INSIDER
DeSantis-controlled Disney World district abolishes diversity, equity initiatives
Read full article: DeSantis-controlled Disney World district abolishes diversity, equity initiativesDiversity, equity and inclusion programs have been abolished from Walt Disney World’s governing district, which is now controlled by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Disney’s efforts to neutralize governing district takeover
Read full article: Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Disney’s efforts to neutralize governing district takeoverA judge in Florida has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees against Disney’s efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by the Florida governor.
Construction expected to start next week on Ann Arbor park playground
Read full article: Construction expected to start next week on Ann Arbor park playgroundAnn Arbor Parks & Recreation announced that the park’s playground would be undergoing improvements and expansion construction starting the week of July 24.
Annie Park leads the Dana Open, with US Women's Open champion Allisen Corpuz tied for second
Read full article: Annie Park leads the Dana Open, with US Women's Open champion Allisen Corpuz tied for secondAnnie Park birdied seven of the last 10 holes Friday in the Dana Open for an 8-under 63 and a two-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz, Linn Grant and Jaravee Boonchant.
City of Ann Arbor wants resident feedback on public art projects at Gallup, Bandemer parks
Read full article: City of Ann Arbor wants resident feedback on public art projects at Gallup, Bandemer parksThe City of Ann Arbor wants to hear from community members about upcoming public art projects at two parks.
South Korea sets record with 22-2 rout of China at WBC
Read full article: South Korea sets record with 22-2 rout of China at WBCKunwoo Park and Ha-Seong Kim hit grand slams in consecutive innings, and South Korea set a World Baseball Classic scoring record with a 22-2 rout over China in a game between already eliminated teams.
Survey: Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park to get new pavilion but where should it go?
Read full article: Survey: Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park to get new pavilion but where should it go?Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation (Parks & Rec) is asking locals to help pick out the location of a new pavilion through an online community survey.
New park in Detroit neighborhood celebrates life, legacy of basketball legend Curtis Jones
Read full article: New park in Detroit neighborhood celebrates life, legacy of basketball legend Curtis JonesPeople living in a neighborhood on Detroit’s west side wanted a park. So they decided to do something about it.
Activist floats balloons again despite North Korea's warning
Read full article: Activist floats balloons again despite North Korea's warningAn activist says he has again flown huge balloons carrying COVID-19 relief items and an anti-North Korea placard across the tense inter-Korean border despite the North’s recent warning of a deadly attack over his activities.
New bridge at Tahquamenon Falls named after parks and rec chief of 17 years
Read full article: New bridge at Tahquamenon Falls named after parks and rec chief of 17 yearsThe newly opened pedestrian bridge connecting visitors to an island at the Lower Falls at Tahquamenon Falls State Park has been dedicated to the state’s longtime chief of parks and recreation.
SKorea ex-President Park, jailed for corruption, is pardoned
Read full article: SKorea ex-President Park, jailed for corruption, is pardonedSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in says he will pardon his chief conservative rival and predecessor, Park Geun-hye, who is serving a lengthy prison term for bribery and other crimes.
Michigan’s Pictured Rocks to begin charging 1st entrance fee in March
Read full article: Michigan’s Pictured Rocks to begin charging 1st entrance fee in MarchPictured Rocks National Lakeshore will soon begin charging visitors entrance fees for the first time in the 55-year history of the tourist destination in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Former state psychiatric buildings in Northville Township to be demolished
Read full article: Former state psychiatric buildings in Northville Township to be demolishedFormer state psychiatric buildings in Northville Township will be demolished to make room for a new park and outdoor recreational site.
A tour of the oldest integrated cemetery in Michigan
Read full article: A tour of the oldest integrated cemetery in MichiganWhile some may find cemeteries a bit spooky, they are often beautiful, peaceful places full of art and history. Elmwood Cemetery, located on Detroit’s east side, is no exception.
Here’s one place where you will surely want to cool off during the sizzling summer
Read full article: Here’s one place where you will surely want to cool off during the sizzling summerThere’s something so exciting about summertime. There are picnics, fun in the pools and splash pads, outdoor concerts, family reunions and more.
Spa killings prompt new proposals from Georgia Democrats
Read full article: Spa killings prompt new proposals from Georgia DemocratsPeople hold signs while participating in a "stop Asian hate" rally outside the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, March 20, 2021. Two other bills introduced by Democrats would increase communication between minority communities and law enforcement. One proposal would direct the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority to implement a statewide translation system for 911 calls. The other would direct the group that administers law enforcement training in Georgia to offer community response and proactive outreach training in languages other than English. AdDemocratic Sen. Sheikh Rahman is a Bangladeshi immigrant who was the first person of Asian descent elected to the Georgia state Senate.
Donations pour in for families of Atlanta shooting victims
Read full article: Donations pour in for families of Atlanta shooting victims(AP Photo/Ben Gray)Shortly after his mother was killed in the Atlanta-area shootings, Randy Park launched a GoFundMe page asking for $20,000 to pay for funeral expenses. For now, donors to victims of the Atlanta shootings must scour individual GoFundMe accounts. A page for Yong Yue’s family drew more than $115,000. AdPark's family was the first to launch a GoFundMe page. This is simply a change in my life,” Park wrote to the 70,000 people who had contributed as of Sunday afternoon.
Build a kid-friendly winter obstacle course inspired by U-M gardens, arboretum staff
Read full article: Build a kid-friendly winter obstacle course inspired by U-M gardens, arboretum staffTo help beat the winter blues, families are encouraged to venture outdoors to play, spend time together and get some fresh air. “In Gaffield Children’s Garden, we provide rich, open-ended nature play experiences. We encourage families to participate and replicate what we do here, in their own homes, apartments, and parks.”One such activity is constructing a winter obstacle course. They posted this obstacle course over the weekend:Anything can be used to construct the obstacle course -- snow balls, sticks, stumps and rope, to name a few items. Make sure you associate a mission with the course: “Let’s hop over three snowballs, circle the stump two times and sprint to the tree.”To see the full guide on creating a fun winter obstacle course, click here.
S. Korean court upholds prison term for ex-president Park
Read full article: S. Korean court upholds prison term for ex-president ParkFILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, arrives to attend a hearing on the extension of her detention at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea. South Koreas top court upheld 20-year prison term for Park over corruption on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. But the finalizing of her prison term also makes her eligible for a special presidential pardon, a looming possibility as the country’s deeply split electorate approaches the next presidential election in March 2022. Park originally faced a prison term of more than 30 years before the Supreme Court sent her cases back to a lower court in 2019. Prosecutors appealed after the Seoul High Court handed Park a 20-year term in July last year after merging the two cases.
6 rangers killed in latest attack at Congo's Virunga park
Read full article: 6 rangers killed in latest attack at Congo's Virunga parkFILE-In this Aug. 12, 2012 file photo, Park rangers patrol in the Virunga National Park near Rumangabo, some 60 kms (40 miles) north of Goma, eastern Congo. Gunmen have killed at least six rangers Sunday Jan. 10, 2021, in the Virunga National Park, the latest attack in the part of eastern Congo that is home to some of the world's last mountain gorillas, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay,file)KINSHASA – Gunmen have killed at least six rangers in Virunga National Park, the latest attack in the part of eastern Congo that is home to some of the world's last mountain gorillas, officials said Sunday. In April 2020, an ambush near the Virunga National Park killed 12 rangers and five civilians, and critically injured several others. More than 200 rangers have been killed since Virunga became a national park in 1925, officials say.
Here’s where you can drop off your Christmas tree in Ann Arbor
Read full article: Here’s where you can drop off your Christmas tree in Ann ArborANN ARBOR – Whether you’re the type that likes to get rid of your tree on Dec. 26 or keep it around for a few more weeks, the city of Ann Arbor provides an ample window for residents to discard Christmas trees. Christmas trees cannot be left out on the streets or discarded on extensions. Instead, the city provides four free drop off locations for Christmas trees from Dec. 14-Jan. 18, 2021. According to the city of Ann Arbor, the following locations at local parks will be open for Christmas tree drop offs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.:Southeast Area Park located on Ellsworth at Platt. For more information on Christmas tree disposal, winter composting or trash and recycling, visit www.a2gov.org/solidwaste.
Once vacant Village Park now open for residents on Detroit’s east side
Read full article: Once vacant Village Park now open for residents on Detroit’s east side“This park here means a lot to the young kids around here.”But for years, the Village Park on Georgia Street sat vacant. Saturday, the city of Detroit revealed the brand new Village Park -- with all of the bells and whistles -- to the community,“We got the walking path, we got the slide, the swings, the play escape. We have a basketball court so we can use this park for all ages,” said Councilman Scott Benson. Councilman Scott Benson said this is the first park in the South Portion of the 3rd District in more than 30 years. “This is a community, prioritized and designed and named park right here in the 3rd district,” said Benson.
They had 'dreams and plans': Detroit honors COVID-19 victims
Read full article: They had 'dreams and plans': Detroit honors COVID-19 victimsDETROIT – The city turned an island park into an extraordinary memorial garden Monday as cars packed with grieving families slowly traveled past hundreds of photos of Detroit residents who died from COVID-19. Mayor Mike Duggan declared a Detroit Memorial Day to honor the 1,500-plus city victims of the pandemic. Gretchen Whitmer said at Belle Isle. Cher Coner’s mother, Joyce, had died of sepsis, not COVID-19, but she couldn’t have a traditional funeral because of virus restrictions. He took it and ran with it,” said Coner, whose mother’s photo is on Belle Isle.
4 men shot at park on Detroit’s east side
Read full article: 4 men shot at park on Detroit’s east sideDETROIT – Police are investigating after four men were shot Monday night at a park on Detroit’s east side. Then, one of the victims got into a vehicle crash on the way to the hospital. The car crashed in the area of East 7 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue. The victims were at a hospital as of Tuesday morning and expected to recover. Anyone with information is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s 9th Precinct or Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP.
Party-goers trash skating park in southwest Detroit
Read full article: Party-goers trash skating park in southwest DetroitDETROIT Skateboarders are not fine with party-goers trashing a local park after a long weekend. The whole field basically filled with trash, said local skater Paolo Delapena. There were alcohol bottles and food boxes all over the skating park. Casem pointed out its not from the community that uses the park, but instead outsiders who have found a new hang out spot. While skaters are fine with sharing the park, they want visitors to do their part in keeping it clean.
Report: 3 Cedar Point employees test positive for coronavirus
Read full article: Report: 3 Cedar Point employees test positive for coronavirusThree employees at Cedar Point have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a report from FOX 8 in Cleveland. The park employees were screened, as required by state guidelines, prior to park opening and prior to reporting to their work locations, FOX 8 reports. Cedar Point opened to visitors last week for general admission reservations with safety precautions in place. Visitors have to undergo a health screening in addition to wearing masks while going on rides. Read: Cedar Point releases 2020 season opening plan: What to knowThe lines might appear longer since visitors are required to stand six feet apart.
Goats return to Ann Arbors Gallup Park to munch on invasive plants
Read full article: Goats return to Ann Arbors Gallup Park to munch on invasive plantsANN ARBOR Dont be alarmed if you see several goats grazing in Gallup Park over the next few weeks. Goats eat pretty much every green plant in sight, including invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle and even poison ivy -- dont worry, theyre not allergic. After last years successful pilot project, the goats from Twin Willow Ranch of Milan were brought back on Thursday to clear out invasive shrubbery and overgrowth. This is a great way to help promote native plants in our parks while, at the same time, decreasing the hours we spend on removing invasive brush," Parks and Recreation Maintenance Services Deputy Manager Scott Spooner said in a statement last season. Everything would have to be removed by cutting and pulling, and the goats enable us to use that labor in other ways."
Inclusive playground for children with disabilities opens in Oakland County
Read full article: Inclusive playground for children with disabilities opens in Oakland CountyCOMMERCE CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. For months, outdoor playground equipment has been closed due to coronavirus, but for some children, playgrounds have always been inaccessible. RELATED: Livonia reopens school playgrounds, Dog Park after Michigan stay home order liftedAn inclusive playground in Commerce Township is a project Detroit News personality Stephen Clark has spent years raising money to build. Clarks granddaughter uses a wheelchair and the new park is the largest ramped playground in the Midwest. Named after Clarks granddaughter, Scarlets Playground is groundbreaking for children with special needs. More information on Scarlets Playground can be found on its official website here.
Driver leaves tire tracks in Roseville home’s front yard
Read full article: Driver leaves tire tracks in Roseville home’s front yardROSEVILLE, Mich. – A family in Roseville woke up Sunday morning to find tire tracks from someone driving donuts in their front yard. A family member said they’re furious that someone would do that to the yard. “Over 50 years, we deserve some respect. Don’t you dare come over here and do this anymore.”She told Local 4 the family has to wait until spring in order to fix the damage. They’re planing to install security cameras and a fence to avoid similar incidents.
South Korea's young men are fighting back against feminism
Read full article: South Korea's young men are fighting back against feminismAs feminist issues come to the fore in deeply patriarchal South Korea, there's a growing discontent among young men that they're being left behind. With each court victory, the disquiet among men, especially young men, began to build. End of old masculinityFor 62 years, South Korean men have been forced to join the army. Despite the lack of political parties targeting young men, Moon Sung-ho, from Dang Dang We, is not discouraged. He points to how young men are struggling to buy their own homes, or even pay for dates.