Latest news with #WilliamLane
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Federal lawsuit claims sheriff and employees retaliated against Portage County man
A Portage County man has filed a federal lawsuit against the county's sheriff and two sheriff's office employees alleging retaliation over claims the man posted on Facebook. The lawsuit, filed by William Lane in U.S. Sixth District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on May 6, names Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, Robert James and Michael Davis, along with Portage County, as defendants. According to a complaint filed with the lawsuit, James is a corporal and Davis a captain with the sheriff's office. Court records did not identify legal representation for the defendants as of May 30. A phone message seeking comment from the sheriff's office was not immediately returned. The lawsuit was filed by William Lane, a Diamond resident in Palmyra Township. According to the 12-page complaint, Lane wrote a series of posts he called "The Bad Bruce Exhibit" on Facebook in which he accused Zuchowski, James, and Davis of being "dishonest, vindictive, incompetent, and corrupt." Lane's posts, according to the complaint, included allegations of various acts of wrongdoing against Davis, Zuchowski and unnamed sheriff's office employees. Lane also posted about a recently settled civil suit the cities of Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro filed against the sheriff over the distribution of money and assets that had been owned by the defunct Portage County Drug Task Force that the cities and sheriff's office were members of; Zuchowski urging "supporters to record names and addresses of persons who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election;" and a claim that Zuchowski kept a "hit list" of people he saw as political enemies. Lane also encouraged Portage County voters to support Zuchowski's opponent, Jon Barber, in the November election, during which Zuchowski ultimately won a second four-year term. The complaint alleges that someone identifying himself as "Jonathan Porter" posted false allegations about Lane on a Facebook page entitled "Will Lane Exhibit," which has since been deleted. The allegations included that Lane is a narcotics user and dealer and a "woman beater." Also posted were Lane's phone number and email and home addresses, the complaint alleges. The complaint alleges that "James, acting with Zuchowski's knowledge and consent, actually posted the 'Will Lane Exhibit,' and created Jonathan Porter to conceal James', and Zuchowski's involvement with the publication of the Will Lane Exhibit." The complaint also alleges that "Davis, acting with the knowledge and consent of Zuchowski, contacted an Ohio State Agency to inquire about the possibility of cancelling Lane's license to grow industrial hemp." Lane is licensed by the state to grow hemp on his property for the production of legal CBD oil. Lane's complaint alleges all of these actions were retaliation for Lane's posts, which the complaint asserts "are true," and therefore protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The complaint says that the alleged actions by the defendants "caused Lane to suffer substantial emotional and psychological distress." The complaint alleges that the defendants retaliated against him for exercising his constitutional rights; Portage County is liable because it "created a culture of corruption in the Sheriff's Office, and permitted that culture of corruption to embed itself in the Sheriff's Office, and to grow;" and that Lane was libeled, slandered and defamed. Lane is requesting a total of more than $5 million in punitive and compensatory damages, as well as court costs. Lane previously sued Portage County and three sheriff's deputies in connection with an allegation that his civil rights were violated during an April 2023 traffic stop in Ravenna Township. A federal judge dismissed the suit in April. More: Federal judge dismisses hemp farmer's lawsuit against Portage County, sheriff's deputies Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@ This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County man claims sheriff and employees retaliated against him
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits on some Irish rural roads reduced
Speed limits on some roads in the Republic of Ireland will be reduced from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) on Friday. This change impacts small "rural local roads", with further reductions to other roads to be implemented later in 2025. Plans include reducing limits on national secondary roads, such as dual carriageways, from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph) and on urban roads from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18mph). The plans follow recommendations made in a review commissioned by the Irish government's Department of Transport in 2023. The policy background says that an increase in fatalities and serious injuries recently has sparked the need for lower speed limits. The government said statistics show road deaths before 2021 had been falling since 2006, when there were 365 fatalities on the roads However, following this there were two successive years of increase where fatalities rose from 132 in 2021 to 180 in 2023. An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) said it would "work with local authorities to ensure these changes are enforced". "Public-awareness campaigns will be launched to educate drivers about the new limits and the importance of adhering to them," it said. The police service added that measures to "achieve compliance" include "vehicle-mounted and handheld speed-detection equipment, and safety-camera vans". Heading south from Newry in County Down, Omeath is the first village south of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, on the shores of Carlingford Lough. Many visitors and locals were unaware of the speed limit changes. On some of the local routes in and out of the village, new signs have been erected with the new 60km/h (37mph) limit. William Lane, from Dromore in County Down, is a regular visitor to the Cooley Peninsula but says he didn't know about the changes. "I can understand why," he said as he enjoyed a coffee outside Café Rosa. "They did employ a 20mph speed limit in Wales. Time will tell." Aisling O'Hanlon, who owns a hairdressing salon in the village, said many locals were also unaware. "I didn't know this was happening," she said. "I don't think people really drive too fast. I think we all stick to the speed limit but that could be a problem now if nobody knows – that's going to be the problem." Customer Briege Rice said: "They are small roads. They are a bit windy so you couldn't drive fast on them. "I don't think it will make much of a difference because I think people are genuinely careful." But across the street in the café at the Grand Central Hotel customers give a different view. Kathleen Elmore said: "I don't think you could reduce speed limits quickly enough. "We have a school and a church and there are lights but a lot of people don't honour them. "There's always someone quicker than you who wants to get here, there, wherever – slow down." Briege and James Dunne agree. "I think it's a good idea," said Briege. "There are people going too fast, everywhere on all the roads we are on. Some will listen but a lot won't." The Welsh government introduced similar measures in 2023, reducing the default urban speed limit to 20mph. The latest casualty data for the first year of the new speed limit in Wales showed there were 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads, a fall of 28%. That data has been welcomed by Welsh ministers, but the Welsh conservatives say the policy remains confusing and frustrating for many motorists. The scheme has proved to be one of the Welsh government's most controversial initiatives since devolution began, and almost half a million people signed a petition calling for it to be scrapped. Cross-border operation aims to tackle road deaths Thousands give feedback over 20mph road changes
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits on some Irish rural roads reduced
Speed limits on some roads in the Republic of Ireland will be reduced from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) on Friday. This change impacts small "rural local roads", with further reductions to other roads to be implemented later in 2025. Plans include reducing limits on national secondary roads, such as dual carriageways, from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph) and on urban roads from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18mph). The plans follow recommendations made in a review commissioned by the Irish government's Department of Transport in 2023. The policy background says that an increase in fatalities and serious injuries recently has sparked the need for lower speed limits. The government said statistics show road deaths before 2021 had been falling since 2006, when there were 365 fatalities on the roads However, following this there were two successive years of increase where fatalities rose from 132 in 2021 to 180 in 2023. An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) said it would "work with local authorities to ensure these changes are enforced". "Public-awareness campaigns will be launched to educate drivers about the new limits and the importance of adhering to them," it said. The police service added that measures to "achieve compliance" include "vehicle-mounted and handheld speed-detection equipment, and safety-camera vans". Heading south from Newry in County Down, Omeath is the first village south of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, on the shores of Carlingford Lough. Many visitors and locals were unaware of the speed limit changes. On some of the local routes in and out of the village, new signs have been erected with the new 60km/h (37mph) limit. William Lane, from Dromore in County Down, is a regular visitor to the Cooley Peninsula but says he didn't know about the changes. "I can understand why," he said as he enjoyed a coffee outside Café Rosa. "They did employ a 20mph speed limit in Wales. Time will tell." Aisling O'Hanlon, who owns a hairdressing salon in the village, said many locals were also unaware. "I didn't know this was happening," she said. "I don't think people really drive too fast. I think we all stick to the speed limit but that could be a problem now if nobody knows – that's going to be the problem." Customer Briege Rice said: "They are small roads. They are a bit windy so you couldn't drive fast on them. "I don't think it will make much of a difference because I think people are genuinely careful." But across the street in the café at the Grand Central Hotel customers give a different view. Kathleen Elmore said: "I don't think you could reduce speed limits quickly enough. "We have a school and a church and there are lights but a lot of people don't honour them. "There's always someone quicker than you who wants to get here, there, wherever – slow down." Briege and James Dunne agree. "I think it's a good idea," said Briege. "There are people going too fast, everywhere on all the roads we are on. Some will listen but a lot won't." The Welsh government introduced similar measures in 2023, reducing the default urban speed limit to 20mph. The latest casualty data for the first year of the new speed limit in Wales showed there were 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads, a fall of 28%. That data has been welcomed by Welsh ministers, but the Welsh conservatives say the policy remains confusing and frustrating for many motorists. The scheme has proved to be one of the Welsh government's most controversial initiatives since devolution began, and almost half a million people signed a petition calling for it to be scrapped. Cross-border operation aims to tackle road deaths Thousands give feedback over 20mph road changes
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Speed Limits: Republic of Ireland reduces limits on some roads
Speed limits on some roads in the Republic of Ireland will be reduced from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) on Friday. This change impacts small "rural local roads", with further reductions to other roads to be implemented later in 2025. Plans include reducing limits on national secondary roads, such as dual carriageways, from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph) and on urban roads from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18mph).The plans follow recommendations made in a review commissioned by the Irish government's Department of Transport in 2023. The policy background says that an increase in fatalities and serious injuries recently has sparked the need for lower speed limits. The government said statistics show road deaths before 2021 had been falling since 2006, when there were 365 fatalities on the roadsHowever, following this there were two successive years of increase where fatalities rose from 132 in 2021 to 180 in 2023. An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) said it would "work with local authorities to ensure these changes are enforced". "Public-awareness campaigns will be launched to educate drivers about the new limits and the importance of adhering to them," it said. The police service added that measures to "achieve compliance" include "vehicle-mounted and handheld speed-detection equipment, and safety-camera vans". Many unaware of changes Heading south from Newry in County Down, Omeath is the first village south of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, on the shores of Carlingford visitors and locals were unaware of the speed limit some of the local routes in and out of the village, new signs have been erected with the new 60km/h (37mph) limit. William Lane, from Dromore in County Down, is a regular visitor to the Cooley Peninsula but says he didn't know about the changes."I can understand why," he said as he enjoyed a coffee outside Café Rosa. "They did employ a 20mph speed limit in Wales. Time will tell."Aisling O'Hanlon, who owns a hairdressing salon in the village, said many locals were also unaware."I didn't know this was happening," she said. "I don't think people really drive too fast. I think we all stick to the speed limit but that could be a problem now if nobody knows – that's going to be the problem." Customer Briege Rice said: "They are small roads. They are a bit windy so you couldn't drive fast on them."I don't think it will make much of a difference because I think people are genuinely careful."But across the street in the café at the Grand Central Hotel customers give a different Elmore said: "I don't think you could reduce speed limits quickly enough."We have a school and a church and there are lights but a lot of people don't honour them."There's always someone quicker than you who wants to get here, there, wherever – slow down."Briege and James Dunne agree."I think it's a good idea," said Briege. "There are people going too fast, everywhere on all the roads we are on. Some will listen but a lot won't." Similar changes in Wales The Welsh government introduced similar measures in 2023, reducing the default urban speed limit to 20mph. The latest casualty data for the first year of the new speed limit in Wales showed there were 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads, a fall of 28%.That data has been welcomed by Welsh ministers, but the Welsh conservatives say the policy remains confusing and frustrating for many motorists. The scheme has proved to be one of the Welsh government's most controversial initiatives since devolution began, and almost half a million people signed a petition calling for it to be scrapped.
