Latest news with #WilliamWalker
BBC News
31-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Angler's plea to keep dogs on leads on East Yorkshire beaches
Dog walkers are being asked to keep their pets on leads around anglers to stop accidents involving fish hooks being William Walker, who fishes across East Yorkshire, wants more signs on "every entrance point to the beach" to warn people that fishing items could be accidentally left Silva, from Aldgate Veterinary Practice in Bridlington, said he had seen two cases this year of fish hooks, one stuck in a dog's lip and one that had been Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "Minimising litter is essential to preserving the natural beauty of the area and ensuring a positive experience for all visitors." Mr Silva said treatment for fish hook accidents could be costly for dog owners, adding: "Because we live in a coastal town it's just something that we witness on a fairly regular basis."Stanley, a four-year-old labradoodle, got a hook caught in his mouth while on a walk on Hornsea Steve Lockett, who lives in the town, said: "It glinted in the sun as I was going to him. "The first thing was panic. Don't let him swallow it. Get hold of him. Pull it out."He said fishermen needed to make sure they do not leave items Mr Walker said: "If there is a discard, it's usually accidental."There are not many anglers who won't try and retrieve a snap off because it's an expensive hobby."He said he would like to see more dedicated fish hook disposal cylinders on the beach closer to where anglers are because he thinks it would encourage them to use them."Having two of them on a stretch of beach which is probably five miles (8km) long or thereabouts is just not enough," he added. The RSPCA said there were 2,199 incidents relating to animals affected by litter in 2024, with 751 of them angling litter, such as fishing lines and hooks.A council spokesperson added: "We've placed bins along the promenade and kindly ask all beachgoers to dispose of their waste responsibly by either using one of the bins provided or taking their waste home with them.'' Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Punishment revealed for prison guards who let 'Devil in the Ozarks' escape
Two prison guards who let an inmate dubbed the 'Devil in the Ozarks' escape the maximum security facility have been fired for violating the Arkansas Department of Corrections policy. Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer and rapist whose notoriety led to a television documentary, slipped through the gates of the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on May 25, wearing a makeshift law enforcement uniform. The 56-year-old former police chief was captured nearly two weeks later, roughly one mile from the prison, and is now being held at a supermax facility in Varner. An internal investigation has since uncovered breaches in protocol that contributed to Hardin's escape, and two guards were terminated for multiple violations of Department of Corrections conduct standards - including inadequate job performance, inattentiveness on duty and failure to follow supervisor instructions. They were identified in documents obtained by KATV as Justin Delvalle and William Walker. The Department of Corrections said Delvalle admitted to allowing Hardin to clean the chemical case on an outside kitchen dock unsupervised, while Walker failed to report an unsupervised inmate on the back dock and opened the gates for Hardin without confirming his identity. Walker reportedly saw an individual in what he believed to be a uniform - black in color, unlike standard DOC blue uniforms - pushing a cart. He then failed to maintain a visual surveillance on Hardin after he passed through the gates while security footage captured the former police chief walking out of the prison confidently with no signs of panic, according to the Department of Corrections. 'All the stars had to line up for Hardin,' Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness told members of the Legislative Council's charitable, penal, and correctional institutions subcommittee on Thursday. 'Two employees violated policy for this to happen. It was human error that allowed this to happen,' he continued, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 'If either one of them would have been following policy, it wouldn't have happened.' Magness also noted that Delvalle was busy at the time he let Hardin leave the kitchen unattended, but should have called his supervisor to ask for another guard to watch over the inmate. But it appears guards had become lenient with Hardin, who did not have any disciplinary problems during his time at Calico Rock. In an interview with authorities following his capture, Hardin reportedly said officers stopped making him inventory his possessions at the end of a shift in the kitchen. He then used a marker to color a prison-issue t-shirt black over the course of several month and fashioned a soup can lid and a Bible cover to look like a badge. He also used an old apron to create a patch. Additionally, he fashioned a ladder out of wooden pallets that were on the kitchen dock, and took peanut butter sandwiches from the prison to survive following his escape. If the gate had not been opened for him, Hardin planned to use the ladder to scale the fence, according to Dexter Payne, director of the division of correction. But state lawmakers now say Hardin's well-planned escape points to systemic problems beyond the two guards - noting that Hardin was able to fashion the fake uniform without any guards noticing. 'I think we´ve got major issues here that need to be dealt with,' said Republican Sen. Matt McKee, who co-chairs the subcommittee. 'There are a lot of things he did unnoticed and unaware,' added Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore. 'I don't think you can blame just two people for that.' Members of the panel also said Hardin's escape points to the need to scrutinize a classification system that placed a convicted murderer and rapist in what's primarily a medium-security facility. Payne said a critical incident review of the escape planned later this month may determine if other employees will face firings, demotions or disciplinary actions. It also will determine what other policy changes may be needed, he said. In the meantime, state officials said more security upgrades will be coming - including a possible electronic system that would alert a higher-ranking officer whenever the gates are open. Additionally, all correctional staff will be retrained to prevent anything like this from happening again. Meanwhile, state police are investigating the escape to determine whether any laws, policies or procedures were violated in the escape. Col. Mike Hagar, the head of state police and secretary of public safety, said the final report on the investigation may be completed within 30 days. Thomas Hurst, warden of the prison -formally called the North Central Unit - said State Police was not notified immediately of the escape though local police were, blaming it on a miscommunication. 'There´s nobody that´s more embarrassed about (the escape) than me,' Hurst said. 'It's not good. We failed, and I understand it.' Hardin, though, has pleaded not guilty to an escape charge and is set to go on trial in November. He is already facing lengthy prison sentences for murder and rape, after being found guilty of shooting James Appleton - a water department employee - in the head on the side of a road in a small town called Gateway. Police found the victim's body inside a car, and a witness identified Hardin as the gunman. He ultimately pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 30 years behind bars. But while serving his time, a DNA sample taken in prison linked him to the 1997 rape of an elementary schoolteacher in Rogers. Hardin pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and rape of Amy Harrison, whom he assaulted at gunpoint in a school bathroom. His crimes were later sensationalized in the 2023 HBO documentary the Devil in the Ozarks, which featured interviews with everyone from the victim of the 1997 rape and sisters of the murder family to Hardin's family. It revealed a crucial run-in between Hardin and Appleton in the Spring of 2016 in which Appleton stood up to Hardin about fixing a police car. 'He was out chasing cars for no reason,' Cheryl Tillman, Appleton's heartbroken sister, said. 'He was pulling guns on the citizens here in Gateway and then as time went on with him being the police chief things just started going down hill fast.' Then-Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, who was Appleton's brother-in-law, also described being on the phone with him when he was shot, and local resident John Bray spoke about driving past Appleton's car when the shooting happened. He was the first to find his body and identified Hardin as the shooter. 'I heard what I thought was someone had fired a rifle,' he said. 'I went back and I seen it looked like he had been shot,' he added, wiping away tears. The documentary further revealed details about the resentment Hardin felt toward Appleton, as well as depicting accounts of the moments right before and after the murder. A Benton County Sheriff's Office lieutenant described several times when they got into each other's faces and the dislike they both felt toward one another. The city council gave him an ultimatum: resign or be fired. He stepped down four months after taking the position and nine months later, he killed Appleton. The documentary also gave insight into his troubled and scattered career. He worked at the Fayetteville Police Department from August 1990 to May 1991, but was let go because he did not meet the standards of his training period. Hardin worked about six months at the Huntsville Police Department before resigning, but records do not give a reason for his resignation, according to Police Chief Todd Thomas, who joined the department after Hardin worked there. Hardin later worked at the Eureka Springs Police Department from 1993 to 1996. Former Chief Earl Hyatt said Hardin resigned because Hyatt was going to fire him over incidents that included the use of excessive force.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Penn State Behrend names director of WHIST Center
ERIE — William Walker, a molecular biologist at the Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named director of the new Women's Health Innovation and Science Translational Center (WHIST) at Penn State Behrend. Walker will serve as the administrative lead at the center, which is part of the MWRI-Erie initiative, a $26 million partnership with MWRI, UPMC, the Hamot Health Foundation and the Erie Community Foundation. His ongoing research in fertility issues, including a novel approach to the chemical pathways that activate Sertoli cells, supports the lab's focus on women's health and reproductive biology and will expand the facility's research capacity. 'Will Walker brings the tack-sharp mind of an accomplished biochemical researcher and the talents of a gifted mentor to Penn State Behrend,' said Alicyn Rhoades, vice chancellor and associate dean for research and graduate studies. 'His connections at UPMC and within the Magee-Womens Research Institute are well established, and his vision for the WHIST Center is taking shape quickly.' Penn State Behrend is the academic and translational research partner for MWRI-Erie. The WHIST Center is supported by $10 million in endowment funding and includes two research labs — the Janis L. Hill Biomedical and Translational Research Laboratory and the Christine E. Shewfelt Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Teaching Lab. Walker hopes to expand the center's collaborative seed-grant program, which awards up to $25,000 to researchers who partner with MWRI experts. He also will develop new opportunities for undergraduate students to work in local clinical research trials, including patient-interaction experiences, which better prepare students for graduate and medical research programs. 'I see myself as a facilitator and collaborator who will work to grow the biomedical research capabilities at Penn State Behrend,' Walker said. 'I will use my position as director of the WHIST Center to build collaborations with faculty, including faculty in the School of Engineering, and to expand our partnerships at MWRI and UPMC Hamot.' Collaborations with faculty in the School of Engineering could lead to new support meshes for pelvic organs in women with prolapse, Walker said. Other studies could reduce the microplastics that enter the environment when medical plastics are discarded or degrade. 'I expect that these collaborative efforts will lead to the design and production of novel devices that facilitate research projects and eventually improve specific health conditions,' Walker said.
Belfast Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Apprentice Boys of Derry: Thousands line streets of Lisburn for Easter parade as marching season begins
It marked the first official day of the 2025 marching season, and commemorates the start of Londonderry city's siege. The parade made its way through the centre of Lisburn this year, starting from Wallace Park at 12.30pm for a tour of the city. Bands came from as far away as Fermanagh, Ballymena, Armagh city and Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone. The bands headed south and performed a tour of the city centre, ending at Altona Road. There were 6,000 participants listed, with the organiser being the Apprentice Boys of Derry Belfast and District Amalgamated Committee. David Hoey, the general secretary of the Apprentice Boys, described the annual Easter tradition as 'just a good, solid, joyous day' while governor William Walker declared the turnout 'magnificent". Whilst this Easter has been a particularly rainy one, it remained largely dry and bright for the entirety of the event. Thousands of people across Northern Ireland have taken part in parades held in recent days, from both unionist and nationalist organisations and communities. Police were attacked with petrol bombs as masked men led a New IRA parade through the streets of Derry. Around 150 people had gathered for the parade on Monday afternoon. Organisers said two bands, 500 participants and 100 supporters were expected. It has previously been billed as the 'Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration', and left the Creggan shops at 2pm, ending at a New IRA monument in the Bogside. Images from the parade in Derry showed a masked colour party leading those taking part in the parade.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Institutional investors may adopt severe steps after Walker & Dunlop, Inc.'s (NYSE:WD) latest 11% drop adds to a year losses
Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Walker & Dunlop's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 8 shareholders own 52% of the company Insiders have been buying lately AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. To get a sense of who is truly in control of Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 84% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. And institutional investors saw their holdings value drop by 11% last week. Needless to say, the recent loss which further adds to the one-year loss to shareholders of 22% might not go down well especially with this category of shareholders. Often called 'market movers", institutions wield significant power in influencing the price dynamics of any stock. As a result, if the decline continues, institutional investors may be pressured to sell Walker & Dunlop which might hurt individual investors. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Walker & Dunlop. Check out our latest analysis for Walker & Dunlop Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Walker & Dunlop already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Walker & Dunlop's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Walker & Dunlop. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 15% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 11% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 5.5% by the third-largest shareholder. In addition, we found that William Walker, the CEO has 2.9% of the shares allocated to their name. We also observed that the top 8 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can see that insiders own shares in Walker & Dunlop, Inc.. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around US$95m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment by insiders. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. With a 11% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Walker & Dunlop. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Walker & Dunlop that you should be aware of before investing here. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future . NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
