Latest news with #WillieWhite
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Weeks after being sued, city of Miami repeals anti-panhandling law
Miami city commissioners on Tuesday repealed a city ordinance that criminalized aggressive panhandling. The repeal comes a few weeks after the Florida Justice Institute filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the ordinance violated the First Amendment and did not apply to other forms of speech, like a political candidate asking for support or a church member proselytizing, the Miami Herald previously reported. The city enacted the ordinance prohibiting 'aggressive' or 'obstructive' panhandling in 2000, according to the lawsuit. Violators could be fined $100 or jailed for up to 30 days for a first offense, or fined $200 and jailed up to 60 days for subsequent offenses. Miami police officers had arrested nearly 400 people for 'aggressively' panhandling in city limits within the last two years, the lawsuit noted. 'Requesting donations is speech protected by the First Amendment,' Ray Taseff, lead attorney with the Florida Justice Institute, said in a news release last month. 'The City cannot single out panhandling for differential treatment because it deems that speech unpleasant. Arresting poor people because they ask others for help is morally wrong, bad policy, and accomplishes nothing except wasting valuable police resources.' Miami repealed a previous panhandling ordinance in 2024 after it was sued by the Florida Justice Institute in 2023. The plaintiff in that case, Willie White, who was 65 at the time of the 2023 lawsuit, had been arrested twice for panhandling in the span of a month. The city eventually settled with White for $45,000.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged after alleged July 2024 armed robbery at Westfarms Mall
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut man is now facing federal charges for an alleged armed robbery at Westfarms mall on July 15, 2024. Officials say 58-year-old Willie White allegedly entered the Sunglass Hut at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford and stole multiple pairs of sunglasses and brandished a firearm. He was charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. 4 people arrested in connection with stabbing outside Westfarms mall Officials say White has resided in Bristol, New Britain and Hartford. White's alleged criminal history includes more than 15 felony convictions for drug, robbery, burglary and other offenses. White pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. He has been detained since his arrest on July 15 on related state charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Indictment accuses CT man of using firearm during robbery at Westfarms mall
A man with a lengthy history of drug, robbery and other felony convictions has been indicted in connection with an armed robbery at Westfarms mall last July. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in New Haven on April 16 charging Willie White, 58, with interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. White, who has formerly resided in Bristol, New Britain and Hartford, could face between a minimum of seven years in prison and a maximum of a life sentence if he were convicted on the charges, federal officials said. White appeared Wednesday in federal court where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to authorities, the indictment alleges that White robbed the Sunglass Hut at Westfarms mall in West Hartford on July 15, 2024. He allegedly showed a Glock pistol during the theft and stole multiple pairs of designer glasses, officials said. White has been detained since the day of the robbery, according to federal officials. His previous criminal history includes more than 15 felony convictions on drug, robbery, burglary and other charges. Federal officials noted that White was on state supervision, which included GPS monitoring, at the time of the robbery. Officials also said his felony convictions disqualify him from having a gun.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bossier, Shreveport hospitals unite to offer integrated patient care
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Brentwood Hospital and David Raines Community Health Center have officially agreed to partner and provide patients with comprehensive, integrated healthcare. David Raines offers primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services. Brentwood Hospital offers psychiatric care. The two hospitals have been transferring and referring patients for a long time. 'We're excited about developing and formalizing this referral relationship being able to again expand that access to patients who need both of the services that we provide,' says Ceo of David Raines Community Health Center, Willie White. Black Family Wellness Expo in Louisiana offering health screenings Brentwood Hospital CEO William Weaver says, 'We're real excited about what we do for the community and excited about continuing to strive to provide more services in collaboration with David Raines.' The specialty of Brentwood Hospital is treating patients with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Weaver says it is imperative that those working in behavioral health work hand-in-hand with medical partners. 'The prevalence of medical issues, chronic issues with people with mental illness is extremely high. According to NAMI, people with depression have a 40% higher rate of have cardiovascular disease,' said Weaver. Brentwood Hospital is the largest psychiatric hospital in Louisiana, and Weaver says their work is vital, especially with stigma continuing around mental health. Louisiana sees decline in mental health issues post pandemic 'Frequently, people aren't going to look to us in the mental health community because of the stigma. So, if we can get them to talk to their primary care doctor, if we can get them to talk to their nurse practitioner, and then hopefully between this partnership in particular, the integration we can get those conversations going where we can step in and help,' said Weaver. David Raines Community Health Center serves four parishes and 17 school-based health centers. 'We see that with diabetics, and hypertensive people who have heart attacks, that we could've taken care of the high blood pressure much sooner, strokes, all of the things, bad things that can happen, diabetics, that people go undiagnosed and so behavioral patients need that same access and they often very often have both medical and behavioral issues, they aren't mutually exclusive,' said White. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
