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Activists protest Chicago teen curfew, say exceptions for events like Lollapalooza are unfair

Activists protest Chicago teen curfew, say exceptions for events like Lollapalooza are unfair

CHICAGO (CBS) — With Lollapalooza in full swing, the city’s teen curfew has been sparking controversy.

The music festival in Grant Park draws a young crowd. But as it stands, the 10 p.m. curfew for those under 18 does not apply during certain events – including ticketed concerts.

As CBS 2’s Marybel González reported Friday night, some youth activists say it is not fair that the curfew applies to some teens and not to others.

The city says the curfew is a way to crack down on crime. But the activists call it unconstitutional, and say they are ready to take it to court.

They used Lollapalooza itself as a venue to protest the city’s policy.

“If you have a ticket for Lollapalooza – general admission or otherwise – then you don’t have to abide by that curfew, which instantly struck me as really weird,” said youth activist Isaiah Pinzino of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

On opening day of Lollapalooza, Pinzino – along with other activists from the GoodKids MadCity organization – stood outside the concert gates to denounce the city’s 10 p.m. curfew – as well as the executive order that bans unaccompanied minors from Millennium Park on weekend nights.

A clause in the ordinance does allow minors who are coming from a ticketed event like Lollapalooza to be out past the curfew.

“It also shows that they’re willing to circumvent the supposed safety reforms that that they’re inputting for concertgoers – which is absolutely ridiculous,” Pinzino said.

Back in May, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the measure as a way to combat crime, shootings, and rowdy crowds. Infamously, a 16-year-old boy named Seandell Holliday was shot and killed in front of the Cloud Gate sculpture during a chaotic gathering in Millennium Park in May.

But activists say the curfew and other restrictions on young people are not a solution.

A lawyer representing the activists sent a letter to the city asking them to do away with the curfew. They are calling the measure unconstitutional, and one that disproportionately affects Black and brown teens.

The city did not respond to our request for comment on the letter.

We also reached out to Chicago Police to ask what happens to teens who are attending the concert and stay out past curfew. The city said, “It is a defense for the minor to be participating in, or returning from, a ticketed event.”

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Event: Adult & Teen Challenge Motorcycle Ride for Eternity

Event: FINANCIAL LITERACY EVENT (Monday-Friday Schedule)

Calling all Manitoba Motorcycle Enthusiasts! Join us for a great day on the highways between Winnipeg, Winkler and Steinbach as we ride to raise awareness and funds to support the programs of Adult & Teen Challenge in Southern Manitoba.

With Two registration points to start at, riders can ride to as many or as few of the checkpoints as they choose, on their own route to a BBQ and wind up celebration at our Steinbach Men’s Centre starting at 2:00pm.

Fundraise & Be Entered to Win a 2002 Yamaha 650 V-STAR – For every $100 registered participants raise they will receive one entry to win

Sign up today at https://teenchallenge.tc/events/mb-motorcycle-ride/

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Teen model in Cebu accuses manager, events organizer of sexually abusing her

Teen model in Cebu accuses manager, events organizer of sexually abusing her

CEBU CITY – A teenage model in Cebu accused her former manager and an events organizer of sexually abusing her.

“Hannah” (not her real name) on Wednesday, June 29 filed charges against the two suspects for violation of Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

The charges were filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office of Mandaue City.

The Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) is assisting Hannah in the case identified the suspects as Wafer and Yosores.

“There is sufficient cause for us to believe that what there was connivance between Wafer and Yosores. All the circumstances point to the fact that Hannah was led to the lion’s den. She was in such situation where she can no longer resist an impending abuse. The prize dangled before her was a contract for a Bikini Open where Wafer was expected to get 50 percent of whatever she earns,” lawyer Kristine Marciana Laplana, legal officer of CLB, said in a statement.

The charges stemmed from an incident on September 2021 in a hotel in Mandaue where a supposed screening for a Bikini Open was set up by the manager but the model ended up being allegedly abused instead by the events organizer.

Hannah alleged that Wafer, her former manager, connived with the events organizer in setting her up to be sexually abused.

She narrated that in the evening of Sept. 13, 2021, Wafer called her to screen for a Bikini Open and was surprised to see Yosores, whom she said had made prior requests for hangouts which she turned down.

Hannah said her manager did not tell her whom she was meeting. She was not also informed that she was the only one to be screened in the supposed photo shoot.

According to Hannah, she wanted to back out but was unable to do so when Yosores set her up for a dinner. She was then led into his car and brought to a motel in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue where she was allegedly raped.

In a separate complaint for rape earlier filed by Hannah, she narrated that while inside one of the rooms, Yosores instructed her to wear swimsuit and flirt with him.

She said that he boasted of his other models competing for his attention. Hannah added that he promised her that he will give her money so her mother would no longer have to work hard, and that he would arrange for her to have “sugar daddies.”

CLB is assisting Hannah under its program Strength-Counter-Trafficking in Persons Project with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Partnership for Development Assistance (PDAP).

“This is not the first time that we learned that women and children are being lured into the glamour of the modeling and pageant world, only to be sexually abused and trafficked. We are glad that our client found the courage to pursue this case against her manager and the events organizer. She could have chosen to be silent, but she fought, not only for herself but also for others who were victimized by her perpetrators,” lawyer Noemi Truya-Abarientos, spokesperson of CLB, said.

 

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Teen arrested in Ontario after mass shooting threats made toward Florida LGBTQ event: police | CBC News

Teen arrested in Ontario after mass shooting threats made toward Florida LGBTQ event: police | CBC News

A teen has been arrested in Mississauga, Ont. after allegedly making online threats to commit a mass shooting at an LGBTQ pride event in West Palm Beach, Fla., authorities say.

The West Palm Beach Police Department said in a news release that a 17-year-old boy was arrested on Monday morning and charged with threats to commit a mass shooting. Additional charges are pending, they say, including: written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

The Miami Police Department received a report on Sunday of a threat made against the Pride on the Block 2022 event in West Palm Beach on the video chat platform Omegle, local police said.

Police say in the video, the teen was waving a gun, making anti-LGBTQ comments, and said he would be carrying out a mass shooting that day at the event. The teen also claimed to live in Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach police say.

Local police released images from the alleged video Sunday, in which the accused appears to be holding a gun. 

Rick Morris, deputy chief of West Palm Beach Police, told CBC News in an interview that it was a user on the chat platform who first flagged the possibility of danger to police.

“This was a perfect example of see something, say something,” Morris said.

Miami police then notified West Palm Beach police, who launched an investigation. 

The boy, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested Monday as a result of a joint international investigation between the New York Police Department, Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

No current public safety threat, police say

Morris said the accused in the case was arrested in Mississauga around 2 a.m. Monday. He said U.S. authorities plan to extradite the teen to face charges stateside, but it could take some time for that to happen.

Morris could not specify exactly how authorities traced the teen back to Canada, but he lauded police in both Toronto and Peel for their swift work on the case.

In a statement, Omegle said it “takes threats made on the platform very seriously,” adding that it helped law enforcement by providing information related to the user associated with the alleged threats.

Toronto police referred a CBC News request for more information to Peel police, saying Peel was “involved in the arrest.”

Peel police offered few other details, except to say that the “matter has been investigated and addressed, and there is no current concern of any public safety threat.”

Investigators have recovered both the video and the gun seen in it, West Palm Beach police said in its news release.

Event organizer Donna Weinberger told CBC News in an interview that police assured them the event would be safe — with a host of uniformed and non-uniformed officers in the crowd looking out for trouble.

“Their recommendation was to keep it going,” Weinberger said.

Debated cancelling event

Morris said police weighed the possibility of cancelling the event, but in the end, decided against it.

“”Even though the threat was taken very, very seriously, and [was] very credible, these threats come in — and at what point does law enforcement start disrupting everybody’s normal life over [threats]?” he said.

Julia Murphy, chief development officer for Compass Community Centre, which was a sponsor and community partner for the event, said she was “devastated” when she first found out about the threat.

“There’s a lot of fear — for your friends, your family, you want to feel safe. All of us do,” she said.

“To know that just for existing that somebody wants you to be dead, I don’t even know if anyone can process what the feeling is like. It’s devastating — and you’re talking about an entire community of people that just want to spread love and happiness and be their authentic selves.”

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Special events in our community

Special events in our community

Tuesday, March 22

• Spring Break! Classes resume for elementary, middle and secondary school students on April 4.

• Penticton Museum and Archives Brown Bag Lunch series featuring “The role of the public in cat and wildlife welfare,” presented by Anna Skurikhina, noon-1 p.m. at Penticton Public Library auditorium, suggested donation of $2

• Introduction to American Sign Language at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, 9-11 a.m., ages 13 and over, second of three sessions, registration is $50, call 778-718-5757 to register, presented by Okanagan School of the Arts

• Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, NewLINE Dance, Lev.1, 9 a.m.; Tuesday Lunch Special, $8, 11:30 a.m.; Improver Line Dance, 1 p.m.

• Okanagan School of the Arts presents Pre-Teen Improv Workshops at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, noon, call: 778-718-5757

• Penticton & District Community Arts Council presents “Aging Art and the Modern Elder” by the North Okanagan Chapter of Federation of Canadian Artists at The Leir House, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You may also view it online at: pentictonartscouncil.com

• “It’s a Colourful World,” featuring the works of Jenny Long at Summerland Community Arts Council, 95-25 Wharton Street in Summerland, weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Now on display at the Penticton Museum: “Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in B.C.” and “Penticton’s Built Heritage,” Tuesdays- Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Now playing at Landmark Cinemas 7: “The Batman” (PG, 176 minutes); “Death on the Nile,” (PG, 127 minutes); “Uncharted,” (PG, 116 minutes); “Spiderman: No Way Home,” (PG, 150 minutes); “Ella and the Little Sorcerer,” (G, 91 minutes); “The Outfit,” (PG, 105 minutes); “X”(PG, 105 minutes); “The Wolf and the Lion,” (PG, 99 minutes). For showtimes and to purchase tickets: landmarkcinemas.com/penticton

Wednesday, March 23

• Karaoke Star Search at The Barley Mill Pub, 8:30 p.m., qualifying round to advance to the semi-finals, win a gift card, qualifiers run every Wednesday until May 25

• The Slocan Ramblers perform at The Dream Cafe in support of their album, “Up The Hill And Through The Fog”, 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.

• Artists in Residence Exhibition at Penticton Arts Council, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, chair yoga, 9 a.m. (mat required), cribbage, 1 p.m.

• “One Little Thing,” a solo exhibition by Deb Tougas Little things make big things happen, The Leir House Cultural Centre, 220 Manor Park, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., show runs Wednesdays to Saturdays through April 30

• Okanagan School of the Arts presents Preschool Performers, Acting Workshop at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, 10-11 a.m., for details or to register: 778-718-5757

• Okanagan School of the Arts presents Pre-Teen Performers at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, 3:30-5 p.m., for details or to register: 778-718-5757

• Okanagan School of the Arts presents Showtime! Community Theatre Rehearsals at Penticton Elks Lodge, 7-10 p.m., for more details: 778-718-5757

• Men’s dart night at the Penticton Elks Lodge, 6:30 p.m.

• Introduction to American Sign Language at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, 9-11 a.m., ages 13 and over, third and final session, registration is $50, call 778-718-5757 to register, presented by Okanagan School of the Arts

Thursday, March 24

• Okanagan College Speakers Series presents Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie discussing his new book, “Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada’s and America’s Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People,” 7 p.m. at Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence, room 113, pre-registration required

• Magic with Ryan Michael at Time Winery, 6:30 p.m., $25, purchase: timewines.ca

• Open Mic at Clancy’s Pub, Grill & Pizza, beginning at 6:30 p.m., ages 19 and over

• Artists in Residence Exhibition at Penticton Arts Council, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre, carpet bowl, 10:15 a.m.; improver line dance, 1 p.m.

• Karaoke with DJ Skye at Slackwater Brewing Co., 6:30-9 p.m.

• Youth Pottery Classes at Artables, 432 Main Street, 3:30-5 p.m., presented by Okanagan School of the Arts, for details, phone: 778-718-5757

Friday, March 25

• Ignite the Arts Festival begins, first of 10 days, at various local venues. Square Mini Mural Unveiling, Cannery Brewing Co., 6-9 p.m., free, for full list of events visit: pentictonartgallery.com

• BCHL junior hockey, West Kelowna Warriors at Penticton Vees, 7 p.m. at South Okanagan Events Centre, for tickets: valleyfirstitx.ca

• Friday Night Live at Summerland Arts and Cultural Centre, 9525 Wharton Street, featuring Kyle Anderson, 7-9 p.m., $15, ages 19 and over, to purchase in advance: summerlandarts.com

• Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre Open 8 Ball Tournament, 9 a.m.; Mah Jong Int., 1 p.m.

• Discovery House presents “Soup is Good Food,” delivery or pickup, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., large orders must be placed in advance online before noon Wednesday at: discoveryhouserecovery.com/food or by phone at: 250-488-7736

• Thank You to All Our Front-Line Heroes Night at Penticton Elks Lodge, 5-9 p.m., free hot dogs and potato salad to all front line workers, acoustic jam session at 6:30 p.m.

• Fish and chips, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Karaoke with your host “Candie” at Royal Canadian Legion , 7:30 p.m.-close

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, Friday night dinner, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, March 26

• Ignite the Arts festival, Day 2, today’s events, all at Penticton Art Gallery, artist talk with Ari Neufeld, 1-1:45 p.m.; artist talk with Danielle Krysa, 2-2:45 p.m.; exhibition opening gale, 7-11 p.m.; a parade to nowhere, 6:30 p.m., meet at the orange bridge at Okanagan Lake Park to participate, for details on all events: pentictonartgallery.com

• Penticton Farmers Market is located at the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre (near the food court), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Gord McLaren performs at The Nest at the Cannery Trade Centre, along with special guests Troe Weston, Cain Critchlow, Anne Ramey and Meghan McLaren, 7 p.m., $15 cover, call to reserve at 250-493-7275

• Charity bottle drive, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at IGA in Summerland and Penticton in support of C-DART animal organization, BC-SPCA and Penticton Regional Hospital

• DIY Paper Lantern Workshop at Penticton Museum, 1-4 p.m., register online at pentictonmuseum.com or phone 250-490-2451

• Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre; chair dance,10 a.m.; EZ Line Dance, 11 a.m.

• Penticton Elks Lodge cribbage, 10 a.m., meat draw, 4 p.m., roast pork dinner, 5:30 p.m., music to follow at 6 p.m. with Still Thirsty

• Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, meat draw, 2 p.m.

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, burgers and fries, noon-4 p.m.

• Live music at Slackwater Brewing Co, 218 Martin Street, featuring Aidan Mayes, 6 p.m.

• Live music at Highway 97 Brewing Co., 6 p.m.

• Michael de Meng’s Dream Monsters Workshop at Penticton Arts Council, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., first of two days, total session: $250, call: 250-492-7997

Sunday, March 27

• The 94th Academy Awards, live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, 5 p.m. (PT, CTV, ABC).

• Ignite the Arts festival, today’s events: UnBox Project at The Dream Cafe,

1-2:45 p.m., free but you must pre-register; “Awakening: First Blossoms Spring Equinox” at the Cleland Theatre, 6:30 – 10 p.m., free but you must pre-register; a concert featuring Victoria Jeanig and Ullus Collective, Devyn Destinee, Mariel Belanger, Rich n Beka, The Melawmen Collective, Curtis Clearsky and the Constellationz’; to view details on events: pentictonartgallery.com, festival continues daily until Sunday, April 3

• BCHL junior hockey, Merritt Centennials at Penticton Vees, 4 p.m. at South Okanagan Events Centre, final game of the regular season, to purchase tickets: valleyfirstitx.ca

• Penticton Farmers Market is located at the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre (near the food court), 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Mat Duffus performs at Ye Olde Welcome Inn at Gallagher Lake, 4-7 p.m.

• Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, meat draw, 2 p.m., kitchen is open for lunch

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, Sunday afternoon meat draw, 4 p.m.

• Penticton Elks Lodge breakfast, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., meat draw and dog races, 2 p.m.

• Hot rockin’ bingo at the Barley Mill Brew Pub, 6:30-9 p.m.; charity meat draw supporting Pathways Addictions Centre, multiple chances to win, 1:30-3 p.m.

• Live music at the Cannery Brewing Co., featuring Justin Koshman, 5-7 p.m.

• Michael de Meng’s Dream Monsters Workshop at Penticton Arts Council, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., first of two days, total session: $250, call: 250-492-7997

Email your events: editor@pentictonherald.ca

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Stunning backflip as Russian teen cleared to compete

Aussie sledder Breeana Walker was rapt after finishing fifth at her first Olympics event, the women’s monobob discipline in Beijing.

Walker was previously a champion 400-metre hurdler, but injuries cruelled that career and she turned to the snow instead.

She was considered a medal chance in Beijing, but was happy with her performance despite no podium finish.

“I wanted to show people back at home and even people around the world that if you want something bad enough, you have just got to go out there and make it happen,” Walker told Channel 7.

“How hard has it been? It’s been hard but it is all worth it. I think back to four years ago, I was on the sidelines at the Olympics. And to be here and be fifth at the Olympics, at my first Olympic Games, my first highlight event where I’m actually a proper competitor, challenging the girls out there who I watched four years ago, like it is amazing. It is all worth the hard work and effort.

“I wanted to be standing here at these Olympics representing Australia, being a competitor, not just a participant. And I think I’ve kept that promise to myself, and I’m over the moon.”

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Superb skate by teen Schizas highlights Canada’s fourth place finish in team event

Superb skate by teen Schizas highlights Canada's fourth place finish in team event

BEIJING — A terrific Olympic debut by teenager Madeline Schizas highlighted Canada’s fourth place finish in figure skating’s team event at the Beijing Olympics.

Schizas, an 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., who only a year ago didn’t consider the Olympics in her near-future plans, was third in women’s singles event on Monday, following up a solid short program two days earlier.

Skating to Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” she was virtually flawless en route to scoring 132.04 points.

Russia’s Kamila Valieva scored 178.92 to win the women’s portion, while Kaori Sakamoto of Japan was second (148.66).

Russia won gold with 74 points from all events, while the U.S. took the silver with 65, and Japan won bronze (63).

The Canadians finished with 53 points to edge China (50).

Despite solid skates by reigning world ice dance bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier and pairs team Vanessa James and Eric Radford, a medal was already out of reach when the day began.

Gilles, from Toronto, and Poirier, from Unionville, Ont., were third in dance, scoring 124.39 for their free dance to Govardo’s cover of The Beatles ballad “The Long and Winding Road.”

Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates led the way with 129.07, while Russians Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov were second with 128.17.

James, from Toronto, and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., scored 130.07 to finish fourth with their pairs free program to Harry Styles’ “Falling.”

A day earlier, James collided with Italian Matteo Guarise. They were both skating backward when they crashed, Guarise almost coming over James’ back. James said both she and Guarise were bruised by the incident.

The Canadians are making their Olympic debut together. Radford won two world titles and Olympic bronze with Meagan Duhamel, but came out of retirement at age 36 last spring to skate with James, a Toronto native who previously competed for France.

Russia’s Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov led the way with 145.20 points, to keep Russia in the lead with 55 points. The U.S. and Japan are tied for second with 48, while Canada and China are out of the medal running with 37 each.

Canada began the day in fourth place, after an excellent women’s singles program by Schizas on Sunday clinched the Canadians a berth among the top-five countries that advanced to skate the free programs.

Canada captured silver when the team event made its Olympic debut in 2014 in Sochi. A team by ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and including world champions Patrick Chan, Kaitlyn Osmond, and Duhamel and Radford won gold four years ago in Pyeongchang.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2022.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press