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US

Police to implement checkpoints as 7 shot in downtown Orlando shooting

Police to implement checkpoints as 7 shot in downtown Orlando shooting

A new security plan is coming to downtown Orlando after a gunman who’s still on the loosely wounded seven people over the weekend.The shooting happened around 2 am Sunday while people were out at bars and restaurants on Wall Street Plaza and South Orange Avenue.A business owner and some people who often go downtown are shaken. While they are trying to hope for the best, they told WESH 2 the new controlled entry points coming to downtown soon don’t really make them any less worried about safety. Police said there was a fight on Sunday morning, and then someone started shooting, injuring seven people who are expected to recover. “Distressing as a business owner and as a GM you have employees here, you have customers here,” said Albatros Rexha, co-owner of Cucina Pizza & Bar. Rexha was out of town when his business partner frantically called him. “I mean it’s terrifying, especially with the false alarm that happened on Fourth of July that was one thing because I was here, but being that I wasn’t here and it was an actual shooting, it’s a lot more frightening because I like to at least try to take some responsibility and control,” Rexha said. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says people could see changes to downtown as soon as this coming weekend. “One of the measures that we’re going to be implementing immediately is expanding our control entry program,” Dyer said. It’s similar to what the city has tried out during holidays and big events. A map shows the six entry checkpoints that everyone has to walk through downtown on the weekends along Orange Avenue and Washington to Pine streets.The mayor says there’ll be more officers, K9s and a voluntary weapons screening.Those who do not have a concealed carry permit will have their weapons taken.”I mean, if I could make it a weapons-free zone, I would do that. But you know that the state legislature has taken the ability of cities to be able to regulate where guns can be taken into,” Dyer said.”To me, most of the people that do carry on things are concealed to carry, especially in Florida So it doesn’t really make me feel any other way,” resident Chelsea Walker said.”I feel like it’s going to at least determine a certain percentage of people which is all you can hope for is progress. You know you hope for progress, but you will never get 100 percent certainty of safety,” Rexha said. “It’s really rough out here man.” The shooter is still on the loose. Orlando police are still asking for the public’s help with the investigation. On Monday, the department posted a link where people can submit photos and videos.

A new security plan is coming to downtown Orlando after a gunman who’s still on the loosely wounded seven people over the weekend.

The shooting happened around 2 am Sunday while people were out at bars and restaurants on Wall Street Plaza and South Orange Avenue.

A business owner and some people who often go downtown are shaken.

While they are trying to hope for the best, they told WESH 2 the new controlled entry points coming to downtown soon don’t really make them any less worried about safety.

Police said there was a fight on Sunday morning, and then someone started shooting, injuring seven people who are expected to recover.

“Distressing as a business owner and as a GM you have employees here, you have customers here,” said Albatros Rexha, co-owner of Cucina Pizza & Bar.

Rexha was out of town when his business partner frankly called him.

“I mean it’s terrifying, especially with the false alarm that happened on Fourth of July that was one thing because I was here, but being that I wasn’t here and it was an actual shooting, it’s a lot more frightening because I like to at least try to take some responsibility and control,” Rexha said.

Greater Orlando Buddy Dyer says people could see changes to downtown as soon as this coming weekend.

“One of the measures that we’re going to be implementing immediately is expanding our control entry program,” Dyer said.

It’s similar to what the city has tried out during holidays and big events.

A map shows the six entry checkpoints that everyone has to walk through downtown on the weekends along Orange Avenue and Washington to Pine streets.

The mayor says there’ll be more officers, K9s and a voluntary weapons screening.

Those who do not have a concealed carry permit will have their weapons taken.

“I mean, if I could make it a weapons-free zone, I would do that. But you know that the state legislature has taken the ability of cities to be able to regulate where guns can be taken,” Dyer said.

“To me, most of the people that do carry on things are concealed to carry, especially in Florida. So it doesn’t really make me feel any other way,” resident Chelsea Walker said.

“I feel like it’s going to at least determine a certain percentage of people which is all you can hope for is progress. You know you hope for progress, but you will never get 100 percent certainty of safety,” Rexha said. “It’s really rough out here man.”

The shooter is still on the loose. Orlando police are still asking for the public’s help with the investigation. On Monday, the department posted a link where people can submit photos and videos.

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Categories
Business

Real estate agency sprung “bragging” about a $225 per week price hike

A property company has been exposed celebrating a $225 per week rental price rise as an “achievement”.

A renter shared a screenshot of an email update from national real estate management firm Ironfish, sharing its numbers for June.

“Achievement in June: Biggest rent increase – $225 per week,” the flyer said.

Below the details is a photo of kids pillow fighting on a bed.

The user posted the email to Reddit with the comment: “My rent just went up $400 a month and the agency sent me an email bragging about it…”

READMORE: The “aggressive” number that exposes Australia’s rental crisis

Rental crisis property tenant Reddit
The full screenshot on Reddit, by a user who identified themselves as a tenant. (reddit)

The email also told recipients the average weekly rental increase is almost $100 a week, and revealed comparative increases in asking prices: “July 2021 to December 2021: $393. January 2022 to June 2022: $460”.

The Reddit thread exploded in response.

“Landlord here, it’s not justified. It shouldn’t even be legal to increase the rent that much for the same tenant. Different if new tenants come in but that’s an outrageous amount,” one user commented.

Another said: “I have been a landlord for a couple of years, and will not be putting up the rent (to the annoyance of the Real Estate Management company) – tenants have been there 12 years and keep the place immaculate, always pay on time. They got young kids, both working in low paid jobs, doing the best they can.”‘

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One tenant called the email “cringe” and a landlord remarked: “I received the same email and had the same disgusted feeling, and I’m an owner (just not with them).”

Ironfish has been contacted by Nine for comment.

Data from large national real estate agency Ray White shows that advertised rental prices have increased by almost 14 per cent, outpacing CPI rental price rises of 1.6 per cent.

At the same time, the national vacancy rate this month has tightened to a record level of less than 1 per cent, according to Domain.

A lack of listings has increased competition, and rising interest rates – with costs being passed on by landlords to tenants – plus inflation, has continued to squeeze the rental market to a crisis point.

Categories
Sports

Dominic Perrottet, Peter V’landys go head to head as NSW government scraps suburban ground investment

Dominic Perrottet, Peter V'landys go head to head as NSW government scraps suburban ground investment

“I assume if the state government is to backflip on its commitment to fund suburban stadiums, then the $300 million committed to the Penrith stadium can now be better utilized for schools and hospitals? It would be outrageous for Penrith to retain its stadium for the obvious political benefit of its local member. These are public funds and should be managed for the benefit of the public. This government has enough issues to deal with without creating more for itself.”

Cronulla had been told they would receive between $100m to $130m for the upgrade of their venue.

“All indications to date have been positive discussions around PointsBet Stadium and the confidence around getting the funding for the very reasons the Sharks managed to demonstrate,” Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta told the herald.

“We’re No.1 in many areas, particularly around participation. Having just taken a women’s license as well, we now can’t host double-headers.

“This money was critical for the sustainability of the club long term to be able to host not only double-headers but home semi-finals as well.”

Ayres, speaking at the announcement of a community open day for Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium, conceded the government’s spending priorities had changed and that the state may need to “wait a little bit longer” for further stadium upgrades.

“We’ve got a long track record of [stadia investment],” Ayres said.

Suncorp Stadium last year hosted the first NRL grand final ever held outside Sydney.

Suncorp Stadium last year hosted the first NRL grand final ever held outside Sydney.Credit:Getty

“We also know we have limitations on what we can do. We have continued our engagement with the NRL, we want to be able to upgrade suburban infrastructure, but we want to be able to do that when the fiscal capacity for the state allows for it.

“Let’s recognize that we have just been through some of the most significant floods and consistent flooding over the last couple of years. So there are lots of costs that are associated with it. We will continue to talk with the NRL around the things we can afford to do. But we have got priorities and we’ve got to stick to those … It might just mean we have to wait a little bit longer before we can spend additional money on [stadium upgrades].”

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Asked about the prospect of the NRL taking the grand final interstate because the government didn’t deliver on its promises, Ayres said: “If the NRL took the grand final from Sydney, after the NSW government has spent in excess of $1.5 billion on sporting infrastructure that massively benefits the NRL … if the NRL walked away from the home of its sport here in NSW, the state where the grand final has always been played in with the exception of the COVID grand final from last year, that would be an extraordinary move.

“I’m very confident that the NRL will keep the grand finale here in NSW. They know it is the right thing to do. They know they have had an exceptional partner in the NSW government, but there are limitations to what governments can do.

“I think we will continue a very good working relationship with the NRL to have the best events in NSW.”

Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.

Categories
Australia

Hollywood actor Dev Patel spotted at scene of Adelaide stabbing

Hollywood actor Dev Patel spotted at scene of Adelaide stabbing

Hollywood actor Dev Patel has been spotted at the scene of a stabbing in Adelaide’s CBD.

Patel, known for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, and who lives in Adelaide with his Australian girlfriend, was captured by 7NEWS cameras speaking with police after witnessing the incident on Gouger Street just after 8.45pm on Monday.

Emergency services had been called to the area following reports of a man and woman fighting in the street.

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The couple continued fighting inside a nearby service station where witnesses attempted to break up the fight.

The woman then allegedly stabbed the man in the chest.

Actor Dev Patel is seen talking with police after the incident. Credit: 7NEWS
Police attend the incident in Gouger Street. Credit: 7NEWS

A 32-year-old Glengowrie man was treated at the scene by ambulance officers before being taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

His injuries are not considered life-threatening. The 34-year-old woman from Park Holme was arrested at the scene.

The pair are known to each other, with South Australia Police saying the incident was not random.

The woman was charged with aggravated assault causing harm and has been refused bail.

She was to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Cast Armie Hammer, Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel during a media call ahead of the Hotel Mumbai Australian Premiere on October 10, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. Credit: James Elsby/Getty Images

Patel’s girlfriend, Adelaide-born actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey, starred alongside him in his 2018 film Hotel Mumbai.

Princess Charlotte speaks in rare family video.

Princess Charlotte speaks in rare family video.

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Categories
US

Top lawmakers renew call for DHS IG to step aside from investigation into missing texts, citing CNN reporting

Top lawmakers renew call for DHS IG to step aside from investigation into missing texts, citing CNN reporting

House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson reiterated their call for Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to step aside in a letter on Monday, citing concerns about “your lack of transparency and independence, which appear to be jeopardizing the integrity of a crucial investigation run by your office.”

Maloney and Thompson also are demanding transcribed interviews with key DHS IG staffers. CNN first reported that DHS inspector general investigators dropped efforts to recover missing Secret Service text messages in July 2021, a year before Cuffari raised concerns about Secret Service and DHS transparency to congressional oversight committees.

“The Committees have obtained new evidence that your office may have secretly abandoned efforts to collect text messages from the Secret Service more than a year ago,” the letter said. “These documents also indicate that your office may have taken steps to cover up the extent of missing records, raising further concerns about your ability to independently and effectively perform your duties as Inspector General (IG).”

The committees are requesting a slate of communications and documents by Monday, ranging from correspondence related to any decisions not to collect or recover text messages to communications related to notifying Congress.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, on Monday reiterated his call for the Justice Department to investigate the missing text messages.

“This is about the destruction of critical evidence, whether it’s material to the January 6 episode or not. The fact that this man, Joseph Cuffari, as inspector general, could not get the information that should have been transferred from administration to the other and didn’t report it properly to Congress or to the agency that he’s working at, we may have jeopardized some very critical evidence when it comes to the historic record on January 6 and he treated it as almost a routine event rather than something that should have been highlighted,” Durbin told CNN’s Don Lemon.

In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General said it “does not discuss ongoing administrative reviews and does not confirm the existence of, or otherwise comment about criminal investigations.”

Watchdog defends himself

However, in an internal email to obtained employees by the Project on Government Oversight and shared with CNN, Cuffari defended himself and commended them for their work amid an “onslaught of meritless criticism.”

“In the past couple of weeks, DHS OIG has been the subject of a tremendous amount of public speculation,” Cuffari told staff in an email obtained by the Project on Government Oversight and shared with CNN.

“Because of US Attorney General guidelines and quality standards, we cannot always publicly respond to untruths and false information about our work,” he wrote. “I am so proud of the resilience I have witnessed in the face of this onslaught of meritless criticism.”

The email, sent at 2:28 pm Monday, arrived shortly before key House Democrats accused Cuffari’s office of manipulating and omitting information about its investigation into missing Secret Service and top DHS officials’ text messages.

The letter shows a DHS deputy inspector general, Thomas Kait, wrote an email to a DHS senior liaison, Jim Crumpacker, on July 27, 2021, advising DHS investigators were no longer seeking text messages. Kait is one of the staffers the committee wants to interview now.

“Jim, please use this email as a reference to our conversation where I said we no longer request phone records and text messages from the USSS [United States Secret Service] relating to the events on January 6th,” the email said, according to the letter.

The letter also confirms CNN reporting that the probe into text messages was reopened in December 2021.

Lawmakers said in Monday’s letter that Kait also removed “key language” from a February memo to DHS underscoring the significance of text messages to the inspector general’s investigation. The original memo mentioned that most DHS components had not provided requested information and noted text message content is a “critical source of information for the DHS OIG review,” but the final version stated the opposite, saying that they had received responses, according to the letter.

“These documents raise troubling new concerns that your office not only failed to notify Congress for more than a year that critical evidence in this investigation was missing, but your senior staff deliberately chose not to pursue that evidence and then appear to have taken steps to cover up these failures,” the letter states.

It goes on to cite missing text messages for the two top Homeland Security officials under former President Donald Trump — acting Secretary Chad Wolf and acting deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli. Information obtained by the committee revealed that the inspector general’s office was aware in February that those messages couldn’t be accessed but didn’t notify Congress. CNN has reached out to Cuccinelli for comment.

Latest twist in saga

Monday’s letter is yet another twist in the ongoing saga over missing messages around January 6. Memos obtained by CNN indicate that the Department of Homeland Security repeatedly reminded the workforce to comply with the inspector general and relevant Hill committees.

After the Office of Inspector General raised concerns to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about compliance with requests, the secretary issued a September 2021 memo to the workforce saying that employees should cooperate with interviews and provide information.

“The Department is committed to supporting the OIG’s mission. DHS employees are expected to cooperate with OIG audits, inspections, investigations, and other inquiries. Any effort to conceal information or obstruct the OIG in carrying out its critical work is against Department directives and can lead to serious consequences,” the memo says.

Then, in October 2021, DHS General Counsel Jonathan Meyer issued a memo specific to January 6, 2021, and saying the office was cooperating with the House select committee investigating the Capitol Hill insurrection.

“I am therefore directing the Department and its Components to respond to any Select Committee requests it receives expeditiously and thoroughly,” that memo states. “Such cooperation and transparency are vital to the Department’s obligation to safeguard our Nation and its foundational democratic principles.”

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Categories
Business

Rental properties Australia: How much rent has increased in your suburb

Rental properties Australia: How much rent has increased in your suburb

Renters are suffering from “ridiculous” rent hikes due to a chronic housing shortage, as city-dwellers flood regional markets and landlords flip rental properties to short-term housing to accommodate an influx of tourists.

Suburb-level analysis collected by PropTrack exclusively for The Oz revealed Killcare Heights on the central coast of NSW experienced the greatest rent increase over the past 12 months at 72.6 per cent, followed by Rainbow Beach on Queensland’s south coast (72.5 per cent) and Stahan in western Tasmania (68.4 per cent).

Killcare Ray White agent Sue Rallis said some local properties have risen from $700 to $1500 a week since the pandemic began, due to Sydneysiders making the most of a Covid-induced at-home lifestyle and moving into regional areas.

“People are happy to come out of the cities and move regionally, which has pushed up the rent over the last year or two,” she said.

“It’s been hard for the locals. They have been living in an area that a lot of people didn’t want to live in, and have been paying quite low rents there over the years. Now it’s very difficult for the locals to afford some of the rents.”

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Median weekly rental prices in June were up 7 per cent on the same month last year, marking the strongest annual rental growth recorded since before 2015. Rising prices have been felt the most regionally, where they increased 11.4 per cent year-on-year to June, compared to 4.4 per cent in the capital cities.

This came as the total supply of rentals dropped 27.7 per cent below its decade average.

PropTrack director of economic research Cameron Kusher said a devastating lack of supply has driven prices upwards, as fewer owners put their second properties up for rent.

“A lot of people who have bought quote unquote ‘investment properties’ aren’t necessarily buying them to make them available for rent, they’re buying them as second homes,” he said. “You’ve also got the added pressure now that domestic and international travel is back that the supply of rental stock is spinning out because people are putting their properties into short term rental accommodation, rather than long term.”

Mr Kusher said rental growth in inner-city areas has been “pretty weak” over the past two years as tenants stayed put, but has suddenly increased over the past six months after long term lockdowns ended.

“We have seen again in Sydney and Melbourne in those inner and middle ring markets in the apartment markets in particular, it has been very hard to rent out a property over the last few years,” he said.

“So, a lot of people sold out of their investment properties, and we haven’t seen a lot of developers building new one and two bedroom apartments. Therefore, we haven’t had that increase in supply we needed to keep up with demand.”

When renewing her lease last month, Leane Van Essen’s landlord requested the rent go from $450 to $550 a week for a one-bedroom apartment in North Sydney.

Unable to afford the “ridiculous” 22 per cent increase, the 29-year-old was given 60 days to find a new apartment.

“I had to find a new place super quickly, but then I got Covid and couldn’t go look at apartments, which was incredibly stressful,” she said. “They kept calling me, trying to rush me out, even though I still had my 60 days.”

Eventually, Ms Van Essen was forced to find a stranger online to move in with, settling in a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Mascot for $750 a week.

Similarly, Ellen Mezger, 25, was asked to bump up her rent for a two-bedder in Sydney’s Waterloo from $620 to $800 a week when her lease expired this month.

She said “a lot of sacrifices”, including giving up her gym membership, would have to be made if the rent increased that much.

Kusher said it would be a while before rent costs dropped again as landlords feel the increasing burden of skyrocketing interest rates, and pass them onto their tenants.

“Landlords will be trying to pass on as much of those increased costs as they can to their renters, so that’s something that renters are going to be facing,” he said.

“Obviously, for renters, there’s quite a lot of incentives to try and buy your first home. The government’s got a Shared Equity scheme, they’ve got a low deposit scheme in NSW from January next year, you’re going to be given the option to pay land tax as opposed to stamp duty. At some point, people will look at it and go, you know, I can be slugged with higher rates every six months, or maybe it’s time to take up one or two of these schemes and buy.”

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Categories
Sports

Chris Fagan speaks on Alastair Clarkson whispers, Brisbane Lions coach, handover, latest

Chris Fagan speaks on Alastair Clarkson whispers, Brisbane Lions coach, handover, latest

Brisbane Lions boss Chris Fagan has downplayed rumors he could hand over the reins to free agent coaching great Alastair Clarkson at season’s end.

There was some talk last month about a possible handover from Fagan to Clarkson for 2023 as the latter weighs up a returns to the coaches box, having recently met with GWS and North Melbourne about their openings.

The pair have previously worked together closely when Fagan was Hawthorn’s footy boss during its golden era including winning four premierships from 2008-2015 while Clarkson was coach.

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Asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 if he’d made “private plans to hand the job over to an old colleague,” Fagan responded with a laugh:“It’s not my job to hand over in the first place … is not the firm answer to that question.”

Fagan said he was unconditionally committed to coaching Brisbane next year.

“I’ve got a contract for next year and hopefully the team can continue to do well and the club is keen to keep me for a while longer,” he said.

“I love coaching the Lions and that’s what I’ll be doing next year unless someone knows something I don’t know.”

It comes after some pundits have put a line through Brisbane’s premiership chances after its second-half fade out loss to Richmond on Sunday that saw the Lions fall down to fifth position on the ladder.

But Fagan insisted the club wasn’t listening to the outside noise as it stays focused on its final three home and away matches against Carlton, St Kilda and Melbourne.

“I understand people want to comment on the game and they’ve got to have strong opinions, because that’s why people want to watch and listen to media,” the Lions boss said.

Clarkson and Fagan at Hawthorn (Picture: Colleen Petch)Source: News Corp Australia

“But we can’t get caught up in that. This time last year we had to win our last three games to finish in the top four and even that wasn’t guaranteed… you just take each win as it comes.

“It’s a really tough and tight competition. If we can get back to our really best form, which we showed a strong glimpse of (against Richmond) in the first half, then there’s no reason why we can’t be really competitive come September.

“We’re not a perfect team, we’ve got strengths and weaknesses like every other team. But when we play at our best we’re pretty hard to beat.”

A key criticism towards Brisbane’s fading flag prospects has been its leaky defence.

Since Round 10 the Lions rank 16th in the competition in the most points conceded, 18th in most points conceded from their defensive half and have been the 15th easiest team to score against once the ball is inside 50.

Fagan said sharpening their defense has been the “main focus” at training over the last six weeks, but also highlighted the club’s inconsistent personnel down back due to injury.

“It’s a work in progress for us, we have had a fair turnover of players particularly in our backline since the Melbourne game (in Round 15),” he said.

“I think we’ve had 14 different players down there play for various reasons, not that defense is just about the backline, but we haven’t had a lot of continuity with our boys.

“Hopefully we can build that back up over the next few weeks and have the same seven or eight players playing there each week.”

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Categories
Australia

Michael Gunner’s office broken into in ‘personal’ attack days after resignation

Michael Gunner's office broken into in 'personal' attack days after resignation

The Northern Territory’s former chief minister Michael Gunner’s electorate office has been broken into days after he quit politics, in what he has described as the latest in a series of “personal” attacks.

According to NT Police, a 47-year-old man was arrested over the alleged unlawful entry and criminal damage of Mr Gunner’s office in the Darwin suburb of Parap.

Police received reports just after 4am this morning that a man had broken in and caused “extensive damage”.

“It was a very personal break in targeting photos of me and items of personal importance to me,” Mr Gunner — who stood down from his role as Member for Fannie Bay last week — said in a social media post.

“We’ll take advice from the police on what our next steps may need to be to keep my family safe.”

A broken window pane with posters attached to it leans against a metal pole.
A 47-year-old man is expected to be charged over the break-in. (ABC News: Janus Gibson)

Mr Gunner said the break-in was the latest in a series of targeted incidents against him.

“This appears to be a continuation of behavior from a range of fixed individuals that has seen a number of incidents not limited to my family abused, filmed and our personal address revealed,” he said.

The alleged offender was arrested a short time after the break-in, with charges expected to be laid later today.

A man in a navy suit with blue tie speaking at a lecture, two seated people watching in background
Michael Gunner believes a break-in at his electorate office was a ‘personal’ attack. (ABC New: Che Chorley)

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles also described the incident as a personal attack.

“Michael put his hand up and served our community for 14 years, he deserves now to have the opportunity to spend time with his family and feel safe in doing so,” she said.

“Sadly it’s something [safety] that all of us as members of parliament do consider.”

By-choice race heats up

Mr Gunner announced his resignation from politics in a speech to parliament last week, sparking a by-election in the seat of Fannie Bay, which has been held by several former chief ministers.

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Categories
US

Kentucky flooding: Man rescues 5 children and 2 of his former school teachers from flooded homes

Kentucky flooding: Man rescues 5 children and 2 of his former school teachers from flooded homes

Day, a former coal miner who lives in Hindman, Knott County, said he was unaware of what was happening in the region until he received the message saying the children needed help getting out of their house.

“I didn’t know what they were talking about, then I went outside,” Day told CNN. “You heard a lot of people screaming and begging for anyone to help.”

That day, Eastern Kentucky saw flooding that officials have called unprecedented, with entire houses and bridges swept away and isolated communities because of flooded roads. At least 35 people have died in the flooding, and many who survived lost everything they had. Hundreds of people are still missing.

Day and his wife, Krystal, had no boat, so they waded through the water to help save the five children and two mothers who were stuck on the roof of their home.

“At 3 o’clock in the morning, I was in that water with my wife. I put a child under each arm and one around my neck and took them back to my house. The oldest child was holding a small dog,” Day said.

After Day and his wife rescued the children and the two women, he set his sights on rescuing his former high school English teacher, Ella Prater, and his second grade teacher, Irma Gayheart, who both lived nearby.

“I just kept pacing back and forth because I saw the water rising and I knew my two former teachers were probably trapped in their houses,” Day said. “It was heartbreaking.”

He then listed the help of three other neighbors to help check on his teachers, who both live alone, according to Day.

When they saw Prater, Day said they held her “by both side of her arms and never looked back. We said, ‘We have to go.'”

It took Gayheart a few minutes to answer the door, but when she did, she told him she was okay, but had been sitting on her kitchen counter top watching the water rise.

Unidentified man saves grandmother and her relatives as their home is nearly swallowed by Kentucky floodwaters

“I wasn’t going to leave her there because she’s a special lady to me. You could tell by looking at her face that she was drained,” Day said. “She spent the night on the kitchen counter top and the water was up by the counter top.”

With the help of his neighbors, Day was able to reunite both teachers with their families, who were waiting for any updates about their whereabouts.

“These are two of the most special women you’ll meet in your life, and when they show you love, they show you true love. They truly care about everyone that’s around them and that stuck with me my whole life,” Day said when explaining why he risked his life to rescue his teachers.

The ordeal has been emotionally draining, but he’s glad the children and former teachers are safe, Day told CNN.

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Categories
Business

Aldi voted Australia’s favorite supermarket amid cost of living pinch

Aldi has come out on top as Australia’s best-rated supermarket as the retailer battles to keep prices low amid surging inflation.

Cantar Blue surveyed more than 2,500 shoppers about the nation’s biggest supermarkets, with Aldi ranking five stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, the freshness of produce, quality of supermarket-owned branded products and its deals and specials.

It is the fifth year in a row Aldi has ranked first.

Aldi has been crowned Australia’s number one supermarket in the Canstar Blue ratings. (Supplied)

All of the major supermarkets in Australia are facing a rise in the cost of everyday items as inflation skyrockets around the globe, and recent weather events in Australia cause shortages of certain products like lettuce.

In the June quarter, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose two per cent while in the past year prices have climbed 5.9 per cent.

Aldi director of customer interactions Adrian Christie said the franchise is committed to supplying the cheapest products in comparison to the other supermarket giants.

“We remain 100 per cent committed to keeping our prices the most affordable in the market,” Christie said.

“That’s keeping a gap to the competition between 15 to 25 per cent which for families that is real savings.”

Aldi Australia
Aldi has promised to keep prices low as inflation hits household budgets. (9News)

Canstar Blue editor-in-chief Christine Seib said value for money is the number one priority for Australian families right now.

“It is really clear from our survey that the value for money factor is all important right now for shoppers,” she said.

“More than half of shoppers follow carefully what specials are available at the supermarket.”

Canstar Blue supermarket ratings 2022
How the major supermarkets ranked in the Canstar Blue awards. (Sing Blue)

For the other major supermarkets, Woolworths tied with Aldi for layout and presentation with five stars but received the top mark for product variety.

While IGA was strong in customer service with five stars but was marked down in areas including overall satisfaction, value for money, layout and presentation as well as deals and specials.

On overall satisfaction, both Coles and Woolworths failed to crack the five stars.

If you're browsing second-hand sites and see a deal that's too good to be true, think twice. Scamwatch has issued a warning on social media, posting a fake ad selling a $10 'antique piano' to illustrate.

Aussies warned about fresh scam on second-hand sites