Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

In response to alarms raised in recent days by protesters about Seattle officers covering their badge numbers with black mourning bands, Police Chief Carmen Best issued a directive Thursday telling all officers to display their badge numbers.

At the same time, Mayor Jenny Durkan rejected a demand by some demonstrators that half of the Seattle Police Department's budget be redirected to community programs and social services.

"We will not defund by 50%, but we will make sure that we have a level of commitment to community that we can make an investment that is proportionate to the needs and that those communities that have been left behind and locked out of the system can see that we as a city have heard the voices," said Durkan, referring to an aim brought Wednesday to City Hall by organizers of a large protest.

People demonstrating against police killings of Black people began to express concern about the black bands Saturday, saying the symbols worn over badge numbers to honor slain cops could make it difficult to identity officers engaged in misconduct.

Best and Durkan initially defended the practice, noting officers also wear name tags. But they bent on the issue as criticism continued to mount this week, vowing to work toward a new policy Wednesday and then taking action Thursday.

"This afternoon, I will be issuing a special order to address this," Best announced in a news conference with the mayor.

"All officers will have their badge numbers prominently displayed," she said, adding officers should retain the ability to pay homage in other ways.

"We want to make sure we are being transparent and people don't have the belief we are in any away trying to hide who we are."

Disseminating the directive might take "a day or so," Best said.

She and Durkan hailed a large Capitol Hill crowd that demonstrated past midnight and dispersed peacefully Wednesday night.

"We will always meet peace with peace," said Best, who visited barricades near the Police Department's East Precinct in person to speak with protesters amid a surge in public complaints about officers escalating encounters with pepper spray, tear gas and flash-bangs devices.

Though Best and Durkan repeatedly have blamed violent troublemakers for sowing chaos, Durkan canceled Seattle's curfew Wednesday night and spoke Thursday about altered police tactics.

The Police Department moved officers away from the barricades and asked protesters to stop each other from throwing bottles, the mayor said. They listened when citizen journalist Omari Salisbury suggested they set up a sound system to communicate with the demonstrators, the mayor said, not addressing why that step wasn't taken days ago.

Durkan mentioned "a powerful moment" when officers lowered their shields and protesters lowered the umbrellas they had brought to guard against pepper spray. "We need more dialogue," she said.

"I'm grateful there were no injuries and arrests," she said. "That must remain the goal ... I have every confidence that can be achieved."

Asked about the demand delivered by community leader Nikkita Oliver and other organizers Wednesday, Durkan said every Seattle agency, including the Police Department, "will see cuts" this year as she and the City Council seek to close a projected budget gap.

The departments budget is more than $400 million this year, accounting for about a quarter of Seattles general-fund budget. City Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales joined Oliver and other activists Wednesday in calling for that spending to be reduced.

The money would be better spent on job training, restorative-justice programs, youth programs, homeless services and public housing that can prevent problems than on a militarized police force, they contend.

"Thing that actually improve the lives of our neighbors," Morales said. "That's how we should be investing our money."

Under similar pressure, Los Angeles leaders announced Wednesday proposals redistribute $250 million, including up to $150 million in police spending, to disenfranchised communities.

Durkan said she would seek to balance police and community needs.

"True public safety is not just when a police officer shows up to the door," she said. "True public safety comes from good prenatal care, access to childcare and preschool, access to real education and economic opportunities, to health care and to affordable housing."

Yet Durkan indicated she wants to mostly maintain police spending."When people dial 991, they want the police department and the fire department to show up," she said. "We have to make sure we have enough people and resources to make that true."

See the rest here:
Seattle-area protests: Protesters remain on Capitol Hill on seventh day of action after George Floyds killing - Seattle Times

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar has completed implementation of the main works of the 5/6 Park in Onaiza area. This is in conjunction with the Third Anniversary of Resilience in the face of the unjust blockade on the State of Qatar.

The 5/6 Park is designed to be a tourist and leisure spot for the people and visitors of Qatar and includes alarge plant maze. The design of the maze is inspired by the human imprint to signify the role of all citizens and residents in creating glory and prosperity, a tribute to every people who leave their imprints in the state. The maze area is built on around 6500 square meters with the outer plant fencing shaped similar to the map of Qatar to be centered in the heart of the park attracting the attention of every vistor, especially since the final shape of the map appears clearly when looking at it from the top of the adjacent hill, adorned with fancy lighting to illuminate at night.

Some artworks were displayed on 5/6 Arched on Lusail Expressway and the faade of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) on occassion of the anniversary. These are the artworks selected from the open invite for the community in Qatar to take part with their artworks in memorizing the third anniversary of blockade, which was launched by Qatar Museums and The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar.

Also, the committee announced an artwork that will be showcased in 5/6 park under the title Al Somoud, designed by Mr. Faisal Al-Hajri, one of the prominent artists in Qatar.

Two more art works were added to the 6/5 park. They are drawn from the collection of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. Poem (1963-65), and Poem in Three Verses (1963-65) are by the Lebanese sculptor and painter Saloua Raouda Choucair.

Also Ashghal announced that a link will be published to announce displaying the works of the winning artists of the Under the Microscope with Ashghal initiative through a virtual exhibition that was launched during Eid Al Fitr.

Also, artists from Qatar Fine Arts Association, in coordination with The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, participated in commemorating three years of steadfastness in the face of the unjust siege with some artworks reflecting the meaning of steadfastness and overcoming challenges of the unfair blockade through important achievements.

On this occasion, H.E Mr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality & Environment stated that the Ministry puts great importance on construction of parks, playgrounds and stadiums. HE Minister also commented that a land area of about 160,000 square meters has been allocated for implementing the 5/6 Park project in Onaiza Area. He also added that densely populated areas are chosen to construct parks to serve the largest population possible.

For her part, H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums said: "It is a pleasure for me to witness this distinguished achievement that represents the fruit of our joint cooperation with the Public Works Authority" Ashghal "on the third anniversary of the siege imposed on our beloved country. The resilience and stability of all our society, including citizens and residents in Qatar, is in their superior ability to achieve accomplishments over the years, and the scope of those achievements has expanded further after the imposed blockade. Every year we celebrate this moment that has united us together through artwork. This very special year has a special significance when we look at what is going on in the world around us. The recent Corona (Covid-19) pandemic calls on us all for a moment to reflect on ourselves and the way we coexist together. I am very proud of everyone living in Qatar, and these photos will be preserved in the archives of our National Museum forever. I thank all the participants, and invite those who still wish to participate to continue participating on our website.

H.E Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al-Muhannadi, President of Ashghal stated that the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar is working on constructing gardens, spreading green spaces and planting trees in various areas of the country in line with the states strategy to achieve environmental sustainability, one of the key the national development strategy as per Qatar National Vision 2030.

For his part, Eng. Muhammad Arqoub Al-Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places said that the committee aims to create a sustainable environment through enlarging green spaces and creating pedestrian tracks and bicycle lines. He also added that the 5/6 Park project is implemented in coordination with many other entities.

Al-Khaldi added that the Committee has completed implementation of main works of the 5/6 Park project which constitute 80% of works, and remaining works are underway to complete the project scheduled to end by the end of year. He also pointed out that, based on the committees principle to support local products, materials manufactured in Qatar were relied on to implement the park, and thus 65% of materials used are local made.

On this occasion, Mr. Yusuf Al-Sada, President of the Qatar Fine Arts Association, expressed the associations delight for its members participation in commemorating the day of resilience with their artworks. He also expressed gratitude for the constant support from Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar.

Eng. Hessa Kahmis Al Kaaby, Project Design Manager of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places, Ashghal, stated that 5/6 Park is designed to be a tourist and leisure spot for the people and visitors of Qatar. Eng. Hessa explained that features of the park include a large plant maze. The design of the maze is inspired by the human imprint to signify the role of all citizens and residents in creating glory and prosperity, a tribute to every people who leave their imprints in the state. It also commemorates the resilience and success in overcoming the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar. We shall witness together the growth of these plants shaped by the imprints sketching many roads and paths, so as the visitors will enjoy choosing different path each time taking them towards different views of the park. The maze area is built on around 6500 square meters. The outer plant fencing is shaped similar to the map of Qatar to be centered in the heart of the park attracting the attention of every vistor, especially since the final shape of the map appears clearly when looking at it from the top of the adjacent hill, adorned with fancy lighting to illuminate at night.

Eng. Hessa also added that the hill next to the maze is about 5 meters above ground level and located in the center of the park on an area of 3000 square meters. This hilltop area gives a comprehensive view of the park from above, making it a major attraction for fans and photographers. Visitors can also enjoy view of some attractive landmarks such as the 5/6 Arche, hills of Katara, Lusail Towers and the Pearl.

5/6 Park Implemented by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar

The park contains open green areas of about 107,000 square meters. It also includes about 11,800 square meters of small shrubs and tree fences, in addition to planting about 1,500 trees.

The park includes many facilities attracting visitors and tourists, as it contains shaded areas for families to sit, play areas for children that contain games suitable for different ages, areas designated for celebrations and spaces to display various forms of artworks.The park also includes exercise areas, pedestrian paths of approximately 1.3 km, and jogging paths of a length of 1.3 km and a cycle path with a length of 880 meters, in addition to bicycle parking slots. Indoor footpath is constructed using earthy materials that give a natural desert shape of the local environment of Qatar.

The park also include many utilities and service stalls such as restaurants, cafes, toilets and prayer places, among others, in addition to providing garden furniture and lighting poles to enable visitors to visit at night.

Planting trees suitable for the Qatari Environment

The framework of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places focus on implementing beautification and recreational projects that preserve the environment and contribute in improved healthy life for the people. Thus, trees for plantation are chosen in consideration of the nature of Qatari environment, taking into account of less water consumption and future maintenance works.

It may be noted that 10% the trees planted in the park are of Qatari origin such as Ziziphus Spina Christi, Acacia Arabica and Acacia Tortilis. Which is evergreen trees that reach a height of more than 10m. Grow excellent in Qatar and bear the environmental conditions of high temperature and drought.

Among the other tress chosen are the Cassia Nodosa, Delonix Regia, Tabebuia Argentea and Cassia Gluca They are beautiful and attractive shade trees with a height of 10 meters, they are distinguished for growing well and resisting drought. The planting of these trees will be distributed in the park within the area of landscape. Also among the shade trees included in 5/6 park are the Bucida Buceras, Millingtonia and ficus benghalensis which are among the evergreen trees ranging between 6 to 10 meters and are considered one of the greatest and wonderful shade trees in public parks.

The park also includes decorative trees planted alone or in groups, or as backgrounds behind young shrubs and flowers such as Cassia Javancia and Bauhinia Purpurea. In addition, Ficus religiosa is chosen and reaches up to 30 meters in height and suitable for the Qatari environment as they bear most types of soil and are used in the park individually.

Using Local Materials in the Project

It is worth noting that, as the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar endeavors to support local manufacturers, the committee has depended on locally produced materials in implementing this park up to the level of 65% of materials used. The local elements used included curbstone tiles, asphalt and lightings, in addition to planting materials of trees, grass, different plants and sweet soils, and homemade rubber floors known as SBR were used as a recycled rubber layer that was used to implement jogging tracks.

Progress of Works

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatarhas completed implementation of main works of the project, which include pedestrian paths and cycle paths, jogging paths, planting trees, a major plaza and a maze, where the completion rate of the project reached 80%, and work is currently underway to complete the remaining works, the implementation is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, and includes lighting of the maze, but the final form will be completed after the growth of plant barriers, and the works also include the completion of the illuminated hill, in addition to completing the works related to service buildings and water drinking fountains as well as the children's area, sports tools and garden furniture.

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar

The committee's projects aim to create a sustainable environment through implementation of several main tasks that include building central public parks, providing dedicated pedestrian paths and bicycle tracks, street furniture, cosmetic lightings, developing Doha Corniche and some beaches, developing the central Doha region by reviving some main roads and internal roads, vital locations, residential and open squares. The committee also aims to contribute to create a societal environment with a distinct identity through participation of community members in artistic and afforestation work in coordination with several ministries and government entities of the State.

Read also

View post:
Over 6000 sqm plant maze in shape of Qatar to be ready by year-end - The Peninsula Qatar

Kiwis love Mid-century Modern architecture increasingly we appreciate this as part of our architectural heritage, and such properties have become highly sought-after.

We owe it all to a devoted group of architects who forged ahead with Modernist designs in the mid 1900s to leave us a legacy of properties that still resonate today.

But these architects haven't been assigned to history their work lives on to influence architects today, including the team at Herriot, Melhuish O'Neill Architects (HMOA) in Christchurch.

RUSSEL KLEYN

Clifton Hill house has retained its Mid-century character.

The firm lives and breathes Modernism, and the team even works out of one of Christchurch's notable Modernist buildings designed by Sir Miles Warren the shared office was once the renowned architect's own home and workplace.

READ MORE:* Wellington architecture awards shortlist not all about big and expensive* Architecture shortlist 2020 reinforces new identity for Canterbury* Sir Miles Warren Mid-century gem for sale in Merivale

Architect Duval O'Neill says the firm is "completely immersed in Modernism in the office". "It feels very natural to us, even though other people are constantly amazed by it (the office)."

Alden Williams/Homed

Architect Duval O'Neill outside the firm's shared office the building was designed by Sir Miles Warren in 1962 as his home and office.

Alden Williams/Homed

Architect Duval O'Neill says the whole team at Herriot Melhuish O'Neill lives and breathes Modernism, and probably takes its historic workplace a little for granted.

Duval O'Neill and his wife Bridget have a particularly close association with the past, having bought a house in Mt Pleasant in 2005 that was designed in the 1950s by celebrated Modernist architect Don Cowey.

"Don designed the house for his parents, but it was a while before we found this out," says O'Neill. "And when I did, I just looked up the phone book and rang him up. We had a great meeting. He was able to tell me all about the house and we developed a really nice friendship. He was a lovely, lovely man."

SUPPLIED

This is the original Don Cowey-designed house bought by Duval and Bridget O'Neill in 2005. It was subsequently damaged beyond repair in the February 2011 earthquake.

Cowey, who had built a new house for himself and his wife Jocelyn in Redcliffs, sadly, lost his life in the February 2011 earthquake, while he was out in the garden picking raspberries for Jocelyn, and a giant boulder fell into the garden from the cliffs above.

"We were deeply saddened by his death," O'Neill says.

The same earthquake damaged the O'Neills' own house, which was subsequently deemed uneconomic to repair. But its legacy was to live on. Cowey had already pointed the architect in the direction of the Macmillan Brown Library at the University of Canterbury, where he found the original plans for the house.

RUSSELL KLEYN

And this is the new house designed by Duval O'Neill that references the original Mid-century build by Don Cowey.

"Don had designed the house around 1953 when he was only 25," says O'Neill. "He and a friend also built it, as you did back then. Don was proud of his design and explained to us the way he wanted to unveil the views and the sun as you walked through the house. He positioned it to preserve those views.

"Once we had the decision to rebuild, the design strategy was largely an initiative in maintaining the essence of his original design, while taking the opportunity to adapt it to more modern living. We didn't want it large, and we didn't want to totally mimic his design.

"We like to think that he would have approved of our moves to bring it more in line with the way we live now."

RUSSELL KLEYN

Duval and Bridget O'Neill love the simplicity of the Modernist style and the built-in furniture, which features in their new home.

WHY MID-CENTURY RESONATES

O'Neill says there are several reasons why Mid-century architecture is still loved by New Zealanders.

"There's a heightened interest in design generally. And Mid-century design has struck a chord with Kiwis, partly due to the critical mass of that type of architecture people are noticing we still have a good quantity of these homes.

"We appreciate there is a real craft involved in the planning of these homes. There's a generosity of space and a (strong) relationship to the outdoors and capturing key views. More often than not, it's the simplicity that carries through to the built-in joinery that works so well.

COWDY REAL ESTATE

The JJ Allison townhouses in Merivale were designed by Sir Miles Warren in the mid 1970s. One of the townhouses has featured in COCA Mid-century Art and Design tours.

"These houses reflect a real consideration given to the way the spaces will work in the house. The houses are often quite frugal; they are not usually massive houses, but they have been carefully planned to be efficient."

HMOA has worked on numerous other projects, including the award-winning restoration of the Clifton Hill House designed by Austrian architect Ernst Killnan in 1965.

Originally a holiday home, the team transformed the tired holiday house into a permanent home, dealing with the challenge of the two major earthquakes along the way.

O'Neill also restored and enlarged the 1957 Pascoe House at Sumner.

RUSSELL KLEYN

This Sumner house designed by Paul Pascoe was renovated and enlarged by Duval O'Neill, but remains in keeping with the original architect's Modernist design.

New owners Dan and Emily Park had never heard of Paul Pascoe, the "father of Modernism", before they bought the house, which was in the same suburb as the renowned architect's own home, the Piano house a Christchurch landmark.

With three young children, the Parks were in desperate need of space, so they engaged ONeill to sensitively add onto to their home. Duval worked closely with builder Dave Owens and with landscape architect Craig Pocock on a design for the large garden.

The owners say they love the sense of space, the light, and the way you cant tell from the street that this house is really something special.

RUSSELL KLEYN

The Pascoe house in Sumner is perfectly adapted to modern living.

"The house is super-comfortable to live in wide eaves to keep out the hot overhead sun in summer, floor-to-ceiling windows on the garden side to let in the low winter sun, small windows on the southerly side, black cedar and Halswell paving to act as a heat store at night. Its fully central-heated coming from the UK, where central heating has been fairly standard for over a century, this made us feel at home.

"When we moved in, the house was filled with fantastic mid-century pieces. None of our old country-cottage furniture worked at all."

The couple didnt want the renovations overwhelming the original house, so theyre in keeping with the style. "Weve used the same cedar boards, copper nails, door handles, rimu flooring (sourced from an old hospital), window frames, eaves, interior and exterior colours, proportions and so on.

HOMED

Built in the mid-60s this home has been mostly untouched for more than 50 years.

"It takes a keen eye to spot the join between the old and new; many visitors cant tell its been extended. Weve maintained the sense of scale and the garden views from the kitchen."

And it's that last sentence that sums up the holistic design approach that characterises Modernism the house is at one, not only with itself, but with the immediate outdoors, the views beyond, and of course the path of sun throughout the day.

Read more:
Modernism revival in Christchurch, but it never went away - Stuff.co.nz

Tanya Kerssen was standing on her front porch as Minneapolis police officers walked by, yelling "get inside" for curfew. USA TODAY

A video shared on social media appears to show Minneapolis law enforcement shooting marking roundsat people standing on their front porch this weekend.

During the video, which was shared by Minneapolis resident Tanya Kerssen on Saturday evening, a Humvee and an officer dressed in riot gear can be seen passing by her home to enforce curfew.

"Look at this," one unidentified woman says in the video clip. "They just keep coming."

A group of around 15 to 20 police officers and National Guardsmen then approach the front of the house, shouting "go inside!" five or six timesand "get in your house now!" After around 10 seconds of commands, one officer yells, "light 'em up," and starts shooting green paint bullets at Kerssen and other unidentified people, according to the video.

George Floyd protests: Federal prisons locked down; social media goes dark for #BlackoutTuesday

The group on the porch runs inside.One person was hit with a bullet to their thigh, the video shows.

Paint rounds, or marking rounds, are used by police and military. They are for close-range training,counter-terrorismand urban warfare,among other purposes, according toone munitions vendor, Simunition,

It is unclear if the video was taken before or after curfew. A FAQ document posted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says that individuals can be on their porch during curfew but says people must listen to officers' orders.

"If a law enforcement officer or other public safety official asks you to go inside, or take any other action, you must follow the instruction," the document said.

The curfew for Minneapolis and Saint Paul is in place starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday until 4 a.m. Wednesday.Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Neither Kerssen nor the police department immediately responded to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/02/george-floyd-protest-minneapolis-cops-shoot-paint-people-porch/3123781001/

Read more from the original source:
'Light 'em up': Minneapolis officers seen firing paint rounds at people on their porch - USA TODAY

Two California-based senior housing nonprofits, Front Porch and Covia, have agreed to affiliate with one another.

The two organizations boards of directors voted to affiliate on June 1. The affiliation would create a combined organization with 54 senior housing communities. Front Porch was ranked no. 22 in total unit count in the latest LeadingAge Ziegler 200 list, while Covia ranked no. 47. As a combined organization with 4,408 units, they would have ranked no. 10 in the 2019 list.

Covia CEO and President Kevin Gerber and Front Porch CEO John Woodward plan to remain at their posts, and both organizations plan to act independently until the transition period is over, which is expected in early 2021. The new combined organization will initially retain the Front Porch name, with Woodward as CEO of the combined entity and Gerber stepping down once the affiliation is complete.

The move to affiliate was not spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, but instead was meant to help the two organizations achieve greater scale in the Golden State and therefore better serve older adults there, according to Kari Olson, Front Porchs chief innovation and technology officer.

This helps us have scale and purchasing power, as well as to manage costs and spread overhead across a larger base of communities, Olson said. All of that adds to our financial strength as well as our ability to create new options to have enhanced access to capital.

Front Porch and Covia are the latest in a number of senior housing nonprofits which have looked to mergers, affiliations and other forms of collaboration as a way to gain scale and thrive. Recent examples of the trend include the affiliation between HumanGood and Presbys Inspired Life, the affiliation of Acts Retirement-Life Communities and Integrace and the 2018 merger between the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and non-profit health system Sanford.

The organizations are immediately focused on an integration plan and have not hammered out an agenda in terms of what the first goals would be for the combined entity to accomplish, Olson said. However, they are aligned in terms of their cultures and see the potential for growth in several areas. Front Porch has made technology and innovation a focus in recent years through its Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing. That focus will continue into the combined organization. And, the two companies have already collaborated for the past four years on new ways to bring tele-mental health services into affordable housing settings.

Innovation is a priority in both cultures today, and that creates a really strong jumping off point for the future, Olson said. Were just ready to ramp up on an existing and strong relationship and see what else we can do.

Advertisement

Visit link:
Front Porch and Covia to Affiliate, Creating 54-Community Organization - Senior Housing News

This article is one in a series at The 74 that profiles the heroes, victories, success stories and random acts of kindness found at schools all across America. Read more of our recent inspiring profiles at The74Million.org/series/inspiring.

Whether they were among the 10,000 who attended a virtual prom hosted by MTV and Michelle Obama or celebrated by dressing up at home and dancing virtually with their friends, the Class of 2020 would not be denied a prom.

I just put on my lamp upstairs so I could have some nice lighting, Makinde La Veau, dancing in his dining room at his schools virtual prom, told CNN. Im a senior. This is going to be my last prom, so I just want to make it fun.

La Veau, a senior at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore, clearly knows what to do when life gives him lemons.

Were still alive, La Veau said. Life is like this, so as long as Im still here, Im going to enjoy it to the fullest.

In Sweetwater, Texas, Grayson Chapmans mother wasnt about to let her daughter graduate without a little prom fun.

Grayson thought it sounded a little cheesy at first. But she was so excitedto get to be able to dress up after all and go to her last prom, Jaci Chapman told Fox News. Once we started getting the porch decorated and cranked up the music, she really started getting into the spirit of it!

What a Great Idea ! All you need now is #VirtualPromLive Rocking out on the front porch is way better than partying

Posted by Virtual Prom onMonday, April 27, 2020

At Northwest High School in Jackson, Michigan, seniors Meg Moffitt and Chelsea Devolder made a video of their classmates wearing their prom dresses.

We wanted to make something for girls to show their dresses, Meg told JTV.TV, the school districts video news channel. Boys were invited, but we didnt get any of those. We had about 35 or 36 girls, though, so it was a good turnout.

In Knoxville, Tennessee, a local news outlet hosted a prom for high school seniors throughout Eastern Tennessee.

Hannah Lucas, 18, a senior at South Forsyth High School in Forsyth County, Georgia, and her brother Charlie, 15, a freshman, created the We Are Well Prom to help seniors feel less alone, NBC reported.

At the Vista Peak Preparatory School in Aurora, Colorado, social distancing didnt stop students from choosing prom royalty.

As for the prom Michelle Obama hosted, it was put on by MTV and When We All Vote, a nonprofit that aims to raise voter participation, People reported. Obama is co-chair of the group and wanted to ensure that COVID-19 doesnt cause the 18-year-old virtual prom-goers to miss out on another rite of passage voting in November.

See the rest here:
WATCH On Front Porches, in Backyards and Online, Amazing Class of 2020 Virtual Prom Celebrations From High Schools Around the Country - The 74

Weekend protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis brought out some of the worst in the nations cops.

Social media and television were flooded this weekend with video and reports of police aggression against protesters, journalists, and even politicians. Video footage showed cops tear-gassing peaceful protesters, pepper-spraying people, beating and shoving people, and even driving vehicles into them.

Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio, was pepper-sprayed after trying to de-escalate tensions between protesters and police and warning a Columbus police officer, Dont excite them.

Too much force is not the answer to this, Beatty said in a video posted on Twitter.

In Brooklyn, video captured on Saturday showed a police SUV pushed up against a barrier of people. As another police SUV went around it, both accelerated forward and knocked over protesters. After the video went viral, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio refused to condemn the cops, saying they were in an impossible situation.

In Los Angeles, a similar incident was captured on video, where a police SUV accelerated into a small group of protesters, then reversed and sped away.

Videos of cops shoving and attacking non-threatening protesters flooded social media this weekend. One of the most egregious was an incident where two black college students were tased and yanked out of their car in Atlanta. Two of the officers involved were fired and three others were placed on desk duty.

A video in Detroit showed officers shoving a man to the ground and yelling at unarmed, nonviolent protesters.

A video purportedly taken on Saturday night in Denver showed a police officer firing pepper bullets at someone whos filming, apparently causing the phone to explode in his face.

In Seattle, an officer was filmed kneeling on a protesters neck while arresting him, the same tactic which led to George Floyds death in Minneapolis.

And in New York on Saturday, a cop was filmed ripping a mask off of a protester who had his hands up, and then pepper spraying him in the face.

The New York Police Department said on Sunday that its internal affairs department was reviewing about six incidents from the past four days.

As curfews were instituted around the country, police officers were caught on video firing at people peacefully standing outside their homes or businesses. One video in particular showed police in Minneapolis firing paint canisters at people who were on their porches with no warning other than orders to get inside and one officer announcing, Light em up!

In Raleigh, North Carolina, cops fired nonlethal rounds at the owner of a queer bar who was standing outside his business, even after he shouted several times that it was his business. The game is over, one officer screamed.

In Minneapolis, VICE News reporter Michael Anthony Adams was thrown to the ground and pepper sprayed in the face, even after shouting repeatedly that he was a member of the press.

On Friday, cops shot pepper bullets at a Louisville TV news crew with no apparent warning.

At least a dozen journalists were injured during protests this weekend, according to the Washington Post. Photographer Linda Tirado was blinded in one eye when she was shot with a rubber bullet by a Minneapolis police officer.

Cover: Smoke rises near a row of police in riot gear near the 5th police precinct during a demonstration to call for justice for George Floyd, a black man who died while in custody of the Minneapolis police, on May 30, 2020.. (Photo by KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)

See more here:
Driving Through Crowds and Firing on Porches: Cops Across the Country Were Out of Control This Weekend - VICE

Its a Monday evening in Minneapolis. Police respond to a call about a man who allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Seventeen minutes later, the man they are there to investigate lies motionless on the ground, and is pronounced dead shortly after. The man was 46-year-old George Floyd, a bouncer originally from Houston who had lost his job at a restaurant when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Crowd: No justice, no peace. Floyds death triggered major protests in Minneapolis, and sparked rage across the country. One of the officers involved, Derek Chauvin, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The other three officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. The Times analyzed bystander videos, security camera footage and police scanner audio, spoke to witnesses and experts, and reviewed documents released by the authorities to build as comprehensive a picture as possible and better understand how George Floyd died in police custody. The events of May 25 begin here. Floyd is sitting in the drivers seat of this blue S.U.V. Across the street is a convenience store called Cup Foods. Footage from this restaurant security camera helps us understand what happens next. Note that the timestamp on the camera is 24 minutes fast. At 7:57 p.m., two employees from Cup Foods confront Floyd and his companions about an alleged counterfeit bill he just used in their store to buy cigarettes. They demand the cigarettes back but walk away empty-handed. Four minutes later, they call the police. According to the 911 transcript, an employee says that Floyd used fake bills to buy cigarettes, and that he is awfully drunk and not in control of himself. Soon, the first police vehicle arrives on the scene. Officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng step out of the car and approach the blue S.U.V. Seconds later, Lane pulls his gun. We dont know exactly why. He orders Floyd to put his hands on the wheel. Lane reholsters the gun, and after about 90 seconds of back and forth, yanks Floyd out of the S.U.V. A man is filming the confrontation from a car parked behind them. The officers cuffed Floyds hands behind his back. And Kueng walks him to the restaurant wall. All right, whats your name? From the 911 transcript and the footage, we now know three important facts: First, that the police believed they were responding to a man who was drunk and out of control. But second, even though the police were expecting this situation, we can see that Floyd has not acted violently. And third, that he seems to already be in distress. Six minutes into the arrest, the two officers move Floyd back to their vehicle. As the officers approach their car, we can see Floyd fall to the ground. According to the criminal complaint filed against the officers. Floyd says he is claustrophobic and refuses to enter the police car. During the struggle, Floyd appears to turn his head to address the officers multiple times. According to the complaints, he tells them he cant breathe. Nine minutes into the arrest, the third and final police car arrives on the scene. Its carrying officers Tou Thao and Derek Chauvin. Both have previous records of complaints brought against them. Thao was once sued for throwing a man to the ground and hitting him. Chauvin has been involved in three police shootings, one of them fatal. Chauvin becomes involved in the struggle to get Floyd into the car. Security camera footage from Cup Foods shows Kueng struggling with Floyd in the backseat while Thao watches. Chauvin pulls him through the back seat and onto the street. We dont know why. Floyd is now lying on the pavement, face down. Thats when two witnesses began filming, almost simultaneously. The footage from the first witness shows us that all four officers are now gathered around Floyd. Its the first moment when we can clearly see that Floyd is face down on the ground with three officers applying pressure to his neck, torso and legs. At 8:20 p.m., we hear Floyds voice for the first time. The video stops when Lane appears to tell the person filming to walk away. Get off to the sidewalk, please. One side or the other, please. The officers radio a Code 2, a call for non-emergency medical assistance, reporting an injury to Floyds mouth. In the background, we can hear Floyd struggling. The call is quickly upgraded to a Code 3, a call for emergency medical assistance. By now another bystander, 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, is filming from a different angle. Her footage shows that despite calls for medical help, Chauvin keeps Floyd pinned down for another seven minutes. We cant see whether Kueng and Lane are still applying pressure. Floyd: [gasping] Officer: What do you want? Bystander: Ive been Floyd: [gasping] In the two videos, Floyd can be heard telling officers that he cant breathe at least 16 times in less than five minutes. Bystander: You having fun? But Chauvin never takes his knee off of Floyd, even as his eyes close and he appears to go unconscious. Bystander: Bro. According to medical and policing experts, these four police officers are committing a series of actions that violate policies, and in this case, turn fatal. Theyve kept Floyd lying face down, applying pressure for at least five minutes. This combined action is likely compressing his chest, and making it impossible to breathe. Chauvin is pushing his knee into Floyds neck, a move banned by most police departments. Minneapolis Police Department policy states an officer can only do this if someone is, quote, actively resisting. And even though the officers call for medical assistance, they take no action to treat Floyd on their own while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Officer: Get back on the sidewalk. According to the complaints against the officers, Lane asks him twice if they should roll Floyd onto his side. Chauvin says no. Twenty minutes into the arrest, an ambulance arrives on the scene. Bystander: Get off of his neck! Bystander: Hes still on him? The E.M.T.s check Floyds pulse. Bystander: Are you serious? Chauvin keeps his knee on Floyds neck for almost another whole minute, even though Floyd appears completely unresponsive. He only gets off once the E.M.T.s tell him to. Chauvins kept his knee on Floyds neck for a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to the complaint filed against him. Floyd is loaded into the ambulance. The ambulance leaves the scene, possibly because a crowd is forming. But the E.M.T.s call for additional medical help from the fire department. But when the engine arrives, the officers give them, quote, no clear info on Floyd or his whereabouts, according to a fire department incident report. This delays their ability to help the paramedics. Meanwhile, Floyd is going into cardiac arrest. It takes the engine five minutes to reach Floyd in the ambulance. Hes pronounced dead at a nearby hospital around 9:25 p.m. Preliminary autopsies conducted by the state, and Floyds family, both ruled his death a homicide. The widely circulated arrest videos dont paint the entire picture of what happened to George Floyd. Crowd: Floyd! Floyd! Additional video and audio from the body cameras of the key officers would reveal more about why the struggle began and how it escalated. The city quickly fired all four officers. And Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with aiding and abetting murder. But outrage over George Floyds death has only spread further and further across the United States.

More here:
Facing Protests Over Use of Force, Police Respond With More Force - The New York Times

Over the past 72 hours, people across the US have captured what may be the most comprehensive live picture of police brutality ever. Any one of the videos weve seen could have sparked a national discussion, with people picking apart their elements, searching for context to argue about, and digging through the pasts of everyone involved. But its not just one act of violence. Its everywhere.

Here is just a short list of scenes from the past few days:

On Saturday, the names of several police officers allegedly seen perpetrating violence in different cities began trending on Twitter as people worked to cross-reference faces from videos with personal information on the web.

The violence appears so widespread and consistent that you could be mistaken for thinking its coordinated at a national level. To some extent, it is: President Trump has cheered on police violence like a fan at a sports event, and police departments across the country have styled themselves as military forces after receiving two decades of hand-me-downs from the War on Terror.

US cities face toll of violent protests, says a headline at the top of Fox News. Fury in the streets as protests spread across the US, says The New York Times. Fire and fury spread across the US, says The Washington Post. Wave of rage and anguish sweeps dozens of US cities, says CNN. But whose rage? Whose fury? Whose violence?

Heres another: ABC local news in Utah runs a graphic saying violent protests in Salt Lake City. In the background of the video, police knock an elderly man with a cane to the ground. He was simply standing near a bus stop.

We cant deny what we are seeing, and we must describe it accurately. Whose violence? Whose rage? Its from American police.

Warning: the images shown below are disturbing.

See the original post here:
Caught on camera, police explode in rage and violence across the US - The Verge

Tribal elders - I have landed beyond the demographic as a lifelong teacher and writer. I represent survival from generations of cultural chaos. Two decades into the new millennium I am a slugged WP white person told I was born into privilege and that I cant relate to the plight of people of color. One tribe, one time, one planet, one race/Its all one blood, dont care about your face Black Eyed Peas. Talking about my generation, Sam Cooke wrote and sang, A Change is Gonna Come (1964)at the height of the civil rights movement in response to racial injustices he experienced in his own life.Sam Cooke died as a result of gun violence in Los Angeles later that year. Marvin Gaye recorded Whats Going On, a song inspired by an incident of police brutality in Berkeley, Calif. Marvin died on April 1, 1984, one day short of his 45th birthday. He was shot by his father during a domestic argument. Otis Redding, The Mad Man from Macon, recorded Dock of the Bay in the mid-60s, a song about racism in America. Redding died in a plane crash in 1967 at the age of 26.When I was an emerging child running wild on the streets of Philadelphia, I never reflected on who I wasnt, and I think now at 74 years old, Im pretty sure who I am and who Im not. I am trained to pay attention columnist and teacher and its just my nature. Ive watched the current demonstrations turned riotous thinking of the lyrics of Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised recorded in 1970. I think in 2020, the revolution is being televised and I for one have no idea Whats Going On.

Teenage Targets - You know your life is out of control when youre looting a Target big-box store and your grandmother sees you on television.Speaking of reopening the country in phases, lets target teenagers on sports teams and just turn them loose; it seems justified as they were the first to be shut down. Unlock the chains and open thegates and grant access to the fields. There is no proof Im aware of that teenagers are super-susceptible to the coronavirus. Find one that tested positive and Ill make that person Athlete of the Week. And open the track as well. All the healthy people with the self-improvement gene will show up, and they can breathe on me any time they want, even heavily for runners that have really been missing me.

Name that dog - Susan and I married 51 years ago May 31. Our first jointly owned dog was a 1970 two-toned beagle named Maggie with a four-barrel carburetor and four-wheel drive. Puppies of the Pandemic is a human phenomenon social scientists never saw coming, just like the proliferation of the rescue network or fostering and my personal least favorite, rehoming retrievers and Rottweilers. Last year, I asked a veterinarian who may have been a vegetarian if she was aware that Delaware had an official state dog. No, what is it? she asked, chasing the ball. The rescue dog, I said, with sideways sarcasm. She responded, Give me a break. And I said, Rescues make great pets and create beautiful stories, but in downstate Delaware, its the retriever.Speaking of sports, the Labrador and golden retriever are the best and smartest dog athletes in the world. If your lab wears a bandanna and vest and walks at the end of a retractable leash, you are getting 40 percent of what the dog is capable of being. When I taught psychology, I did an entire unit I called Name that Dog because you cant understand American families unless you understand how they relate to pets and religion. Amazingly, neither of those two family mainstays are included in textbooks whatever they are.

Relatable quote - An email to the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association from John Wilson, head football coach at St. Georges Tech and a learning support instructor, states, DIFCA is in the process of creating guidelines for coaches to allow for a safe progression for the unacclimated, deconditioned athlete to start participating safely. Finally, an athletic category that aptly describes my current condition.

Chart stoppers - I dont convert charts to paragraphs because Im not afflicted with everything in its proper place syndrome. DIFCA is proposing to DIAA just for football you still there? that Delaware realign into three divisions, each of them with a North and South. Criteria taken into account are enrollment, record last three years and record last five years. The conference structure and divisional system currently in place in Delaware, a state thats 96 miles by 39 miles, just doesnt work well and needs streamlining,

Snippets - Coming this Friday in the Cape Gazette, digital interviews with five Cape coaches of fall sports, including J.D. Maull, Matt Lindell, Kate Austin, Pat Kilby and Tyler Coupe. Go on now, git!

See the rest here:
Prophet on the porch wonders 'What's Going On?' - CapeGazette.com