Suspect in assault at Pelosi home had posted about QAnon
The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosiโs home and severely beating her husband with a hammer appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election, defended Donald Trump and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories.
'Gladiator' actor Russell Crowe feted in Rome
Russell Crowe, who won a best actor Academy Award for portraying a gladiator in the 2000 film of the same name, is being feted by the city of Rome, home to the Colosseum where real gladiators clashed before thousands of spectators through the time of the Roman Empire.
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Cityโs remaining Confederate monuments take spotlight in public comment during Council meeting
For weeks, the Northside Collation of Jacksonville has been pressing the city follow through with the removal of all remaining Confederate monuments, and on Tuesday, the organization held another rally outside City Hall.
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Coaches call for more funding to better secure Jacksonville parks during football games
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Following gunfire at a youth football game in Mandarin, a Jacksonville City Councilman called for a discussion about park safety Monday night at City Hall. Inside the council chambers, several youth football coaches voiced their concerns. โNothing is going to be done until a child dies,โ said Shawn Fountain, athletic director with Westside Football League. By News4Jax count, there have been two incidents involving shots fired during Jacksonville-area youth football games in the past year. RELATED: Parents react to gunfire at youth football jamboreeDetectives said more than 500 players and spectators were in attendance at the Mandarin Athletic Association football jamboree but no injuries were reported.
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Portland mayor seeks $2 million to stem rampant gun violence
(AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)PORTLAND, Ore. โ The mayor of Portland, Oregon, announced Thursday he would seek $2 million in one-time funding for police, other agencies and outreach programs to try to stem rampant gun violence in the city. The move by Mayor Ted Wheeler represents an about-face after city leaders in June voted to cut nearly $16 million from the police budget, reductions that included the elimination of a gun violence reduction unit. During an hour-long news conference Thursday, Wheeler, activists, faith leaders and community members reiterated that in order to solve the problem of gun violence, the community must work together. Wheeler said the tactic is not the same as the now-eliminated Gun Violence Reduction Team and would be more transparent. Wheeler said he supports the ideas, beginning with asking City Council to appropriate $2 million in one-time fiuds from the cityโs reserve stability contingency account created last fall, to address gun violence.
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Food fight: Meat-free school meals spark furor in France
FILE - In this Jan.18, 2019 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron meets pupils as he visits a school canteen in Saint-Sozy, southwestern France. With a meatless four-course meal that Lyon City Hall says will be quicker and easier to serve to children who must be kept socially distanced while eating lunch to avoid coronavirus infections. With more local elections expected later this year, the arguing over Lyon's school meals offered a foretaste of broader political battles to come. Lyon City Hall said serving the same meal to all children, instead of offering them their usual meat and meat-free options, would shorten the time they take for lunch. City Hall said it also opted for meat-free meals because they suit all children, including those who habitually don't eat meats for religious, dietary or other reasons.
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What is the future of development in downtown Jacksonville? This group will help decide
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ There are new questions this week about the future of downtown Jacksonville. Two years ago when the city blew up old City Hall, it was supposed to be a catalyst of major downtown development. โYou canโt have a plan just for downtown and not have a plan holistically for the city,โ said Timothy Sloan. While these are just some of the ideas, the group plans to meet again in two weeks and begin the process of recommendations. The Downtown Investment Authority will look at the shipyards, the former Jacksonville Landing site and other projects that are set to happen but have been delayed.
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Community groups opposed to โanti-mobโ bill want to hear from Jacksonvilleโs mayor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Community organizations rallied Saturday at Jacksonvilleโs City Hall, calling on city leaders to speak out against โanti-mobโ legislation proposed by Gov. Itโs an ongoing fight over House Bill 1, which would increase penalties for violent protests in Florida. Organizations against its passing say they need to hear where city leaders stand on this. RELATED: Jacksonville Mayor: Violent demonstrators โdo not represent our cityโThe controversial proposal is pitting those who people believe First Amendment rights are being threatened against others who believe the increased penalties are a way to combat public disorder. And those who organized or funded violent protests would be treated as members of an organized crime group.
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Florida Capitol security remains strong ahead of Inauguration Day
Additional security precautions remain in effect and will continue at least through Wednesdayโs Presidential Inauguration. โIf you pose a threat to public safety, we will come for you. On Sunday, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey praised the Governor for sending national guardsmen to protect the Capitol. โI know that he cares for the safety of Tallahassee and the Capitol Complex as much as I do as well,โ said Dailey. According to the City of Tallahassee, no one has requested a permit to demonstrate on Inauguration Day.
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Flagler Beach City Hall closed after city manger tests positive for COVID-19
After the Flagler Beach City Manager tested positive for coronavirus Thursday, the city made the decision to shut down City Hall and the Cityโs Building Department. City staff will work remotely until then. โWhile I am feeling mild effects of the virus, I am resting, upbeat and following the advice of medical professionals. I will remain quarantined at home until I can fully recover and return to work when it is absolutely safe to do so,โ Interim City Manager Rick McFadden wrote in a press release. While the facilities are closed, those who need to contact City Hall can call (386) 517-2000 and leave a voicemail.
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AP VoteCast: Georgia votersโ view of countryโs outlook shifts after November
Trends and opinions among Georgia voters appear to be shifting since the November election, according to AP VoteCast, which surveys thousands of voters in the state before the presidential race and during the Senate runoffs. One question asked voters whether they believed the country was heading in the right direction. Looking at attitudes toward President Trump among voters choosing Republicans: In the November election, 89% of Perdueโs voters said they had a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the president, in the AP VoteCast survey. Compare that to the results of the AP VoteCast survey for the runoff: Among Perdue voters, views of the president remained similar, with 87% favorable to 12% unfavorable. But I would expect there will be a large chunk of voters who will step away after what they witnessed this week.โ
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Neptune Beach city buildings close due to COVID-19 outbreak
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. โ The city of Neptune Beach has closed City Hall and Public Works Buildings to the general public due to a COVID-19 virus outbreak among employees and altered operations to keep working. Mayor Elaine Brown said the city was forced to take action to protect the public and employees from the virus. According to City Manager Stefen Wynn, nearly every department of the City has been affected by positive cases of the virus, including top city officials. He emphasized that the services provided by the city are essential and although the city has closed its buildings to the public, those services will continue uninterrupted. Nine Neptune Beach officers were quarantined last summer after two tested positive for COVID-19.
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Council members: Lot J can be a โgame changerโ
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A group of African-American community and faith leaders shared their support for the Lot J development project in a news conference Wednesday morning outside City Hall. โThere have been so many negative things said about Lot J, but this is a game-changer for Jacksonville,โ City Councilman Reggie Gaffney said. But the group gathered Wednesday pushed back against those claims, saying the Lot J project is an investment in Jacksonvilleโs Eastside and is in the best interest of the city -- and all of Northeast Florida. โLong term, itโs going to enhance the city of Jacksonville and surrounding areas because as Lot J grows, other opportunities are going to follow,โ Gaffney said. โI believe that Lot J can be a game-changer for ALL of Jacksonville,โ Newby said.
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VIRUS TODAY: Health experts warn against holiday gatherings
With some Americans now paying the price for what they did over Thanksgiving, health officials are warning people begging them, even not to make the same mistake during the Christmas and New Year's season. Andrew Cuomo has ended indoor dining indefinitely in New York City as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb. As of Monday, only takeout orders and outdoor dining will be allowed in one of the worldโs great cuisine capitals. THE NUMBERS: Deaths in the U.S. have climbed to almost 2,260 per day on average, about equal to the peak seen in mid-April. ___Find APโs full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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Mayor Curry backs out of Christmas tree lighting ceremony amid vulgar Lot J protest
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The controversial Lot J project is still taking center stage even though the Jacksonville City Council has decided to not vote on the project until next month. Protesters shouted outside City Hall to City Council members, Curry and others, upset that the city is even considering spending over $233 million on the entertainment complex. Inside, City Council was meeting and it was expected the council would take up the Lot J issue and possibly take a vote on the matter. The lack of action by City Council tonight was seen by many observers as a good step. And while City Council is going on a holiday break, they might hold another special meeting this week to take up questions.
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Students return to NYC schools once more after virus closure
Public schools reopened for in-school learning Monday after being closed since mid-November. Public school doors reopened for preschool students and children in kindergarten through fifth grade whose parents chose a mix of in-school and remote learning. Overall, the city counts about 1 million public school students; most have opted to learn from home this fall. Masks and social distancing are required at all city schools. About 190,000 students were eligible to return to school buildings starting Monday.
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Crowds gather for local parades as COVID-19 cases climb
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ As Florida reported its third consecutive day of more than 10,000 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, large crowds gathered for events across Jacksonville. Organizers asked parade-goers to socially distance and encouraged them to wear masks. News4Jax saw groups both wearing masks and not wearing masks and most tried to keep their distance from one another, but some spots along the parade route did get more congested. โWe are still going to try and have some fun but yes, definitely going to maintain some distance from everyone,โ Taylor Self said. The Florida Department of Health reported 10,431 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Saturday with 494 new cases in Duval County.
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Jacksonville police ready to keep fans, peaceful protesters safe this weekend
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Itโs going to be a busy weekend in Jacksonville for those hoping to enjoy some fun sporting events downtown and for those with a more serious agenda. A peaceful rally is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at City Hall -- just 30 minutes before kickoff of the annual Georgia-Florida game at TIAA Bank Field. The Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office is preparing for the events to keep everyone safe, and police are also monitoring any potential unrest surrounding the election results. pic.twitter.com/PN76rsfxRn โ NAACP (@NAACP) November 6, 2020Jefferson said people should be hesitant to believe things, especially in a random text message, but they should also be aware. Those coming for any of the sporting events this weekend are encouraged to still come early, despite smaller crowds due to COVID-19 and stadium capacity limits.
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Long wait for Hawaii vote spurs call for more voter centers
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a long line of people waiting to vote stretches around City Hall on Election Day, in Honolulu. Overall, the stateโs vote-by-mail election appears to have been a big success, leading to record numbers of voters participating. The law also gives voters the option to vote in person at voter service centers, where people may also register to vote or get help with casting a ballot. Ma said people waited between two to four hours on Tuesday at the two voter centers on Oahu, an island with about 549,000 registered voters. Another factor was people who view voting in person on Election Day as sacrosanct and something they wanted to do.
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New this week: 'This Is Us,' Baby Yoda, 'The Craft' redone
(NBC via AP)Hereโs a collection curated by The Associated Pressโ entertainment journalists of whatโs arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIESโ Many things will be different about Halloween this year, but the annual rush of horror films is much the same. It stars Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku as a Sudanese refugee couple finding new horrors in life in England. But Neon, the โParasiteโ distributor, last week put a restored version into theaters and on Tuesday brings it to VOD. One is Natalie Margolin โThe Party Hop,โ which she wrote during quarantine in one week in early April.
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Masked pope, faith leaders pray for peace and pandemic's end
Pope Francis lights a candle for peace during an inter-religious ceremony for peace in the square outside Rome's City Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)ROME โ A masked Pope Francis welcomed religious leaders to a socially-distanced interfaith peace prayer Tuesday, appealing for a unified international effort to work for peace and an end to the coronavirus pandemic. โThe pandemic is reminding us that we are blood brothers and sisters,โ they said in a joint appeal issued at the end of the service. For weeks, Francis has shunned facemasks in his public and private audiences despite a surge in COVID-19 cases across Italy and even inside Vatican City. The service was organized by the Rome-based SantโEgidio Community, which each year organizes an interfaith peace prayer in the spirit of the first one of its kind, celebrated by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986. In the past week 11 Swiss Guards and a resident of the hotel where Francis lives have tested positive.
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Alexie, Pilkey books among most 'challenged' of past decade
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, author and filmmaker Sherman Alexie appears at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day at Seattle's City Hall. Alexie is included in a list of authors who wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. All wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. The association does not formally count the number of times books are actually removed from a library shelf or from a school reading list. โThere are actually two lines of objections to the Anne Frank diary,โ Caldwell-Stone says.
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Grassroots groups want City Council to reject JSO budget, re-allocate funds
โThe major problems involve racial issues, the city budget and the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office.โThe activists want more oversight from the City Council of JSOโs budget spending. โThe city council should establish new methods to evaluate how effectively JSO is spending the lionโs share of our city funds,โ said Ben Frazier, founder of the Northside Coalition. The city has broken promises and ignored the needs of Black neighborhoods for more than 50 years.โIn addition to that demand, the groups say the City Council should:Create a police accountability council to review police investigations. โThe Peopleโs Budget calls on the city to reallocate and reinvest money from the proposed half-billion dollar budget for JSO,โ said Christina Kittle with the JCAC. That budget will be voted on by City Council before the end of the month.
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NYC passes austere budget that cuts $1B from NYPD
Critics of the deal said the billion dollar cut wasnโt a billion dollar cut at all. Council Speaker Corey Johnson said when the budget deal was announced Tuesday that it wasn't what he had hoped for, and lamented he hadn't been unable to negotiate a bigger police budget cut. De Blasio said details were being worked out, but the Education Department would train the agents. Money would go instead to education, social services in communities hit hard by the virus, and summer youth programs for over 100,000 people. Before the virus hit, de Blasio proposed a more than $95 billion spending plan for the budget year that starts Wednesday.
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Jacksonville City Hall reopens with restrictions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Most city offices in Jacksonville were scheduled to reopen Monday morning for the first time since shutting down for the pandemic in March. But City Hall, the Ed Ball building, JEA offices and the Tax Collectorโs Office downtown did not reopen Monday or Tuesday after weekend protests shook the city. On Wednesday, City Hall reopened but left some offices closed to the public, including the City Council Chambers and the offices of City Council members. People entering City Hall will be screened by an infrared thermometer. Jacksonville City Hall reopened Wednesday morning but not all offices are open to the public.
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City officials voice concerns over how much time former JEA CEO was spending at City Hall
The documents show hundreds of swipes into City Hall over the last year and a half as Zahn made more than 90 visits. Civic Council calls for further investigation of ousted JEA CEO Aaron ZahnThe volume of visits is drawing criticism from City Council members who say JEA is meant to be independent of politics. News4Jax asked about the visits to City Hall, and Zahn issued a statement:City hall contains the general counselโs office, 19 city council members and the mayors office. The number of times I visited city hall demonstrates my focus on transparency and communication with all of Jacksonvilleโs policy makers. Aaron Zahn, former CEO of JEACity Councilmember Matt Carlucci told News4Jax on Friday the volume of time Zahn was spending at City Hall is unprecedented.
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2 companies bid for chance to develop cityโs riverfront property
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Just a year ago, the old City Hall was imploded and the old Duval County Courthouse was demolished. Today, all thatโs left on the Bay Street site is a field of green grass. The bidding was opened at 2 p.m for the opportunity to build on the prime property on the downtown Jacksonville riverfront, but only two developers expressed interest โ one company out of New York and another based in Miami. Mayor Lenny Curry, who has become known for tearing buildings down in downtown Jacksonville, spoke about the proposals Wednesday. We obviously want to develop the area but we know we have investors with capital that is liquid that are ready to go,โ Curry said.

Chicago students return to class after 11-day teacher strike
Braving snow and cold temperatures, thousands marched through the streets near City Hall during the 11th day of an ongoing teachers' strike on Oct. 31, 2019, in Chicago. An agreement was reached on the same day and the city's 300,000 public(CNN) - Some 300,000 Chicago students returned to their schools Friday after an 11-day teachers' strike ended with a deal that will make "students' lives better," Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said. The agreement reached between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union Thursday includes millions of dollars to reduce class sizes and bring more nurses, librarians and social workers to campuses. Union leaders thanked the city of Chicago, parents, and the community for their patience. That vote takes place in schools 10 days after a strike is suspended, the union said.

New USWNT coach feels weight of expectation
That is the daunting challenge facing Vlatko Andonovski after the 43-year-old was appointed as the new head coach of the United States Women's National soccer team. "It is important for this team to win every game and not just every game but to win big tournaments as well. The standard of the women's game has improved significantly, with more competitive and professional leagues in Europe bolstering the number of star players across the globe. More than just a gameThrough their success on the field, a number of USWNT players have chosen to voice their political and social ideals. "I respect their position," Andonovski said of the USWNT players' fight for social justice.

25,000 Chicago educators set to swarm City Hall
(CNN) - Outrage over failed contract negotiations will come to a head Wednesday when members of the Chicago Teachers Union descend on City Hall. See what the teachers' union wantsAbout 300,000 students are missing a fifth day of classes Wednesday as the union and city officials blame each other for prolonging the teachers' strike. The city has offered some concessions to the union but said it can't afford to meet all their demands. So the showdown at City Hall could mark a turning point in the strike. That's especially true in Chicago, where many students struggle with poverty, violence and grief at a very young age.

Baby shoes display offers visual reminder of infant mortality rate
The shoes represent the nearly 150 babies in Northeast Florida who died last year before their first birthday. MORE: Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition breaks down infant mortality ratesThe baby shoes tribute is part of a big picture report set to be released next month. Other causes of death include:Prematurity/low birth weight -- 20%Other perinatal conditions -- 31%Congenital anomalies -- 18%Infections -- 3%Injuries -- 3%Other causes -- 4%The infant mortality rate varied greatly by county, the coalition said. Duval County had a rate of 9.5 deaths per 1,000 live births -- up from eight deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017. The coalition said from there it will form an action plan on how to reduce the infant mortality rate.

Downtown Investment Authority wants to redevelop 8 acres of prime real estate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla - There are plans to redevelop some prime real estate in Downtown Jacksonville. The waterfront land where the old courthouse and City Hall once stood measures eight acres. The Downtown Investment Authority wants developers to put their best foot forward in making proposals for what's known as the Courthouse Annex property. It labels the land The Ford on Bay. The DIA points out there are $1 billion dollars in projects under construction and $3.5 billion dollars in proposed projects.

These Realistic-Looking Hooded Figures Are Freaking Out People in California
Residents of Laguna Beach, California, have mixed feelings about five, hooded statues that appeared outside City Hall this week. The figures are part of a public artwork called The Caretakers by Mark Jenkins and Sandra Fernandez, and their realistic look has some people complaining. The five figures are dressed in gray sweatshirts with hoods pulled over their faces and khaki pants. The characters faces are covered from the sun, city officials wrote on Facebook. The artist did a good job, everyone is talking about it, exactly the point, another user wrote.

Demonstrators push to keep beach parking in Fernandina
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Demonstrators marched from Fernandina Beach to City Hall on Tuesday evening, telling commissioners they want beach parking to remain. Kreger has spoken out against beach parking following two incidents in which beachgoers were run over by drivers on the beach. Kreger told News4Jax he wants to eliminate the 600 feet of parking that exists on Fernandina Beach at Seaside Park. He said beach parking raises safety and environmental concerns and that Fernandina Beach does not have a habitat conservation plan that deals with sea turtles. Demonstrators feel beach parking is not an issue and believe it should remain part of Fernandina Beach.

Demonstrators push to keep beach parking in Fernandina
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Demonstrators marched from Fernandina Beach to City Hall on Tuesday evening, telling commissioners they want beach parking to remain. Kreger has spoken out against beach parking following two incidents in which beachgoers were run over by drivers on the beach. Kreger told News4Jax he wants to eliminate the 600 feet of parking that exists on Fernandina Beach at Seaside Park. He said beach parking raises safety and environmental concerns and that Fernandina Beach does not have a habitat conservation plan that deals with sea turtles. Demonstrators feel beach parking is not an issue and believe it should remain part of Fernandina Beach.

USA Women's Soccer Team are Living Their Best Lives at NYC Parade Following World Cup Win
Members of the U.S. women's national soccer team had one last celebration in New York City before jetting off to Los Angeles for the 2019 ESPYs. The athletes were thrown a ticker tape parade after their second consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup win on Sunday when they beat the Netherlands 2-0 in France. The parade starts at Battery Park and heads north along Broadway to City Hall, where the team will be greeted by de Blasio. This route is known as the Canyon of Heroes -- the location of Olympic team celebrations and other ticker tape parades -- and will commemorate the soccer team's fourth World Cup title since 1991. We are here for this... Reese no taking back that invite, weve gotten really good at partying these last 2 days Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 9, 2019Check out some more celebrity reactions:RELATED CONTENT:USA Women's Soccer Team Reacts to Celebrity Support After World Cup WinUS Women's Soccer Team Wins World Cup: Serena Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and More Stars CelebratePrince Harry Meets His Little Look-Alike at Cricket World Cup

Blackstone Building owners sue demolition firms over implosion damage
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five months after the implosion of the old City Hall building downtown, the owners of the nearby Blackstone Building have filed a lawsuit against two companies in charge of the demolition. The Jan. 20 implosion shattered several windows and caused interior damage to the Blackstone Building on Bay Street. In an eight-page complaint filed Tuesday, the building's owners claim Environmental Holdings Group and subcontractor Controlled Demolition, Inc., did not take proper steps to prevent collateral damage. The complaint claims the building's owners received no warnings from either firm about potential property damage resulting from the implosion, which was done by shaped charged encased in brass. In addition, the plaintiffs said they asked the firms to set up a Kevlar curtain to absorb debris and shrapnel from the implosion.
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Activists group holds walk for a man who was killed by a police officer
KINGSLAND, Ga. โ The group Concerned Citizens of Camden County held a walk outside City Hall in Kingsland over the shooting death of Tony Green. Green was shot and killed by a Kingsland police officer in June after running during a traffic stop. Officer Zechariah Presley is facing voluntary manslaughter and violating his oath charges. We've been asking for the policies of hiring a police officer here in Kingsland and we have not gotten that yet," Knight said. It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing, it's a right and wrong thing and this was wrong.