a role in our food supply, from the pollinators to animals underground that prevent soil erosion, to predators and prey that spread seeds and manage disease. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Have you been impacted by Trump and DOGE federal cuts? The Olympian wants to hear from you
Since his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump has signed 82 executive orders. On day one, he signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. DOGE says its aim is reforming government spending and systems. The department has slashed funding for many federal programs, leading to thousands of layoffs and canceled grants and contracts. Journalists at The Olympian want to hear about how federal downsizing is impacting people who live in the area. If you work for a government agency, a nonprofit, or another type of organization impacted by the cuts – please use our form below and tell us your story. You can also send an email to the Olympian newsroom at news@ Responses will be monitored and reviewed, and a reporter or editor may reach out for more details. Any information you share with us is confidential, and will not be published without permission. You can also remain anonymous if you'd like. We adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics. Here are other stories The Olympian has done on the impact of DOGE cuts and other Trump administration cuts: Some 2,000 protesters blast Trump at President's Day protest: 'No billionaires, no kings' Trump administration's reduction of federal workforce could hit hard in South Sound WA's leaders blast Trump's 'dangerous' cuts to Bonneville Power Administration's staff Here are stories about some statewide impacts: Trump supports possibility of $5K stimulus checks. Will that money really come to WA? Trump's federal hiring freeze could have a disastrous impact on national parks in summer WA leads, joins 5 lawsuits against Trump: 'This person doesn't want to follow our laws' WA joins lawsuit decrying DOGE and Elon Musk's role in government as 'unconstitutional' WA, 21 other states sue Trump administration for defunding medical, public health research
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds to investigate WA district that let trans athlete play basketball game
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building pictured on Nov. 25, 2024. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) Washington's Tumwater School District faces a federal investigation from the Trump administration over allowing a transgender athlete from an opposing team to compete in a girls' high school basketball game last month. The U.S. Department of Education announced the Title IX investigation Monday, after a conservative organization filed a complaint on behalf of a 15-year-old student from Tumwater, near Olympia. The girl sat out a Feb. 6 game 'for fear of her safety' because a player from Shelton High School was trans, according to the department. She alleges the school district knew Shelton had a trans athlete ahead of time, and still let her play. Her complaint says she now faces a district investigation for misgendering the Shelton player. She argues this amounts to sex discrimination. A second Tumwater player also sat out the game, according to The Olympian. In response, the Tumwater school board voted last week in favor of a resolution to ban trans girls from competing in girls' sports. After the vote, community members interrupted the meeting in protest, The Olympian reported. A petition to recall the three board members who supported the resolution gathered over 500 signatures, as of Monday morning. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, tasked with setting policy for school sports, is considering two proposals related to trans girls playing sports. One would bar trans girls from participating in girls' sports. Another would create a separate division where trans athletes can compete. The Tumwater board's votes support those rule changes. The association is slated to vote on them next month. The district said it was committed to working with the education department 'to address the concerns in the complaint.' 'Our priority has always been to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all students, families, and staff,' spokesperson Laurie Wiedenmeyer said in an email. 'While we cannot discuss specific details due to confidentiality requirements, we take all concerns seriously and remain dedicated to continuous improvement in our schools.' Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports by, in part, withholding federal funding for districts that 'deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' The order directed the Department of Education to prioritize inquiries like the one launched against Tumwater. The order is one of several seeking to restrict how trans people participate in American society. Washington state and others have sued over another that aims to withhold federal funding for providers of gender-affirming care to trans youth. On Friday, a federal judge in Seattle indefinitely blocked that order. In response, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said 'Washington state will do everything in our power to defend the rule of law, states' rights to establish education policy, and to protect the beautiful diversity of our 1.1 million students and educators.' Reykdal noted state law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. In a statement, a federal education official said the investigation brought by the department's civil rights office in Seattle 'demonstrates that the Trump Education Department will vigorously enforce Title IX to ensure men stop competing in women's sports.' 'If Washington wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Department, it has to follow federal law,' continued Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights. The Tumwater student's complaint was brought by the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism. In a press release, the education department called the group, known as FAIR, a 'nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.' Founded in 2021, FAIR has campaigned against antiracism work and gender-inclusive policies in schools. Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. The civil rights law increased the participation of female student athletes, and also provided an avenue for girls and women to bring complaints of sex discrimination. A spokesperson from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. The investigation follows the announcement of a similar probe against Maine's education department. The investigation came after a public sparring match during a White House event between Trump and the state's governor. 'I'm complying with state and federal laws,' Gov. Janet Mills told Trump. 'We are the federal law,' Trump responded, later adding, 'otherwise, you're not getting any federal funding.' Mills told Trump, 'We'll see you in court.'
