Illinois

Illinois man trapped in Turnagain Arm mud dies near Hope

Published

1 year ago

May 23, 2023

Press Room

Illinois man trapped in Turnagain Arm mud dies near Hope

A section of coastal area near Hope, as seen from the Gull Rock Trail in 2020. (Tegan Hanlon/Alaska Public Media)

A 20-year-old Illinois man trapped in Turnagain Arm mud near Hope died Sunday, Alaska State Troopers said.

According to a dispatch posted Monday morning, word reached troopers just before 6 p.m. that Zachary Porter was stuck in the tidal mud flats. Troopers, as well as Hope and Girdwood firefighters, responded to the call.

“Rescue efforts were unsuccessful, and (Porter) died at approximately 6:43 p.m. after being submerged by the incoming tide,” the dispatch said. It said rescue teams recovered Porter’s body around 6 a.m. Monday.

Troopers were gathering further details on the call Monday morning. Firefighters didn’t immediately return calls requesting additional information.

Quicksand-like mud along the arm can rapidly trap unsuspecting beachgoers, and sporadic cell phone reception can keep people from calling 911.

Porter’s death comes two weeks after fire crews saved a hooligan fisherman from the mud near the mouth of the Twentymile River. Firefighters also saved a surveyor trapped up to his waist near Tidewater Slough in November. Both rescues involved the use of a special tool, which can inject air and water into the mud around a person.

Responders have urged people to travel in groups on the mud, so someone can go for help if a member of the group gets stuck, and avoid remaining in one spot for long.

Source link

Click to comment

Illinois

Illinois’ Luke Altmyer And Pat Bryant Being On Same Page Paying Off This Season

Published

7 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Press Room

Illinois’ Luke Altmyer And Pat Bryant Being On Same Page Paying Off This Season

There is no need to ask Illinois receiver Pat Bryant why he is off to a fast start this season.

He says this has been in the makings since January.

That’s when he started spending more time with quarterback Luke Altmyer. Their developed chemistry is playing a role in the Illini’s 3-0 start.

“It’s just the work that we put in over the summer,” Bryant said. “Like coach [Bret Bieleman] said, going back to January, we’ve been working since then. Once we get on the field, it’s easy.”

Bryant has 15 receptions for 235 yards and four touchdowns this season. He had two scores in Saturday’s victory against Central Michigan.

Bryant also said it’s helped playing alongside receiver Zakhari Franklin, who transferred from Ole Miss during the offseason.

“You’ve got two great receivers on both sides of the field,” Bryant said. “It’s kind of hard to shade one side and leave another side open.”

ILLINI BACK IN THE RANKINGS

There is even more reason for buzz on the Illinois campus this week.

On Sunday, the Fighting Illini appeared at No. 24 in the Top 25. It is their first appearance since 2022. The Illini are 3-0 for the first time since 2011 after defeating Central Michigan. They also have wins over Kansas and Eastern Illinois.

Bielema said the team refuses to get overconfident because there is so much more to accomplish.

“We’ll turn the page very quickly,” Bielema said. “I’m super excited. I know the outside world thinks we’re 3-0 but we’re going to try to go 1-0 every week.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

Follow our coverage on Facebook

X: @IlliniNowOnSI

Source link

Illinois

Our Chicago: Increasing diversity in Illinois' adult use cannabis industry

Published

14 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Press Room

Our Chicago: Increasing diversity in Illinois' adult use cannabis industry

CHICAGO (WLS) — On January 1, 2020, recreational consumption, possession, and sales of cannabis products became legal in the State of Illinois.

In July, a study by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office found that 60% of all cannabis business licenses went to minority or women-owned businesses.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

When broken down by race, 27% are majority Black owners, 5% are Latino, 3% are Asian and 14% are a mixed coalition.

However, not one dollar of sales was documented going to Black or Brown owners when the study ended in 2023. Instead, white male owners took in 78% of recreational dispensary sales and 91% of grower sales.

Here’s what experts say can be done to increase diversity in Illinois’ adult use cannabis industry.

Cannabis advocate and license holder Lisbeth Vargas Jaimes says some restrictions need to be loosened.

“Unlike other states like California who allow for customer delivery and sale on consignment, transporter license holders here, like myself, can only transport from business to business,” Vargas Jaimes said. “So, if we want this market to be expandable and diverse and equitable for Black and Brown communities, we need to ensure that the license types that are available allow us to thrive.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Melendez thinks education is another way to get more people of color involved in the cannabis industry. He is the Cannabis Studies Program director coordinator at Wilbur Wright College. The school is licensed to have a cannabis curriculum.

“What these classes offer are on-demand skills by people who are in the industry,” Melendez said.

Source link