Latest news with #Woodbury
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woodbury: East Ridge teacher on leave following report of racial slur
A female teacher at East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on administrative leave Thursday after she reportedly repeatedly used a racial slur while talking with students, officials said. The teacher was 'immediately walked out of the building' after students reported the staff member had used the slur, said Shawn Hogendorf, a spokesman for South Washington County Schools. The teacher, who was not identified, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said. In a letter sent to families, Principal Jim Smokrovich wrote that he received a report Thursday morning that the staff member used a racial slur 'while discussing inappropriate comments a student was making toward other students.' The staff member 'repeated the racial slur multiple times during the conversation,' Smokrovich wrote. 'As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we met with the students who reported what they heard the staff member say, and connected with their families,' he wrote. 'Understandably, the students were upset by the use of the racial slur. We are grateful to the students who were brave enough to bring this forward and to support our East Ridge values.' Staff are available to meet with students if they are 'in need of additional support to process this incident,' he wrote. East Ridge 'does not tolerate derogatory, discriminatory or racist language,' he wrote. 'As educators, we must be held to the highest possible standard. I offer my sincere apology for the actions that took place in our school.' Officials in the school district last fall banned a substitute teacher from its classrooms after he allegedly reenacted George Floyd's murder during classes at Woodbury High School. Meanwhile, the South Washington County school board on Thursday night voted 5-2 to update the district's racial equity and inclusion policy to remove duplications and clarify definitions and language. Board members Ryan Clarke and Eric Tessner dissented. The rewritten policy states that district administrators will 'condemn hate speech and expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and ethnic or racial intolerance.' Hate speech is defined in the policy as speech that either disparages, demeans, targets, 'threatens or harasses a person or group based on protected class status.' Inmate rights groups demand say in Stillwater prison closure plan Pioneer Press 2025 patio guide: Wring every second out of summer at these 100+ Twin Cities spots Pioneer Press 2025 patio guide: Along the water and scenic spots Truck driver tells trooper he was distracted by map before Washington County fatal crash Woodbury officials seek info on rug connected to house fire
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A second PGA Tour Superstore will open in the Twin Cities next month
The Twin Cities is set to get its second PGA Tour Superstore, with a 35,000 sq. ft. location opening next week in Woodbury. The PGA Tour's official off-course, off-airport retail partner first arrived in Minnesota in 2016 when it opened in Minnetonka. Now it's making a move to the east metro, officially opening its doors at 1555 Queens Drive on June 14 at 9 a.m., giving away thousands of dollars-worth of merchandise to the first shoppers in line. "This is a booming golf market. With 95 golf courses in the area, the metro-Twin Cities are an obvious expansion market for us,' said Ron Gornick, Woodbury General Manager, PGA TOUR Superstore. "Our knowledgeable staff will help everyone looking to experience the joy of the game find the right equipment and apparel – whether shopping for yourself or for a gift. We are eager to welcome guests through our doors next month and look forward to becoming a valued partner in supporting this local community." The store will feature "several interactive areas," including a 1,264 sq. ft. putting green, six practice and play bays, simulators for club fittings, "an interactive demonstration bay for in-home golf simulators," and an in-house club making and repair facility. There will naturally be a wide array of men's, women's and children's golf apparel and shoes. In addition to golf goods, the store will also feature a selection of tennis and pickleball equipment.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-California police captain accused of midair lewd behavior after allegedly downing entire bottle of bubbly
A federal grand jury has indicted an ex-California Highway Patrol captain after he allegedly downed an entire bottle of sparkling wine before displaying lewd behavior on a Los Angeles-bound flight from Florida in April. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said 49-year-old Dennis Wally Woodbury of Azusa, California, was charged with a single count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Woodbury, according to a press release from the DOJ, is a former California Highway Patrol captain who was dismissed from state service, and on April 13, he was a passenger on a JetBlue Airways flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Los Angeles. Woodbury allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct with two male flight attendants. Pilot Allegedly Calls Out Vaping Passenger In Cabin-wide Announcement: 'One Person Decided To Risk Lives' Before the plane pulled away from the gate, he showed one of the flight attendants a picture of a dog with pornographic imagery in the background, the DOJ said. Read On The Fox News App The Sacramento Bee reported that prosecutors claimed Woodbury had been "drinking heavily" on the plane and even drank a full bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine within a 3-hour period. Woodbury later told one of the flight attendants the two of them should go on a cruise together, before making a "crude hand gesture," the DOJ said. American Airlines Passenger Restrained, Knocked To Floor While Barging Into Cockpit: Video After passengers were provided with a meal on the flight, the second flight attendant reportedly collected meal trays and walked past Woodbury. The suspect then allegedly used his left hand to slap the flight attendant's buttocks before yelling that he loved him. The DOJ said later in the flight, Woodbury entered the front galley where the first flight attendant was, before pulling down his own trousers and underwear, exposing himself. Vaping Flight Passenger Prompts Pilot To Threaten To 'Turn This Plane Around' Woodbury was told his behavior was inappropriate, according to the DOJ. A short time later, he asked for more wine, but the request was denied. Once he was denied the wine, Woodbury allegedly pulled his pants and underwear down once more, and the flight attendant told him, "Enough, go back to your seat." Both flight attendants told law enforcement officials afterward that they never consented to Woodbury's behavior. JetBlue did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter. Woodbury appeared in federal court last month and was freed on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. His charge – abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. – is a felony that the DOJ said carries a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal article source: Ex-California police captain accused of midair lewd behavior after allegedly downing entire bottle of bubbly
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Fox News
Ex-California police captain accused of midair lewd behavior after allegedly downing entire bottle of bubbly
A federal grand jury has indicted an ex-California Highway Patrol captain after he allegedly downed an entire bottle of sparkling wine before displaying lewd behavior on a Los Angeles-bound flight from Florida in April. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said 49-year-old Dennis Wally Woodbury of Azusa, California, was charged with a single count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Woodbury, according to a press release from the DOJ, is a former California Highway Patrol captain who was dismissed from state service, and on April 13, he was a passenger on a JetBlue Airways flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Los Angeles. Woodbury allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct with two male flight attendants. Before the plane pulled away from the gate, he showed one of the flight attendants a picture of a dog with pornographic imagery in the background, the DOJ said. The Sacramento Bee reported that prosecutors claimed Woodbury had been "drinking heavily" on the plane and even drank a full bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine within a 3-hour period. Woodbury later told one of the flight attendants the two of them should go on a cruise together, before making a "crude hand gesture," the DOJ said. After passengers were provided with a meal on the flight, the second flight attendant reportedly collected meal trays and walked past Woodbury. The suspect then allegedly used his left hand to slap the flight attendant's buttocks before yelling that he loved him. The DOJ said later in the flight, Woodbury entered the front galley where the first flight attendant was, before pulling down his own trousers and underwear, exposing himself. Woodbury was told his behavior was inappropriate, according to the DOJ. A short time later, he asked for more wine, but the request was denied. Once he was denied the wine, Woodbury allegedly pulled his pants and underwear down once more, and the flight attendant told him, "Enough, go back to your seat." Both flight attendants told law enforcement officials afterward that they never consented to Woodbury's behavior. JetBlue did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter. Woodbury appeared in federal court last month and was freed on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. His charge – abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. – is a felony that the DOJ said carries a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal prison.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Ex-police captain slaps attendant and exposes himself on plane to CA, feds say
A former California Highway Patrol captain, who lost his job with the state police agency, 'slapped a flight attendant's buttocks' and exposed his genitals to another crewmember on a JetBlue flight to Los Angeles in April, federal prosecutors said. Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, started acting inappropriately with the two male flight attendants before the plane took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 13, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. He had been 'drinking heavily' on the aircraft, prosecutors said. On May 1, a federal grand jury indicted Woodbury, of Azusa, in Los Angeles County, on one count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. He's free from custody on a $50,000 bond following his initial court appearance on April 15, records show. Woodbury's federal public defender, Annick Jordan didn't immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment May 2. An FBI task force officer investigating Woodbury wrote in court filings that the California Highway Patrol had 'dismissed' him 'from state service.' The reason wasn't specified by the FBI officer, who's also a Los Angeles Police Department detective. While aboard the plane destined for the Los Angeles International Airport, court documents say that one of the flight attendants harassed by Woodbury reported he drank a full bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine, 'within 3 hours.' Before Woodbury later slapped this flight attendant, he showed another flight attendant a photo of a dog, according to court documents. In the picture, behind the dog, 'was a blurred image of what appeared to be two men having sex,' court documents say. Following take off and meal service, Woodbury slapped the one flight attendant's buttocks as he gathered travelers' meal trays, according to prosecutors. 'Woodbury then yelled that he loved him,' prosecutors said. At some point afterward, Woodbury is accused of approaching the flight attendant, who he showed the inappropriate photo to, at the front of the plane and exposing his genitals, according to prosecutors. The flight attendant told Woodbury he was being inappropriate, then Woodbury asked if he could have wine, prosecutors said. Woodbury, according to prosecutors, exposed his genitals again by pulling down his pants after the crewmember wouldn't give him more alcohol. The flight attendant told Woodbury: 'Enough, go back to your seat,' prosecutors said. Woodbury is also accused of telling one of the flight attendants to take a cruise with him before making what prosecutors called a 'crude hand gesture.' A JetBlue spokesperson told McClatchy News via email on May 2 that 'the safety of our customers and crewmembers is our top priority' and added that the airline 'took immediate action at that time by notifying law enforcement.' 'We have zero tolerance for the behavior alleged and continue to assist and cooperate fully with authorities in this case,' the spokesperson said. If convicted, Woodbury would face up to two years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI and the Los Angeles Airport Police continue to investigate the incident.
