California to become first state to ban discrimination against natural hair
California is poised to become the first state to ban discrimination against people with natural hair, according to reports.
The Assembly voted 69-0 Thursday to update the state’s anti-discrimination law so the definition of “race” includes “traits historically associated with race,” NBC News reported.
The bill, SB 188, was approved by the Senate in April and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law.
Text of the bill acknowledges that some characteristics of “blackness” has resulted in discrimination.
“Workplace dress code and grooming policies that prohibit natural hair, including afros, braids, twists, and locks, have a disparate impact on Black individuals as these policies are more likely to deter Black applicants and burden or punish Black employees than any other group,” the bill reads.
“Policies that limit the ability to wear natural hair or hairstyles associated with Black people aren’t about ‘neatness’ or ‘professionalism;’ they are about limiting the way Black people move through workplaces, public spaces and other settings,” said Commissioner and Chair Carmelyn P Malalis in a statement.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
New York man convicted of murdering father over allowance cut
NEW YORK – A man accused of killing his wealthy father after his allowance was cut has been convicted of murder, according to WRAL.
Thomas Gilbert Jr., 35, faces up to life in prison at his August 9 sentencing. According to WRAL, the jury did not accept his insanity defense.
Gilbert Jr., an unemployed Princeton University graduate, shot his father, hedge fund manager Thomas Gilbert Sr. in the elder man’s Manhattan apartment in 2015, WRAL reported.
Gilbert Jr. has schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders which, according to his lawyer, made him incapable of understanding the ramifications of shooting his father.
Prosecutors argued Gilbert Jr. knew exactly what he was doing and was motivated by his father’s decision to cut his weekly allowance from $1,000 to $300.
via: https://fox2now.com/2019/06/29/new-york-man-convicted-of-murdering-father-over-allowance-cut/
Photo Credit: wral.com
Man drugged, sexually assaulted toddler; woman permitted it
TROY, Ill. – An Illinois man is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl, and a woman is accused of leaving the girl with the man despite knowing what he did to her, according to WJXX.
The Madison County State’s Attorney said 40-year-old Matthew S. Miller is facing multiple charges of sexual assault and aggravated battery; Lacey Take, 31, is charged with permitting the sexual abuse of a child and child endangerment.
Charging documents said the girl was sexually assaulted once June 10 and again June 23. During the second assault, Miller reportedly drugged the toddler with cocaine and bit her foot, leg and hand, WJXX reported.
According to WJXX, Take’s charges stem from not seeking medical attention for the girl and then from allowing her to be with Miller again despite knowing he had assaulted her.
Miller’s bond was set at $1 million; Take’s bond is $500,000.
via: https://fox2now.com/2019/06/29/police-man-drugged-sexually-assaulted-toddler-woman-permitted-it/
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Woman ran over man who was trying to keep her from driving drunk
SAN DIEGO — Police say a 25-year-old man was killed Thursday night after trying to stop someone he knew from driving home drunk.
Employees at RakiRaki off Convoy Street said they were working when they heard commotion around 11:30 p.m. They said they stepped outside to see people arguing in the parking lot.
“The guy tried stopping her, getting her out of the car and the whole situation escalated and it became physical,” Kiana Smith said.
Smith said from what she could tell, a man was trying to stop a woman from driving drunk. She said he was hanging on to the car, but even that didn’t stop the driver.
“She actually backed out of the parking lot with him still hanging on to her car and as soon as she made this right turn out of the parking lot he completely flung off it and she ran over him,” Smith said.
Shortly after, she said first responders and police showed up. Witnesses said a woman was by the victim’s side until he was taken to the hospital where he died.
“She was just so devastated and just crying at the top of her lungs and just like, ‘this can’t be happening’,” Maika Frye said.
Officers said not long after they got on scene they caught up with the driver, who they have identified as 33-year-old Latisha Ingram.
The manager of O’Brien’s, Tyson Blake, said the woman actually came into the bar with a group that included the victim about an hour and a half before the incident.
“Came in rather inebriated already and acting a little extra loud and almost stepped on a dog. The bartender actually said, ‘hey, watch out for the dog. It’s on the patio. We allow dogs on our patio,’ and she shouted some profanities at the bartender and the dog, and the bartender was like, ‘we’re not going to be serving you tonight,’” Blake said.
San Diego police told KSWB it was Ingram’s 25-year-old co-worker who was trying to stop her from driving drunk — an unfortunate situation that has forever changed lives.
“I can’t imagine what his girlfriend, or his friend was going through. Just losing a loved one like that because of alcohol I think is just terrible. It’s just so sad,” Frye said.
The victim’s name has not been released. Ingram was booked in jail for a number of charges, including murder.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Florida man reportedly breaks into restaurant, makes himself burger, steals safe
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help identifying a man they say broke into a restaurant and made himself a meal.
According to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, the suspect has broken into two restaurants, made himself dinner and stolen what he could not eat.
The “modern day Hamburglar” broke into a Wendy’s, started the grill and left with a safe. According to the post, he also successfully burglarized a second restaurant and unsuccessfully attempted to steal from a gas station.
The suspect is described as a heavy-set white male in his 30s with a distinctive tattoo on his left arm. He has facial hair and is about six feet tall.
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Woman banned from Walmart after eating half of a cake, refusing to pay for other half
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Wichita Falls police banned a woman from Walmart after she reportedly ate half of a cake and refused to pay for the uneaten half, according to the Wichita Falls Times Record News.
Police responded to a theft call June 25 at the Walmart; they were told a woman entered the store, ate half of a cake and refused to pay for the other half when asked.
According to the Times Record News, the woman was banned from the store by police for the theft.
This is not the first time a Wichita Falls Walmart has been forced to ban a customer this year.
In January, a woman was banned from a Wichita Falls Walmart for reportedly drinking wine out of a Pringles can while riding around on an electric shopping cart.
via: https://fox2now.com/2019/06/29/police-woman-banned-from-walmart-after-eating-half-of-a-cake-refusing-to-pay-for-other-half/
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Mom who killed her 2 kids as part of ‘God’s plan’ gets 120 years
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut woman convicted of killing her two children saying it was God’s plan was sentenced to 120 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
LeRoya Moore, 39, was sentenced Thursday, following her conviction in March of two counts of murder for killing her 6-year-old daughter, Aleisha, and her 7-year-old son, Daaron, at the family’s home in East Haven in 2015. For each count of murder, she received 60 years.
“It’s a no win today, the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes but the children are still gone,” New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin said.
Moore’s attorneys tried to use an insanity defense, saying she was in a psychotic state at the time but the three-judge panel rejected the defense in March.
Autopsies showed the children died from antihistamine intoxication, but a defense psychiatrist said Moore told him she drowned them while trying to “baptize them” after God told her she had to kill them. She also stayed in the house for three days with the bodies telling the police she “saved them.”
Griffin added the drug used was Benadryl, an over-the-counter medication.
A Yale psychiatry professor testified at trial that Moore suffered from schizoaffective disorder during the killings and still suffered from it.
Moore will serve the sentences consecutively at York Correctional Institution, where she is housed now in East Lyme.
Moore’s attorney was not immediately available for comment.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/06/28/mom-who-killed-her-2-kids-as-part-of-gods-plan-gets-120-years/
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Woman visits Macy’s for makeup, leaves with permanent ‘X’ on face
An Ohio woman who dropped by Macy’s to get her makeup done wound up with a tattoo-like “X” on her cheek that won’t scrub off, she claims in a new lawsuit.
Judy Pleunik visited the department store in the Baybrook Mall in Houston, Texas for a beauty consultation in February 2018, ABC13 reported.
But she says she was left with a discolored mark that sits on the right side of her face just below her eye.
“My dermatologist tried to get it off and he could not get it off. He said if she used a magic marker, makeup or ink pen, he could get it off,” Pleunik told the station. “But it went right into my skin pigment, almost like a tattoo. And it’s been over a year and a half and it’s still there.”
Pleunik’s lawyer, Melissa Ephron, filed the suit Tuesday in hopes that Macy’s will be held accountable.
“This is a woman who went in to get her makeup done and she comes out with a brand,” Ephron said. “She’s terribly embarrassed by it. Her face may be scarred by it.”
The employee in question told ABC13 that she didn’t recall the “X” mark on Pleunik’s face — then referred questions to Macy’s.
“We are committed to ensuring that all our customers and colleagues are treated with respect and dignity,” the department store said in a statement. “As a company, we are unable to comment or provide any additional information on ongoing investigations.”
via: https://nypost.com/2019/06/28/woman-visits-macys-for-makeup-leaves-with-permanent-x-on-face/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Florida Man Allegedly Drugged and Sexually Assaulted Teen, Posted Naked Video of Her on Instagram
Police in South Florida say an 18-year-old man drugged and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl he met at a party and posted a naked video of her on Instagram.
Miramar police say Jorge Martinez gave the girl Percocet Monday and took her to a home where he was staying. An arrest report says that later that same evening, some of the girl’s friends saw images of her naked body on Instagram.
News outlets report the friends went to the home and found her unconscious. They drove her to a hospital and she was later flown in critical condition to a children’s hospital in Miami.
Martinez remains jailed, with a $550,000 bond. He’s charged with sexual battery on a minor.
A lawyer for Martinez isn’t listed on jail records.
Photo Credit: Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Powerlifting granny a world record holder at 81
EAST ALTON, Ill. – Shirley Webb first joined a gym three years ago when she was 78.
“When I first joined I could not climb steps unless I held on with both hands and pulled myself up,” Webb told KTVI.
Now 81, Webb has traveled all over, taking down dumbbells, taking home 17 medals – and now powerlifting her way to a world record.
“I’m a world champion right now,” Webb said. “That’s a nice title to have. A silver in bench press, a silver in squats and deadlift. I got a gold medal and overall weights I got a gold medal and world championship.”
Webb owns three national records, including one for deadlifting 259 pounds. However, she had to qualify and be invited to the World Championship, where 60 countries were represented. That’s where Webb deadlifted 265 pounds.
“My job, and I’ve been restricted to this at my own request, is to load the bar,” said Dick Webb, husband and coach. “So I don’t have to lift more than 45 pounds.”
Their trip to Sweden resulted in two silver and two gold medals, beating a competitor a decade younger.
“I heard these people cheering me every time I went out on the stage to compete and I thought, ‘I wonder who they are, maybe from the U.S.?’” Webb said. “They were from Iceland, rooting me on!”
Webb said she won’t be slowing anytime soon. She’s training for the nationals in October outside Chicago.
“You’re never too old to start,” she said. “No matter how you feel, you can start real light weight, very light, and work yourself up to where you’re feeling good. You’ve got to get that blood flowing.”
via: https://pix11.com/2019/06/27/powerlifting-granny-a-world-record-holder-at-81/
Photo Credit: pix11.com