Category Archives: Progress

Now in its eighth year, Utah intergenerational poverty initiatives have seen progress throughout the state; most recently through county pilot programs. The Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission and Advisory Committee met Thursday, Jan. 9 to discuss these changes and look to the future, according to a statement from Utah Department of Workforce Services.

Im thrilled about the incredible progress taking place in our pilot counties, said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, chair of the Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission. Our commission is anxiously looking forward to these programs continuing to make improvements to the lives of those experiencing intergenerational poverty, and were uplifted by what this could mean for our state as a whole moving forward.

Seven counties across the state, ranging from urban to rural, received a grant two years ago as part of the pilot group to create their own innovative programs to address intergenerational poverty. Two of these counties reported on their success in the Jan. 9 meeting. These programs were each created to meet the unique needs of individuals in their communities, officials said. They range from coordinating and centralizing resources from partner organizations to providing pathways to education after individuals interact with the criminal justice system. After experiencing success with these programs, many of the counties are dedicated to continuing their efforts despite the end of their grant.

Additionally, research efforts will be expanded to better understand and address intergenerational poverty through the work of numerous state research partners. The 2019 annual report revealed that the number of individuals experiencing intergenerational poverty has decreased since the initiative began by providing the first progress analysis of the initial research cohort from 2012. The report also highlights success in closing the graduation gap with 74% of students experiencing intergenerational poverty graduating in 2018 and an increase in child readiness for kindergarten through preschool programs.

The momentum and collaboration were seeing right now in Utah around intergenerational poverty is critically important for the lives of children and families whose reality this is, said Tracy Gruber, senior advisor to the commission. The more counties and leaders that come together and the more insight we gather through expanded research efforts, the greater the impact this initiative will continue to have on the lives of Utahns.

For more information on the initiative, visit intergenerationalpoverty.utah.gov.

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Utah making progress in fight against intergenerational poverty - The Times-Independent

Military leaders have incentive to lie on Afghanistan progress - special IG John Sopko, the special inspector general on reconstruction in Afghanistan, said commanders in Afghanistan have a 'disincentive' to tell the truth about the progress they're making in the country, thwarting efforts there. He also called the Afghanistan military and police a "hopeless nightmare." (U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee)

The sunny outlooks reported by senior leaders in Afghanistan over the last two decades created a vicious cycle, a Defense Department special inspector general told lawmakers on Wednesday, because each successive rotation of troops was expected to produce results.

In an exchange with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction John Sopko explained his response to allegations in the Washington Posts Afghanistan Papers report.

The problem is, theres a disincentive, really, to tell the truth, said John Sopko, special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. We have created an incentive to almost require people to lie.

Its an issue of mendacity and hubris, he added, which snowballed into years of continued deployments and aid to Afghanistan, without an exit strategy.

There was a disconnect, almost from my first trip over there, between what [the United States Agency for International Development], State and DoD said was going on, and what I saw and what my staff were seeing on the ground, Sopko said.

And yet optimistic reports always found their way to the people in charge of funding the efforts.

Year after year we heard, quote: Were making progress. Year after year we were told, quote: Were turning a corner, committee chairman Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said. While presidents and military officials were painting a rosy picture, the reality on the ground was a consistently deepening quagmire with no end in sight.

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But deployments only offer a snapshot in time, and while there may be some small steps made during that period, they were never enough to string together major sea change over the long term.

You create from the bottom up, an incentive, because of short timelines youre there for six months, nine months or a year to show success, he said. That gets reported up the chain, and before you know it, the president is talking about a success that doesnt exist.

Simply put, each commander on the ground wanted to justify his efforts.

Im not going to name names but I think everybody has that incentive to give happy talk to show success, Sopko said. Maybe its human nature to do that. I mean most of the lying is lying to ourselves. We want to show success.

One former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is now the chairman of the joint chiefs.

This army and this police force have been very, very effective in combat against the insurgents every single day. And I think thats an important story to be told across the board, then-Lt. Gen. Mark Milley said in a 2013 briefing from Kabul.

When asked whether he ever misrepresented the situation on the ground, Milley told reporters at a briefing in December that he had never deceived anyone.

I could not look myself in the mirror,"he said. I couldnt answer myself at two to three in the morning when my eyes pop open and see the dead roll in front of my eyes.

Despite conclusions across the board that the Afghanistan situation would not be solved by the military, Engel said, President Trump in 2017 surged troops to the country.

Though the president shut down peace talks in September, negotiations seemed to rekindle later in the year, as Trump visited Afghanistan over Thanksgiving, and the Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for reconciliation in Afghanistan visited Kabul to sit down with leaders in December.

Sopko offered a warning, should all sides finally reach an agreement.

In light of the ongoing peace negotiations, Congress should ensure that the administration has an actionable plan for what happens the day after peace is declared, Sopko said.

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There is a 'disincentive' to tell the truth about progress in Afghanistan, Pentagon official says - Military Times

Progress-Index Staff

FridayJan17,2020at4:17PM

Suspect is charged with second-degree murder in a Jan. 12 shooting death in the City Point area

HOPEWELL Police have made an arrest in connection with the citys second homicide of the year.

Nathaniel Romeo Arrington, 20, of Hopewell, has been charged with second-degree murder and murder and use of a firearm in the commisssion of a felony. Police Lt. Michael Langford said Arrington was arrested without incident Friday by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

Police allege Arrington shot and killed Christopher Shawn Barron, 49, Jan. 12 at a residence on Ramsey Avenue in Hopewells City Point area. Officers found Barron while answering a call for a disturbance in the neighborhood.

He died at the scene.

Arrington is being held without bond at the Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County.

In a statement announcing the arrest, Police Chief Kamran Afzal said the task force, of which Hopewell is a member, has proven again to be a valuable asset in locating and apprehending fugitives.

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Arrest made in Hopewells second homicide of 2020 - Progress Index

BROWARD (CBSMiami) As we come upon two years since the deadly school shooting in Parkland, the Broward School District has made major progress towards opening a new building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

It was a show and tell Thursday, with school officials giving an inside look at the ongoing construction of the replacement building.

It is one more step we are taking to heal and to move forward from the tragedy of February 14th 2018, said Lori Alhadeff, who lost her daughter Alyssa in the shooting.

The 1200 Building is considered a crime scene. It is being preserved by the Broward State Attorney as evidence to be used in the trial of accused shooter Nikolas Cruz.

RELATED: Renderings Of New Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Building Released

After the trial, the 1200 Building will be torn down and the space will remain empty. MSD students who will occupy the new building have been taught in portable classrooms.

We are looking into creating a water feature as a tranquil reflection near the new building, said Alhadeff.

The new 44,000 square foot, two-story building will house 30 classrooms, cost $18 million and targeted to be completed in August of this year.

We have changed our approach to the design and construction of the building and the safety components of that are taken into construction with advice of consultants, said Superintendent Robert Runcie.

Runcie, who was tight lipped about specific security features, touted an increase in security personnel and equipment.

We have increased the number of video surveillance cameras in the district from 10,000 to 13,000. We have made these cameras available in real time to the sheriffs office, he said.

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One More Step We Are Taking To Heal: Progress Being Made On Construction Of New MSD Building - CBS Miami

Could the Pittsburgh Steelers be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2020? If your answer to that question is yes, it should immediately be followed by, as long as Ben Roethlisberger comes back healthy.

The Steelers franchise quarterback is coming off a season-ending elbow injury which ended his 2019 campaign after just 6 quarters. Since Roethlisbergers surgery, news on his progress, or lack thereof, has been minimal.

At his end of the season press conference, Mike Tomlin spoke about the timeline for Roethlisbergers next step in his rehab process in February, and what it was like playing almost a full season without the only franchise quarterback he has known since taking over the head coaching position in 2007.

We live by the clich that the standard is the standard. Incidents like the loss of Ben gives us the opportunity to live that out. I dont know that our mentality changed in terms of what our intentions were. It was an opportunity for us to roll our sleeves up and make that a reality. Tomlin said to media. Our focus was there. Our focus was individually doing what was required to get in and out of stadiums with wins. I didnt spend a lot of time crying about it. I still havent. Maybe I will gain a better perspective as I gain some distance. In the process, there is a certain urgency to respond to the next challenge that doesnt give you a time to wallow in it.

On Wednesday, Steelers Team President Art Rooney II met with local media and discussed Roethlisbergers progress to date, and what he had to say was positive.

This via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic:

While things have been positive in Roethlisbergers physical rehabilitation, and his mental status after having to watch nearly the entire 2019 season, there is a lot left for Roethlisberger to do before fans should get excited for the 2020 season with the same No. 7 under center they have enjoyed watching since 2004.

In fact, there is a reason why Rooney II used the word anxious to describe the way the team is viewing Roethlisbergers return to the field. The hope is Roethlisberger is healed, and moves smoothly through the process of getting himself back into shape as a quarterback in the NFL. But there is always the chance that after all the years of hits, throws and wear and tear on his body that Roethlisberger doesnt return to the same quarterback he was prior to the injury. If that is the case, the Steelers would find themselves in quite a bind heading into the offseason, the new league year and the 2020 NFL Draft.

There are still a lot of hoops which need to be jumped through before the team even knows the status of Roethlisberger, and you better believe the fans echo Rooneys anxiety level when it comes to the future of the team being wrapped around No. 7s overall availability this upcoming season.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they embark on yet another lengthy offseason.

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Art Rooney II anxious to see Ben Roethlisbergers progress - Behind the Steel Curtain

MILL HALL Prior to Thursday nights Keystone Central school board meeting, representatives from the Keystone Central School District and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School reported a positive initial dialogue regarding a charter extension for SVRCS.

In an email sent to media outlets early Thursday morning, a news release stated that there was a Wednesday meeting between the two parties. Although the email was sent from a KCSD address, it stated that it was sent on behalf of KCSD superintendent Jacquelyn Martin and SVRCS CEO Tracie Kennedy.

The news release read: Last evening representatives from SVRCS and KCSD met to discuss revisions to the 20-year-old charter. The conversation between the two has been positive and productive thus far. Further meetings have been scheduled to meet the common goal of charter revisions that could be approved by both the KCSD Board of Directors and SVRCS Board of Trustees.

At last weeks KCSD school board meeting, there was a special voting session that took place following the work session. During the voting session, the board unanimously approved an agreement with SVRCS for talks to proceed in an effort to resolve differences so a new five-year agreement between the schools can be negotiated.

The settlement negotation agreement is broken down into several segments:

Scope The Parties agree that in efforts to potentially avoid litigation in connection with the proceedings, the parties will attempt to negotiate a resolution. To accomplish this, the Parties agree to the several terms and conditions related to attempting to negotiate a resolution.

Settlement discussion process The Parties recognize that they are both public entities that may officially act only through their governing boards, and within the context of an opening meeting. Prior to considering or agreeing to any settlement, each Party has the right to hear from its administration and/or attorneys as to the relevant factual and legal background pertaining to settlement of the Proceedings, for purposes of both legal and expert advice on the advertisement of the potential settlement. Each Party has the right to hold any such discussions confidentially and within executive session(s), and at the exclusion of the other party.

Duration Any Party may give written notice through its Solicitor by mail or email to the other Partys Solicitor that the Agreement is terminated. In the event this Agreement is terminated, the Proceedings shall continue as if no settlement discussions had occurred. Other than the obligation to negotiate through settlement discussions, the Parties obligations under the Agreement shall survive any termination, to include, without limitation, the provisions of paragraphs 2, above.

No waiver or obligation The Parties expressly recognize and agree that entering into this Agreement (a) does not constitute an admission of liability of any wrongdoing by any party or that the Charter Schools renewal application, or the School Districts proposed causes for non-renewal, lack merit (b) is not a waiver of any arguments, claims, positions, or defenses in connection with the Proceeding, except the express waivers and releases otherwise provided for within the Agreement, and (c) does not obligate the Parties to reach a settlement relative to the Proceedings.

Rule of Construction Each party, through its legal counsel, has reviewed and participated in the drafting of the Agreement; and any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are construed against the drafting Party shall not apply in the interpretation or construction of the Agreement.

Martin said that she would like see the charter which has not been revised in more than two decades amended to meet present-day budget requirements.

MILL HALL A request to rezone 103 acres of land in Bald Eagle Township is on the agenda prior to next Monday ...

LOCK HAVEN The Clinton County Commissioners have decided to consider keeping local history alive by maintaining ...

MILL HALL At Thursday nights Keystone Central school board meeting, the board heard from representatives ...

LOCK HAVEN A Mill Hall man accused of raping a woman in the early morning hours of Oct. 7, 2019, was held for ...

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'Positive' progress in talks on charter renewal | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

SPRINGFIELD - Progress has slowed in the high-profile case of retired Westfield Police Detective Brian Fanion, accused of killing his wife in 2018 and staging her death to look like a suicide.

During a brief pretrial hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Callan on Thursday, lawyers on both sides said transcriptions of grand jury testimony has slowed to a snails pace and stymied the usual pretrial progress of the case.

Fanion was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with murder after being indicted in Hampden Superior Court. He has been held without the right to bail ever since.

Amy Fanion, 51, died on May 8, 2018, at the couples home in Westfield. Fanion told his colleagues at the time his wife shot herself in the head while he was home on his lunch hour, after they had argued. However, prosecutors contend Brian Fanion pulled the trigger because he was having an affair and wanted to divorce his wife without giving up half of his pension.

Fanions defense attorney and his family -- including Amy Fanions brother and the couples two children -- have vehemently denied Brian Fanion had anything to do with her death and remain supportive.

Prosecutors, on the other hand, say they have a solid pyramid of forensic evidence and expert testimony that prove Amy Fanion could not have pulled the trigger on the gun that day.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Brown told Callan hes been hampered by the fact that he hasnt received transcriptions of grand jury testimony -- particularly by out-of-state expert witnesses in forensics.

The case against Mr. Fanion is primarily reliant on certain expert testimony, Brown said.

Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom told Callan that Philbin and Associates, a local transcription firm, has a backlog dating back months.

The commonwealth isnt looking to delay this in any way, shape or form, Sandstrom said.

Callan pushed back, encouraging Sandstrom to put the firms feet to the fire.

They can be ordered to put it at the top of the pile ... and they will because they work for you, Callan said.

He set the next pretrial hearing for Feb. 5.

Fanion was not present in court and requested not to be at the subsequent hearing, Brown said.

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Administrative woes slowing pretrial progress for Brian Fanion, former Westfield police officer accused of ki - MassLive.com

Progress-Index Staff

FridayJan17,2020at4:49PM

David Crostic was shot after the suspects forced their way into his home and robbed him, according to police

MATOACA Chesterfield Police say the man shot in an apparent home-invasion robbery Wednesday afternoon has died.

The victim, identified as David W. Crostic, 51, died at the hospital where he was taken after the incident at his Rowlett Road home, police Lt. Brad Conner said Friday afternoon. Crostic was shot around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after two men forced their way into his residence and robbed him of an undisclosed amount of money.

After the shooting, police said, the suspects fled the scene. Crostic was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

An investigation is continuing into the robbery and homicide.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Chesterfield Police at (804) 748-1251 or Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660. Information may also be shared through the P3Tips app on a mobile device.

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Home-invasion shooting victim has died - News - Progress Index

Major projects that are years in the making are bringing visions to life. (Graphics by Ellen Jackson/Community Impact Newspaper)

Transformation will come to SH 26, also known as Colleyville Boulevard, following the completion of the SH 26 widening project, slated for spring 2020, as well as the summer opening of Grapevine Main, a destination offering a community plaza, a boutique hotel and a food hall.

In July, Texas Department of Transportation officials announced construction of the SH 26 widening project was delayed from its slated 2019 completion date to 2020.

SH 26, also called Colleyville Boulevard, serves as the citys main shopping corridor. TxDOT has been working since 2016 to widen 3 miles of the road at a cost of $38.2 million. The road widening is expected to be completed in the spring.

2020 is going to be an important year for SH 26, Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton said in an email.

Once TxDOT has finished widening the road, the city will begin installing new decorative streetlights and then adding landscaping, Newton said. Drivers will experience minimal impact during median work, he said.

The city will add stones, colorful plantings and mature trees to the center medians of SH 26, he said. The first phase of this work is set to begin in late spring or early summer.

Following this, the city will add vertical gateway structures, masonry accent walls, pavers and decorative sidewalk posts to further enhance the corridor, Newton said.

The metamorphosis to beautify this commercial corridor in 2020 will be exceptional, he said in an email. This transformation will benefit our communitys greatest assetsour residents and our businesses.

Construction work on SH 26 is still on track for the modified timeline, TxDOT Public Information Officer Val Lopez said. Crews are on the west side of SH 26 finishing remaining sidewalk, driveway and retaining wall installation, he said. Additional work includes final striping and permanent traffic signal installation.

We appreciate the patience of our residents and business owners as the construction phase of this project comes to an end, Newton said in his email.

Prompted by the TEXRail train station in the same location, which began operations in early 2019, the city decided to develop a traditional train station that serves the modern travelers needs. This includes an open courtyard, the Hotel Vin and the Harvest Hall food hall.

Much of the groundwork was laid last year for the train stations development, said Tom Santora, chief commercial officer of Coury Hospitality and the managing director of the upcoming Hotel Vin. In addition to major construction work and the opening of the new parking garage, Coury Hospitality collected surveys from more than 600 people about the types of cuisines or entertainment they wanted to see in the food hall. With those responses in mind, Santora said three of the seven food hall vendors have been selected and will be announced in the near future.

He said he has already noticed the project resonating with the community.

It feels like were sort of going back in time a little bit, and the architecture of the building fits into the city already, Santora said. It doesnt feel like this modern building was plopped there, or some generic, standard hotel, if you will. ... Theyve really done a nice job.

Near the train station is a plaza that will also serve as a key part of the development, Grapevine City Manager Bruno Rumbelow said. The plaza will feature a public art piece called the Peace Circle, capturing the moment an 1843 peace treaty was signed, as well as a fountain and seating, Rumbelow said. Community events could also be held there.

We are truly excited about the Hotel Vin and Grapevine Main fully opening and being activated in the summer of 2020, Rumbelow said.

The project site is located at the corner of North White Chapel Boulevard and SH 114.

The $290 million Carillon Parc plan from Hunter Chase Capital Partners was approved in July 2018, but was updated in September to add more parkland and to better use the lands natural elevation changes, said John Terrell, a developer of the project and a former Southlake mayor.

He said the changes add at least $50 million to the project.

The plan comes with eight distinct districts that will include chef-driven restaurants, artisan shopping, and more than 10 acres of park space.

The city of Southlake also plans to partner with the developers to relocate the city library to Carillon Parc.

Were very excited about the economic impact that Carillon is going to have for our community, Southlake Mayor Laura Hill said.

Developers closed on the land for Carillon Parc in November and expect to have a more finalized site plan for the project by mid-January, Terrell said. Following this will be six to eight months of engineering.

Once engineering is completed, major construction can take place, Terrell said.

Carillon Parc will take about four years to complete, but some of the first buildings will probably open two-and-a-half years into construction, he said. These will likely be the new city library and the performing arts center, with the hotel also taking shape around that time, too.

The entire community has been waiting a long time, long before we ever got involved in this particular parcel of land, Terrell said. I think all of us are looking forward to the groundbreaking.

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Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake make progress on major projects that are years in the making - Community Impact Newspaper

Wondering why Oregons attempt to pass legislation to limit carbon pollution failed this year? Eric Ward, executive director of the Portland-based Western States Center, attributes the disappointing outcome to the rise of white nationalist groups in rural Oregon. Those groups threatened violence to defend GOP lawmakers who fled the Capitol to prevent the passage of the climate bill.

Right-wing and nationalist groups have been increasingly visible in Oregon over the past five years as rural voters get more disillusioned, said Ward. In frustration, there are organizations and individuals who have stepped into a leadership gap and are attempting to provide parallel leadership. But that leadership is led by bigotry and threats of violence.

At the 2019 Activists Mobilizing for Power (AMP) conference, hosted by the Western States Center, hundreds of advocates came together to talk about how the rising influence of white nationalist groups is impacting issues from climate change to education.

Activists Mobilizing for Power is a gathering for policy advocates and social justice organizers from every issue area in the progressive movement. One of the things that sets AMP apart from other activist conferences is its regional focus: AMP is designed to bring together justice leaders from the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West states. This approach offers a unique opportunity for activists from every community to learn from each other about emerging trends in the Northwest that impact folks across issues and states. Its the only event I know of focused on building progressive political power across issue areas in a particular region of the US.

Theres a lot that folks at the Sierra Club can learn from Activists Mobilizing for Power, which is one of the reasons we were proud to sponsor the event for the second year in a row. Just like the progressive movement is divided by issue area, the Sierra Club is separated into national campaigns and local chapters, often working in the same places on related issues. Were such a large organization that our internal structures can divide us and keep us from collaborating, or even force us to compete for resources. Were trying to learn from examples like AMP about how to work regionally, so that the folks working in a state to protect public lands and expand access to the outdoors are strategizing alongside folks working to advance clean energy and increase access to public transportation. When the Sierra Club moves as one community, we are more powerful together, just like the progressive movement.

AMP participants representing progressive organizations from the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West states.

The world is changing faster than ever. Achieving our goals in this momentwhen climate change, economic structures, and governing institutions all fuel inequitymeans fighting for a bold agenda that recognizes the interconnected nature of our planet, people, economy, and democracy. The theme of AMP this year was Democracy Under Siege, with a focus on countering white nationalism and defending inclusive democracy.

As I was working to set up the Sierra Clubs sponsorship of AMP, I occasionally got questions like: "What does pushing back on white nationalism and protecting inclusive democracy have to do with the Sierra Club? Isnt our work simply to protect the planet for everyone to explore, enjoy and protect?"

I wrote recently about how an intersectional approach to environmental and climate work can make it hard to know how to stay in your lane. But staying in our lane doesnt mean ignoring the other drivers on the road. The work of defeating white nationalism is the work of the whole progressive movement, and the Sierra Club is part of that movement.

The Sierra Club is committed to a just, equitable, and sustainable future built on a foundation of racial, economic, and gender equitya future where all people benefit from a healthy thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. We cant build that world without confronting hate through spaces like AMP. We cant even pass legislation to limit carbon pollution while white nationalists are willing to use violence and intimidation to enact their hateful agenda.

I know its a stretch for some folks to make this connection, all the way from fighting climate change to fighting white supremacy. But the bigots and the militia members get the connection. Many of them believe that our work to stop climate change is part of a vast global conspiracy to eliminate the white race.

Those of us who see the world more clearly are building a movement that addresses the climate crisis on the scale needed to head off massive climate disruption and species extinction. We also know that cannot be done without addressing the extreme inequalities that allow Big Polluters to deem some people, communities, and environments sacrificial. We say NO! to nationalist ideologies that demand we choose whole nations and communities to be winners and losers in the climate crisis. We say YES! to an abundant future where those most harmed by climate and environmental injustice are prioritized over profit and corporations.

Even though we say NO!, we cannot ignore the growing influence of eco-fascists and white supremacists. If we do, we arent doing our job to defend our planet and all its inhabitants. Or, as our mission statement puts it: To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.

See more here:

White Nationalist Organizing Threatens Climate Progress in the Northwest - Sierra Magazine