Dad, fiancee charged after 12-year-old boy found dead in own filth in locked room
ANNVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man and his fiancee imprisoned the man’s 12-year-old son in a darkened room for years, starving him and beating him while treating their other children well, until he was finally found dead in his own filth, authorities said.
Scott Schollenberger Jr., 41, and Kimberly Maurer, 35, of Annville, are each charged with homicide and child endangerment, Pennlive.com reported. Both were held without bail, and it wasn’t known Monday whether either has an attorney to speak for them.
The charges stem from the death of Maxwell Schollenberger, whose body was found May 26. The boy was naked, and his feces-covered body was sprawled across a soiled bed in a room that was also caked with it.
The boy never received medical care, wasn’t enrolled in school and was rarely seen even by his siblings, who lived in the same house with the couple. There were no lights in the boy’s room, and the window shades were closed with duct tape. Metal hooks kept the room locked from the outside.
Schollenberger and Maurer have other children together “who appeared to be healthy, well-adjusted and cared for,” they wrote. Those children received regular medical care and attended school, authorities said.
Maurer had been a caregiver for the boy since he was 2, authorities said, adding that Schollenberger and Maurer denied the boy had any mental or physical disorders.
Maurer told investigators that she was the caregiver for the child because Schollenberger “expressed extreme frustration” toward the child and was afraid of hurting him, authorities said.
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/dad-fiancee-charged-after-12-year-old-boy-found-dead-in-own-filth-in-locked/article_ae2cb601-4546-5f64-b941-f688336fa69a.html
Photo Credit: Annville Township Police Department
Hobby Lobby raising full-time minimum wage to $17 an hour
Hobby Lobby is raising the minimum wage for its full-time workers to $17 an hour ahead of the holiday season.
The arts-and-crafts chain will implement the permanent raise Oct. 1, making it the latest big retailer to increase staffers’ pay amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Oklahoma-based company said it last hiked its minimum full-time wage to $15 an hour in 2014.
“Because this year has presented so many challenges to our employees, we are very happy that we are able to provide pay increases to thousands of our associates before the Christmas season,” Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green said in a Monday statement announcing the change.
The raise will come about three months after Target increased its starting wage to $15 an hour in an effort to support its workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Other retail giants such as Walmart and Amazon have temporarily hiked hourly wages and paid bonuses to workers that helped them stay up and running amid the pandemic.
Hobby Lobby, which has more than 43,000 employees and over 900 stores, said all its shops had reopened in July after the virus forced them to close. But the chain reportedly drew fire in the spring for trying to keep stores open as an “essential” retailer.
Founded by Green in 1972, Hobby Lobby is known for its religious values that have sometimes drawn the company and its owners into controversies.
In 2017, Hobby Lobby agreed to pay $3 million to settle a federal complaint that accused the company of buying more than 5,000 ancient Iraqi artifacts that had allegedly been smuggled through the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
And in 2019 the feds seized a historic clay tablet known as the “Gilgamesh Dream Tablet” from Hobby Lobby’s Museum of the Bible that the chain had purchased after it was allegedly looted from Iraq.
Hobby Lobby — which closes its stores on Sundays to give employees “time for family and for worship” — also won a 2014 Supreme Court case that allowed closely held private companies to deny their female employees insurance coverage for contraceptives.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/15/hobby-lobby-raising-full-time-minimum-wage-to-17-an-hour/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Man installs electric fence to protect his Trump 2020 sign
A Massachusetts man resorted to installing an electric fence to stop thieves from stealing his Trump 2020 sign off his front yard.
John Oliveira, of New Bedford, said he’s fed up after six of his previous Trump signs vanished, prompting him to file two police reports. Another sign urging people to vote wasn’t touched, he said.
“I’m done with this,” he told WJAR in a report Tuesday. “I’m just trying to make a statement and say what I believe in. The electric fence is a deterrent. Horse wire carries a charge. It will certainly send a message.”
Oliveira — a lifelong Democrat who recently turned Republican — installed the fence two weeks ago.
“It’s a shame that I have to do this,” Oliveira told the network. “I believe in the president. Obviously, people didn’t like that.”
The New Bedford School Committee member said everyone is entitled to their own political beliefs and opinions.
“Our country is about different opinions and being able to voice those opinions in a fair and equitable manner, and when you’re taking people’s signs, that’s not fair and equitable,” he said. “You have to be able to respect each other because we’ll never get anything accomplished if you don’t. Don’t mess with my right to free speech.”
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/15/man-installs-electric-fence-to-protect-his-trump-2020-sign/
Photo Credit: WJAR
Three brothers accused of raping 10-year-old girl in Louisiana
Three brothers are charged with raping a 10-year-old Louisiana girl who locked herself in a bedroom when they offered her money for sex, police said.
Two of the suspects, identified as Raul Paz-Perez and Wilmer Paz-Perez, both 35, were arrested Saturday on a charge of first-degree rape involving a juvenile under the age of 13, Kenner police said.
A third brother, 31-year-old Elder Paz-Perez, is still being sought as of early Tuesday on the same charge, Lt. Michael Cunningham told The Post.
“We don’t know where he is,” Cunningham said. “He may be out of state.”
Elder Paz-Perez is the boyfriend of the 10-year-old girl’s mother. He and his brothers had been living with the girl and her family, including her 15-year-old sister and two stepsiblings, at the time of the alleged attack, Cunningham said.
The three brothers were alone with the 10-year-old girl at a home in Kenner on Wednesday when they made sexual advances toward her, offering her money for sex acts, Cunningham said.
The young girl locked herself in a bedroom, but one of the brothers managed to bust inside, Cunningham said.
“After defeating the lock, the three entered the room, undressed the victim, held her down and sexually assaulted her,” Kenner police said in a statement.
Days later, the girl told a relative, who then reported the alleged attack to authorities on Saturday. Raul and Wilmer Paz-Perez were arrested later that day, police said.
Detectives are also looking into whether Elder Paz-Perez sexually assaulted the 15-year-old sister of the 10-year-old girl after she “made a disclosure” to investigators about an incident a few years earlier, Cunningham said.
Two stepsiblings of the 10-year-old girl are also being interviewed by detectives to see if they were victimized as well, Cunningham said.
Raul and Wilmer Paz-Perez were being held without bail Tuesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, online records show.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers have also been placed on Raul and Wilmer Paz-Perez, who are originally from Honduras and were in the US illegally. The immigration status for Elder Paz-Perez was unclear early Tuesday, Cunningham said.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/15/three-brothers-allegedly-raped-10-year-old-girl-in-louisiana-home/
Photo Credit: City of Kenner
Family of Lancaster man killed by cop wanted to ‘help’ him with mental illness
The sister of the knife-wielding Pennsylvania man shot dead by a cop said they wanted to get her brother “help” for his mental illness.
Ricardo Munoz was a paranoid schizophrenic and had other mental health issues when he was killed Sunday just outside their home in downtown Lancaster, his family told NewsNation Now in a report Tuesday.
“We needed help,” his sister Deborah Peña told the local station. “I didn’t need my brother to be dead. I wanted him to get help — mental help.”
His mother Miguelina Peña, who was in tears during the interview, said of the police officer who shot her son, “They’re supposed to be there to protect and serve! That’s their logo, protect and serve!” Deborah translated from Spanish.
The family called 911 late Sunday afternoon reporting that Munoz was becoming “aggressive” with his mother and trying to break into her home.
Body-cam video shows the 27-year-old man bursting through the front door, charging at the officer who was first on scene with a knife in hand.
The retreating officer then fired several shots, killing Munoz.
The officer, who has not been identified by police, has been placed on administrative leave.
Munoz’s other sister on Monday said her brother was diagnosed with and treated for bipolar disorder, on top of schizophrenia. But he hadn’t been taking his medications.
She insisted that she only called a local crisis intervention group and a non-emergency police number.
“I called to find out what the procedure was to get him some help,” she told Lancaster Online.
Munoz’s death kicked off a night of violent protests in the city Sunday, with hundreds of protesters demanding “justice” while vandalizing police cars and lobbing bricks through the windows of the police department and post office.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/15/lancaster-man-killed-by-police-struggled-with-mental-illness/
Photo Credit: Lancaster PD; Family handout
Trump Says He Will ‘Negotiate’ Third Term Because He’s ‘Entitled’ To It
His former ‘fixer’ says unlimited terms in office are one of the things Trump admires about autocrats like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin.
For over a year, President Donald Trump has been pushing for a third term in office in 2024. The incumbent, who is currently trailing his challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, for the presidency, insisted again that he could “negotiate” a third term.
At a campaign event in Nevada on Saturday night, Trump proclaimed that he would “win Nevada,” a state that he lost in 2016 against Hillary Clinton. He declared that he would win four more years in the White House.
“And then after that,” he said, “we’ll negotiate, right? Because we’re probably—based on the way we were treated—we are probably entitled to another four after that.”
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1951 after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to the presidency four times. The amendment limited presidents to two terms in office. There are no provisions or reasons that a president would be able to negotiate.
Some media pundits have said that the president is “joking” about staying in office for the third time. However, Trump’s former “fixer,” lawyer Michael Cohen, told Don Lemon last week that “Donald Trump does not have a sense of humor.”
“(He) believes that he should be the ruler—the dictator of the United States of America,” Cohen contended on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. “He actually is looking to change the Constitution.”
Cohen maintains that unlimited terms in office are one of the things Trump admires about autocrats like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin.
“So I want you to understand that when he says 12 more years if he wins, he is going to automatically—day number one—start thinking about how to change the Constitution for a third term and then a fourth term,” Cohen said.
In order to change the 22nd Amendment, Trump would need an affirmative vote from two-thirds of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the U.S. Senate, and given the opposition to his presidency, that is highly unlikely.
via: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-says-d-negotiate-third-112925976.html
Photo Credit: Ethan Miller
Viral photo of kindergartner in Arizona asleep while on online class
(CBS NEWS) — Many adults have had to adapt to the frustrations of working from home during the pandemic — and kids are being asked to do the same. But learning from home can be stressful for young people, and a viral photo posted by one Arizona mom captures what a lot of families are dealing with.
The photo, first shared on Twitter August 7 by writer Kara McDowell, shows her 5-year-old son lying across a chair, seemingly exasperated during a session of remote schooling.
“My Kindergartner on a 40 minute video call is a total mood,” McDowell wrote in the caption — one that resonated with many.
The photo was relatable to many because no matter how old you are, working from home or learning from home isn’t always easy.
“this is all of us….” one person commented.
“I am experiencing this right this second with a third grader. And today’s only a half-day,” another parent replied.
“Also me after my 40 min zoom calls. And I’m a whole entire adult!” another person wrote.
Two days later, McDowell posted a more positive update: “I’ve gotta say, teachers are trying their best! For balance, here’s another pic from the same day. My Kindergartner happily sharing his stuffed animal during show and tell.” The new photo showed McDowell’s son smiling at his computer screen.
McDowell’s son isn’t the only kid to go viral for their reaction to virtual learning. A mom from Georgia posted a photo of her 5-year-old son crying while he struggled with digital learning.
The mom, Jana Coombs, told CBS affiliate WFMY that the first day of virtual learning was chaos and described the experience: “Juggling a household, having an infant in the house, getting 5,000 emails a day from all their teachers, trying to keep up … different apps, different codes, different platforms, some links don’t work. You’re running from one laptop to another,” she said.
Moms like Coombs and McDowell certainly aren’t alone — most parents with school-aged children are dealing with stress, as are their kids. According to a Gallup Poll in May, when 97% of parents said their child’s school was closed, nearly three in 10 said their child was “already experiencing harm” to their emotional or mental health because of social distancing and closures. Another 14% indicated their child was approaching their limits, and predicted they could continue social distancing only few more weeks until their mental health suffered.
Among the various difficulties faced during remote learning, 45% said being separated from classmates and teachers is a major challenge for their kids.
For parents and children struggling during this unprecedented time, the Child Mind Institute has some tips to help families cope — whether the anxiety is caused by in-person learning, virtual learning or other pandemic-related stressors.
One of those tips is to structure your child’s day. “As parents we often think that setting boundaries for a child is a way to make our lives easier, but in fact kids thrive on them, too,” Rachel Ehmke of the Child Mind Institute writes. “It is easy for children to get bored or fretful if they are facing a day without structure, and anxiety can thrive under those circumstances.”
The Institute, which is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders, recommends alternating schoolwork, chores and fun activities and making sure kids get exercise and time to socialize with friends safely.
Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, says parents should lead by example, by modeling calmness and looking for positives. He also recommends parents avoid providing too much reassurance, since kids may come to rely on it and develop even more anxiety when they don’t get it. Instead, he suggests reminding kids of what they can do to take care of themselves during this time — like hand washing and social distancing.
Achieve Virtual, an organization for at-home education in Indiana, has also provided virtual learning tips that families across the country may find useful during the pandemic.
Achieve Virtual recommends making the child’s workspace comfortable — but no lying in bed or on the couch. The organization also recommends parents help their kids keep a routine, monitor their internet safety and keep them motivated by removing distractions like cellphones.
Also, ensuring that children have virtual interactions is key — whether it be virtual playdates or study sessions with classmates. Achieve Virtual recommends parents should contact the teacher if they feel their child doesn’t have enough peer interaction during virtual learning.
via: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/distance-learning-home-kindergartner-mood/
Photo Credit: twitter
For first time, House will vote on bill that would legalize marijuana on federal level
For the first time, a bill to legalize marijuana at the federal level will soon go to the floor of the U.S. House for a vote.
“The MORE Act would actually erase past convictions for marijuana offenses, opening the door to opportunities to jobs, housing, education, things that could help people, but it would also make it so people will no longer be denied federal benefits because of marijuana activity,” said Maritza Perez, Director of the Drug Policy Alliance.
Some CEOs of companies in the industry say the bill has a long road ahead but are optimistic marijuana will become legal at some point.
“I think that it creates that dialogue where we can have sensible legislation and policy when it comes to cannabis and THC products,” said Joe Dowling, CEO of CV Services.
“It’s actually one of the few things that when I’m talking to people on both sides of the aisle, that they actually agree, that it’s something that can move us forward in one direction in creating jobs and stimulating the economy,” said Michael Cammarata, CEO of Neptune Wellness Solutions.
Studies show more people support the legalization of marijuana. A 2019 Gallup poll showed majority-support across major political parties for legalizing marijuana. It showed 51% of Republicans, 68% of independents, and 76% of Democrats are in favor of it.
A vote on the MORE Act is expected to happen next week. If it passes the Democratic-controlled House, it faces a challenge in the Republican-controlled Senate.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/national/for-first-time-house-will-vote-on-bill-that-would-legalize-marijuana-on-federal-level
Photo Credit: Gillian Flaccus/AP
Taco Bell debuts custom Jalapeño Noir wine and pairs well with their Toasty Cheesy Chalupa
Taco Bell is getting into the wine business.
Taco Bell Canada debuted its custom Jalapeño Noir wine on social media.
They stated the wine pairs well with their Toasted Cheesy Chalupa.
The wine will be made available beginning Wednesday on Taco Bell’s Canada website, and in Ontario, CNN reported.
According to CNN, the bottles will sell for $25 Canadian or about $19 US.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/national/taco-bell-debuts-custom-jalapeno-noir-wine
Photo Credit: Taco Bell Canada
The racist roots of college admission tests
The SAT tests have been criticized in recent years as discriminatory to people with disabilities along with low-income and minority students, but the standardized test also has racist roots.
It was created by a eugenicist and was first given in 1926 to 8,000 high school students. At the time, some schools wanted to diversify their wealthy, prep school student body, but only with other native-born white students.
In the 1920s, eugenics was a movement led by social scientists that believed you could improve the human race by selective breeding. Princeton Professor Carl Brigham was one of those scientists, according to Nicholas Lemann, author of “The Big Test: the Secret History of American Meritocracy.”
The scientists developed tests for the Army during World War I. The tests were supposed to measure the intelligence of recruits so the Army could identify men with so-called superior mental ability and those deemed mentally inferior.
After the war, Brigham published a book called “A Study of American Intelligence.” With it, he sounded the alarm about Europeans streaming in from eastern and southern Europe. He felt they would overwhelm the “races of higher intelligence.”
“The decline of American intelligence will be more rapid than the decline of the intelligence of other European groups, owing to the presence of the n—o,” he argued.
Eugenicists promoted laws and movements for the preservation of racial purity.
Brigham’s next project was the development of the SAT.
National Center for Fair & Open Testing head Bob Schaeffer said that even today, the way the SAT and other standardized tests are used creates further barriers
Still, the SAT and other standardized testing endures, despite the racist roots, but the SAT tests’ days may have an expiration date.
Just this spring, the university of California Board of Regents unanimously approved the suspension of the standardized testing requirement for all California freshman applicants until fall of 2024.
On it’s website, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing has a list of more than 1,500 four year colleges and universities listed as test optional.
Believe or not, it seems Brigham would approve. In the 1930s, he denounced the eugenics movement and became its leading critic. He also disowned his own book, calling it worthless. He campaigned against the SAT as a college admission device up until his death.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/created-equal/the-racist-roots-of-college-admission-tests
Photo Credit: pix11.com