Latest from Kassioun
7NEWS
27 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Erin Patterson spends first night in prison as convicted killer
After enduring her first night in prison as a convicted triple murderer, Erin Patterson might spend the rest of her days behind bars. The 50-year-old mother of two was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder on Monday after a long trial. Her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunty Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after Patterson served them beef Wellington parcels laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson was the sole survivor. There was a shout of 'murderer' as Patterson was driven out of the court precinct to prison in Melbourne on Monday evening. The jury's guilty verdicts came seven days after they were sent away to deliberate and 11 weeks into the trial in the Victorian town of Morwell. Brianna Chesser, a clinical forensic psychologist and criminal lawyer, said she was not surprised by the outcome. She argued Patterson's testimony across eight days on the witness stand, as well as circumstantial evidence, likely proved critical to convincing the jury beyond reasonable doubt. 'Whenever you have any lies in a trial it is quite a difficult thing to overcome from a defence perspective,' the associate professor in criminology and justice at RMIT University told AAP. 'What came out regarding the mushrooms was almost insurmountable. 'When you've got particular searches on your phone and a dehydrator that you had and didn't have, it really speaks to the unusualness of the circumstances.' The story had captivated the world because of the method, as well as the now-convicted murderer being a woman when the vast majority of homicides were perpetrated by men, Dr Chesser said. Patterson faces a sentence of life in prison for the three murders and one attempted murder and is expected to return to court for a pre-sentence hearing later in 2025. Options for appeal were usually restricted to points of law, a 'massive' error in fact or new evidence, Dr Chesser said. 'It's going to be quite a large sentence,' she said. 'We've heard during the cross-examination and examination in chief that there are some mental health concerns for Ms Patterson. 'That may well act a mitigating factor in any sort of sentence. 'We're also dealing with someone who's a middle-aged woman who has never offended before in their life and we've got four of the most serious crimes in Victoria being committed.' Within hours of the verdict, the Supreme Court released dozens of pieces of evidence that helped prosecutors secure the convictions. They included photos showing remnants of beef Wellington leftovers as they were tested by toxicologists, after police found them inside a bin at Patterson's home A video of Patterson discharging herself from Leongatha Hospital minutes after she had arrived was also released, while images of her at the hospital revealed a pink phone police say they never recovered. Prosecutors said this was Patterson's primary phone in 2023 and claimed she had used it to find death cap mushrooms online.
Time Business News
27 minutes ago
- Health
- Time Business News
Top Professional House Cleaning to Transform Your Space
In today's fast-paced world, maintaining a clean and organized home can be challenging. A tidy living space not only boosts your mental well-being but also improves indoor air quality, reduces allergens, and prevents the spread of germs. That's where professional house cleaning services come in. If you're searching for reliable, thorough, and customized home cleaning solutions, Spotless Shine Services is here to deliver excellence. Whether it's a one-time deep clean or routine maintenance, professional house cleaners ensure every inch of your home gleams with freshness. With expert care, advanced tools, and eco-friendly cleaning products, your home can become a sanctuary of cleanliness and comfort. House cleaning refers to the regular or occasional cleaning tasks that keep a residence tidy, hygienic, and aesthetically pleasing. This includes dusting, vacuuming, sanitizing surfaces, mopping floors, kitchen and bathroom cleaning, and more. Professional cleaners use a strategic approach and effective methods to ensure every area, from the bedroom to the basement, is spotless. Whether you live in a small apartment or a large estate, house cleaning services can be tailored to your needs. Hiring house cleaning experts allows you to focus on what truly matters. Instead of spending weekends scrubbing tiles or mopping floors, you can relax or focus on work or family. When you hire a dedicated team like Spotless Shine Services, you get consistent, high-quality cleaning every time. Unlike DIY efforts, professionals follow a strict checklist to ensure nothing gets overlooked. Professional cleaners eliminate dust, bacteria, and allergens, creating a healthier environment. Using eco-friendly cleaning agents also reduces the exposure to harsh chemicals. From basic home cleaning to deep cleaning, and move-in/move-out cleaning to post-renovation cleanup, you can tailor the service to meet your specific requirements. This service typically includes vacuuming, mopping, dusting, emptying trash bins, and cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. It's perfect for busy homeowners who need routine help. Deep cleaning involves more intensive tasks such as scrubbing grout, wiping baseboards, cleaning behind appliances, and disinfecting high-touch areas. Ideal for seasonal refreshers or pre-event prep. Whether you're relocating or preparing a rental for new tenants, professional cleaners can make your space look brand new with a complete top-to-bottom clean. Spotless Shine Services also offers eco-friendly cleaning solutions. These services use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning agents to promote a safe and sustainable environment. DIY cleaning can be satisfying, but it rarely delivers the deep, thorough clean that professionals provide. Plus, hiring Spotless Shine Services saves you time, effort, and ensures higher cleanliness standards. Professionals have access to commercial-grade equipment and industry-leading products. They also understand the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting—terms often used interchangeably by DIYers but with significant distinctions in the professional cleaning industry. The frequency of house cleaning depends on your lifestyle, household size, and personal preference. Here are general guidelines: Weekly: Ideal for busy families, pet owners, or high-traffic homes. Ideal for busy families, pet owners, or high-traffic homes. Biweekly: Perfect for individuals or smaller households that want a tidy space. Perfect for individuals or smaller households that want a tidy space. Monthly Deep Clean: Helps tackle buildup and reach hidden areas. Helps tackle buildup and reach hidden areas. Occasional: Great for spring cleaning, holidays, or before hosting guests. Spotless Shine Services works with clients to create personalized cleaning plans that suit their schedules and budgets. Disinfect countertops Clean inside and outside of microwave Wipe down appliances and cabinet exteriors Scrub sinks and polish faucets Sanitize toilet, sink, and tub Wipe mirrors and glass surfaces Clean tiles and grout Empty trash and replace liners Dust furniture and baseboards Vacuum carpets and mop floors Change bed linens if requested Clean windowsills and light fixtures Inside fridge or oven Interior windows Laundry folding Closet organization Spotless Shine Services is known for delivering consistent, high-quality results tailored to your lifestyle. Here's what makes them unique: Experienced Cleaning Professionals : All staff are trained, background-checked, and insured. : All staff are trained, background-checked, and insured. Satisfaction Guarantee : If you're not satisfied, they'll return and make it right. : If you're not satisfied, they'll return and make it right. Flexible Scheduling : Book services weekly, biweekly, monthly, or as needed. : Book services weekly, biweekly, monthly, or as needed. Eco-Friendly Options: Green cleaning options are available at your request. When it comes to house cleaning, not all services are created equal. Spotless Shine Services puts customer satisfaction at the core of everything they do. Not all house cleaning providers offer the same level of service. Here's how to choose the best one: Reputation : Look for online reviews and testimonials. : Look for online reviews and testimonials. Services Offered : Make sure they provide what you need, from basic upkeep to deep cleaning. : Make sure they provide what you need, from basic upkeep to deep cleaning. Transparency : Pricing and policies should be clear and upfront. : Pricing and policies should be clear and upfront. Customization : Services should be adaptable to your needs. : Services should be adaptable to your needs. Supplies: Find out whether they bring their own cleaning products or use yours. Spotless Shine Services checks all these boxes, making them a top choice for homeowners who care about cleanliness and comfort. A clean home does more than just look good. It reduces stress, enhances focus, and supports a healthy immune system. Clutter and grime can increase anxiety and even lead to respiratory issues, especially for those with allergies or asthma. Professional house cleaning reduces this risk by ensuring allergens like dust mites and pet dander are eliminated. With Spotless Shine Services, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is safe and sparkling. To help the cleaning professionals work efficiently, here are some things you can do before the visit: Declutter : Pick up toys, clothing, and personal items from surfaces. : Pick up toys, clothing, and personal items from surfaces. Communicate : Let the team know about any problem areas or specific requests. : Let the team know about any problem areas or specific requests. Secure Pets : Keep pets in a safe, separate space if necessary. : Keep pets in a safe, separate space if necessary. Provide Access: Ensure the cleaners can enter your home if you're away. These small preparations can make a big difference in the quality and efficiency of your house cleaning service. Choosing professional house cleaning services is one of the best decisions for homeowners looking to save time, reduce stress, and improve quality of life. With customizable plans, experienced staff, and a commitment to excellence, Spotless Shine Services is your trusted partner in maintaining a beautifully clean home. Whether you need a routine tidy-up or a thorough deep clean, there's no better time to experience the comfort and joy of a spotless space. Trust Spotless Shine Services to deliver unmatched results and help your home shine from top to bottom. Ready to transform your living space? Call Now and Contact Spotless Shine Services today for a free quote and discover how professional house cleaning can elevate your home life. Book your first appointment now and see the difference a spotless shine can make! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
How did your school perform? Find your Escambia, Santa Rosa grades here
Escambia County Public Schools once again maintained a district-wide grade of "B" for the 2024-2025 school year, while Santa Rosa County Schools maintained its longtime A grade. Florida's Department of Education released its annual school grades on Monday. This was the third year students were tested using a new set of state standards and state assessments called FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking.) This test was written specifically for Florida students, based on the roll-out of the Florida Department of Education's new B.E.S.T. standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking). Escambia schools earned 16 'A' grades, 18 'B' grades, 16 'C' grades and 3 'D' grades. Santa Rosa schools earned 15 'A' grades, 9 'B' grades, 5 'C' grades, and 1 'F.' Find your Escambia County school grade here: Find your Santa Rosa County school grade here: This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia, Santa Rosa County school grades 2024-25 year
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Viral, At-Home Fitness Test Claims to Predict Longevity—but There's a Catch
Dimensions/Getty Images New blood tests, scans, and fitness trackers that purport to predict longevity are rolling out all the time, but if you've scrolled TikTok recently, you might be surprised to see a much lower-tech way getting some buzz: how well you fare in simply trying to haul your butt off the floor. It's all based on the takeaway from a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology that's been making the rounds. In it, researchers had more than 4,000 people do something they dubbed the 'sitting-rising' test and then followed up with them for over a decade. They found a link between how easily people were able to get up off the floor and how long they lived. The task sounds simple, but, as I learned firsthand, it's really not. To get a perfect score on the test, you need to be able to get from a position on the floor—usually cross-legged—to standing without using a hand, elbow, or knee to help. As a former competitive athlete who can't say no to a challenge, I needed to try this (and gain a perfect score) once it came across my FYP. To my surprise, it was hard. While I was able to get it done, I had to give myself a mental pep talk before each attempt. Pulling this test off is trickier than it sounds—it requires a combination of strength, balance, and flexibility, and I struggle to even touch my toes. So that made me wonder: How legit is it, really, in predicting your, um, ultimate demise? Does bombing the test mean you're going to keel over any second? I checked in with longevity experts and fitness pros to find out. One of the benefits of the sitting-rising test is you can do it right at home: Sit on the floor with your legs crossed in front of you and then try to get back up unassisted. The goal is to do this with as little support as possible, test inventor and lead study author Claudio Gil S Araújo, MD, a sports and exercise physician from the Exercise Medicine Clinic Clinimex in Rio de Janeiro, tells SELF. (Check out this handy YouTube video Dr. Araújo and his fellow researchers created to break it down in more detail.) The test is scored from zero to 10, with points assigned for sitting and rising added together. You'll be docked a point for each knee, hand, or forearm you use during the test, along with half-points if you're unsteady (say, you stumble when you get up). 'If you're an eight, why did you lose a point? It may mean that you used one hand to sit and one hand to rise,' Dr. Araújo says. In the study, the researchers discovered a link between how well people scored on the test and their risk of dying during a follow-up of about 12 years. In all, about 16% of the participants died during that period—but only 4% of folks who aced the test with a perfect 10 did so. (On the other end of the spectrum, people who got a four or less had a death rate of 42% during that time.) Okay, but…why? The test measures a few different things that are linked to better health and longevity, study co-author Jonathan Myers, PhD, a clinical professor at Stanford University and a health research scientist at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System, tells SELF. 'When we think of 'fitness,' people usually think of 'aerobic' or cardiorespiratory fitness,' he says. 'Over the last three decades or so, cardiorespiratory fitness has become recognized as a powerful predictor of health outcomes—in many studies, it is even more powerful than the traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, or [high cholesterol].' Cardiorespiratory fitness is important, sure—it's considered a strong indicator of overall health, along with being linked to a lower risk of developing certain diseases. But fitness is more broad than that, and includes things like strength and balance, Dr. Myers says. Strength has been shown to help with daily living (think: being able to carry your own groceries), while balance helps to protect against falls, Dr. Araújo explains. These skills are important for longevity, and they're something that Hannah Koch, PT, DPT, physical therapist at Michigan State University Health Care, tells SELF she checks with older patients, along with their range of motion. The sitting-rising test looks at strength, power, and balance, all in one move. So basically, you're getting more bang for your buck, looking at all of these factors at once. Added bonus: It can also give some insight on your cardiovascular health, Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF. 'One could not do this after certain types of strokes or if too weak from poor overall health,' she adds. While the test is predictive, it's by no means perfect: There are some flaws with it. 'The test does not identify the underlying cause of poor performance,' Anna A. Manns, PT, DPT, lead physical therapist at University Hospital in New Jersey, tells SELF. Meaning, it can't tell if you struggle with getting up due to joint pain, an injury, or the fact that you went hard at the gym yesterday—and those factors don't necessarily have an impact on your longevity. It's also possible to game the test, say, by 'compensating with upper-body movement or momentum by using arm swings or trunk movement to 'cheat' the test,' Dr. Mann says, which would 'mask true lower-limb weakness.' The test also only looks at lower-body function and core strength, so it doesn't gauge your overall fitness, upper-body strength or endurance, 'all of which are important for full functional capacity,' she adds. While the sitting-rising test has a link with longevity, there are plenty of others that healthcare providers use regularly. Simple hand-grip tests, which measure grip strength, are a 'powerful predictor of mortality,' Dr. Myers says. Case in point: A 2015 study published in The Lancet found that grip strength was better at predicting someone's odds of dying from heart disease or other causes during the follow-up than systolic blood pressure, which is usually used to gauge cardiovascular health. Balance tests, like the ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds or longer, can also be helpful, Dr. Myers says. Koch also flags the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5TSTS) as a useful way to check a person's lower-body strength and balance. It's similar to the sitting-rising test, but has people get up from a chair versus the floor five different times. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which has people get up from a chair, walk a short distance, turn around, walk back, and sit back down while being timed, is useful too, says Manns. 'Together, these tests provide a patient picture of overall physical function and longevity,' Manns says. That said, they're still only a part of the overall picture of your health. There's no reason to get down on yourself if you don't do well on the sitting-rising test—not getting a perfect 10 on the sitting-rising test certainly doesn't mean you're doomed. But it could clue you in on areas of fitness to work on, Dr. Araújo says. That may mean working on balance training, flexibility, or building power. 'This helps a lot to get people motivated,' Dr. Araújo says. Dr. Myers agrees that your mobility, strength, flexibility, and balance can usually be improved with practice and training. 'Individuals who don't perform well on these tests can improve their performance by strengthening lower body muscles, and specific exercises can be targeted to improve flexibility, balance, gait, and mobility,' he says. Albert Matheny, CSCS, cofounder of SoHo Strength Lab, suggests focusing on things like squats, single-leg exercises like lunges, and even balancing on one leg to hit these areas. It's also important to remember that these tests are only part of the puzzle: There are a bunch of health-promoting behaviors out there that have nothing to do with how well you can get up off the floor—or even how well you move in general. While physical activity is important, other things, like eating a high-quality diet, minimizing stress, getting plenty of sleep, and adopting other healthy lifestyle habits like avoiding smoking and minimizing alcohol, also come in handy. Together, these can help you be your healthiest self. 'The sitting-rising test is a good screening tool,' Dr. Araújo says. 'There's a lot we can do to move forward after that.' Related: 6 Daily Habits Doctors Say Will Help You Live Longer 5 Ways Strong Friendships Can Benefit Your Health as You Get Older Exactly How Your Skin Changes in Your 40s, 50s, and 60s Get more of SELF's great fitness coverage delivered right to your inbox—for free. Originally Appeared on Self
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Blackmon joins the cast of Good Morning Football
The ever-changing cast of Good Morning Football has undergone another change. Via former NFL defensive back Will Blackmon has joined the cast for the upcoming season. A fourth-round pick from Boston College in 2006, Blackmon spent four years with the Packers, two with the Giants, two with the Jaguars, and two with the Commanders. He last played in the NFL in 2016. Advertisement Blackmon, who also returned punts and kickoffs during his time in the NFL, was a member of the Super Bowl XLVI champion Giants. He had served on a rotating cast of contributors following the departure of Akbar Gbaja-Biamila after one season. Blackmon did enough to get the full-time gig. The show has been in a state of flux for most of the past year, with a surprising move of the production from New York to Los Angeles (and a 5:00 a.m. local start time) and the departure of multiple members of the cast, including Jason McCourty and Peter Schrager.
