Latest news with #Wilburn
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Middlesboro pair charged amid investigation into ‘possible child abuse video,' officers say
MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (FOX 56) — A man and woman in Middlesboro are facing child abuse charges after investigators allegedly received evidence of criminal neglect on Thursday while responding to a complaint at a local apartment complex. In a news release, the Middlesboro Police Department (MPD) announced that on Thursday, March 27, officers were dispatched to Bella Garden Apartments in Middlesboro after receiving complaints of possible child abuse there. The department wrote on Facebook that there was a 'possible child abuse video' that was allegedly circulating on social media. Owingsville woman accused of speeding in school zone, DUI with 6 kids in car 'The same evening, Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson received additional evidence and information regarding the alleged abuse,' officers said in a news release. On Friday, the MPD wrote that an investigation was carried out with the help of social workers, and Brandon Saylor, 33, and Kelly Wilburn, 28, were both arrested. Saylor was charged with: Four counts of an abused or neglected child First-degree criminal abuse Two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under Fourth-degree assault – domestic violence with a minor injury Tampering with a witness Wilburn was charged with: Four counts of an abused or neglected child First-degree criminal abuse Two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under Middlesboro pair charged amid investigation into 'possible child abuse video,' officers say Hardin County Schools staff hold benefit for those fighting against childhood cancer Thousands of pounds of Our Family coffee mislabeled, prompting recall in Kentucky, 14 other states Saylor and Wilburn were lodged in the Bell County Detention Center. The child abuse investigation remains ongoing. Anyone in Middlesboro who suspects child abuse in their area is asked to call local law enforcement at (606) 248-3636. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
KSP seeks ‘armed and dangerous' man last seen in Carter County
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — An armed and dangerous Kentucky man is wanted by Kentucky State Police, according to a Wednesday morning Facebook post. KSP said Peyton Wilburn, 26, is wanted on charges of wanton endangerment, terroristic threatening, and unlawful imprisonment. KSP seeks 'armed and dangerous' man last seen in Carter County US 27 temporarily shut down due to Lancaster house fire 'I just shot at my mother': Family of Laurel County woman speak out Troopers said Wilburn was last seen in the Grahn area of Carter County and he is considered to be armed and dangerous. Officials described Wilburn as standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall, with blue eyes. Court records show that he has also been charged with second-degree stalking and second-degree criminal mischief. Anyone with information regarding his location is asked to contact KSP Post 14 at 606-928-6421. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russell students claim top spots in ‘Dare to Dream'
Russell High School students placed first and second in the Glockner Dare to Dream Pitch Competition at Shawnee State University earlier this week. In its 11th year, the event gives area high school students the entrepreneurial opportunity to create a business idea and pitch it to a panel of judges. Russell's Blakely Monte, Marlee Coburn, Ava Gabbard and Abbie Phipps launched Unbridled Creations, which took first place out of 13 pitches. The quartet took home a $6,000 cash prize on Tuesday. Carmin Corey, Averi Dean and Chloe Townsend — also students representing Russell Area Technology Center — captured second place with Alissa's Cheesecakes. They won $5,500. Monte is the CEO of Unbridled Creations. The 2024 Miss Greenup County Fair and standout cheerleader is a welding student at RATC. She, Coburn, Gabbard and Phipps started Unbridled Creations with old horseshoes, recycling them to make wreaths, wine racks and more. 'It morphed into working on a horse head made out of scrap metal,' said Melissa Wilburn, business teacher at RATC. 'They want to bring the Lexington vibe to the area, with the (Revolutionary Racing) horse track coming, and to go along with the arts in Ashland.' Wilburn said the four girls sold $550 worth of their product at a craft fair a couple months ago. 'They wanted to take it to a grander scale,' Wilburn said. '… The judges were pretty impressed with girls in trades. They've stepped into it and made it into their own.' Their pitch included positive points such as: handcrafted items, by females for females, focused on home decor, affordable, unique, local and avoids shipping. Coburn, Gabbard and Phipps handled duties at the competition on Tuesday. Monte was in Morehead as the cheerleading squad supported the Russell girls basketball team in the 16th Region Tournament. 'Those girls are all busy, spread thin,' Wilburn said. 'These girls are so good at this, but it's just a fraction of what they do.' Wilburn's statement applied to the trio behind Alissa's Cheesecakes as well. Corey, Dean and Townsend helped Dean's mother, Averi, with the cheesecake business when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. After she recovered and went back to work, the three took the reins from there. 'They all three grew up baking, making cake pops, things like that, so they're familiar with it,' Wilburn said. 'They picked up the business and ran with it.' They made 25 cheesecakes for Valentine's Day and sold out within two hours, Wilburn said. 'They're looking at it right now as a side hustle to help put them through college,' she said. 'Maybe eventually they'll set up in downtown Russell with a storefront.' Wilburn said the Angel Investment Group, Andy Glockner and local businesses are instrumental in donating money toward this competition to make it happen. 'Nothing motivates these kids more than cash,' Wilburn said. '… They want to get young people started with an idea and show they could be entrepreneurs, which is great.' Other finalists were from Minford, Wheelersburg, Greenup County, Portsmouth, Green, South Webster and Boyd County. Judges were April Perry (Kentucky Farmers Bank), Faith Knutsen (Voinovich School of Leadership), Ryan Redoutey (Glockner's Commercial), Jessica Kopelwitz (TechGrowth Ohio), Luke Keller (Glockner Enterprises) and Adam Miller (Shawnee State). The annual competition is open to students who attend high schools in Lawrence, Scioto, Pike, Gallia, Adams and Jackson Counties in Ohio and Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup and Carter Counties in Kentucky. Blazin' Butter (Minford High) was the 2024 winner.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers scrutinize DEI, transparency issues in series of higher education bills
Iowa House Higher Education Committee members moved a number of bills relating to public universities to the full committee Wednesday. (Photo by Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch) In the last of several higher education subcommittees Wednesday, Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, shared a personal story of discrimination he experienced in order to explain why the tenets of diversity, equity and inclusion matter. After writing a letter to the editor in response to a visit from President Donald Trump, Wilburn said he received death threats from a woman in Des Moines, saying he should be lynched and calling him the N-word. He asked the crowd of people at the meeting to think about his experience when they think about diversity, equity and inclusion and its importance. 'This notion that it doesn't matter, that we are excluding others, that people in this limited definition of diversity … need to get over it or (are) given some advantage, I just encourage you to consider the experience I shared,' Wilburn said. Members of the Iowa House Higher Education Committee heard from lobbyists and members of the public Wednesday on a number of bills relating to the courses and information within state universities, as well as the bodies that regulate them. Diversity, equity and inclusion was a much-discussed topic among visitors and lawmakers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House Study Bill 53 would require the Iowa Board of Regents to craft a policy stating no state university can require students to enroll in diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory courses, and no one can require, encourage or otherwise incentivize faculty to participate in similar practices or offer corresponding content in their classes. Exemptions can be granted in instances where these topics are included in a course that clearly identifies itself as being about gender, race or ethnic studies. The legislation saw opposition from many of those who spoke during public comments, listing reasons of restricting academic freedom, limiting students' ability to learn concepts and gain skills that would help them with cultural competency, and creating a culture of fear of what is allowed to be said on campus. Wilburn emphasized that the bill does not bar any type of instruction, but rather its requirement or encouragement for students to take, and added that legislation using the 'limited' definition of diversity, equity and inclusion causes a lot of frustration and anger. These terms mean that all cultures, faiths and political backgrounds are embraced, he said. The Iowa Board of Regents and others voiced their support for the bill, with State Relations Officer Jillian Carlson saying it reflects legislation passed last year and the current trends seen in the federal government. Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison and Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, supported the bill and moved it forward to be considered in committee. Both expressed their apologies during the meeting for what Wilburn experienced, and Collins said there needs to be ways to unite people, but not through DEI. 'Racists exist and they suck,' Collins said. 'The problem with all of this is there is zero proof that this is helping make people less racist. There's actually a lot of people out there arguing it's doing the opposite of that.' Holt echoed Collins's statement, adding that the American people seem to be sick of 'tolerating what divides us,' which is what he said DEI programs are doing. Courses and activities involving DEI indoctrinate people to the idea of looking at everyone through the lens of race, he said, which he called 'Marxist' and 'destructive.' 'I proudly advance this legislation, and I would give a word of caution to our regents universities,' Holt said. 'I'm really glad to hear you're supporting it, because it's going to be done one way or another — the easy way or the hard way.' House Study Bill 57 would bar accrediting bodies from taking 'adverse action' against community colleges and universities for complying with or refusing to violate state law, and allowing institutions to take civil action against accreditors who have violated this with the authorization of the attorney general. People speaking during public comment were largely against the bill, with One Iowa Director of Policy and Advocacy Keenan Crow saying it is a bad solution to the problem of having state laws that violate accreditation standards that should be fixed another way. Iowa Board of Regents Chief Government Relations Officer Keith Saunders, however, said the board was in support of the legislation. Wilburn opposed the bill as well. He said he was concerned that students graduating from accredited private universities could have an advantage over those from public universities in getting a job, and he was unsure how the state could hold a national, non-governmental body accountable for removing accreditation from a school that violates its policies. Subcommittee chair Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, and Collins supported the bill and advanced it to the full House Higher Education Committee. 'I think it's important to note that the Board of Regents is supporting this bill, and I think it's important that the Legislature ultimately has the final say when it comes to these matters, not an unelected, unaccountable accreditor outside of the state of Iowa,' Collins said. Two pieces of legislation passed out of subcommittee Wednesday related to making certain information at public universities available to the public, including syllabi and financial data. House Study Bill 55 would require universities post to online the syllabi for each undergraduate credit course they offer, including the instructor's name and information on course material, recommended readings and lecture descriptions, among other things. Subcommittee member Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, said a syllabus is not a legal document, nor is it something that sets courses in stone. It is an 'agreement between the student and instructor, she said, that lays out an outline of the course and how they will be assessed. Kurth agreed with a member of the public's comments that people who aren't involved in higher education could go looking for pieces of syllabi to take out of context and make ' a big deal about something they don't really know a lot about,' she said. Subcommittee chair Rep. Heather Hora, R-Washington, and member Collins supported the bill and passed it forward to be considered in committee. Collins called the legislation 'common sense,' and said making syllabi available publicly is something that should already be in practice. 'As far as the cost and the burden of doing it, perhaps (universities) could allocate part of the over half a billion dollars we appropriate to the universities or the millions to be saved from DEI … to support these efforts,' Collins said. House Study Bill 59 would require state universities to post financial information online, like budgets items, expenditures and vendor contracts that equate to $1,000 or more. Salary reports and administrative unit budgets must also be published, as well as 'information on expenditures for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and similar commitments,' according to the bill. Information restricted from being public by state or federal law would be redacted, the bill stated. Carolann Jensen, Iowa Board of Regents state relations officer representing Iowa State University, said during the subcommittee meeting the Iowa Board of Regents has submitted suggestions for amendments to the bill, including raising the cited dollar amount from $1,000 to $100,000 and changing definitions listed in the legislation. Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, said the Legislature and the board of regents should be able to come to a nice middle ground between those two numbers, and he and Collins approved it to move ahead to the full House Higher Education committee. Kurth said she would oppose the bill until further information gathering and conversations can be had. 'I think there's a lot of good direction on this bill (with) information that would help the public and give us just more transparency on institutions,' Shipley said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The council voted on three appointments to the Library Board. Here's what was decided.
(This story was updated to add new information.) A controversy-laden Library Board will see three returning members after a vote by the Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday — but a fourth spot up for appointment remains undecided after a tie between the incumbent and an applicant who would be a new appointee couldn't be broken. The four seats that had been in consideration represent what has been for the past year a minority vote on the nine-member advisory board, which has consistently seen a 5-4 split as discussions have transpired on how — or if — changes should be made to library policies. Several members of the five-member majority — all appointed in November 2023 in a vote that ousted three then-incumbents — have vocally advocated for policy updates that would relocate certain books they have described as featuring sexually explicit content from the young adult section to the adult section of the library. It's a conversation that took center stage throughout 2024 at meetings of the Library Board, which serves in an advisory capacity. Reappointed in a split vote were Jennifer Anderson, a representative from the nonprofit Friends of Corpus Christi Libraries and a community engagement librarian at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and Carroll Matthews, a representative of La Retama Club and retired community advocate. Returning to the board, also with split City Council support, is Alice Upshaw Hawkins, a Del Mar College adjunct professor. The council deadlocked, however, in a 4-4 vote split between reappointing incumbent Dora Wilburn or appointing Samuel Fryer, who would be a new member. Reshelving some material from the young adult section to the adult section would be a way to protect minors while keeping the books generally accessible, proponents have said. Board members in favor of doing so have said the intent is not to ban books. Several board members voting in the minority have voiced concern about some of the suggestions, describing them as putting librarians in the position that should be the role of individual parents to make decisions for their teenagers and children. In public comments spanning months, some community members have praised endeavors to revise policy — which currently allows any cardholder to borrow any books available in the library — as needed initiatives that address what they have described as objectionable content. Opponents have contended some of the proposals by the board's majority represent a softer form of book banning, raising the specter of impending censorship and suppression of the First Amendment. Hawkins and Wilburn were specifically named by some in public comment Tuesday with accusations that they endorsed access by minors to sexually explicit material. Critics described certain books as pornography. After the meeting, both Hawkins and Wilburn dismissed those assertions. There isn't pornography in the libraries, Hawkins said, adding that the idea that she would encourage minors to read pornography isn't accurate and doesn't make sense. 'As an educator, libraries, books — reading is what I'm about,' Hawkins said. 'There's no way that I would do damage to children when I'm trying to help them become educated and critical thinkers.' Wilburn said late Tuesday that she has not made statements indicating that she supports minors having access to explicit material, describing the assertions as 'ridiculous.' It's the librarians' jobs to determine the selection of books and where they are located, Wilburn said, not the board's, adding that who decides what may be checked out is up to parents. Individuals who believe material is inappropriate can file a request for librarians to reconsider a book, she noted. Mayor Paulette Guajardo and City Councilmen Roland Barrera, Mark Scott and Eric Cantu voted to reappoint the full slate of returning members. City Councilman Everett Roy supported the incumbents with the exception of Wilburn, voting instead for Fryer. City Councilwomen Kaylynn Paxson voted in favor of Matthews and Anderson but endorsed Fryer and Marcus Haas, who would be a new appointment. City Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn voted in favor of Anderson, along with Fryer, Haas and Joshua Shelton, while City Councilman Gil Hernandez in his vote rejected all of the incumbents and supported Haas, Fryer and Shelton. City Councilwoman Sylvia Campos did not participate in the appointment process after a legal opinion determined that she would have a conflict of interest. Wilburn is related to Campos, city officials said. The vote on the final seat, currently held by Wilburn, is anticipated to be revisited in two weeks. The eight voting council members did not discuss in the meeting their choices in appointees. Wednesday, council members who voted for new appointments either could not immediately be reached for comment or were not immediately available for comment. Barrera, who had voted in favor of the four returning members, said Wednesday that each had done a good job on the board and there wasn't a reason not to reappoint them. They 'were all highly qualified and had already been serving, I think, with distinction,' he said, 'particularly during this difficult time.' Hawkins had served on the board for one term, which ended in November when her seat was automatically forfeited under an existing city policy. The provision in the city's code allows the appointment of a non-city elected official to city boards. However, should the elected official win reelection while serving on a city board, he or she automatically forfeits their position. Hawkins said late Tuesday that she was glad she would be returning to the board, adding that she is hopeful that programs crafted as partnership between the school district and libraries could be explored. Wilburn said she wanted to continue to serve because of a love for books and libraries, but she added that she didn't expect to change the minds of council members who had not voted for her appointment Tuesday. In a message to the Caller-Times, Matthews wrote that she was hopeful the board would "be able to work together to provide a public library system that provides information to all members of our community especially those from groups who may feel they are unrepresented.' 'It is so important that our libraries continue to be overseen by professional librarians who have the knowledge and skills to provide information for all,' she added. Asked to comment on the council's decision, Anderson wrote in a message to the Caller-Times on Wednesday that she needed to review the archive broadcast of the council's meeting. Below are the applicants in consideration Tuesday, shown in alphabetical order with self-reported occupations as shown in city documentation. Applicants included: Jennifer Anderson, community engagement librarian at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and representative of the nonprofit Friends of Corpus Christi Libraries Nancy K. Cook, retired, regional director of spiritual care at CHRISTUS Health South Texas Region Ann E. Coover, self-employed attorney and law firm partner, Coover & Coover Samuel A. Fryer, training information administrator, Corpus Christi Army Depot Guillermo Gallegos, undergraduate student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi pursuing a bachelor's in biomedicine (no additional occupation listed) Marcus H. Haas, president and CEO, Gulf Coastal Breeze Inc. Alice Upshaw Hawkins, adjunct professor, Del Mar College Corie L Kaminski, library media teacher, Corpus Christi Independent School District Tommie Lee, project manager, TL Electric Carroll P Matthews, retired community advocate Kathleen Mooney Morin, business manager, Coca Cola Southwest Beverages Daniel G Resley, retired electronics technician and transit bus operator Rudy Salomon, renewable energy engineer, Enel Green Power North America Joshua W Shelton, copywriter, To Exceed LLC Kathryn A Stevens, retired English teacher Sarah Tuley, marketing coordinator, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Robert Voorheis, transmission operator, AEP Dora A Wilburn, self-employed jewelry designer More: Here's how the Corpus Christi Library Board became controversial More: Four seats on Corpus Christi Library Board will be up for a vote. Here's why it matters. More: 'Here to provide services': Corpus Christi Public Libraries remain a resource for community More: Records: Why residents wanted these books relocated, removed from Corpus Christi libraries More: Here's why the Library Board is the Caller-Times' Newsmaker of the Year for 2024 This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: City Council appoints three members to Corpus Christi Library Board
