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SUNY offering classes to help grow Direct Support Workforce

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---Twelve SUNY campuses across the state will soon be offering courses for those who currently are or want to become Direct Support Professionals. "Direct support professionals are the folks who work with, care for, advocate with folks with developmental disabilities," said Cynthia Proctor, SUNY Director of Communications and Economic Policy Development.Blaise Bryant is a communications specialist with the NYS Association on Independent living and says he knows first hand just how important these workers are."Homecare workers allowed me, in addition to working my full time job, be a part of the community and advocating for a world that is inclusive and assessable for people with disabilities," said Bryant.But like with many industries, there’s a shortage of these workers."There’s about 130,000 people with developmental disabilities in this state and the vacancy rate for open positions ranges by something like 17-27 %," said Proctor. In an effort to grow the work...

Beloved animal rescue activist dies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Cydney Cross, a beloved local animal rescue activist suddenly passed away recently. Local animal rescue organizations are now paying tribute to Cydney and her rescue work which was especially centered around Pitbulls.Inspiring Women of the Capital Region: Cydney CrossNicknamed the Grandmother of Pitbull rescue, Cydney started 'Out of the Pits' in 1994, an organization devoted to rescuing the breed she thought of as misunderstood. “Cydney’s been doing this — 'Out of the Pits' — for 29 years, and prior to that she was in rescue for Greyhounds. So, the last 40 to 50 years of her life has been devoted to dogs” said Maggie Blodgett, Co-VP Out of the Pits.Cydney was working up until the end. Just 3 weeks ago she was at the Healthy Pet Center in Latham buying supplies for dogs that she rescued.Sirena Sanders works at the chain store where Cydney was a regular customer. She says Cross was truly devoted to her work with dogs. “She worked endlessly. She would some...

Saratoga's poet laureate receives fellowship award

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The city's own poet laureate has been announced as an awardee of a prestigious fellowship award. Poet Laureate Joseph Bruchac was spotlighted this week as a recipient of the Poet Laureate Fellowship Award by the Academy of American Poets. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “I feel doubly blessed by this fellowship," said Bruchac. "First by being recognized by the Academy of American Poets, one of our nation's most important voices for poetry; second, and more importantly, by the way its support will enable me to better carry out my role as the first Poet Laureate of Saratoga Springs.”Bruchac was one of 23 poet laureates chosen across the united states for this year's award. He and his fellow awardees have each received $50,000 for their work in the medium of poetry. Since 2019, the academy has given $5.45 million to 104 poet laureates from around the U.S.“I want to congratulate the very first poet...

Upstate hospitals to receive $1B annually

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

ABLANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Upstate hospitals will be getting a financial boost in the amount of one billion dollars every year. Hospitals will use the money as they see best fit. "Better health care, addressing the doctor and nurse shortage, which we’ve seen so much for, smoother operations, decreased weight times, more telemedicine, so much more. It’s just great news," said State Senator Chuck Schumer at a press event on Wednesday. Weekend activities at Moreau Lake State Park Schumer said for years upstate New York has struggled with low Medicare reimbursement, making it difficult for hospitals to pay higher wages, hire new employees and retain staff. Some employees even moving out of state to take up health care positions that pay more. "This is gonna mean more jobs for upstate New York and more health care, better health care for upstate New York," she said. Gary Fitzgerald, President of the Iroquois Health Care Association said, this is something advocates have been working on fo...

Barnes-Jewish Hospital again named among best US hospitals, top in Missouri

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An annual report once again names Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis among the nation's best hospitals. U.S. News & World Report released its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings on Tuesday, which recognized Barnes-Jewish among the 22 best hospitals in the United States. Unlike past years, however, there wasn't a national ranking attached. However, the report once again recognized Barnes-Jewish Hospital as the best in Missouri. ‘Life Goes On, Man’ : Cardinals look ahead to future after deadline deals According to the report, Barnes-Jewish ranked nationally in 11 of 15 measured specialties: cancer; cardiology & heart surgery; diabetes & endocrinology; ear, nose & throat; gastroenterology & gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics; neurology & neurosurgery; obstetrics & gynecology; orthopedics; pulmonology & lung surgery; and urology.“Our team is grateful to be recognized as a national leader on this prestigious list for the 30th time – coincidi...

St. Louis County man admits $149K pandemic loan fraud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County man faces up to 15 years in federal prison after admitting to pandemic loan fraud.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Cecil Jones, 41, appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to unlawful transfer of an identification document.According to court documents, Jones filed a fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan on July 25, 2020, to the Small Business Administration. The application had Jones' name but purposefully wrong Social Security number, and a picture of Jones holding a fake Missouri driver's license. That license had Jones' first name spelled "Cecill."The SBA ultimately approved the fraudulent application, and deposited $149,000 into a Regions Bank account owned and controlled by Jones.Jones will be sentenced on Nov. 6. In additional to prison, he faces a $250,000 fine and will be ordered to repay the money.

Four Douglas County students sue school leaders alleging pervasive racism violated their civil rights

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

Four students of color who attended Douglas County schools allege in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that the school district and its leaders violated their right to an equal education by exhibiting “callous indifference” toward extensive racist bullying the children experienced and reported at school.The lawsuit filed by the families of students who attended Castle Rock Middle School and Douglas County High School in U.S. District Court in Denver names as defendants the Douglas County School District, its elected school board and Castle Rock principal John Veit. The teens are unnamed in the complaint because they are minors.The students’ attorney, Iris Halpern, confirmed that two of the teen plaintiffs include Jeramiah Ganzy and his sister Neveah Ganzy, who earlier this year told The Denver Post about racist bullying so egregious that it prompted Jeremiah to finish his school year online and the family to flee Castle Rock altogether.The lawsuit claims the defend...

How former CU lecturer John Eastman is involved in Donald Trump indictment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

Former President Donald Trump was indicted Tuesday on allegations he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Referenced in the federal indictment is John Eastman, a Trump attorney and former visiting scholar of conservative thought and policy at the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization at the University of Colorado Boulder.Though Eastman isn’t mentioned by name, his attorney confirmed to NBC News that he is the person identified as co-conspirator No. 2 in the indictment.Tuesday’s indictment is one of several criminal cases Trump is facing. See how Eastman factors into the election-related case and what he has done leading up to the new charges.CU regents call Eastman “an embarrassment” as Jan. 6 committee includes ex-professor in criminal referralThe chair of CU’s Board of Regents called Eastman “an embarrassment” on Dec.19, 2022, and said the elected board respects the ability of the Justice Department to weigh the Jan. 6 commit...

Leah Remini files lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

Leah Remini has stepped up her years-long battle against the Church of Scientology. The actress filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in a Los Angeles superior court against the church and its current leader, David Miscavige. Remini made the announcement in a statement on Substack."After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige," she wrote. Leah Remini arrives at night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)The point of the lawsuit is to require the church "and any entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation an other unlawful conduct against anyone who Scientology has labeled as an 'enemy.'"She's also seeking compensation for what she claims "Scientology has inflicted on her and her career."The former "King of Queens" star further explained in her statement that spe...

Lawsuit filed against L.A. County probation officers seen on video assaulting minor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:24 GMT

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against Los Angeles County probation officers involved in a use of force incident that was caught on video.During a news conference Wednesday, attorneys for then 17-year-old Beckham Cardona showed video of the October 2020 attack at a Malibu juvenile facility. The video, first obtained by the Los Angeles Times, shows multiple officers on top of Cardona, while Oscar Cross is seen bending the teen’s legs backward while he is already held down.The lawsuit accuses the officers of placing excessive weight on teen’s throat and chest, disrupting his oxygen flow.Attorneys say the teen posed no threat, was not fighting back and could be heard screaming in the video.Late last month, District Attorney George Gascón filed a felony excessive force charge against Cross in connection with the incident. Gascón called it a “brutal" assault on a child. L.A. County probation officer charged with assaulting minor Cardona on Wednesday said he was left trau...