Latest news with #Weddle
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
817 Laurel County homes damaged in May 16 storms, London mayor says
A wave of storms and a tornado ripped through Kentucky May 16, leaving 19 people dead. Most of the damage was concentrated in Laurel and Pulaski Counties. The powerful system chewed up stores and neighborhoods, collapsed buildings, overturned cars and triggered desperate door-to-door rescues in hopes of pulling residents from flattened homes. Randall Weddle, mayor of London, said in a Facebook post Friday the storms damaged or destroyed 817 homes in Laurel County. ▪ Homes destroyed completely: 280 ▪ Homes with major damage: 195 ▪ Homes with minor damage: 133 ▪ Homes lightly affected: 134 ▪ Homes with no visible damage: 75 ▪ Total affected homes: 817 'It's crucial that the affected families connect with all available agencies to receive the assistance they need,' Weddle said. 'Ensuring everyone is aware of the resources and support options is vital for their recovery.' Some homeowners and renters in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union counties who were affected by the May 16-17 tornadoes are eligible for federal aid. Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance is available for displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-related expenses. Kentucky has recorded at least 43 deaths from severe weather this year. 'I don't know why this is happening to Kentucky,' Gov. Andy Beshear said following the storms. 'But our collective resilience is great, and we remain there for the communities that have been hit so hard.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Contractor network in London formulated to thwart ‘fly-by-night' scammers
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — London Mayor Randall Weddle and Attorney General Russell Coleman announced on Wednesday that they created a program to prevent fly-by-night home improvement contractors from preying on storm victims. 'Following natural disasters, consumers may encounter bad actors or dishonest business practices through price gouging, charity scams, loan scams, and contracting scams,' Weddle said. 'Consumers should be aware of these scams and report them to the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection.' Laurel County tornado victims look toward future as law enforcement cracks down on looters The Emergency Contractor Registration Program (ECRP) requires any contractor operating in city limits to register with local government officials before doing business in areas impacted by storm damage. Mayor Weddle announced on social media on Wednesday, May 18, that the attorney general's Disaster Fraud Task Force had been activated to catch those who may be trying to commit home improvement scams. According to Mayor Weddle, registered contractors would be issued placards that must be displayed on their job sites. City leaders said ECRP forms are available at the office of the city of London building inspector (606-862-8401) or the office of the city clerk (606-864-4169), both located at 501 South Main Street. Registration is free. London mother, toddler survive being blown away by tornado: 'I hear him crying' Prestonsburg Veterinary Hospital works to help pets impacted by tornado Video shows moments before Georgetown man accused of planning to meet minor is arrested Weddle wrote that Attorney General Coleman's Consumer Protection Division had tips consumers may want to know regarding 'fly-by-night contractors': Take time to research contractors or repair companies and get secondary opinions. London residents were encouraged to search for contractors via the Better Business Bureau website, get referrals from friends and family, or visit the city building inspector's office, as they are reportedly responsible for registering or licensing contract work. Resist pressure tactics and don't accept work at a 'special discount' on the spot. Never pay in advance or up front for repair work. Don't sign insurance checks over to a contractor. Be sure to get an invoice from your contractor and pay them directly, preferably with a credit card, so that charges may be disputed, if necessary. Review contracts carefully, and do not sign documents that give a contractor rights to your insurance claims. Officials in London said to report a scam, fill out this form. To report price-gouging, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings lose Adrian Peterson in PFF's 2007 NFL re-draft
Vikings lose Adrian Peterson in PFF's 2007 NFL re-draft In 2007, the Minnesota Vikings struck gold by drafting Adrian Peterson with the seventh overall pick. After trading Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders, the team suffered an identity crisis for two years. The Vikings didn't need a running back, as Chester Taylor had just run for 1,216 yards. However, head coach Brad Childress believed Peterson was too good a talent to pass up. "All Day" was a difference-maker, rushing for 1,341 yards as a rookie. He accounted for 361 all-purpose yards at Soldier Field, the third-highest mark in league history. Less than a month later, he set the NFL record with 296 rushing yards against the San Diego Chargers, which still stands today. The Vikings were thrilled to land the future Hall of Famer, but even though they'd select him again, would he have lasted to the seventh pick if the NFL redrafted? PFF did their own 2007 re-draft. The Vikings couldn't snatch Peterson in this exercise, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did what everyone thought they would do back then and took AP. So with the seventh pick, the Vikings took Utah safety Eric Weddle. Without Peterson on the board, the Vikings could draft another perennial Pro Bowl running back in Marshawn Lynch. However, Minnesota instead adds to a safety unit in need of talented youth. Weddle finished his career as the most valuable player from the 2007 draft class, according to PFF's Wins Above Replacement metric, and his 94.7 career PFF overall grade is the top mark among safeties since PFF began grading in 2006. It feels like a letdown landing Weddle. Other Hall of Famers in the 2007 draft include Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis, and Patrick Willis. But they're already off the board by the time the Vikings are on the clock here. Weddle would have been a great selection, though. The Vikings were set at safety in 2007 with Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith, but both were gone by 2009. Minnesota signed Madieu Williams and drafted Tyrell Johnson in 2008, but neither materialized into a reliable starter. By 2011, the Vikings had one of the worst safety units in the league. In San Diego, Weddle played nine seasons and was selected First-Team All-Pro twice and Second-Team All-Pro two more times. He finished his career with 29 interceptions and 9.5 sacks before retiring after the 2021 season, winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams and offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell. This is a fun redraft where the Vikings only downgrade because their real selection was so good that they couldn't fall to them again. Let's hope this continues in the coming years for the Vikings.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics Board addresses complaints by mayor, city employee
Two complaints, both of which were filed by city officials through the City of London Ethics Board, were addressed at the board's meeting last Wednesday. Complaint 2025-04 was filed by Mayor Randall Weddle during the first week of April. It was filed against council members Kelly Greene, Judd Weaver, Anthony Ortega, and Justin Young. City Council Attorney Conrad Cessna represented the council members at the board meeting. Weddle's complaint pertains to the council's special-called meeting on March 20, and an ordinance he claims was violated. 'Our complaint was to showcase, when we wrote [Ordinance 2023-10] when I first came into the office, that council had taken so much out of the ethics ordinance written by the city attorney, it kind of removed all accountability from them,' Weddle commented. 'It's more to shed light to the public that there is no ordinance to hold your elected officials here accountable.' Weddle, City Attorney Larry Bryson, City Clerk Katelin McPeek, and council members Stacy Benge and Holly Little were unable to attend the Mar. 20 council meeting. 'It was an illegal meeting; it just was,' Weddle stated. 'The KRS is plain.' Weddle's complaint was ultimately ruled outside the board's jurisdiction. 'Mayor Weddle said himself that the board lacks jurisdiction,' Board Member Derek House stated. 'It was expected and I wasn't surprised,' Weddle commented on the decision. Weddle hopes to see the current division stop soon. 'I hope, in the end, they will take their focus off of trying to get rid of me and put it back on what we're here for, and that's to get about the city business,' he said. Young shared that London Police officers hand-delivered the mayor's complaint to each of the council members which it referred to. 'It was a frivolous complaint by the mayor that was found to be invalid,' he commented. 'There was nothing done wrong to have a complaint.' Young went on to say he was satisfied with the finding of the board. 'I think it will show the public that we're doing the right thing,' he said. 'They did the right thing,' Greene said on the matter. Ortega declined to comment at this time. Complaint 2025-03 was filed by City Public Relations Officer Bryan Johnson against City Council Member Judd Weaver. Although it only pertained to Weaver, the other council members present also sat in for the discussion. Johnson explained that he received a phone call from Weaver on March 20, following the meeting, regarding a Facebook post he made quoting KRS (Kentucky Revised Statutes). 'He called me and asked me if the mayor okayed that,' Johnson stated. 'It was my personal Facebook and the mayor wasn't aware of it. The mayor's never required me to do anything through him.' Johnson claimed Weaver was angry, telling him he 'did not want to see anything happen' to Johnson's family. 'He tried to say that I might have violated the social media policy from the city, but I was part of the team that helped review that policy as it was being created, so I knew what was in it,' Johnson said. Weaver claimed the conversation was 'taken the wrong way.' 'I care about him and his family,' Weaver stated. 'It was perceived by him as a threatening conversation, which was not my intention.' Although it was within the jurisdiction of the board, board members ultimately determined that the complaint had 'insufficient factual basis for a violation of the ordinance.' 'The allegations lack significant impact on the public confidence,' said Board Chair Jane Dyche. 'We would like to note that the council, pursuant to KRS 83A.130 does not have any executive authority within the city government.' As for old business, there were three complaints in January — one of which was anonymous. The individual who filed the complaint did not provide a notarized signature, and it was ultimately dismissed for failure to comply with requirements. The board attempted to send the complaint to DJ Freeman of Ohio but it was returned as not deliverable. Regarding Complaint 2025-01, the board found that the complaint 'did not have a clear complainant.' Dyche stated that the board had 'insufficient information to follow through with the complainant,' ruling it out of the jurisdiction of board members. It alleged that there were misdeeds by a Laurel County official. Furthermore, Complaint 2025-02 claimed that misdeeds by Laurel County officials caused the death of Doug Harless — the victim of an London Police officer-involved shooting last Dec. 23. This complaint was also determined to be outside the board's jurisdiction. 'The City of London Board of Ethics does not have the authority to conduct hearings on county employees or elected officials,' Dyche stated. The meeting came to a close following discussion of the search for new board members, as the terms of Dyche, House, and Jim Hayes end this week. The search remained unsuccessful at that time. The Ethics Board only meets when there is a complaint to address. When it does convene, the meetings are held downstairs at the London Community Center.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Rams star doesn't get the hate for recent free-agent signing
Former Rams star doesn't get the hate for recent free-agent signing The Los Angeles Rams brought back another one of their own recently after re-signing linebacker Troy Reeder. The move was small, but significant: Reeder has spent five of his six NFL seasons with the Rams and started the first six games of the 2024 season before he sustained a hamstring injury. However, the Reeder deal earned a lot of flack from Rams fans. But one ex-Rams player disagrees with this assessment. Former NFL safety Eric Weddle, who played his final two seasons with the Rams and won a Super Bowl with them in 2021, took to X to ward off the Reeder haters. Weddle called Reeder a "baller" who had a lot of good reasons to stick around in the NFL — both because of his play on the field and his demeanor off the field. The two played together during Reeder's rookie season in 2019 and when Weddle returned for the Super Bowl run. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who played with Reeder on the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, agreed with Weddle. Van Noy called Reeder "a dawg" who "makes plays every chance he gets." Reeder, who will be 31 this season, hasn't been terribly great for the Rams since he returned in 2023 following his lone season with the Chargers, but he was exceptional during his first three years with the team. He combined for 230 tackles from 2019 to 2021 and added five sacks, eight defended passes, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 49 games. But in the past two seasons, Reeder has just 69 combined tackles and one defended passes in 23 games. The Rams won't necessarily need him to start in 2025, though, with Omar Speights and Nate Landman slated for the insider linebacker roles. L.A. could also add at least one linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft to compete for a starting or backup role in Chris Shula's defense. At the very least, Reeder should be a good locker room presence if Weddle's account is to be believed.
