Latest news with #ToddWilliams
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Buncombe County district attorney race grows: Assistant DA Katie Kurdys announces campaign
ASHEVILLE - Senior Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys announced her bid Aug. 12 to become Buncombe County's next district attorney, a role now held by Todd Williams, a fellow Democrat who has said he would prefer not to run for reelection after his term ends in 2026. Kurdys has served as a prosecutor in the county for more than eight years and has worked with four district attorneys across four jurisdictions, she said in a news release. She has prosecuted cases across the docket, from "hundreds of high-level felonies," murder, rape and human trafficking cases to domestic violence, drug trafficking and white-collar crimes. Kurdys emphasized her commitment to "trauma-informed justice," noting that victims of crimes are often the most vulnerable people in the community and violence is "frequently both a cause and consequence of generational trauma." Her release included quotes from two victims whose cases Kurdys helped adjudicate after they had gone unsolved or had stalled. "This is about delivering justice with skill and compassion," Kurdys said in the release. "Our community deserves a District Attorney who understands the complexities of trauma, has the courtroom and criminal law experience to handle our most difficult cases, and the vision to make our criminal justice system work better for everyone." Kurdys specifically pledged to "eliminate the case backlog that harms both survivors and defendants," to continue conviction review processes, advocate for appropriate bond conditions, expand diversion and second chances for non-violent offenders and make sure all assistant district attorneys have trauma-based and procedural training. Having worked as a county prosecutor, Kurdys said she "sees firsthand which systems are overdue to evolve and improve" in Buncombe County and will 'take a hands-on approach' to reform. More: Buncombe County District Attorney announces his "preference" not to run for reelection Kurdys previously worked for Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, LLP (now Womble Bond Dickinson) as a civil defense attorney contractor. She is a perennial fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina and past special events chair of the Executive Committee for the Buncombe County Bar. She received a Unit Citation Award from the Asheville Police Department for her work on the Missing Person and Welfare Check Initiative after Tropical Storm Helene, which hit WNC last September. Who else is in the DA race? Her announcement comes just two weeks after Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore launched his bid for the position in a July 29 news release. Moore, 37, was elected to a four-year term on the County Commission in 2022 and is now the board's vice-chair. He represents District 2. He is a former public defender and now attorney and mediator in private practice. In 2024, Moore ran for a seat on the state's Court of Appeals, losing to Republican Christopher Freeman in the November general election. More: Commissioner Martin Moore launches campaign for Buncombe County district attorney Williams, 55, was first elected district attorney in 2014 and is serving his third term. He said he would not run for reelection should a qualified candidate step forward, the Citizen Times previously reported. As he expressed when Moore announced his candidacy, Williams told the Citizen Times on Aug. 13 that he believes Kurdys to be qualified for the post but said he will not make a final decision on running for a fourth term until closer to the end of the official candidate filing period, which is in December. More: 40 murder defendants waiting to be prosecuted; 'stretched' Buncombe DA asks AG for help Some of Kurdys' recent cases: More: Asheville man found guilty in 'unusual' rape trial, sentenced to prison More: Asheville teenager sentenced as adult for shooting 2 minors at 2023 Juneteenth festival More: Asheville Blade reporters found guilty of trespassing: Superior Court verdict More: Minor who shot AR-15 into homes, seriously injuring Asheville restaurant worker sentenced Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Prosecutor Katie Kurdys announces campaign for Buncombe County DA Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
28-06-2025
- CBS News
Five charged, nearly 2 dozen guns recovered after gunrunning investigation in Cook County
Five people were charged Saturday in connection with trafficking guns between Indianapolis and Chicago. Justin Anderson, 19, Montez Wells Jr., 18, Todd Williams, 23, Jaylen Powell, 18, all from Indianapolis, and a 17-year-old boy were charged with one felony count of gunrunning and one felony count of gunrunning 11-20 firearms. Anderson, Williams, and Powell were also charged with unlawful use of a weapon, of having a machine gun/automatic weapon. Additional charges were given to Anderson for Unlawful Sale of Firearm by a Felon, Williams for aggravated fleeing causing over $300 in damage, and two felony counts for the 17-year-old for selling a firearm with no FOID. Police said they were arrested on Friday in Lansing as part of a Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago gunrunning investigation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago Field Division, the Chicago police, and the Cook County Sheriff's Police, and was conducted in collaboration with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. During this investigation, 20 firearms and three machine gun Conversion Devices were recovered. All five are scheduled to appear at a detention hearing on Saturday.
Malaysian Reserve
25-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Espire Dental Brings Company Together for All-Hands Conference in Denver, CO
'Excellence in Action' Theme Inspires a Culture of Purpose, Passion, and People-First Dentistry DENVER, April 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On May 9–10, 2025, Espire Dental will do something most dental groups only dream of: shut down operations, pack up scrubs and slacks, and invite every team member together. From Cheyenne to Colorado Springs, California, Oklahoma, Texas, and now, Washington State, more than 450 team members will gather under one roof in Denver for a two-day, high-energy, high-impact all-hands conference. The theme? Excellence in Action, with a mission to reignite team member fulfillment, purpose, and connection in a world that too often runs on autopilot. This event isn't just a meeting. It's a dental chairs to back offices to behind-the-scenes support, every role across Espire is showing up: doctors, hygienists, dental assistants, front office teams, operations, billing, and everyone in between. For some, it will be the first time meeting face-to-face, despite collaborating daily across locations. The agenda features national speakers like Todd Williams, a healthcare and hospitality specialist building people-first cultures, and Haley Rushing, Co-Founder of The Purpose Institute. Attendees will also participate in custom workshops led by industry trailblazers, Janet Hagerman and Heidi Arndt, focused on communication, alignment, ethical dentistry, and professional development. 'We're not just gathering to talk about dentistry,' said Tim Hill, CEO of Espire Dental. 'We're here to remember why we chose it in the first place—to restore confidence, to serve people with compassion, and to pursue excellence in the moments that matter most. This conference reconnects us to our purpose and each other.' Other highlights include the beloved red-carpet event and Espire Awards ('Espie Awards Gala'), which recognize individuals and teams for outstanding service, innovation, and patient impact. This year's celebration is also bigger than ever, with double the vendor support compared to Espire's 2023 conference, plus the first-time appearance of Espire's nine newly partnered teams from Washington State. Yes, there will be presentation slides and breakout sessions, but there will also be hugs, high-fives, dance moves, and a great deal of personal and professional growth. What makes this conference special isn't just the programming, it's the culture. The conference planning committee works hand-in-hand with the leadership team to evolve the experience each year to keep it honest, energizing, and deeply meaningful for all attendees. 'We want our people to leave this event with more than new skills,' said Brooke Young, COO. 'We want them to leave with full hearts, inspired minds, and a deep sense of pride in their work.' 'Culture like this doesn't happen by accident,' said Co-Founding Dentist, Dr. Jennifer Derse. 'We build it together, and we protect it together.' Interested in joining a dental group that makes space for meaning, celebrates every role, and actually walks the talk? Visit to learn more about the Espire culture and explore potential career opportunities. About Espire DentalEspire Dental is a fast-growing, doctor-led, and purpose-driven dental group delivering elevated patient experiences through comprehensive care and inspired hospitality. With 39 practices across Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, Espire is redefining what it means to work in—and visit—the dentist's office. By investing in exceptional teams, modern technology, and beautiful spaces, Espire ensures patients and team members alike can smile with ease and live with confidence.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Upstate church hosts prom for special needs community
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Friday night was unforgettable for volunteers and attendees of the Night to Shine prom at First Baptist Spartanburg. It is the seventh year the church has been able to host the event for the special needs community, who were crowned as Kings and Queens of the festivity. Guests got the chance to enjoy food, show off some dance moves and even ride in horse-drawn carriages. Around 350 volunteers helped make the prom possible for 165 Kings and Queens. 'The Night to Shine really is an unforgettable night where we get to shine God's love on some of the most special individuals in our communities,' said minister Todd Williams. 'Our special needs community, where they truly are Kings and Queens, and they'll all be getting crowned as kings and queens tonight.' Night to Shine is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Guests got to hear a special message from Tebow as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
