Social worker faces 14 felony charges after patient says she made him her ‘sex slave’
ELGIN, Ill. – An Illinois social worker faces 14 felony charges after one of her patients said she treated him like a “sex slave.”
There are now three lawsuits – one criminal and two civil – claiming that a former employee at the Elgin Mental Health Center took advantage of her position by making her patients her sex slaves.
Christy Lenhardt, 53, now faces 14 counts of sexual misconduct in Kane County. Lenhardt was charged with eight counts of sexual misconduct with a person with disabilities, and six counts of official misconduct.
The charges come after a state investigation into the Elgin Mental Health Center.
The criminal complaint alleges that one patient, Benahdam Hurt of Aurora, was forced to have romantic trysts with his social worker in her office and in his bedroom in the state-run facility for nearly three years.
“I visit my son every day every weekend and I knew something wasn’t right. I would hear things and people would slip papers to me,” his mother, D’Anntanette Lee, said.
The criminal charges follow civil suits filed in 2017 and 2018. In one of those cases another patient, Mark Owens Jr., claimed Lenhardt made sexual advances toward him when he first showed up at the facility in 2012.
When Hurt said he wanted to stop seeing Lenhardt in her private office, she allegedly retaliated against him by telling his treatment team he was paranoid and in need of stronger medication.
“She can get me drugged to the gills. In all likelihood I better do what she says,” Hurt’s attorney said.
Lenhardt, a long time state employee, resigned in August of 2017. The civil lawsuits are each seeking $10,000 in damages.
“It shouldn’t be this way. This is a terrible crime and not just against my client but against human dignity itself,” Randy Kretchmar, attorney, said.
Lenhardt posted bail on Thursday. Her attorney told the Chicago Tribune that she does not have a criminal history and will wait for the legal process to play out in court.
She is due back in court on April 20.
If convicted, Lenhardt faces probation or between two and five years in prison.
‘Black Panther’ passes ‘Titanic’ at the box office
HOLLYWOOD — “Black Panther” moved past “Titanic” on the all-time list of highest grossing films. But “A Quiet Place” took the top spot at this weekend’s box office.
“Black Panther” has now made $665.4 million domestically, which makes the Disney and Marvel Studios film starring Chadwick Boseman the third-highest grossing film in North American history. The superhero film has now officially passed “Titanic” and is only behind “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avatar.”
That’s not accounting for inflation, however. When accounting for inflation, the superhero film clocks in at No. 34 on the all-time domestic list, according to industry data site Box Office Mojo.
“Black Panther” has been a phenomenon for Disney shattering box office records and cultural barriers in Hollywood. The film has made nearly $1.3 billion globally since opening in mid-February.
As for the film that won this weekend, Paramount’s “A Quiet Place” opened to a stellar $50 million in North America.
The near silent horror film starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt nabbed the second biggest opening of the year and nearly tripled its budget of $17 million. The big weekend for the horror film was likely thanks to strong word of mouth and critical acclaim. The film currently holds a near perfect 97% score on review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Related: Diversity is dominating the 2018 box office
Coming in second place was Warner Bros.’ “Ready Player One,” which turned in a solid second weekend total of $25 million domestically. The Steven Spielberg film has so far made $391.3 million worldwide.
And rounding out the top three was the Universal comedy “Blockers.” The film starring John Cena and Leslie Mann also had a good weekend in a crowded field opening to an estimated $21.4 million in the US.
via: http://pix11.com/2018/04/09/black-panther-passes-titanic-at-the-box-office/
Ohio company recalls more than 7 tons of BBQ beef
HARRISON, Ohio (AP) — Federal authorities say an Ohio-based food company is recalling more than 14,000 pounds (6,000 kilograms) of pulled barbequed beef products that could be contaminated with rubber.
The U.S. agriculture department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that J.T.M. Provisions Co. of Harrison had received two consumer complaints of extraneous material contamination. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from consuming the products.
They come in a sealed plastic tray with a paper sleeve in products labeled “Bar-B-Q Sauce With Pulled Beef.” Federal authorities say they were produced last September, but they are concerned that some remain frozen in customers’ refrigerators or freezers……
READ MORE——> http://komonews.com/news/nation-world/ohio-company-recalls-more-than-7-tons-of-bbq-beef-04-08-2018
Ohio teens given suspended sentence for dropping sandbag off overpass that killed man
The four Ohio teens who pleaded guilty to dropping a sandbag off a freeway overpass that killed a 22-year-old man were given a suspended sentence and ordered to a treatment center on Friday.
Marquis Byrd was the passenger in a vehicle that was hit by the sandbag dropped onto Interstate 75 in Toledo last December. Byrd was left in critical condition and died three days later in the hospital.
The four teens, all aged 13 or 14, pleaded guilty to either murder or manslaughter. The boy who dropped the sandbag pleaded guilty to murder while the other three pleaded to involuntary manslaughter, the Toledo Blade reported. The teen who pleaded guilty to murder was sentenced to the Department of Youth Services until he turns 21, while the teens who pleaded guilty to manslaughter were sentenced to three years in the Department of Youth Services.
All four sentences were suspended by the judge in favor of being sent to Toledo’s Lucas County Youth Treatment Center.
“It’s a treatment facility, for certain services, to provide so these boys change their behavior and can become productive members of our community,” Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon said…….
READ MORE——> https://www.yahoo.com/gma/ohio-teens-given-suspended-sentence-dropping-sandbag-off-061804604–abc-news-topstories.html
Michigan to end free bottled water for Flint, saying water crisis over
Original article written April 6, 2018
(Reuters) – The state of Michigan will no longer supply free bottled water to Flint, the city once plagued with lead-tainted drinking water in a crisis that drew national attention, officials said on Friday.
For nearly two years, tests have shown that Flint’s water is the same or better than similar cities across the state, a statement from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s office said. When the current supply of state-funded bottled water is depleted, the distribution centers will close and deliveries will end.
“The scientific data now proves the water system is stable and the need for bottled water has ended,” the Republican governor said in the statement. “Since Flint’s water is now well within the standards set by the federal government, we will now focus even more of our efforts on continuing with the health, education and economic development assistance needed to help move Flint forward.”
Michigan State Representative Sheldon Neeley, a Democrat whose district includes most of Flint, a predominantly black city of about 100,000, denounced the decision to end free bottled water, calling it cruel.
“Governor Snyder has failed to address the psychological trauma that his administration put the people of Flint through. The fact is, the people of Flint don’t trust the Snyder administration or the science they pay for -– science that previously allowed our city to be poisoned,” Neeley said in a statement.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the parties that sued state and city officials to secure safe drinking water for residents, called the decision disappointing. “The people of Flint deserve better,” NRDC health director Erik Olson said……..
READ MORE——> https://www.yahoo.com/news/michigan-end-free-bottled-water-flint-saying-water-010950372–business.html
Fox News regulars Diamond & Silk have Twitter meltdown after Facebook labels their videos ‘unsafe to the community’
I can’t stand these two! Not all money. Is good money.
“Diamond and Silk,” the two North Carolina sisters who have profitably promoted themselves as Donald Trump’s biggest fans, took to Fox & Friends and Twitter this weekend in a panic after Facebook determined their content –primarily videos — is “unsafe to the community,” causing their traffic to collapse while hitting them in the pocketbooks.
The two, dubbed by MSNBC host Joy Reid as “Cubic Zirconia and Rayon,” (real names Lynnette “Diamond” Hardaway and Rochelle “Silk” Richardson), have become recognizable regulars on Fox News where they are notable for siting side-by-side and opining on the political topic du jour.
READ MORE FROM THE RAW STORY———>
White Skin, Black Emojis?
Original article posted Mar 21st 2018
GREAT READ!!
Trying to pick the right emoji to convey exactly what you’re feeling — excitement, fear, existential dread — can be tough. What makes it more complicated? All those different skin tones.
On Ask Code Switch, we take on your trickiest questions about race and identity. This week, we’re tackling a letter from Kristyn Gelfand, 38, in Toronto. She writes:
My daughter, a very conscious 15-year-old queer, white girl, has recently started using black hand emojis. We discuss race and politics all the time at home. She even listens to your podcast with me sometimes. We live in a diverse neighborhood of a diverse city. As a family and on her own, our daily lives include many friendships and interactions with POC. So my question is, do I speak to her about using the emojis??
Hey there! (wave emoji)
If your daughter is like me, she believes an emoji is worth a thousand words. When a friend invites me over for dinner, I like to respond with a (thumbs-up). How else do you efficiently convey: “Yes! What a great idea! I’m excited! (But not too excited)”?
Article continues after sponsorship
The problem is, the emoji you choose might be sending the wrong message. A text that reads as playful to one person might come off as insensitive to another. (We’ll get into some of the reasons in a sec.)
There are a lot of reasons your daughter might be using black hand emojis. It sounds like she cares about the well-being of the people of color around her, and she is probably not trying to cause offense. So maybe she feels that black hand emojis better convey what she is trying to communicate. Or maybe she thinks using them is a good way to show solidarity with her friends of color.
But there is a problem here. When we step into the digital world, it’s easy to feel like we can leave our IRL identities behind. But the power dynamics that exist in real life don’t disappear just because we’re hidden behind a screen.
So yes, you should absolutely speak to your daughter about the implications of using emojis that don’t match her racial identity. And the first step is to ask some questions.
The Emergence Of The White Troll Behind A Black Face
CODE SWITCH
The Emergence Of The White Troll Behind A Black Face
Questions like: Is her use of the emojis intentional, or something she just happened to do one day? Or, says Samantha Kemp-Jackson: “What are you trying to say that you can’t say in the color of your own skin?”
Kemp-Jackson, a parenting expert and writer, says kids are more open to learning when they have a voice in the discussion. She says asking your daughter about her texting habits will allow her to think more deeply about what she is doing.
If your daughter believes that black skin is an inherent part of her message, she adds, then she needs to think harder about what it is about black skin that enhances her message. Does she think her raised-fist emoji looks more revolutionary when she paints it black? Her clapping hands more rhythmic? Her praise hands more dramatic? Her painted nails sexier?
If that turns out to be the case, then you should explain to her that she is playing up harmful stereotypes about black people, even if that is not her intent.
You and your daughter already talk about race a lot, so treat this as part of that ongoing discussion. You can explain to her that, as a white person, she has a lot of privilege, both on her phone and face to face.
By trying on black skin when it is fun, safe and convenient, your daughter is inadvertently trivializing the experiences of real black people.
“A white teenager can walk into a store, and they don’t feel at that point that they want to be black,” says Kemp-Jackson. Unlike your daughter, black people can’t choose when to invoke their blackness.
If she’s not convinced yet? It might help to crack open the annals of emoji history.
Forget Wealth And Neighborhood. The Racial Income Gap Persists
CODE SWITCH
Forget Wealth And Neighborhood. The Racial Income Gap Persists
Before we could wave, clap and flip someone off in six different skin tones, emojis were just yellow. Simpsons yellow. This default, universal cartoon “skin” was based off of Caucasian skin tones. (And FYI, even on The Simpsons, black and brown characters were drawn black and brown.)
For a lot of people of color, those yellow emojis weren’t … us. Our praise hands always felt a little jaundiced.
It wasn’t until 2015 that we got another five skin tones to choose from. Now, I can virtually high-five my friends with a brown hand that looks more like mine.
But white people never wound up taking to the lighter-skinned emojis. Andrew McGill at The Atlantic found that white emoji users err on the side of the yellow “default,” rather than the colors that more closely match their skin.
Why might that be? Before, when white people sent a high-five over text, it didn’t have to be about race. For people of color, it was. Whenever we sent that yellow high-five, we were reminded that brown and black hands were not an option.
McGill writes that now that there are options, when white people send a high-five with white skin, it feels like sending a white high-five. For people who are used to thinking of their skin as the default, acknowledging whiteness in their digital hand gestures can feel deeply uncomfortable.
After all, what does it mean to send a white high-five? Or a white hang-loose sign? Or even a white raised fist?
Using certain white emojis might feel a little weird to your daughter. She probably doesn’t want to assert her whiteness in every text conversation.
But her discomfort is a product of her privilege, and that isn’t a good enough reason to try on someone else’s skin. So if she finds herself reaching for those black hands … she should think twice.
If she needs them to help her with her message, she is probably not the right person to be saying it in the first place.
Do you have thoughts on race-conscious emojis? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Have a racial conundrum of your own? Fill out this form and tell us the deets.
READ NPR—–> https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/03/21/425573955/white-skin-black-emojis
Bay Area officials outraged at trump foodstamp proposal
Original YouTube post published February 13, 2018
It is so important to know who you’re voting for and their politics and policies if you don’t know either of these things you could end of the services you don’t want or don’t need our services you need taken away. Or that service modified based on their belief.
A Virginia man who says he punched a woman because she called him the n-word has been convicted of second-degree murder.
Robert Coleman, 27, has been convicted of second-degree murder for throwing a punch that killed a 39-year-old woman. Photo: Alexandria Detention Center
I’ve been called Nigger many times and laughed. IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS TO LOOSE YOUR FREEDOM OVER A RACIST ASS. For that racist who lost their life had no idea he would be dead because of that hatful word. For every action there is reaction. And for every reaction there’s action! We have free speech yes but there are consequences for your free speech The consequences could be good bad or indifferent or in this case you may lose your life or your freedom .
A Virginia man who says he punched a woman because she called him the n-word has been convicted of second-degree murder. On Monday an Arlington, Va., jury recommended that Robert Coleman, 27, serve 10 years behind bars for the death of Fedelia Montiel-Benitez, who died in July.
But the circumstances of Montiel-Benitez’s death were hotly contested by the prosecution and Coleman’s lawyers, who expressed disappointment that their client wasn’t given a manslaughter charge.
The fateful encounter between Montiel-Benitez and Coleman began at a 7-Eleven. As the Washington Post reports, Coleman had gone into the convenience store to buy cigarettes; Montiel-Benitez, to buy alcohol. The two strangers then got into an argument (it’s still unknown about what), which Coleman’s girlfriend, Nikki Howard, had to break up. Surveillance video shows Montiel-Benitez leaving the 7-Eleven before she turns around to face Coleman again…..
READ MORE FROM THE ROOT—–> https://www.theroot.com/man-who-landed-fatal-punch-after-victim-called-him-the-1824992681
Man charged with selling drugs while driving school bus
STRATFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut school bus driver has been charged with buying and selling heroin while driving his bus.
Twenty-nine-year-old Garfield Howell was charged Thursday with selling narcotics and risk of injury to a minor. Police say he lives in Stratford but drives a school bus in Bridgeport.
Stratford police say no children were on the bus when he was dropping off or picking up drugs.
A manager from the bus company says they are investigating the allegations.
Howell’s bail was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month. He does not have an attorney who can comment on the charges.
via: http://pix11.com/2018/04/06/man-charged-with-selling-drugs-while-driving-school-bus/