Latest news with #swarming
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
'Massive increase' in bee swarm rescues
A Devon chimney sweep who expanded his business to include rehoming bee swarms five years ago said 2025 had been his busiest year so Fisher, who runs Ashburton Chimney Sweep, said his team had dealt with a hive every day for the last Thomas O'Shea-Wheller, biologist at the University of Exeter, said this was normal swarming season, but an early spate of warm weather could have made them very Fisher said he and his team had "seen a massive increase" in the number of swarms collected already this season. Once the bees are rescued, often from chimneys, they go to live with beekeeper Mark Norman, near Scorriton, on the eastern edge of has set up seven hives from rescued swarms in the last few Norman said: "It's really, really busy, both swarms and people with bees in chimneys calling us in to help"."There is a massive drop in the amount of bees and insects all over the world, so anything we can do to preserve a colony of bees is fantastic", he O'Shea-Wheller said the reason bees swarmed was to said: "So their colonies are splitting, and the new colony will form a swarm and try to find a new home, and often, chimneys are a really good place to do that."
CBC
26-05-2025
- CBC
2 teens sentenced for role in fatal swarming outside Edmonton high school
Two teens were sentenced Monday for their roles in a fatal five-on-one swarming attack outside an Edmonton high school three years ago. Karanveer Sahota, 16, died after he was stabbed shortly after leaving school on the afternoon of April 8, 2022. The sentencing of the final two out of seven teens involved in the killing has brought the court proceedings to a close. Both young men sentenced Monday have been found guilty of manslaughter. The two young men, referred to as P.D. and G.S. in Monday's proceedings in an Edmonton Court of King's Bench courtroom, were both under 18 at the time of the attack and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. P.D., who is now 19, will serve 21 months. Half of the sentence will be in custody with the remainder to be served under conditional supervision of not being in contact with Sahota's family. G.S., who is now 17, was given a 15-month sentence with five months to be served in custody and 10 months under conditional supervision of not being in touch with any of the co-accused in the case. Justice Peter Michalyshyn said P.D.'s sentence is based on his involvement in the swarming, which was only second to another youth involved in the killing referred to as M.A., who was 14 at the time and admitted to stabbing the victim once. An aggravating factor was P.D.'s use of a field hockey stick to hit Sahota. It's taken three years for all the cases to wind their way through the court system: A woman who was 17 at the time of the attack admitted that she drove a car away from the scene. She pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to an assault with a weapon, and was sentenced to 12 months probation. A young man who was 15 at the time admitted to driving a different car from the scene. He pleaded guilty to the same charge and received the same sentence as the driver of the other vehicle. A teen who was 15 at the time admitted to being part of a group assault on the victim, but did not stab or punch him. The teen pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received four months in jail, and four months of community supervision. A teen who was 14 at the time admitted to stabbing the victim once and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail followed by 18 months of probation. "The offence of manslaughter is amongst the most serious in Canadian criminal law," Michalyshyn said about his decision. "I find their sentences are most likely to rehabilitate P.D. and G.S. and to reintegrate them both into society." Both young men sentenced on Monday will be on probation for a year after their incarceration. A group of more than 10 people came to watch the proceedings.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Preston's Law signed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, establishing 'swarming' as a felony
The Brief Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Preston's Law on May 12. The law is named after a teen who was severely beaten at a Halloween party in October 2023 and died from his injuries days later. The law creates a new type of crime called "swarming," which will be a class 4 felony, allowing prosecutors to seek harsher punishments. PHOENIX - Preston's Law was signed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on May 12. What we know "For nearly two years, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell worked alongside State Representative Matt Gress (R), and Preston Lord's parents, to gain passage of House Bill 2611. Also known as 'Preston's Law,' in memory of the 16-year-old who died at the hands of a group of teenagers in October 2023, the law creates a new category of assault and allows for tougher penalties against those who are convicted of these crimes," the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) said. The law will amend assault statutes to create a new type of crime called "swarming." It's when three or more people attack one person, causing physical injuries. It will be a class 4 felony, allowing prosecutors to seek tougher penalties. MCAO says it's a probation-eligible offense. Big picture view "After Preston's death, the public learned of a group called the 'Gilbert Goons,' comprised mostly of teenagers who beat up other teens and young adults at parking lots, parks, and parties. It is common for Goons, and their affiliates, to post video of the assaults online and on social media," MCAO said. What they're saying Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated that the new law will ensure these types of beatings are treated with appropriate severity. "Preston's tragic death placed sharp focus on the need for the law to catch up with this awful trend. It's a new tool we can use to send a clear message those who commit these cowardly attacks that they will most definitely be held accountable," Mitchell said. "I am deeply grateful to legislators, staff, and supporters who worked very hard to change the law, and to the governor for giving Preston's Law her approval." What's next Preston's Law will take effect 90 days after the legislature concludes this year's session. What you can do Click here for more FOX 10 reports on Preston Lord's death, as well as other reports of teen violence.
