Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Disneyโs efforts to neutralize governing district takeover
A judge in Florida has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees against Disneyโs efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney Worldโs governing district by the Florida governor.
Spa killings prompt new proposals from Georgia Democrats
People hold signs while participating in a "stop Asian hate" rally outside the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, March 20, 2021. Two other bills introduced by Democrats would increase communication between minority communities and law enforcement. One proposal would direct the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority to implement a statewide translation system for 911 calls. The other would direct the group that administers law enforcement training in Georgia to offer community response and proactive outreach training in languages other than English. AdDemocratic Sen. Sheikh Rahman is a Bangladeshi immigrant who was the first person of Asian descent elected to the Georgia state Senate.
Donations pour in for families of Atlanta shooting victims
(AP Photo/Ben Gray)Shortly after his mother was killed in the Atlanta-area shootings, Randy Park launched a GoFundMe page asking for $20,000 to pay for funeral expenses. For now, donors to victims of the Atlanta shootings must scour individual GoFundMe accounts. A page for Yong Yueโs family drew more than $115,000. AdPark's family was the first to launch a GoFundMe page. This is simply a change in my life,โ Park wrote to the 70,000 people who had contributed as of Sunday afternoon.
Build a kid-friendly winter obstacle course inspired by U-M gardens, arboretum staff
To help beat the winter blues, families are encouraged to venture outdoors to play, spend time together and get some fresh air. โIn Gaffield Childrenโs Garden, we provide rich, open-ended nature play experiences. We encourage families to participate and replicate what we do here, in their own homes, apartments, and parks.โOne such activity is constructing a winter obstacle course. They posted this obstacle course over the weekend:Anything can be used to construct the obstacle course -- snow balls, sticks, stumps and rope, to name a few items. Make sure you associate a mission with the course: โLetโs hop over three snowballs, circle the stump two times and sprint to the tree.โTo see the full guide on creating a fun winter obstacle course, click here.
S. Korean court upholds prison term for ex-president Park
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, arrives to attend a hearing on the extension of her detention at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea. South Koreas top court upheld 20-year prison term for Park over corruption on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. But the finalizing of her prison term also makes her eligible for a special presidential pardon, a looming possibility as the countryโs deeply split electorate approaches the next presidential election in March 2022. Park originally faced a prison term of more than 30 years before the Supreme Court sent her cases back to a lower court in 2019. Prosecutors appealed after the Seoul High Court handed Park a 20-year term in July last year after merging the two cases.
6 rangers killed in latest attack at Congo's Virunga park
FILE-In this Aug. 12, 2012 file photo, Park rangers patrol in the Virunga National Park near Rumangabo, some 60 kms (40 miles) north of Goma, eastern Congo. Gunmen have killed at least six rangers Sunday Jan. 10, 2021, in the Virunga National Park, the latest attack in the part of eastern Congo that is home to some of the world's last mountain gorillas, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay,file)KINSHASA โ Gunmen have killed at least six rangers in Virunga National Park, the latest attack in the part of eastern Congo that is home to some of the world's last mountain gorillas, officials said Sunday. In April 2020, an ambush near the Virunga National Park killed 12 rangers and five civilians, and critically injured several others. More than 200 rangers have been killed since Virunga became a national park in 1925, officials say.
Hereโs where you can drop off your Christmas tree in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR โ Whether youโre the type that likes to get rid of your tree on Dec. 26 or keep it around for a few more weeks, the city of Ann Arbor provides an ample window for residents to discard Christmas trees. Christmas trees cannot be left out on the streets or discarded on extensions. Instead, the city provides four free drop off locations for Christmas trees from Dec. 14-Jan. 18, 2021. According to the city of Ann Arbor, the following locations at local parks will be open for Christmas tree drop offs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.:Southeast Area Park located on Ellsworth at Platt. For more information on Christmas tree disposal, winter composting or trash and recycling, visit www.a2gov.org/solidwaste.
Once vacant Village Park now open for residents on Detroitโs east side
โThis park here means a lot to the young kids around here.โBut for years, the Village Park on Georgia Street sat vacant. Saturday, the city of Detroit revealed the brand new Village Park -- with all of the bells and whistles -- to the community,โWe got the walking path, we got the slide, the swings, the play escape. We have a basketball court so we can use this park for all ages,โ said Councilman Scott Benson. Councilman Scott Benson said this is the first park in the South Portion of the 3rd District in more than 30 years. โThis is a community, prioritized and designed and named park right here in the 3rd district,โ said Benson.
They had 'dreams and plans': Detroit honors COVID-19 victims
DETROIT โ The city turned an island park into an extraordinary memorial garden Monday as cars packed with grieving families slowly traveled past hundreds of photos of Detroit residents who died from COVID-19. Mayor Mike Duggan declared a Detroit Memorial Day to honor the 1,500-plus city victims of the pandemic. Gretchen Whitmer said at Belle Isle. Cher Conerโs mother, Joyce, had died of sepsis, not COVID-19, but she couldnโt have a traditional funeral because of virus restrictions. He took it and ran with it,โ said Coner, whose motherโs photo is on Belle Isle.
4 men shot at park on Detroitโs east side
DETROIT โ Police are investigating after four men were shot Monday night at a park on Detroitโs east side. Then, one of the victims got into a vehicle crash on the way to the hospital. The car crashed in the area of East 7 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue. The victims were at a hospital as of Tuesday morning and expected to recover. Anyone with information is asked to call the Detroit Police Departmentโs 9th Precinct or Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP.
Party-goers trash skating park in southwest Detroit
DETROIT Skateboarders are not fine with party-goers trashing a local park after a long weekend. The whole field basically filled with trash, said local skater Paolo Delapena. There were alcohol bottles and food boxes all over the skating park. Casem pointed out its not from the community that uses the park, but instead outsiders who have found a new hang out spot. While skaters are fine with sharing the park, they want visitors to do their part in keeping it clean.
Report: 3 Cedar Point employees test positive for coronavirus
Three employees at Cedar Point have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a report from FOX 8 in Cleveland. The park employees were screened, as required by state guidelines, prior to park opening and prior to reporting to their work locations, FOX 8 reports. Cedar Point opened to visitors last week for general admission reservations with safety precautions in place. Visitors have to undergo a health screening in addition to wearing masks while going on rides. Read: Cedar Point releases 2020 season opening plan: What to knowThe lines might appear longer since visitors are required to stand six feet apart.
Goats return to Ann Arbors Gallup Park to munch on invasive plants
ANN ARBOR Dont be alarmed if you see several goats grazing in Gallup Park over the next few weeks. Goats eat pretty much every green plant in sight, including invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle and even poison ivy -- dont worry, theyre not allergic. After last years successful pilot project, the goats from Twin Willow Ranch of Milan were brought back on Thursday to clear out invasive shrubbery and overgrowth. This is a great way to help promote native plants in our parks while, at the same time, decreasing the hours we spend on removing invasive brush," Parks and Recreation Maintenance Services Deputy Manager Scott Spooner said in a statement last season. Everything would have to be removed by cutting and pulling, and the goats enable us to use that labor in other ways."
Inclusive playground for children with disabilities opens in Oakland County
COMMERCE CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. For months, outdoor playground equipment has been closed due to coronavirus, but for some children, playgrounds have always been inaccessible. RELATED: Livonia reopens school playgrounds, Dog Park after Michigan stay home order liftedAn inclusive playground in Commerce Township is a project Detroit News personality Stephen Clark has spent years raising money to build. Clarks granddaughter uses a wheelchair and the new park is the largest ramped playground in the Midwest. Named after Clarks granddaughter, Scarlets Playground is groundbreaking for children with special needs. More information on Scarlets Playground can be found on its official website here.
Driver leaves tire tracks in Roseville homeโs front yard
ROSEVILLE, Mich. โ A family in Roseville woke up Sunday morning to find tire tracks from someone driving donuts in their front yard. A family member said theyโre furious that someone would do that to the yard. โOver 50 years, we deserve some respect. Donโt you dare come over here and do this anymore.โShe told Local 4 the family has to wait until spring in order to fix the damage. Theyโre planing to install security cameras and a fence to avoid similar incidents.
South Korea's young men are fighting back against feminism
As feminist issues come to the fore in deeply patriarchal South Korea, there's a growing discontent among young men that they're being left behind. With each court victory, the disquiet among men, especially young men, began to build. End of old masculinityFor 62 years, South Korean men have been forced to join the army. Despite the lack of political parties targeting young men, Moon Sung-ho, from Dang Dang We, is not discouraged. He points to how young men are struggling to buy their own homes, or even pay for dates.