Soldiers busted after sneaking through hole in base fence to party during pandemic
The Eighth Army is taking a hardline stance against those who break health protection condition orders during the coronavirus pandemic, even publishing the results of enforcement actions online.
Three unnamed soldiers from the 94th Military Police Battalion received Article 15s after visiting an off-post bar and sneaking through a hole in the installation fence on Camp Walker, in the South Korean city of Daegu.
The Eighth Army said the punishments were published “to ensure our soldiers, civilians, contract employees and their families understand the ramifications of not following the commander’s directives.”
Each of the soldiers were reduced in rank to E-1, docked $866 per pay month for two months and placed on 45-day restrictions.
One soldier created the hole in the installation’s fence, while two others were chided for not reporting the hole, according to punishment summaries. Two soldiers also made false official statements to investigators, the summaries stated.
“Doing the wrong thing has serious consequences,” the soldiers’ overarching command wrote online. “Don’t risk everyone’s safety and our ability to complete our mission because you can’t follow orders.”
U.S. Forces Korea leadership has also taken a hardline approach to civilians under their authority.
Last week, the command banned an American contractor from accessing all U.S. military installations on the Korean Peninsula for two years, effective April 14, after the individual failed to comply with an order to quarantine following exposure to COVID-19, the command said.
The contractor, who was based out of Camp Humphreys, had direct contact with a co-worker who tested positive for the virus, and was ordered to remain in quarantine to monitor for symptoms.
“The individual chose to non-comply with the quarantine directive and visited the PX and the commissary,” U.S. officials on the peninsula said in a statement.
Another civilian working for the Department of the Army at Camp Yongsan-Casey was observed by garrison town patrol visiting an off-post bar and was also banned from all U.S. installations on the peninsula effective April 17.
The COVID-19 situation in South Korea and on U.S. bases has been gradually coming under control thanks in large part to strict mitigation measures by both the host nation and U.S. military authorities.
In many cases, the two entities worked in concert to control the virus’ spread. In the city of Daegu, for instance, U.S. and Republic of Korea troops have conducted joint disinfecting operations to sanitize public areas.
An off-limits order for the city of Daegu was lifted last week and the urban area is no longer considered a hot spot for the virus, though current health protection measures and local restrictions still apply, officials said.
South Korea has been praised for its ability to contain COVID-19 by instituting drive-through test sites, temperature checks and sanitation measures early on in the pandemic. After reaching a peak of about 900 new COVID-19 cases per day in late February, the rates have now dropped to roughly 12 per day this week.
Only two active duty service members have tested positive for COVID-19 on the Korean peninsula so far, U.S. Forces Korea officials said last week.
Photo Credit” nypost.com
Florida lawyer to wear Grim Reaper costume to stop people visiting beaches
A lawyer in Florida said he will visit beaches that open “prematurely” while dressed as the Grim Reaper starting in May.
“Many of you have asked if I am willing to travel around Florida wearing Grim Reaper attire to the beaches and other areas of the state opening up prematurely. The answer is absolutely yes,” lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder tweeted.
Uhlfelder’s costumed tour comes as a response to news that the state had relaxed restrictions implemented April 2 to enforce social distancing practices to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Jacksonville Beaches reopened last weekend to packed crowds, and Floridians were seen flocking to Cocoa Beach to sunbathe Thursday after it reopened for social activities.
Last month, the lawyer made news for advocacy amid the pandemic by suing Gov. Ron DeSantis to seek an injunction for a statewide closure of beaches and urging him to issue a stay-at-home order — which he later did, NBC News reported.
Also last month, Uhlfelder traveled to Florida beaches wearing a paintball costume to advocate for social distancing, the outlet reported. However, he said a woman told him that he was “scaring people.”
Florida has confirmed a total of 29,648 COVID-19 cases, with 987 deaths.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/23/lawyer-to-wear-grim-reaper-costume-to-stop-people-visiting-beaches/
Photo Credit: twitter
Armed men held Indiana woman captive to steal her stimulus check, cops say
Four Indiana men held a woman captive for several hours in her home while trying to steal her stimulus check, authorities said.
The armed suspects, who allegedly used a stolen key, busted into the woman’s Lake Station residence as she was sleeping early Sunday, according to court documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The men, all of whom knew the victim, took the woman’s phone and demanded the money, knowing she had recently received a stimulus check. One of the suspects also held a gun to her face and released its clip to prove it was loaded, police said.
“These are for you,” suspect Christopher Henderson allegedly told the woman, referring to the bullets in the firearm.
Another suspect, Phillip David Guzman, then assaulted the woman after the men were unable to find any money. The three other suspects ultimately restrained Guzman, court documents show.
The men fled the home at about 6 a.m., more than four hours after allegedly storming inside at 1:30 a.m. Before leaving, they told the woman not to go anywhere since they planned to return, police said.
The victim ignored that threat and drove to a police station. Henderson, Guzman and two other suspects — Paul David Blankenship and Jacob Baughman — were arrested later Sunday, investigators told the newspaper.
The four suspects were charged Monday on five counts including burglary with a deadly weapon, attempted armed robbery, and criminal confinement with a deadly weapon.
A judge ordered Blankenship to be held without bail, while bond for Henderson, Guzman and Baughman was set at $75,000, the newspaper reports, citing court records.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/indiana-men-held-woman-captive-for-hours-for-stimulus-check-cops/
Photo Credit: Lake County Jail
Families with recently deceased loved ones will get a stimulus check for them
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — Stimulus checks are based off 2018 and 2019 tax returns. So if your loved one was alive then but deceased now, you need to watch your account or the mailbox closely.
Veronica Jacobs of Woodson Terrace was surprised to see $2,400 in her back account. She was only expecting $1,200.
“I know one was for me the other one i suspected for my mother who passed in 2018,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs handled her mother Audrey’s financial affairs.
Keep in mind, these stimulus checks are going out relatively fast. According to a letter sent to IRS employees from the commissioner, checks started going out 14 days after the Cares Act was signed. During the last stimulus in 2008, it took nearly 75 days to get the money to the people.
Jacobs is left with a big question.
“What do I do with it? What do I do with moms $1,200, do I send it back?” Jacobs said. She tried to call the IRS and got a recording message so that was no help.
More surprising than the money for Jacobs, the fact that the government didn’t account for cases like hers.
The IRS is aware of cases like this one. But at the moment they can’t explain what to do with the money. They hope to have an answer soon.
Photo Credit: marketwatch.com
Thief swipes puppy from home of nurse treating coronavirus patients
A heartless thief stole a puppy from the home of a nurse who has been treating coronavirus patients at a California hospital, police said Tuesday.
The dognapper, wearing a mask and hood, can be seen on surveillance video grabbing the 11-week-old pup named Max and peddling away on a bicycle, according to police in Concord, California.
“I was heartbroken,” the nurse, Shaila Sheikh, told CNN.
“Max was helping us start over as a family. I had just moved and it was my kids and me. We had started a new chapter, and Max was an early birthday present for my son.”
Sheikh added that her children were devastated by the loss.
“I’m still holding on to hope,” she said. “My family, coworkers and friends are super supportive and have help raised reward money.”
Concord police released images of the pooch robber, who was on the loose Tuesday night.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/22/puppy-stolen-from-ca-nurse-treating-coronavirus-patients/
Photo Credit: Concord Police Department
Louisiana man angry over stimulus check set mom’s shed on fire
A Louisiana hothead was so enraged that he hadn’t received his COVID-19 stimulus check, he set his mom’s shed on fire, authorities said.
Marvin Smith Jr., 51, was squabbling with his mother over the federal payout in the Hamburg neighborhood of Avoyelles Parish when he intentionally ignited the shed just before 1 p.m. Friday, according to the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal.
Witnesses told deputies Smith was inside the shed moments before smoke and flames began billowing from it, officials said. He then fled.
The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office later busted Smith, who was armed with a knife.
He was booked into jail on an arson charge, and was charged with other crimes by the sheriff’s office, officials said.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/22/louisiana-man-allegedly-set-shed-on-fire-over-stimulus-check/
Photo Credit: Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office
Virginia teen gets stuck inside washing machine while playing hide-and-seek
A game of hide-and-seek for a Virginia family took an awkward turn when an 18-year-old girl had to be rescued by the fire department after getting stuck inside a washing machine.
Amari Dancy chose the unconventional hiding spot while playing with her younger relatives last Sunday in their Woodbridge, Virginia home, according to NBC News.
“We already had hid underneath the bed, in the closet, and we couldn’t go down into the basement,” Dancy told the outlet.
“So, I was like ‘Oh, OK, let’s just hide in the washer machine.”
Dancy’s younger cousin found her and notified the adults in the house, who called 911, the report said.
“I was really worried to see if they were going to get me out or not,” Dancy said.
Members of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue were able to remove the top of the appliance and safely extricate Dancy.
“Once they figured out what to do … I just felt relieved. I just wanted to be out of there,” the teen said.
“I mean it’s pretty embarrassing, but all I can do is laugh it off.”
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/virginia-teen-gets-stuck-inside-washing-machine-during-hide-and-seek/
Photo Credit: instagram
DNA shows Florida parents abandoned 3 babies at the same apartment complex
A Florida couple ditched their three newborn children at the same Florida apartment complex over several years, new DNA testing has shown.
Back in July, a one-year-old was found wrapped in a T-shirt on the doorstep of a home at the Willow Key Apartments in Orlando — and it wasn’t the first time.
Two other babies were abandoned at the complex in 2016 and 2017.
DNA testing showed that the three rugrats have the same father and mother, the Orlando Sentinel reported last week.
The Orlando Police Department is now trying to identify the parents, hiring a forensic genetic genealogy firm called United Data Connect.
Under Florida’s Safe Haven Law, a guardian can leave a newborn under seven days old at a hospital or fire station without facing criminal charges.
If the parents are found, cops would first “ensure the safety and well being of the mother and of any other children,” OPD spokeswoman Heidi Rodriguez said.
Any help, such as social services, “will be determined once we make contact with the family and determine their needs,” she said.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/dna-shows-florida-couple-left-3-babies-at-an-apartment-over-4-years/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
How airplane seats could look in the post-coronavirus era
Airline passengers may be buckling up to new social distancing measures in the post-coronavirus era — through novel seat configurations that prevent the spread of bugs, according to a report.
Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors has created concepts for two airline seats – Glassafe, which features transparent cocoons, and Janus, in which the seats alternate facing forward and backward with shields in between, Forbes reported.
“‘Glassafe’ is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light, but perfectly fulfilling the objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger,” Aviointeriors said in a statement.
Airlines could opt to install the hoods on seats rather than maintain social distancing measures with empty seats, assuming that regulators approve the concept.
“‘Glassafe’ is supplied in various executions with fixing systems to the seat that allow easy installation and removal. The shield is shaped in such a way as to leave complete accessibility to the accessories normally installed on the back, such as tables, magazine pockets, coat hooks or other,” the firm said.
“‘Glassafe’ can be supplied in opaque material or with different degrees of transparency, all easy cleaning,” it added.
Janus, which takes its inspiration from the two-faced Roman god, “allows all three passengers to be separated with a shield made of transparent material that isolates them from each other, creating a protective barrier for everyone,” Aviointeriors explained.
“Each passenger has their own space isolated from others, even from people who walk through the aisle,” it added.
The forward-aft configuration raises questions as to whether it would hinder flight attendants while serving meals or create difficulty during an emergency evacuation, but greater row separation could address these issues and also provide passengers with more legroom.
The company has already patented both of the seat proposals and said it is ready to go into production, though it remains to be seen how carriers will reach a uniform agreement with various regulators on service requirements.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/22/this-is-how-airplane-seats-could-look-in-post-coronavirus-era/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
4-year-old Indian boy attacked, partially eaten by roaming wild pigs
A 4-year-old boy was killed and partially eaten by wild pigs roaming the street near his home in India, according to a local report.
“A pack of pigs were loitering around the garbage dump and attacked the child on spotting him,” Saidabad police spokesman K Srinivas told Telangana Today.
The parents of the boy, Harshavardhan, were looking for him and arrived at Tuesday’s gruesome scene in Hyderabad shortly after police, the officer revealed.
“The animals partially ate the body of the boy,” Srinivas revealed.
Locals had already been complaining about officials refusing to remove the pigs from the neighborhood where the boy’s family lived in huts, according to the report.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/23/4-year-old-indian-boy-killed-partially-eaten-by-wild-pigs/
Photo Credit: nypost.com