Related Coverage

AUSTIN (KXAN) Its one step forward and two steps back for the Austin Police Department and its shuttered DNA lab. According to a new city memo, mold was recently discovered on DNA samples dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s at an evidence storage facility.

The department originally found out about the mold on April 25, 2017 when Signature Science, a lab that the city has contracted to conduct DNA analysis as its lab remains closed, notified them that at least one sexual assault kit sent to their lab seemed to have mold on it. The paperwork that arrived with the cases was also described as being damp.

The following day, an inspection of the evidence warehouse walk-in refrigerator revealed mold on some boxes in the back of the cooler. According to the memo, none of the evidence in this particular walk-in cooler had been tested and, therefore, had never been considered as DNA evidence in the deliberation of any case already adjudicated.

Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said that while this development is concerning, it does not affect any current or active prosecutions.

As weve gotten the facts about the situation, were not alarmed. Right now, there really isnt any need to consider this something thats a debacle or a catastrophe in any way. There is no present impact on any cases in this office, said Moore.

The walk-in refrigerator in question is different than the storage freezer that broke last year.

An audit revealed of the 1,629 cases inspected, 780 had no visible mold and 849 had some signs of mold.

APD says they immediately hired a company to seal all seams on the outside of the refrigerator on May 3 to prevent moisture from entering. The department also installed a dehumidifier on June 2 to bring the humidity level down.

On June 21, Signature Science notified APD that no issues were observed with the samples processed from the case originally reported to have mold.

While APD says they were starting remediation efforts with recommendations from the DPS Capital Area Lab Section Manager to address the mold found on the cases, they have placed it on hold pending further research on mold remediation. A nationwide request has been sent out seeking information on the best way to address the mold issue.

Advocates for sexual assault survivors in Austin and Travis County say this is just another hit to the process, and the publics trust in the process, after the problems last year at the APD DNA lab.

The DNA lab is one piece of a very long system that victims have to navigate in order to seek any kind of justice after a sexual assault, explained Emily LeBlanc, the co-chair of the Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team, or SARRT. My initial reaction, of course, is concern primarily for how this affects the publics confidence in the process and potential victims willingness to come forward.

LeBlanc says Texas has a sexual assault reporting rate of only about nine percent.

Very few sexual assaults get reported to law enforcement to begin with, and when they do, its often years before they reach the prosecution stage. We tend to see victims drop out of that process along the way because of how difficult that is. So, putting one more barrier in an already lengthy, difficult, heart-wrenching process for victims of a really horrible crime, is likely to make that reporting number go down.

The mold discovery, LeBlanc says, is a symptom of a larger problem.

We have a justice system that allowed kits to sit and crimes go un-prosecuted since the 90s, and those seem to be the kits that seem to be affected by this most recent development, LeBlanc said.

She argues that something needs to be done.

Whatever we can do to restore the publics confidence, to be as transparent as possible, and to really process that evidence as quickly as possible so that we dont see a three-year delay from the time someones assaulted to the time that case is taken to prosecution, the better off were going to be and the safer were going to be as a community.

Survivors of sexual assault looking for information and resources, including legal aid, can call 1-844-303-7233 (SAFE).

See more here:
Mold found on hundreds of APD DNA samples - KXAN.com

SPARTANBURG CO., S.C. (WSPA) Over the last two years weve reported many times about the on-going mold issues at the Spartanburg County Courthouse.

Now that building has some company.

New testing confirms elevated levels of mold in two county owned buildings across the street.

In some cases, samplers found the worst kind of mold. We looked into what the county is doing about it:

The county showed us work that was underway in 180 Library street. An open air return, one of several spots slated for cleanup by the mold reports. The first one was done by JMAC Environmental, and the second, an air sample done by ECS Southeast.

I cant say I was surprised, said Murray Glenn, the Solicitors Spokesman, when he heard about the elevated mold levels.

Glenn recalls how his whole office was forced to move out of the Spartanburg County Courthouse for 5 weeks last year during the mold remediation.

Last summer it was my office, round two which was several months ago was directly across from me, he said.

And round three, was this month in his satellite office across the street from the courthouse.

Air quality test results show slightly elevated levels of spores right near Glenns office. The testing was even done after blackened vents were replaced, and some parts of the building underwent air scrubbing.

Well that remains to be seen. Were going to certainly investigate and follow the ongoing study and procedures with very high interest to make sure our employees are safe, said Peter OBoyle.

On the same block as that building, the Department of Juvenile Justice building also came back with slightly elevated levels of mold. One of the offices even had Stachybotrys (or black mold) in the air which can be toxic.

At both buildings, the county says it has followed all the recommendations of the mold reports with attempts to fix water leaks as well as clean air vents.

It is important to note, most of the rooms in those two buildings showed normal, not elevated, levels of mold spores. But at issue is whether clean-up that was done before air tests (some air scrubbing, and installation of new vents) should have been done after to get a more accurate reading.

The county says it followed the protocol of the testing companies. If taxpayers approve the building of a new courthouse this fall, all of the offices in these two buildings will be relocated to the new facility according to the countys Judicial Strategic Plan.

9:57 am

Its a passion project started by Danielle Roberts and her family to make people smile and give back to the community.

Updated: 32 mins ago

Fire Chief issues statement on Pope Field Rd. fatality.

July 1, 2017

Two professors at Spartanburg Methodist College are interviewing veterans around Spartanburg County for a new book to help preserve a piece

June 30, 2017

Chimney Rock State Park was closed Friday while crews used a helicopter to lift new pieces for their elevator.

June 30, 2017

Greenville County Council voted earlier this month on a $10 fee increase to car tags where they money would help maintain roads.

Here is the original post:
Spartanburg County dealing with another mold issue - WSPA.com - WSPA.com

Pima County has been awarded a three-year, $1.7 million grant for lead paint abatement and other home safety repairs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Work funded by the grant will start in 2018 federal fiscal year.

About $1.5 million will be used to identify and remove lead hazards from an estimated 100 homes primarily in Ajo, the Flowing Wells area and the city of South Tucson. The areas were selected based on their large populations of low-income households with children, and concentrations of homes built before 1978.

Molly Hilber, the lead grant writer for this project, said the program will mostly target homes in these areas with children under the age of 6. The funding will also assist residents of Pima County who live outside the city of Tucson, which received a similar lead abatement grant from HUD in spring 2016.

The grant provides an additional $150,000 to help remove other household hazards in the selected areas. Potential items covered under the healthy homes funding include asbestos and mold removal, repairing broken handrails or steps, and removing other trip hazards.

Some of the funding will also be used for educational purposes.

Marcos Ysmael, the manager of the Pima County Housing Program, the department leading this project, said they are hoping to provide special safety trainings.

We are going to be promoting education for both homeowners and renters, as well as landlords, rental properties and contractors who will be working on these properties and may not be aware of all the hazards that could be present in these homes, he said.

Pima County will collaborate with several different local organizations to implement each part of the program.

Outreach and research will be done by The Southwest Fair Housing Council and the Sonoran Environmental Research Institute, which will assist Spanish-speaking communities and focus on outreach during community events.

The International Sonoran Desert Alliance and the Desert Senita Community Health Center will work to inform qualifying households in the Ajo area about this program. ISDA will undergo special training and will be responsible for conducting abatement in Ajo, under the supervision of Pima Countys Department of Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation.

Participating households will be able to have their children tested for lead through community health organizations including El Rio Community Health Centers, mobile nursing care services provided by the Pima County Health Department and Desert Senita Community Health Center, according to Hilber.

Lead poisoning in children can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties and a host of other serious health problems. Lead can be found in the paint of older homes, older water pipes and faucets, and in some toys manufactured outside of the United States.

I think every parent wants what is best for their children, but there are some very real barriers that make it difficult to get their homes assessed for lead hazards, she said. We hope to remove some of those barriers with this program so any child in Pima County can have access to a healthy home.

This is the first grant of its kind to be awarded to Pima County. This year HUD awarded $127 million in lead-abatement grants to 48 different agencies across the nation.

We dont always have the funding for lead abatement or to address these hazards in other properties, Ysmael said. This funding will allow us to be able to do that and hopefully we will get others involved, other partners and additional funding so we can keep this going.

To learn more about the program, call 724-8562.

Jamie Verwys is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at metro@tucson.com.

View post:
County gets $1.7M HUD grant to rehab lead-tainted homes - Arizona Daily Star

Landscaping is about more than just planting a few flowers and bushes around your pool. It's about planning and creating a pool environment thats easy to get to and hard to leave. Your first step is to get inspired. It can be a movie, a native flower or a planter you just couldnt resist. You can also find inspiration from different gardening styles. Just find ideas you love and build from there.

Next, design yourdeckand plan yourwalkways. After the pool itself, your deck is the foundation for your landscape design. Walkways are important, too you want to make access to your pool area easy so your plants dont get trampled.

Now its time to start planting! Youll want to choose plants that will flourish in your geographic area, so check with your local nurseries before you buy. You can also enlist the help of a professional landscape designer. Either way, it helps to know the lingo and the common pitfalls to avoid.

A great way to accent those plants is withedging. This keeps plants and grass from overflowing onto paths and driveways. This can be done with a variety of materials from concrete to plastic.

You may also need to add mulch or topsoil to your backyard pool area. Not sure how much you need? Check out ourmulch/topsoil calculatorto figure out the exact amount.

Anirrigation systemcan help keep your pool area looking its best. You want to balance water conservation while providing enough water for your area to flourish. There are different irrigation systems available depending on your needs.

With the right information, inspired ideas and, perhaps, a fabulous landscape designer, youre on your way to creating a lush and beautiful environment that adds depth and color to your back yard and more enjoyment to your pool. Love your view as much as you love your pool! For even more inspiredlandscaping tipsand backyard ideas, visitwww.americaslandscapers.com.

2017 Pool Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Go here to see the original:
Landscaping | SwimmingPool.com

Phoenix Business Journal

Arizona pool builder heats up industry top 50 list, splashing into 2nd place Phoenix Business Journal The company sold its six pool supply stores to Leslie's Poolmart Inc., a specialty swimming pool supplies retailer, in 2012. Gilbert-based Presidential Pools, Spas and Patio and Chandler-based California Pools & Landscape also landed among the top 10 ...

See the original post here:
Arizona pool builder heats up industry top 50 list, splashing into 2nd place - Phoenix Business Journal

By Frank Stanfield / Correspondent

LEESBURG City commissioners have given the green light to an architectural firm to design a new community building, which will result in the old building being torn down and the existing swimming pool likely being filled in for parking after this summer season ends.

The move is part of the multi-million dollar Venetian Gardens renovation project that has already brought about the Kids Korner playground and splash pad and is resulting in improvements to Ski Beach.

The proposed 20,700-square-foot building and changes to the entryway at Dozier Circle are part of the third and final phase of construction.

The idea, said City Manager Al Minner, is to create a destination, eventually linking back to downtown.

The existing building is old and would cost too much to renovate, said Mayor Bob Bone. The building, long the site of chamber of commerce breakfasts and other events, now sits near busy Dixie Avenue. Plans call for the new building to be set back farther from the road and to face Martin Luther King Island in the park to the west, and with a view of Lake Harris to the south.

Its bigger than the other one, Bone said of the new building. I like the concept facing out to the island.

Preliminary plans also envision sites for waterfront restaurants and boat docks.

Commissioners agreed to give the job to Borrelli & Partners. The Orlando firm specializes in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture.

The work, which could take six to nine months, is not to exceed $440,232, according to the contract. It includes handling bids and overseeing construction.

Commissioners did not discuss plans for the swimming pool Monday night.

Were always going to have a pool, said city spokesman Derek Hudson. The Venetian Gardens pool opened in 1929. A new pool could be built by the community gym on Griffin Road.

The city is paying cash for all of the Venetian Gardens improvements. Good old-fashioned pay-as-you-go, Minner said.

The city has reserved $4 million for phase three. Depending on what is done, it could cost between $3.5 and $5.5 million, he said.

The city still has reserves, plus it recently agreed to sell almost 2,000 acres to The Villages for about 4,500 homes and could sell fiber optics holdings, Minner said.

Go here to read the rest:
Leesburg OKs new community building, will replace pool - Daily Commercial

June 29, 2017

Marvin I. Adleman, professor emeritus of landscape architecture, died June 21 at age 84 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, of Parkinsons disease.

A distinguished landscape architect and a native of Philadelphia, Adleman attended Delaware Valley College and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He was best known for his accomplishments during his 36 years as professor of landscape architecture at Cornell, where he built the landscape architecture program and headed the department for most of his tenure at Cornell until his retirement in 2008.

Prior to joining the Cornell faculty, Adleman worked at Sasaki and Associates in Boston before starting his own landscape architecture practice in Philadelphia. In 1992, Adleman was named a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and in 2004 he was awarded the prestigious ASLA Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal.

Adleman designed numerous well-known outdoor spaces including the original Ithaca Commons in 1974, one of the first pedestrian malls of its kind, in downtown Ithaca. He also designed the arboretum at the Cornell Botanic Gardens, which was recently named the top university arboretum in the country by Best College Reviews. Adlemans other notable designs included the Laboratory of Ornithology bird garden, the garden at Cayuga Medical Center and Ithacas Cass Park childrens spray pool, as well as the redesign of several outdoor spaces at central New York schools and college campuses.

Marvin Adleman was a consummate educator with thousands of former students that hold him in high esteem not only for his broad professional knowledge but also for his kindness and thoughtfulness, said Peter Trowbridge, professor and chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He will be deeply missed.

Adleman is survived by his widow, Susan (Plaut) Adleman, three children and four grandchildren.

Memorial gifts can be sent to the attention of Peter Trowbridge, Department of Landscape Architecture, 440 Kennedy Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; reference the Excellence Fund in memory of Marvin Adleman. Memorials may also be made to Temple Beth El, 402 N. Tioga St., Ithaca.

Go here to see the original:
Landscape architect Marvin Adleman dies at age 84 - Cornell Chronicle

Porches, pools and patios are a sure sign of summer, and five of the unique outdoor settings will be showcased at a Porch Party in Geneseo.

Porches, pools and patios are a sure sign of summer, and five of the unique outdoor settings will be showcased at a Porch Party in Geneseo.

The event, which includes more than porches, is co-sponsored by First United Methodist Church and the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. It will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8. Rain date is Saturday, July 15.

Tickets are available at the Geneseo Chamber office and at various local businesses.

Guests will be asked to present their tickets when they arrive for a salad luncheon featuring homemade salads and breads at First UnitedMethodist Church. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gift bags containing coupons redeemable at local businesses will be distributed randomly at the luncheon.

Diana Holbrook, chairman of the event for the Geneseo Chamber, said, Guests are welcome to ask questions of the owners about their special outdoor oasis and enjoy a variety of activities at each location.

Lets help bring back the good ol days of sitting in your neighbor's porch and drinking lemonade and taking time to visit, Holbrook said. Visit like you used to back in the day and enjoy the company, you know, how you did before cell phones, and all the while enjoying the beautiful yards at your leisure that our gracious hosts have worked so hard on.

Holbrooks goal with the porch party is to bring residents, churches and the business community together.

Homes on the Porch Party Tour are:

Kathy and Mike Duda 920 Neptune St.

Tasha and John Moe 814 Virginia St.

Jackie and Mike Skiles 1011 Finch Dr.

Chris and Jim Stahl 13566 N. 2100 Ave.

Sandy and Gary Sturtewagen 919 Gooseberry Dr.

See the article here:
Celebrate summer at Geneseo's Porch Party - Geneseo Republic

After stirring up loads of controversy, Hearthstones much-maligned Quest Rogue deck is finally getting nerfed. Instead of triggering the quest by playing four minions with the same name, now players will have to find a way to summon five, which might seem like a small change but is actually a significantly harder task.

Quest Rogue is a deck that gives every minion a 5 health / 5 attack stat line when the player summons four minions with the same name. Since most minions in the deck can be summoned at a very low mana cost, the quest is one of the strongest in the game, and is practically unbeatable unless its up against a deck that specifically counters it.

Apparently, in Blizzards eyes, the card was so strong it warranted some tweaks. Todays changes will make turn-three quest finishes near impossible to pull off, meaning that Quest Rogues will be weaker against aggro decks, but still potent against late-game focused decks that spend a lot of time stalling.

While Blizzards balance team says that Quest Rogue decks arent single-handedly wrecking Hearthstones metagame, they say the change is meant to expand the deck options available to players, which is already a good thing. On top of that, though, the change will address the problem that pro players like Brian Brian Kibler Kibler struggled with: namely, that the deck feels like it has a limited axis of interaction.

If you arent crazy lucky, and you dont kill a Quest Rogue before turn four, youre usually dead unless youre running a direct counter. Kibler actually recommended this exact change to the quest in his video addressing its problems, so he and other pros are happy to see the card changed:

This nerf pattern will look familiar to anyone whos been following Hearthstone for more than a few months. Back in February, when Midrange Shamans and Pirate Warriors smashed almost everything else in the metagame, Blizzard stepped in and nerfed two cards that were key to those decks: Small-time Buccaneer and Spirit Claws. While the nerfs werent so intense that they made those decks irrelevant, they tweaked the game just enough to let other decks like Renolock and Jade Druid back into the mix.

Its hard to know whether the changes to Quest Rogue will have a significant impact on the metagame, because right now, the highest tiers of Hearthstone play are already much more varied than they were back in February. While the Quest Rogue will likely rotate out of popularity, its hard to say whether thatll affect the rest of the tier list ecosystem.

So why bother making the changes? Comparing Februarys nerfs to todays, the one thing that they both have in common is that theyre both set for release about a month before the launch of a new expansion. With Blizzard already dropping hints about an upcoming set of cards, the move is probably more of an attempt to prep for the next set than it is to shake things up in todays competitive scene.

If Blizzard wants to release powerful new cards in the next set, it probably doesnt want boring, static Quest Rogue decklists running amok and deflating their appeal. This issue actually reared its ugly head earlier this month, when Cong Strifecro Shu reached top 20 in Hearthstones Wild mode using a fully-standard Quest Rogue decklist, which seems broken as hell when you consider that Wild players can use cards from every expansion ever released.

If youve got your own Quest Rogue deck and are freaking out about the change, dont sweat it too muchas a consolation prize, once the nerf is live, youll be able to disenchant the decks defining card, The Caverns Below, for a full 1600 dust. Maybe hold onto it though, because with a new expansion coming out soon, who knows? The deck might get a card that brings it back to its former glory.

Joshua Calixto (@hitherejosh) writes about esports, culture, and technology.

Here is the original post:
Blizzard Finally Nerfed Hearthstone's Quest Rogue Deck - Kotaku

Red Bull

The Best Hearthstone Spring Championship Decks - Red Bull Red Bull With players looking to gain every small advantage they can over their opponents, we look at the decks likely to dominate at the HCT Spring Championships in ... and more »

Follow this link:
The Best Hearthstone Spring Championship Decks - Red Bull - Red Bull