Whether or not parents will send children to school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has been a very controversial topic. Martika Jordan says sending her daughter wasnt an easy decision.

I wasnt going to [send her to pre-k] but I feel like I would be taking away from her childhood if I dont try to send her into some type of school atmosphere, Jordan said.

According to Ascension Parish Public School guidelines, under phase two teachers are required to wear a mask but kids in pre-k arent and they dont have to social distance. Teachers must comfort or hold children when they get upset but are encouraged to protect themselves by washing their hands, wearing protective clothing and more.

Jordan says in order to protect her daughters teachers, here daughter will wear a mask while in school even though it isnt required.

If it means saving a life she will use it, jordan said. She has two different ones, she has a lady bug and frozen and she loves it.

Other parents like kelsey small say they wont be making their child wear a mask.

I do believe the whole covid thing is blown out of proportion a little bit, Small said.

As for teachers, Small says she doesnt believe wearing a mask is necessary for all.

I think if the teachers are in good health then I think they shouldnt need a mask and if they are in any way high risk for the disease then they should be relieved of their job, Small said.

Both mothers agree this may not be the easiest transition for their children but theyre hoping its one that keeps them happy and safe.

Ascension Parish schools begin on August 10.

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Ascension library closes after staffs test positive for coronavirus

After several staff members of the Ascension Parish Library System tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the library system has decided to temporarily close all of its locations.

A library news release said the decision "was made for the health and safety of both our staff and patrons."

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Curbside services, however, will continue and the book drops will remain open. No late fees will be issued during this time. The library is offering technology room access, including technology room access and reference help for one-hour appointments only, which can be made by calling to reserve a time slot.

Anyone entering the library must wear a mask.

For those without a library card, you can sign up for an eCard on the library's website at https://bit.ly/eCardSignUpAPL.

For more information, call library director Jennifer Patterson during operating hours at (225) 647-3955; visit http://www.myAPL.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@myAPLibrary).

Ascension Parish Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna has announced the dates for qualifying as a candidate for the Nov. 3 election. Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.July 22-24 at the Clerks Office, 815 E. Worthey St., Gonzales, or 300 Houmas St., Donaldsonville.

Qualifying will be held for the following offices: 23rd Judicial District judges; 23rd Judicial district attorney; justices of the peace; constables; Donaldsonville Council members and mayor; and Gonzales mayor, chief of police and council members.

For information, call the Clerks Office at (225) 473-9866 or (225) 621-8400, ext. 223.

As part of efforts to fight litter and clean up Ascension Parish, President Clint Cointment announced that Ascension Parish is accepting white goods at the Recycling Center on Churchpoint Road.

We have contracted with a company to haul away scrap metal from our recycling center, Cointment said. And they pay us for the metal they take.

White goods are any large machines used in routine housekeeping, such as cooking, food preservation, or cleaning, whether in a household, institutional, commercial or industrial setting. White goods include refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers and water heaters.

Cointment said the parish has been accepting scrap metal and has a separate bin specifically designated for metals.

The Recycling Center is at the DPW headquarters, 42077 Churchpoint Road in Gonzales. Operating hours are Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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It's important to keep your car clean from bacteria. Here's what solutions you should use. USA TODAY

C. Mikel Oglesby doesnt think the end is nigh for public transportation.

Dire predictions have swirled about transits future as COVID-19 has upended the economy and kept commuters at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested riding in a car alone is preferable to both ride sharing and public transportation, and ridership in general is down dramatically in many cities.

Its been about two months since Oglesby took the reins as Detroits executive director of transit, and its been an unprecedented period. Nothing in his 20 years in transit, he said last week,prepared him for a pandemic, but he said the Detroit Department of Transportation is working to meet the challenge.

Public transportation does have a future, Oglesby said, because of simple economics. New cars are expensive.

Residents exit and board the DDOT bus in front of Ascension St. John Hospital on Moross Road in Detroit on July 10, 2020. Fare collection has been temporarily suspended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect essential bus drivers. Detroit Department of Transportation also provides surgical masks to all riders.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

Kelley Blue Book highlighted the affordability dilemma when it noted that the estimated average transaction price for a light vehicle in the United States last month was $38,530, up 3.1% from a year prior and 0.4% from May. This is also a time of high unemployment 11% in June and economic uncertainty.

A lot of people arent making a lot of money and you know they can take what they can afford. Hey, let me get on this bus, Oglesby said during a Transportation Riders United webinar, describing what a potential rider might say. All of a sudden they realize this isnt too bad. I should have been doing this a long time ago, and then boom you have a rider. We may lose some riders but gain others.

More: Retired DDOT union President Fred Westbrook Jr. dies of coronavirus

More: Detroit official to frustrated bus drivers: Sorry, but hazard pay will come a week late

Thats a rosy vision in a period of grim news. The developers of the popular Transit app, which helps transit users navigate their public transportation journeys, said on Thursday that transit demand was down 53% below normal. Demand was down in cities across the country. The San Francisco Bay Area, for example, was down a stunning 79% on Thursday. By comparison, Detroit saw a less dramatic but still significant decline in demand of 37% on the same day.

Theres no question the picture for transit and much else has changed from just a few months ago.

Downtowns like Detroits, which had seen dramatic, resurgent interest in recent years, are suddenly not the place to be, as many office workers explore what it means to truly telecommute, professional sports and artistic performances remain on hold, bars in this part of Michigan are closed and restaurants operate at partial capacity. That shift is clear in how Detroits transit systems have reacted, scaling back service even as they change how they handle the routes that they are maintaining, at least for now, withrear boarding, no fare collections and new bus cleaning protocols.

C. Mikel Oglesby.(Photo: City of Detroit)

And Detroits suburban bus system, SMART, has stopped its commuter routes, meaning that aside from three limited-stop, express routes on Woodward, Gratiot and Michigan, and an advance reservation service, Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation buses are not runningdowntown.

Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, said people who have a choice will be slow to return to using transit and that some will be looking to work from home more. But right now, much remains unknown.

How fast transit is going to come back, there isnt a lot of data around that, she said.

Those with higher incomes havemore choices, and their future usage of public transportation is most in question.

Transit found in its data that more of those continuing to use public transportation in the pandemic are women, people of color, those with lower incomes and people who have been deemed essential workers.

An older woman waits for the bus in front of Ascension St. John Hospital on Moross Road in Detroit on July 10, 2020. Fare collection has been temporarily suspended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect essential bus drivers. Detroit Department of Transportation also provides surgical masks to all riders.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

A lot of bus riders are essential workers that cant work from home, Owens said. Theres no doubt that transit ... will continue to be essential for those essential workers who are low income and dont have other choices and honestly may become more important as this economic crisis continues.

Owens also noted the pandemic has challenged the idea pushed by some transit opponents that ride sharing can replace public transportation. If there are fewer drivers available, service drops and prices rise. Scooters offer another example, Owens said, as many have been pulled off city streets in recent months.

In June, Rob Alberts, the executive director of the North American International Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, described to a virtual crowd during an Automotive Press Association event a new era for vehicle ownership following earlier predictions that it might disappear. Alberts said he doesnt envision ride sharing and crowded public transportation replacing personal mobility any time soon.

Because of what were going through in this pandemic, the pendulum is swinging back to owning and leasing vehicles. Just a few months ago ridesharing was being touted as the end all. It was only a year ago that an editorial in the New York Times said owning a car will soon be as quaint as owning a horse. The article went on to say that owning a car would be a hobby, a cool thing to take out for a spin on a weekend. Sometimes it takes something like what were going through to rekindle a love affair with what we have.

What were going through, the pandemic, is what prompted Kirk Sellke to cancel a planned trip to Colorado this summer. Instead, Sellke, his wife and their three children will be heading to northern lower Michigan from their home in Bloomfield Hills in August. Theylltravelto Colorado hopefully next year. Instead of flying, which was how Sellke planned to get there, Sellke now expects to drive.

Sellke, 45, is no transit opponent. When he lived and worked in Chicago early in his career, he regularly took the L, and he said he wouldnt be hesitant to get on a train or bus now. He reasons that he and his family are healthy and dont have compromised immune systems, and they take what precautions they can. He kept a car when he lived in Chicago, despite the hassles of parking and traffic congestion, because hed visit his parents in the suburbs, and it was simply faster to drive.

Kirk Sellke of Bloomfield Hills poses with his new Chevrolet Suburban and Silverado. Sellkes reaction to the pandemic was to opt for a larger vehicle when he traded in a Chevrolet Traverse for the Suburban in June.(Photo: Karen Sellke)

Rather than affecting his choices on transit, pandemic considerations affected something else for Sellke, who works for a cyber security firm.He signed a lease in June at Matick Chevrolet in Redfordfor a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban, trading in a Chevy Traverse, and a payment of about $757 per month.

Weve made a conscious choice to get a larger vehicle, so we have the opportunities to take family road trips. The pandemic kind of motivated that, Sellke said.

The Sellke family chose a larger vehicle in response to the pandemic, but they arent the only vehicle shoppers who have been influenced by the pandemic.

This is clearly on peoples minds, said Jenni Newman, editor in chief of Cars.com, which conducted a survey related to the pandemics impact on transportation choices and preferences. There are a lot of people looking for cars.

She noted that visits to the site were up 10% week over week in June.

The survey found that 67% of respondents 516 people accessing Cars.com in early June were randomly selected said the pandemic had increased their reliance on or need for a personal vehicle. That came, even as 70% said theyd experienced a reduction in commuting for work. Fourteen percent said their normal work commute had been permanently changed.

Deanne Austin hasnt taken the bus in months, not since a DDOT shutdown over driver concerns. The 34-year-old academic interventionist working at a Detroit Public Schools high school was panicky, worrying about how she would get food and cat litter. It was stressful for the Detroit resident and transit advocate.

But Austin, who has never had a car, relying on family when she needs to, also had other worries about the virus because she has asthma.

So shes stayed off the bus, and she doesnt know when shell return.

Its the COVID disclaimer. I would be foolish to say everything will be back to normal. I definitely believe Ill be back on the bus, but it might be a bit later, Austin said. I always look to the guidelines. I do have to take health into consideration.

When she does return, Austin said shell look for routes with fewer transfers and once again blend a reliance on Uber and Lyft with public transportation. Those private services, however, are not cheap, and theyve become less so, she said, since the pandemic.

Ride share is expensive, and Im not a millionaire, she said.

Part of the reason rideshare has been in Austins life has been the state of the citys public transportation system, which, she said,had seen recent improvements but still left much to be desired for people who rely on it. Despite its nickname as the Motor City, Detroit has many households without vehicles, so Austins transportation choices arent unusual.

Kevin Watkins has been a bus driver for almost a quarter of a century, and recent months have tested his resolve.

I have like 24 years and 9 months and some days I feel like I can continue. Some days with this COVID-19 I feel like calling it quits, he said.

Detroit Department of Transportation bus driver Kevin Watkins, 54, of Harper Woods will have worked at DDOT for 25 years in August and says drivers are worried about their safety and health. Watkins is seen in the reflection on the windshield of his bus while making a stop at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit on July 10, 2020.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

Because of social distancing requirements, Watkins, 54, of Harper Woods has to pass up people who want to ride his bus. It makes it bad for the drivers and bad for those who have to wait longer. With much of the city opening back up, people get upset.

He said the city has stepped up its efforts to protect drivers, but still falls short on hazard pay, for instance, and not making sure all riders wear masks. He noted the death of driver Jason Hargrove, who died of COVID-19. That was after awoman had been coughing on Hargrove's bus and he posted a video exposing bus driver concerns.

Recently, Watkins had a run in with a rider, a woman in her 30s, one morning near 7 Mile and Ryan.

Passengers there were about a dozen on board were complaining because the woman was sneezing and coughing. She wore a mask, but one of the quirks Watkins has seen with other mask wearers is that when they sneeze or cough, they automatically pull the mask down, exposing their mouths.

Those are typically inadvertent, but this woman was doing it deliberately. Watkins said he tried to get her to stop, even asking her to get off the bus, but she refused.

More: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sees sales plummet as full coronavirus impact hits

Watkins stopped the bus and called for help. Instead of just getting off the bus, the woman walked to the front, pulled down the chain thats now used to separate the drivers area from the rest of the passengers DDOT and SMART are working to equip buses with sneeze guards and wiped her hands on the steering wheel and other areas before leaving.

It was a troubling situation, but Watkins saidmask wearing on buses has remainedoptional even if the department has beendistributing masks to riders.

It doesnt make sense to have social distancing on the coach if you dont require (riders) to wear masks, Watkins said.

Detroit Department of Transportation bus driver Kevin Watkins, 54, of Harper Woods will have worked at DDOT for 25 years in August and says drivers are worried about their safety and health. Watkins checks on his bus while making a stop at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit on July 10, 2020.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

But masks are only part of the picture. In an attempt to maintain social distancing, boardings must be limited, meaning at busy stops not everyone can get on.

Glenn Tolbert, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26, which represents DDOT drivers, said arguments will break out over those kinds of issues.

I dont want them to get in an altercation, he said of his drivers. Its a very tricky, slippery slope.

The system is also short on active drivers, many of whom are out because of COVID-19. That puts even more pressure on the system, which cant staff all of its runs.

Maybe by the end of the summer well be up to full capacity, Tolbert said.

Despite the issues, Tolbert said riders have been out in large numbers.

The citys back awake and alive, and people are back out, he said. We havent lost many riders, no not at all.

And since the system is not taking fares for the foreseeable future Its hard to open that fare box and still keep the workers safe plenty of people, including those who are homeless, are riding the bus, Tolbert said.

Looking beyond the pandemic, Tolbert said he sees a robust future for public transportation.

Everybodys not going to have a car. Everybody cant afford a car. Everybody cant maintain a car, Tolbert said. Public transportations a great way to get around if you make people feel safe and its clean and you can depend on it.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence. Phoebe Wall Howard contributed to this report.

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As districts scramble to implement online learning platforms before school returns next month, virtual programs are seeing a huge increase in applications that some experts believe may shift the future of education.

Livingston Parish is one of the districts to announce plans to open a virtual academy. Though it was not prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, the proximity of its launch to the forced online learning environment of the 2020-21 year has led to a strong start. Since opening the phone lines and website applications in early July, the school has received more than 800 inquiries.

In Ascension Parish, the Apple Digital Academy, a virtual school thats been in operation since 2013, will usually average about 200 students enrolled from K-12. But applications for the 2020-21 school year has jumped tenfold.

Though the future of traditional classroom learning remains unclear amid the challenges of thecoronavirus, many Baton Rouge-area schools are

In the past it was typically used as an alternative program in addition to their regular program. It wasnt a true open enrollment where anybody could enroll, it was a recommendation by a principal or counselor, Ascension Parish Director of Secondary Schools Mia Edwards said. I do foresee this (pandemic) opening the door to us being more open and flexible with admissions.

As school leaders have spent the last several months crafting plans in an ever-changing public health environment, offering virtual classrooms was often a reluctant option.

In Livingston Parish, for example, officials told families in mid-July that K-5 students would return in person and the older grades would do a hybrid of face-to-face learning and online instruction, a plan they quickly expanded to allow for an online-only option for those fearing returning to school in-person.

These temporary online learning options as a result of a statewide crisis are a far cry from the environment of an established, full-time virtual school, experts say. Still, the taste test of the more flexible virtual learning model may be enough to sway some families long term.

Weve seen an uptick in applications; it especially started when we went back into reopening from Phase 1 to Phase 2, University View Academy communications director Michael Marsh said. Schools were closed, a lot of people were looking for options and since then weve seen a large increase. Its substantial.

University View services the entire state in K-12 virtual education, but it's capped by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to 3,480 students.

With the increased interest during the coronavirus pandemic, the school now has a waiting list exceeding 300 students.

Weve been at it a lot longer and this is right up our alley. People are stuck at home and schools arent open, so we expected an uptick and we got it, Marsh said. Schools are finding its not as easy as setting up a Zoom call and doing classes.

Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy, a similar statewide K-12 virtual model school, was expecting an influx but the 7,500 more inquiries and 1,900 more applicants than the previous year was still a surprise.

Our model does lend itself to flexibility, so I feel like a lot of parents are looking toward that type of education, LVCA Head of School Danielle Scott said. I do think once some families realize this is a real, valid option theyll take advantage of it.

Scott said the school historically has been populated with kids who may have medical conditions that require frequent appointments during the traditional school day, those for whom public schools arent to their liking or values, and those who are on a focused, self-motivated track.

Livingston Parish Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis said the district has spent a lot of time in recent weeks explaining the distinction between the new online school, Livingston Virtual, and the temporary online learning option as a result of the pandemic.

Livingston Virtual students are there to work towards graduation, theyre not working to where the pandemic is over and theyre going back to school, Purvis said. The districts online school has been in the pipeline since 2018, when educators found a significant number of alternative learning students were leaving the district for charter or private virtual schools such as University View or LVCA down the road in Baton Rouge.

Livingston Virtual is not its own school but rather considered a program extension of the students brick-and-mortar school. Apple Digital Academy in Ascension Parish works the same way.

Students have a mix of traditional schooling and strictly virtual charter academies by studying academics at home, taking tests at the school buildings, and having the opportunity to graduate with a cohort, go to prom or try out for the football team.

Though its been around since 2013, Edwards said, Ascensions Apple Digital Academy and the new coronavirus-related online learning option will take some getting used to for new families. It takes an investment from parents to keep their children especially the K-5 age range motivated to self pace and stay on track. For teachers, it can be just as big of a transition.

Having a camera in your classroom is different. Weve not experienced this before so even aspects like where to position the camera to see the smartboard and the teacher moving around but not seeing all the physical students is new, Edwards said.

When I first started teaching it was the chalkboard, then the dry erase, then the overhead, then we did everything on a computer," Edwards said. "Its a changing time and we adapt, and we always adapt well but our regular classroom teachers will have some growing pains.

For instance, behavioral management of a class thats either split between in-person and virtual or fully virtual can be difficult for educators who arent experienced in that style of teaching.

Online classes may be the only game in town for now, but what happens after the pandemic, said Marsh, with the online University View Academy.

How many of these kids are we going to retain once theres a COVID vaccine available and things go back to the way they were in 2019," Marsh noted. "We pride ourselves in flexibility and the classes we offer, but some may want to do the socialization or go back to playing sports we dont offer. We just dont know whats going to happen.

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As schools turn to offering virtual options, will it fuel an online education model in the future? - The Advocate

Posted: Jul 20, 2020 / 12:08 PM CDT / Updated: Jul 20, 2020 / 12:08 PM CDT

AMARILLO, Texas (PRESS RELEASE) Ascension Academy will be reopening with in-person instruction for both the middle and high school this fall. The reopening plan was developed based on feedback from parents, several meetings with administration and Faculty, advice from a parent who is a medical doctor, and guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), and others.

Screening will be conducted before students are allowed inside the building to check for high temperatures and any COVID-19 symptoms. Students will then be instructed to immediately go to their lockers and first period classes. Masks will be required by students, staff and visitors. Teachers will be provided with clear face shields to wear during instruction while keeping a distance of six feet from students.

Ascension Academy fully intends to open in Fall with in-person instruction, said Head of School Tim Oditt. We are planning internally to do just that with the fullest commitment to the safety of each of our students and staff members. The importance of in-person education cannot be overstated and Ascension is committed to living its mission of providing an exemplary college preparatory education in a challenging, faith-affirming environment to maximize the potential of every student.

To promote social distancing, classrooms will be rearranged to provide the maximum distance possible between students. School assemblies and all school gatherings outside of emergency drills have been cancelled or will be held online. Ascension will follow all guidelines established by TAPPS with regard to the ability to return to play athletics. More information will be provided to parents as TAPPS updates roll out.

Cleaning and sanitation will be a top priority around the clock, and high touch points such as desks, door knobs, and bathrooms will be sanitized continuously throughout the day. Lunch will be spread out between the gym, theatre stage and cafeteria and all areas will be cleaned between middle school and high school lunch periods. Deep sanitation will occur nightly with the use of the Clorox Total 360 System, which kills 99.9% of bacteria in five seconds, including the sides and underneath of hard to clean surfaces such as desks and chairs.

In addition to the extra cleaning and health measures, Ascension has added two weeks of instruction into their academic calendar. The days will give flexibility throughout the year in the event of local or state mandated shut down of schools. These days of instruction will include Labor Day, Columbus Day, the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, and the first week in June. If the additional days are not used, Ascension will end school on the originally scheduled day in May.

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Ascension Academy to Return In-Person this Fall - KAMR - MyHighPlains.com

In just one season as head coach, Mark Pope has proven himself as the best thing to happen to BYU Basketball since Jimmer Fredette

By Nate Schwartz

It didnt take long for Mark Pope to seal his name in the annals of BYU Basketball history.

In his debut season as head coach, the man who Fox Sports Tate Frazier refers to as Young Pope led the Cougars on a 24-8 campaign that, if not for the novel coronavirus, would have culminated with BYUs 30th-ever March Madness appearance.

By elevating the Cougars to their first AP Top 25 ranking since Jimmermania in 2011, Pope accomplished something that BYU fans have been waiting on for nearly a decade: he ushered the team back into college basketball relevance.

Pope, however, doesnt see himself as the impetus behind the Cougars sudden resurgence. He directs all the praise to the team he inherited, which included four returning starters.

They were so hungry and willing to set it all aside, Pope said in an interview on the Titus & Tate podcast in April. Nobody really sets aside their personal agenda, but what our guys were willing to do was try as hard as they could to trust the game. If they gave themselves to the game, then the game was going to pay them back double than their own agenda.

Of course, the players redirected that praise right back at their coach.

Hes brought so much to this program, but he just has so much energy and he works so hard. You never really see him taking days off or taking time off, starting guard TJ Haws told The Salt Lake Tribune in February. Hes always up in his office. Hes always working. Hes always trying to figure out what to do next and that kind of energy is contagious to all of our guys.

In addition to earning his players respect through his work ethic, Pope also managed to win over the hearts of the Cougar fan base with his enthusiasm. After BYUs surprising 91-78 victory over No. 2 Gonzaga in February, the coach invited fans to celebrate with him at a local eatery where he picked up a $1,800 tab.

Some may chalk up Popes impressive first year to beginners luck, and he could be in danger of a one-hit-wonder label if the 2021 season doesnt mirror success in 2020. While only the future can truly reveal Popes legacy as a coach, a closer look at his recent track record before BYU shows this might not be a fluke.

During his four years as head coach at Utah Valley University, Pope led the Wolverines to a 17-win season in 2017, a 23-win season in 2018, and a program-best 25-win season in 2019 before signing with BYU the following April. Pope isnt lucky, hes methodical.

Under Popes offense, BYUs three-point percentage jumped from 33.0% in 2019 (240th overall) to 42.3% in 2020 (first overall) notwithstanding that this year the three-point line was pushed back from 20 feet, 9 inches to 22 feet, 1 inches. At the seasons close, BYUs offense ranked third overall in efficiency according to teamrankings.com.

Popes scheming doesnt stop at the chalkboard either, as some of his most notable successes have occurred during the offseason. He has quickly built a reputation as a fierce recruiter.

In May, he landed Purdues star center Matt Haarms, a player who was being pursued by both Kentucky and Texas Tech. BYU was also in the conversation to pick up Georgetowns firecracker guard Mac McClung, who ultimately signed with Texas Tech. Before Pope, BYU was not known as a destination for high-profile transfers, but this offseason is showing signs that players are starting to see the program in a new light.

Theres a clear reason why Pope was a finalist for the 2020 Naismith Mens Coach of the Year Award and was labeled CBS Sports No.1 Most Rewarding New Hire, the first wave of what will surely amount to many accolades during his (hopefully) lengthy tenure at Brigham Young University. As a BYU student (probably) once said, Long live the Young Pope.

Nate Schwartz is a guest contributor for the Daily Universe. He is a BYU alumnus and recent graduate of the masters of journalism program at Northwestern University.

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For a fourth year in a row, Ascension St. John Owasso has been named to the IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list. The honor recognizes the site as one of the top performing hospitals in the nation for 2020.

The annual list recognizes excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health. These include survival rates, patient complications, healthcare-associated infections, 30-day mortality and hospital-wide readmission rates, length of stay, throughput in emergency rooms, inpatient expenses, profitability and ratings from patients.

We are very proud of this extraordinary achievement, said David Phillips, Ascension St. John Owasso president. To be nationally recognized for the work we do on a daily basis is a true credit to our incredible team of caregivers, and demonstrates the dedication and compassion our doctors, clinicians, and associates bring to the organization and to our community.

IBM Watson Health identified the top hospitals from a rigorous evaluation of 3,134 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals in the U.S. The organization established the list to help identify best practices that may help other healthcare organizations achieve high performance.

Hospitals, health systems and the dedicated clinicians and staff who work at these organizations have emerged as true heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful to be able to recognize these extraordinary leaders at this time, said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, vice president and chief health officer at IBM Watson Health.

Established in 2006, Ascension St. John Owasso, a 36-bed community hospital, offers a wide range of healthcare services, including emergency care, labor and delivery, newborn nursery, general surgery, sports medicine, diagnostic imaging services featuring CT, MRI, mammography and bone density, and outpatient services to people throughout northeastern Tulsa County.

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Ascension St. John Owasso named among nations 100 top hospitals fourth year in a row - Tulsa World

BATAVIA Olga R. Meleca, 79, of Batavia, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2020 at the LeRoy Village Green Nursing Home with her sons by her side.

Olga was born Sept. 7, 1940 in Batavia, a daughter of the late Joseph and Cristina (Baggetta) Meleca.

A member of the former St. Anthonys Church and the Ascension Parish in Batavia, Olga loved spending time with her sons and her grandchildren, going for coffee and lunch with the girls, going to church, baking and loved her home. Olga was a 1958 graduate of Batavia High School. Prior to Olgas retirement she was employed throughout the area previously at NY Telephone, St. Jerome Hospital, US Gypsum, St. Marys Rectory and Cristinas Restaurant. You would often see Olga riding her bike through the neighborhood, manicuring her yard or enjoying the sun or by the pool or baking for her beloved grandchildren.

Survivors include her sons, Charles Brumsted Jr. of Florida, David (Elizabeth) Brumsted of Byron and Robert (Lori) Brumsted of Byron; brothers, C. Benjamin (Jeanne) Meleca of Columbus, Ohio, and Anthony Meleca of Columbus, Ohio; her grandchildren, Cameron, Catherine, Alexander, David, Bianca and Joseph, nieces, nephews and her loving in-laws, John and Patricia Brumsted and family, and several cousins from Batavia, Rochester, Canada and Siderno, Italy.

Olga is predeceased by her brothers, Frank Meleca and Carl Meleca; sister, Josephine Meleca and Frances Meleca Martino; and sister-in-law, Terry L. Meleca.

There are no prior calling hours. Olgas Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. at Ascension Parish, 19 Sumner Street, Batavia.

Due to COVID 19 there will limited seating available during the Mass, only 60 people will be allowed inside the church. Masks must be worn at all times and seating will be in every other pew.

Olga will be laid to rest in St. Josephs Cemetery, Batavia.

Memorials may be made to Ascension Parish, 19 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020.

Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at http://www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements for Olga were entrusted to the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main Street, Batavia, (585) 343-5673.

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Olga R. Meleca | Obituaries | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online

By Bernie SherryMinistry Market Executive, Ascension Wisconsin

Bernie Sherry, Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Wisconsin.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus early this year presented the world with an unprecedented challenge. Not since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 have we faced such a daunting public health crisis. By late February, it was clear our healthcare system, government and every American citizen would need to work together to conquer this invisible enemy.Throughout this challenge, we have found inspiration in witnessing the incredible and selfless work of caregivers at the front lines of our health system and across the country. The doctors, nurses, facility management teams and other support teams in our hospitals are giving everything they have to meet the needs of their communities. These heroes are the embodiment of our mission to serve.As we enter the fifth month of this public health crisis, I continue to take comfort in seeing the compassion and commitment of everyday citizens to protect their communities, families and neighbors and help our healthcare heroes stop this virus.It is important to understand that COVID-19 is easily spread and can have devastating effects. Therefore, our communities should come together to use every mitigation tool at our disposal to halt its spread. Looking after each other, being neighborly, is what American values are all about.We should all be taking some simple steps to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting COVID-19. For starters, we should all wear a mask or face covering while in public. Masking helps prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people, an important aspect of source control of the virus.Frequent hand washing for about 20 seconds with soap and water, and refraining from touching your face, are two of the most effective ways to remove germs and prevent infection to yourself and others, requiring nothing more than a few moments of your time. This kind of handwashing should extend beyond the pandemic and become a regular, healthy habit.And maintaining social distancing in public spaces is another simple yet important way to keep the virus from spreading.As healthcare providers, we strongly encourage everyone to take care of themselves and their neighbors through the simple acts of washing your hands regularly, keeping physical distance, and wearing masks or face coverings while in public.While we still have much to learn about COVID-19, we know that everyone in our community plays a crucial role in helping us all stay healthy and safe. Only through the cooperation of everyone can we curb the high number of cases that we are experiencing.We appreciate the efforts of local businesses, institutions and schools that have developed and are implementing mitigation strategies, including mask guidelines and social distancing for their employees, customers and community members. Weve seen many organized efforts come together over the past several months to ensure that front-line workers and our most vulnerable community members have access to masks and other protective equipment.We understand some of these safety measures may result in discomfort. However, we have a shared responsibility as members of our communities to care for others as we would ourselves. As you venture outside during these hot summer months, we implore you to proudly show your American values: be responsible, do the right thing and love your neighbors through these simple acts.Equally important is seeking the care you need if you become sick or develop an emergency. Weve made many changes to our hospitals, office practices and emergency departments to keep you safe and protect you from the COVID-19 virus. Too often weve seen patients suffer at home with a medical emergency out of fear of coming to the hospital or other healthcare setting. Please dont delay the care you need to preserve your health.If we work together, continue to wear masks, wash our hands, and adhere to social distancing, we will be successful in helping to keep each other safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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Let's Keep Our Neighbors and Community Safe - Merrillfotonews

Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images

Big Kon and Vik, formerly known as The Ascension, recently spoke withWrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard and discussed various topics. In one highlight, when looking back on their WWE careers, the duo discussed why they enjoyed The Fashion Files and consider it to be a highlight in their WWE careers.

Vik: At first, you thought, Man, once were involved in this, you guys wont be doing it anymore. That was one of the first things we said. It was so odd, but I think at the same time, we were kinda so down and frustrated that it just like worked. We were like, f it, like, what are they asking us to do? Then wed see what Breezangos doing, and were like, This is ridiculous, but if Im sitting here laughing right now, it cant really be that bad. And then we saw, we started having so much fun with it, but just seeing the immediate crowd response was awesome. We used to sit there and laugh because that was another one of the times that, because of all that, it turned us babyface and even with the office, like they had to play catch-up again because they werent really paying attention or they werent really listening. And even if you said like, Hey, can you pay attention to the sound when this is happening? Theyd be like, Oh yeah, yeah, but no [they werent].

So that was another oneas fun as it was and I know we loved itsome people, even my friends were like, Man, this makes you guys look dumb, and Im like, really? Because I think its pretty funny, and were getting the best exposure and reaction that were getting in a long time, and were enjoying it. I dont really feel you can go wrong with that. If anything, it just showed people theres a whole other side, a natural evolution for us actually when it happened because we were kind of apprehensive about it because it seemed so silly. The writers were so good, everybody was having such a good time working with each other and all the ideas that were coming out of it between the talent and the writers, it just made it so much fun that Im so glad we did it, you know?

Big Kon: Yeah, there were a lot of hands that didnt get involved in that, and I think thats what made it so good is that there was some creative freedom, and we got to all pitch ideas and you saw what it became. Generally, when you can see the wrestlers having fun, I think the fans start to have fun, and people feed off of that and I think thats what was happening. Its like going back to what Vik said. At first, we looked at that thing and were like, man this is a sinking ship waiting to happen because Im sorry, but when youre pouring syrup on a log and put a wig on, youre just not sure whats going on, but eventually, you just start to roll with the punches. And its like you know what? We might have something here, and this could be a lot of fun, and the four of us just started having a little say-so in it. We all just started clicking and you saw what the product put out, and it was just so much fun.

It was probably one of my favorite highlights that Ive had in my career because you get to see a different side of us. There was always that ass-kicking side of us and all we did, we were just serious all the time, and then you get to see us pull that back. You get to see a little humor in us and I think thats what makes fans connect a little bit, too, because not everybody wants to go love a badass. And I really enjoyed it becausefrom my understanding, Vince didnt understand it, so anytime all the boys were laughing and Vince is like, I dont get it, and to me thats just the fun of it all right there.

Vik: We used to go sit behind the Titantron all night and just kind of wait to see like how some people react to this and stuff. And youd hear the full arena of people like laugh at the right jokes, like there was the live studio audience basically reacting exactly the way theyre supposed to, and then afterward youd hear them applaud like theyd just seen theater. It was funny to be able to sit there and listen like that because I know we, all four of us, would kind of sit around, and youd see the writers sitting all different places like seeing who they were watching, seeing who reacted to what, and that was really exciting, I think, for all of us because it was such a different aspect of everything wed done.

The full interview is available below:

RELATED:The Ascension On Leaving Money On The Table With Cosmic Wasteland

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The Ascension Call Their Run On The Fashion Files A Career Highlight - Wrestlezone

Community meetings at Ascension Parish libraries

Ascension Parish Library is holding community meetings about the upcoming library funding renewal at each location on the following dates: Gonzales on Wednesday, July 15; Galvez on Thursday, July 16; Donaldsonville on Tuesday, July 21; and Dutchtown on Thursday, July 23. All community meetings will take place at 6 p.m.

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Ascension Parish Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna has announced the dates for qualifying as a candidate for the Nov. 3 election. Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.July 22-24 at the Clerks Office, 815 E. Worthey St., Gonzales, or 300 Houmas St., Donaldsonville.

Qualifying will be held for the following offices: 23rd Judicial District judges; 23rd Judicial District attorney; justices of the peace; constables; Donaldsonville council members and mayor; and Gonzales mayor, chief of police and council members.

The cost for qualifying for each office is listed at ascensionclerk.com. Fees are payable in cash, cashiers check, or money order to the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.

For information, call the Clerks Office at (225) 473-9866 or (225) 621-8400, ext. 223.

The Ascension Parish School Board announced it was alerted to a scam by Sports Media Advertising/Marketing out of Fort Worth, Texas. The business is soliciting sponsorships from local businesses to develop branded high school merchandise.

Ascension Parish schools do not have a partnership or relationship with this company, nor is this company authorized to produce merchandise using any Ascension high school logos, which are trademarked by the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office, the School Board announced.

If your company is approached by any business soliciting sponsorships for a school, call the school first to verify or ask the company for proof that they are an authorized partner.

Join the Ascension Parish Library for the Basics of Backyard Beekeeping virtual presentation at 6 p.m. July 22 via Zoom. Join Chairity Waugh to learn all about backyard beekeeping. Waugh will discuss things to consider before getting the bees, the basic beekeeping equipment, basic information about bees including their life cycle, how to acquire bees, basic tips for inspecting a beehive and nectar plants in Louisiana.

To learn more on how to become a successful beekeeper, register for this virtual Zoom presentation by calling Gonzales (225) 647-3955, Galvez (225) 622-3955, Dutchtown (225) 673-8699, or Donaldsonville (225) 473-8052. Once registered, the library will send an email with meeting information for the scheduled session. To join the live session, you will need the meeting room ID from email, or you can click on the direct link found in your email.

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Around Ascension for July 15, 2020 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

For Hub City Times

CENTRAL WISCONSIN Ascension at Home is offering a comprehensive training for individuals who are interested in becoming hospice volunteers. Volunteers are assigned according to their individual interests and abilities, as well as availability.

We are currently in need of volunteers to staff the front desk at the House of the Dove in Marshfield. In addition, there is a growing need for patient support volunteers in our entire service area which includes the surrounding communities of Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield (from north to Thorp and south to Coloma/Hancock), Wausau and Stevens Point (including Athens, Mosinee and Plainfield areas), an Ascension at Home release said.

We are also seeking seamstresses that may have an interest in sewing Memory Bears in the Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Wausau and Stevens Point areas and Veteran volunteers who may have a special interest in visiting our patients who are veterans and/or assist with Veteran pinning ceremonies.

Volunteering with hospice is a very unique and incredibly rewarding experience. After completing training, approved patient support volunteers are assigned based on patient need. The frequency, role and duration of patient specific assignments vary according to case specifics. This service allows for a great amount of flexibility and is a tremendous opportunity for personal growth that allows participation in something very special.

Personal training and ongoing support for all volunteer positions will be provided.

Upcoming trainings will be in September-October, as a four-week series of two- hour sessions.

These sessions, which are free with materials provided; will be small group gatherings to allow for safe social distancing with masks provided. Registration is required.

For more information call Dawn Freedlund at 800-397-4216 or email Dawn.Freedlund@ahah.net.

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Volunteers needed at House of the Dove and throughout central Wisconsin - Hub City Times

From staff reports Published 11:09 a.m. CT July 20, 2020 | Updated 3:08 p.m. CT July 20, 2020

Escambia County's current hospitalizations due to COVID-19 jumped by nearly 19% over the weekend to reach an all-time high of 246 on Monday.

Since Sunday, another 20 coronavirus patients have been admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart,Baptist and West Florida hospitals, according to figures the hospitals report tothe city of Pensacola'sand Escambia County'sonline dashboard. Daily hospitalizations were at 207 Friday.

The number of COVID-19 patients admitted to the three local hospitals has more than doubled over the last two weeks and more than tripled since July 1.

As of Monday, a quarter of all hospitalizations in Escambia County were patients with COVID-19.

To provide our community with important public safety information, our newsroom is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.

Escambia County on Monday morning had 380 available hospital beds and Santa Rosa County had 202, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.Five of the 118 adult ICU beds in Escambia County were available Monday morning, and nine of Santa Rosa County's 24 adult ICU beds were open.

The number of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Santa Rosa County is not being compiled.Data from the Florida Department of Health shows a cumulative total of 104peoplewith COVID-19 have been hospitalized in Santa Rosa Countysince the pandemic started, a figure that has not changed since Sunday.

Since Sunday, the state has reported that another three people in Escambia County have died from the coronavirus, raising the county's cumulative deaths since the start of the pandemic to 61 state residents.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed Monday that three men, ages 40, 53 and 79, have died in Escambia County due to complications from COVID-19.

One appears to have been a resident of long-term care. To date, 43 of the county's deaths have been residents or staff of long-term care centers. The state has additionally reported four non-Florida resident deaths in Escambia County.

Santa Rosa County did not report any new COVID-19 deaths Monday. A total of 15 people in the county have died since the start of the pandemic. That includes seven inmates at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Milton and two cases in long-term care.

Escambia County's cumulative coronavirus cases reached 5,900 as another 135 new cases were added Monday, breaking the county's five-day streak of adding more than 200 new cases each day.

Santa Rosa County added 67 more cases Monday to reach a total of 1,976 since the start of the pandemic.

The median age for a person with COVID-19 was 37 in Escambia County and 36 in Santa Rosa County on Monday.

As of Monday, 11% of the 54,857 people tested for the virus in Escambia County have been positive, according to the state.In Santa Rosa County, 10% of the 20,656 tested have been positive.

Florida reported 90 deaths associated with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus Monday.

The 90 new COVID-19 deaths among Florida residents Monday increased the state's cumulative total to 5,072. In the past seven days, Florida has verified 795 resident deaths related to COVID-19.

The Florida Department of Health also reported 10,347 new COVID-19 cases Monday, increasing the state's total to 360,394. Monday was the 27th consecutive day with at least 5,000 positive cases statewide.

The number of Florida residents hospitalized with COVID-19 increased to 21,263 since the pandemic began. The Department of Health notes the total figure is cumulative and does not reflect the number of COVID-19 patients currently in hospitals.

The state has counted more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases since its Phase 2 reopening began on June 5 (61,488). Bars were closed for the second time during the pandemic June 26 to try to limit the spread of the virus.

The cumulative percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in Florida increased to 11.79% Monday.

* The Florida Department of Health is releasing the locations where confirmed cases are located to provide a broader look at areas where the virus has spread. The locations are based on ZIP code.

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Escambia County COVID-19 hospitalizations spike 19% over weekend to reach high of 246 - Pensacola News Journal

An Ascension Parish couple has been arrested on accusations the wife arranged for a 16-year-old to have sex with her husband, sheriff's deputies said Wednesday.

Donna Martinez, 37, and Jose Martinez, 38, of Prairieville, admitted to sheriff's deputies about their role in the scheme and the subsequent act, Ascension deputies said in a statement.

Deputies arrested and booked Jose Martinez on Monday on a single count of first-degree rape; e his wife, Donna Martinez, was booked the same day on a count of being a principal to first-degree rape.

Their arrests followed a complaint filed earlier the same morning.

Deputies said early Wednesday the Martinezes remained in Ascension Parish Prison with bail of $200,000 on each.

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Prairieville couple arrested in rape of 16-year-old, deputies say - The Advocate

With the impending season, here are five questions that will loom in 2020:

The high-school football season is now rapidly approaching. Were only about a month and half away from week one.

With the impending season, here are five questions that will loom in 2020:

What will high-school football look like?

Due to the Coronavirus, there is tremendous uncertainty heading into the season. As of right now, the season is on track to begin on time. However, with the recent surge of new cases of the virus, the start of the season could be delayed. Full-contact practices can't begin until the state enters Phase III, and it will take at least five weeks of preparation for the players to be ready for the first game. And if the season is played, there are serious questions regarding fans. There could be limits on how many fans attend the games, and there is a chance no fans will be allowed to attend.

Will Ascension Catholic continue to dominate the district?

Last season, Ascension Catholic completed an undefeated regular season for the first time in more than 50 years. In that run, they steamrolled district opponents by a combined score of 198-19, en route to winning the District 7-1A crown. The Bulldogs will lose Nicholls signee and two-time All-State running back Jai Williams, along with All-State offensive lineman Nick Hilliard. But they will return quarterbacks Bryce Leonard and Jacob Dunn. Running back Khai Prean returns after making all-district as a freshman, and so does first-team all-district tight end and defensive lineman J'Mond Tapp.

Will East Ascension continue to dominate their parish counterparts?

East Ascension has had a great run in the past three years. In that time, they've gone 25-5 during the regular season. In the past two seasons, they've had the upper hand over parish and district counterparts Dutchtown and St. Amant. They've beaten them both two years in a row. In fact, their 34-7 win over St. Amant was their most lopsided victory over the Gators since 2015. The Spartans haven't lost to St. Amant since 2017, and they haven't dropped a game against Dutchtown since 2015. Although, the Griffins pushed East Ascension to the limit last season. The Spartans pulled it out, 29-24. East Ascension ended up going 8-2 and reaching the second round of the playoffs.

How will Dylan Sampson follow up 2019?

Dutchtown's Dylan Sampson exploded onto the scene last season as a sophomore first-year starter. The track star used his blazing speed to shred defenses on his way to being named All-State honorable mention and Ascension Parish Offensive MVP. Sampson rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He averaged an absurd 11.6 yards per carry. Dutchtown went 7-3 and was knocked off in the first round of the playoffs, but it certainly wasn't because of Sampson. In defeat, he piled up 280 total yards and four touchdowns. But he will be without his top offensive lineman in 2020. The Griffins lose Riley Lawrence, a first-team all-district selection.

Can St. Amant bounce back?

St. Amant uncharacteristically struggled in 2020. They finished 5-5 and missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2011. They finished just 2-3 in district play, and they lost to both Dutchtown and East Ascension for the first time since 2013. Their defeat to archrival East Ascension came by 27 points. The Gators will try to turn things around this season, but it won't be easy. They lost running back Lathan Vaughn and the receiver duo of Javin Augillard and Austin Bascom. However, they will return quarterbacks Cole Poirrier and Slade Zeppuhar, running back Reggie Sims and first-team all-district defensive back Evan Bourgeois.

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Five questions for the 2020 parish football season - Weekly Citizen

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 20, 2020 / 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year, with Covid-19, to civil uprising across the country. You can say this year has not turned out as planned, stress is high since Quarantine began; people are turning to therapy, psychotherapy, tarot readings, mediation, prayer, anything to get their mind off of their present circumstances. There is another wave of healing that people are coming into the revelation of, it's called "Quantum Reiki". Reiki is a form of preventive care that has been trending for almost a century. It's a non- invasive medicine that allows a person to reach a profound state of wellness and healing through understanding and experiencing energy exchange. Each treatment is personalized as Reiki incorporates a balanced approach between the mind, body, spirit and the lifestyle of the person. It delivers life changing results to those who are suffering from a multitude of ailments.

If you are looking for a safe space to allow yourself to be transformed from the inside out, look no further, "Antojai Ascension Academy'' is the place you need to be. World renowned Shaman Axel is the person that will be the missing piece to your life, he is a lifelong shaman with a continuance of experience. At the age of 30, self made global entrepreneur Axel Carrasquillo, has completely changed the trajectory of his life by using these specific practices. Axel suffered a traumatic event that left him paralyzed with life with nowhere to turn, suffering from a severe case of PTSD, he wanted to find an alternative to life. None of the traditional methods worked, so Axel went on a quest to find something that will allow his consciousness to be renewed, with a new sense of freedom. With many years of searching, his thirst for life was quenched with the birth of Antojai Quantum Alchemy", Axel healed himself of PTSD within just 8 months. The results were real, he found the missing key to the quest, and now it was time to share what he learned with the world around him.

Axel began growing his network into a global phenomenon, with a 100% success rate, his new method with incorporating the collective consciousness within a person, and bridging the gap between all parts of each person helped usher in a new movement. Axel, like so many people, was suffering in silence, until he found that without treating the root we will still have the symptoms. "I founded Antojai Ascension Academy, an online global academy that teaches holistic practitioners how to modify traditional methods with Quantum consciousness theory, and advanced energy medicine. I have worked on cases like fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety, and over 100 symptoms with great success" states Axel.

True healing of the body and soul takes a level of diving into the subconscious mind and pulling out the necessary things that need to be healed. Energy medicine has been around for thousands of years, it was developed in 1922, and not updated or modified for almost 100 years. In less than 2 years, Quantum Reiki is now being practiced in 122 out of 195 countries with over 100,000 people healed from their current state of illness.

"Applying Anojai Quantum Reiki has been the most enlightening and introspective journey I have ever pursued in my entire life! It is an ongoing process though through Quantum Reiki, I have been healed of the addictions that once plagued my daily life!! The transformation was incredible, words cannot describe. I now know my true purpose in life as I aspire to help others with Quantum Reiki, the way it has helped me. This is the way to the Source. Thank you so much!!" - Leviathan AltSpaceVR

"I was drawn to shamanic healing last year and discovered Antojai on the web. After months of putting it off, I finally booked an appointment! I have to say that both sessions were phenomenal and powerful. I can't really describe it in words! So much grand healing and changes within me and my reality. Master Axel is a magnificent and astounding human that is so very gifted. His energy and approach to you and each session is with great care and insight. I truly appreciate him and his abilities! Always such good vibes!! Thank you so much!!!" - Jourdan Rae.

"The research and work being done by this organization and the academy are game changers for energy workers and healers. My life is never going to be the same. Thanks to Antojai, I've been realigned with my purpose." - Jacob Zufelt.

As I previously mentioned, the stresses of quarantine and Covid-19 has affected numerous kinds of people suffering from all kinds of stressors. To adjust to this new reality, Axel has embraced the power of digital tools, "I am a 30 years old global liberator that revolutionized the Reiki Holistic Medicine practice, it only took me three years to make a flourishing company. It works, the proof is in the results" Remarks Axel. Freedom awaits on the other side of your obedience, no more carrying around baggage from the past, your mind, body, and soul awaits your decision. Quantum Reiki works, allowing your subconscious to be healed with the necessary tools you will need. If you want to learn more information on Shaman Axel or more information on Antojai Ascension Academy check out the website below! Healing awaits you, the decision is yours!

To find out more about Axel's Quantum Reiki & Antojai Alchemy method, you can check out his websites antojai.us and antojai.org

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Paula Henderson646-736-2071phendersonnews@gmail.com

About VIP Media Group:VIP Media Group is a hybrid PR agency. Their diverse client base includes top-class entrepreneurs, public figures, influencers, and celebrities.

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Discover why Antojai Quantum Reiki is the Future of Medicine - Press Release - Digital Journal

July 20, 2020By: Dwayne Page

A man, woman and two small children were involved in a one car crash Saturday afternoon on Petty Road.

Trooper Troy Withers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 22 year old Deanna Gibbs of Smithville was traveling east on Petty Road in a 1999 Volkswagen when the car went off the right side of the narrow road and struck a tree. Passengers in the car were 21 year old Christopher Gibbs, a 3 year old boy, and a one and a half year old girl. Ms Gibbs and the baby girl were transported from the scene by DeKalb EMS to the Midway County Fire Station where they were airlifted by helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital. Mr. Gibbs was taken by EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. The three year old child was not injured.

Saturday wreck victims airlifted from Midway Fire Station from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Members of the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department and DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene to assist. Citations are pending.

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Woman and Baby Airlifted After Saturday Crash (View Video Here) - wjle.com

Monday, July 20

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is the upcoming release from Bright Eyes and marks the bands first album of new material in nearly a decade. Well hear selections from it as well as music from Ascension, the upcoming album from Sufjan Stevens.

Tuesday, July 21

Los Angeles Illuminati Hotties returns with a new release, Free I.H.: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For, the first in two years from the Los Angeles-based group. Listen for music from it as well as music from the latest by The Bobby Lees.

Wednesday, July 22

American Head is the upcoming effort from The Flaming Lips and is being heralded as a return to the bands sound of the late 1990s and early 2000s, as heard on albums such as The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Well hear music from this new recording as well as selections from Samantha Crain, Bill Frisell, and Guided By Voices.

Thursday, July 23

Released in 1987, Pleased To Meet Me marked the one and only time that Minneapolis The Replacements recorded as a trio. Having fired founding member and guitarist Bob Stinson before the sessions began, the group retreated to Memphis to record one of its most beloved albums, which included such staples as Valentine, Cant Hardly Wait and the minor hit, Alex Chilton. The record will be issued in deluxe form this autumn. Well hear some advanced selections from that set on this episode as well as music from Bonnie Whitmore, David Ramirez and Yo La Tengo.

Friday, July 24

Listen for new music from Bettye LaVette as well as selections from Curtis Mayfield, Kandace Springs and others.

Saturday, July 25

Well hear live music from Phishs classic set Hampton Comes Alive as well as songs from Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

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Pleased To Meet Me, The Pleasure Is All Yours - KMUW

Sixty-seven is a magic number for one community in the Baton Rouge region.

The village of French Settlement is close to reaching a town designation, which could see them jump from a three-alderman municipality to five. The most recent census data shows the village has 1,133 of the 1,200 it would need to make the jump.

Every 10 years, the United States conducts a census: 2020 is one of those years.

French Settlement Mayor Rhonda Lobell said she hasnt looked closely into the changes that a town status would bring, but increased representation at the board of aldermen would be one.

French Settlement has a census response rate of 52.2%.

Of course, this village isnt the only community urging its residents to fill out the census forms.

Population data from the census is used to determine how to distribute monies in federal funding for schools, roads, bridges and more," Zachary Mayor David Amrhein said. "Businesses use census population figures to decide where to open, close or expand stores.

The census also determines each states representation in Congress and number of electoral votes for president.

It's not too late to fill out the forms, depiste some confusion about the April 1 date.

At Census2020.gov, the government notes that April 1 is the reference date, not the deadline. People can still respond by internet, phone or mail.

Beginning in August through Oct. 31, census takers will interview people who have not responded, trying to make sure everyone is counted. By December, those numbers will be delivered to the president and to Congress.

Amrheins city has responded well: 67.8% of Zachary residents had responded to the census by July 13.

I feel that our citizens are proud of our city, and they realized the importance of responding to the census, which will shape resources for our children and community over the next decade," the mayor said.

Census response rates vary widely in the region. As of July 13, the rate was 56.2% for Louisiana and 62.1% nationwide.

Parish rates in the region are close to the state mark, with notable exceptions of the Felicianas East Feliciana is at 48.5% and West Feliciana at 41% and Ascension Parish at 62.1%. In East Baton Rouge, with 59.3% responding, the cities other than Baton Rouge have had strong response. Baton Rouge itself is at 54.5%.

While French Settlement awaits to see if they have grown, its parish school system doesnt expect much change from the census. The Livingston Parish School Board wont see any funding-related impacts from census results, though the last census changed representation on the school board. The population is divided evenly to make the nine elected board districts, but the bulk of funding comes from student enrollment rather than community population.

To report your household, visit Census2020.gov, fill out the mailed form you may have received earlier or, as the City of Baker recently reminded its residents, call (844) 330-2020 or any of the numbers associated with specific languages. For example, Spanish speakers can call (844) 468-2020, Vietnamese (844) 461-2020, and French (844) 494-2020. Go online to see other language phone numbers.

To help people respond, the Census Bureau offers web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including American Sign Language, as well as guides in Braille and large print.

The Ascension Parish Library recently reminded residents that it is helping with online access for people needing to respond to the census. It is participating in Count on Libraries: 2020 Census with special Census Corners at the Gonzales and Donaldsonville branches. These have areas designated for census information and with a laptop for census completion.

All library systems in the Baton Rouge area can help answer questions or provide internet access for completing the census. However, some branches have had to close temporarily or have altered hours because of the coronavirus, so call to verify which branch is open.

Visit Census2020.gov for more information, including response rates, programs that are affected by the numbers, why the census matters, and much more.

Staff writers Emma Kennedy and Darlene Denstorff contributed to this story.

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Original post:

It's not too late to be counted in the U.S. Census; here's how - The Advocate

MondayJul20,2020at12:01AM

I read with amusement, my old college textbook author and esteemed old-school economist, Robert J. Samuelsons column (July 12) "The FOMO stock market."

His apparent search to answer the why of the big gap between the stock markets perplexing ascension and the economys uncertain future during the pandemic seems to have missed the obvious: The stock market is rigged. PE ratios, conflicting unemployment indices, Shiller analytics, nor the psychological FOMO syndrome answer his perfunctory query. Because deep down, Prof. Samuelson knows the answer: The jig is up.

Wall Street and its marginal players fear not the perilous and prolonged economic rough patch staring us all in the face, because they know that both the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve have removed any risk from their investment gambles. With interest rates at zero for as far as the eye can see, PPP grants, trillions in loans and the adding of billions of junk-like corporate bonds to the Feds burgeoning balance sheet, capitalisms referee (the U.S. government) has all but rigged the dice, put its big thumb on the scales and fundamentally socialized all their potential losses. Market exuberance indeed!

Wall Street capitalism is dead! Long-live the New American capitalism!

William D. Chalmers, Eugene

Read the original:

The jig is up - Opinion - The Register-Guard