Abril Elfi Archives - Long Island, NY

Taiwan Lawmakers Descend Into Brawl

Abril Elfi — Sat, 18 May 2024 21:55:20 +0000

TOPSHOT-TAIWAN-POLITICS-PARLIAMENT
TOPSHOT – Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Kuo Kuo Wen (C) tries jumping onto the desk during the voting for the Parliament reform bill at Parliament in Taipei on May 17, 2024. (Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP) (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
2:56 PM – Saturday, May 18, 2024

Members of the Taiwanese parliament broke into a brawl after a member attempted to steal a bill to prevent it from being passed.

Video footage from the altercation seemed to show lawmakers stumbling over one another and falling on their heads, as well as punches being thrown and the chamber curtain being torn.

NEW: Massive fight breaks out in Taiwanese parliament over chamber reforms, days before president-elect Lai Ching-te is set to take office

MPs were seen fighting, pushing & kicking each other with some members jumping over tables.

The MPs fought in the morning and then returned… pic.twitter.com/cG6sYOP2H5

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 17, 2024

The altercation occurred just a few days before Lai Ching-te, the nation’s newly elected president, is scheduled to assume office on Monday as the minority leader of his party.

Lawmakers were also observed shoving and tackling one another, as well as leaping over tables.

The primary opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has been cooperating with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to counter the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which was recently voted out of power in parliament but recently elected a new president.

After winning the election in January, Lai Ching-te is scheduled to take office on Monday.

The DPP claims the groups are trying to push certain proposals through without following the proper consultation process.

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N.Y.C: DOE Employees Mother And Son Scam School For Kids With Disabilities

Abril Elfi — Sat, 18 May 2024 17:50:27 +0000

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
10:51 AM – Saturday, May 18, 2024

Investigators discovered that a mother-and-son team working for the city Department of Education (DOE) has scammed a public school for disabled children in Manhattan out of almost $8,500.

Marlene Delgado, 62, works as a school secretary at PS M169, a K–12 institution with 305 special needs students.

According to a recently released March 23^rd, 2023, report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools, she authorized payments to her 36-year-old substitute paraprofessional son on 55 days when he failed to sign in or show up.

Officials also said that Delgado, who was in charge of handling subcontractor payments, also gave her son an additional 50 minutes on five occasions when he did sign in.

“Koukaras knowingly received these improper payments—totaling $8,479.78—for dates and times when he did not work,” the report to Chancellor David Banks states.

The PS 169M principal gave Delgado’s son permission to cover as a substitute aide for two weeks in September 2019.

Officials discovered that Delgado then enrolled her son in the school for an additional six months without the principal’s consent and entered his time sheets into the DOE payroll system.

According to the SCI report, the mother and son “engaged in employee misconduct, falsifying documents, and theft of service.”

The mother and son have declined to speak with SCI investigators.

Koukaras was fired and put on the DOE’s “Do Not Hire” list in January 2020. However, Delgado remains in the same job at PS M169.

Delgado agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to the city Conflicts of Interest Board in March.

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UMass Dartmouth Commencement Billionaire Speaker Surprises Each Graduate With $1,000

Abril Elfi — Sat, 18 May 2024 16:34:09 +0000

Bombing Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Attended University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
DARTMOUTH, MA – APRIL 26: A view of the entrance to the campus of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is seen on April 26, 2013 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a sophomore attending the university. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
9:35 AM – Saturday, May 18, 2024

A University of Massachusetts Dartmouth commencement speaker surprises students with $1,000 cash each with one condition.

The founder of Granite Telecommunications, Robert Hale, informed students that each graduate who crossed the stage on Thursday “would receive one $500 envelope to keep as a gift.” The second $500 envelope, according to the university, is meant to be given to “someone in need or a charity or cause close to them.”

“These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring, and giving,” Hale said. “Our community needs you and your generosity more than ever.”

NEW: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth speaker Robert Hale Jr. gives out $1000 each to 1,200 students during their graduation.

The billionaire handed out $1.2 million in total to the graduates as they crossed the stage to get their degrees.

Here’s the catch. The students… pic.twitter.com/T76BPWk5hG

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 18, 2024

According to reports, 1,200 graduates received the $1,000 gift.

The university said that Hale spoke to the students about his professional experiences, which included losing $1 billion almost overnight.

Using his own life as an example of resilience and perseverance, Hale “urged them not to let failure define them,” the school stated.

“As the degree conferral was about to begin, Hale came forward and let the graduates know he had one more bit of advice for them. He told the eager crowd that for him and his wife Karen, ‘the greatest joys we’ve had in our life have been the gift of giving,’” UMass Dartmouth added. “Hale let the Class of 2024 know that the two large duffle bags being brought up on stage by security were packed with envelopes full of cash.”

This was not the first time Hale has gifted graduates with cash. Last year, he gave $1,000 to all 2,523 graduates at UMass Boston, and in 2021, he gifted the same amount to 230 Quincy College graduates.

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School Principal Arrested After Choking, Whipping Student With Cable And Slapping Child’s Face

Abril Elfi — Thu, 16 May 2024 01:08:30 +0000

Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33. (Photo via: MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
6:08 PM – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

A school principal was arrested on May 11^th after choking and whipping a young student with a belt. He also slapped the child in the face, which was all recorded on a surveillance video.

He continued to physically assault and hold the student against his will for more than an hour in a classroom.

Soon after, authorities from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a phone call regarding a “physical disturbance between a student and the principal.”

The school principal was then placed under arrest on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under the age of thirteen, according to the police.

The principal, Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33, worked at Destiny Leadership Academy, a private school in Ocala, Florida. Five years ago, he was also reportedly arrested for sexually abusing another child. It is unclear how Prophet was able to obtain his position at the school with his previous arrest.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office released a statement detailing the altercation.

“During the investigation, surveillance footage from the classroom was obtained, revealing Prophet preventing the child from leaving the room for over 40 minutes,” authorities said. “Surveillance footage captured him grabbing the victim, restraining him on the ground, and employing a chokehold. Prophet can be seen on camera using a charging cable to strike the child, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries. Additionally, Prophet twisted the child’s ankle, slapped the child in the face, and subjected him to further physical abuse.”

When Prophet was questioned by a responding deputy, he told the officer that he had been attempting to prevent the child from harm, a claim that the police say in the release is contradicted by the video evidence.

Police also said that after speaking with Prophet, he was “taken into custody to the Marion County Jail,” where he is currently being held without bond.

Authorities withheld the child’s identity, including his age and condition. An investigation is still underway to determine what initially prompted the incident.

NEW: The school principal who was caught assaulting a child at a Florida private school was arrested five years ago for s*xually abusing another child.

How the h*ll was he still allowed around children?

Dontay Prophet was caught on camera choking, hitting, and whipping a… pic.twitter.com/d3gzzitPIW

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 15, 2024

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White House Aides Worry That Biden Will Suffer ‘Psychological Torment’ With Impending Hunter Trials

Abril Elfi — Wed, 15 May 2024 22:41:47 +0000

President Biden Meets With His Joint Chiefs And Combatant Commanders In The Cabinet Room
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 15: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks while meeting with the Joint Chiefs and Combatant Commanders in the Cabinet Room of the White House May 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden will host a dinner later this evening for the same group. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
3:41 PM – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

An aide working for President Joe Biden who spoke to the press on the condition of anonymity said that administration members are extremely worried about how he will handle watching his son, Hunter Biden, go to trial.

According to a Politico report, three advisors told the source that White House staff and members of the First Family are concerned that the trial will negatively affect how the president serves, due to the added stress.

“He worries about Hunter every single day, from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep,” one of the advisors told the outlet. “That will only pick up during a trial.”

Hunter’s gun crimes trial is set to begin June 3^rd, and he could face jail time if convicted. He also faces a June 20^th trial for federal tax charges brought against him as well.

The possibility of a delay vanished on Tuesday after a judge rejected his request to postpone the case.

For years, Hunter has maintained that the accusations made against are “politically motivated.” But ironically, the president’s son has also previously poked fun at former President Donald Trump for making the same argument in regards to his cases.

Hunter claimed that prosecutors gave in to pressure from congressional Republicans, who pushed for greater vigor on their part. Last year, a plea agreement was made that would have resulted in a diversionary agreement for the gun charges and a probationary term for the tax charges. However, it collapsed in a spectacular way.

The advisors reportedly said that the president was highly irritated by the development.

“Hunter Biden’s legal team has pushed to postpone or derail the trials in both cases. The trial in the tax case is scheduled to begin June 20 — less than three weeks after the start of the gun trial, which is expected to last three to six days,” Politico reported.

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Jimmy Carter’s Grandson Says The Former President’s Life Is ‘Coming To The End’

Abril Elfi — Wed, 15 May 2024 20:02:34 +0000

Jimmy Carter Signs Copies Of His New Book “Faith: A Journey For All”
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a book signing event for his new book ‘Faith: A Journey For All’ at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Midtown Manhattan, March 26, 2018 in New York City. Carter, 93, has been a prolific author since leaving office in 1981, publishing dozens of books. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
1:02 PM – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Jimmy Carter’s grandson gave a health update on the former U.S. president, expressing that his life is “coming to an end.”

Jason Carter gave an update on his relative during a mental health forum at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

“My grandfather is doing OK. He has been in hospice, as you know, for almost a year and a half now,” Jason Carter said. “And he really is, I think, coming to the end of that — as I’ve said before, there’s a part of this faith journey that is so important to him. And there’s a part of that faith journey that you can only live at the very end, and I think he has been there in that space.”

Jimmy, 99, began hospice care in February 2023 in Plains, Georgia. His wife of 77 years, Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, recently died in November 2023.

“This is of course the first of these forums since that day,” Jason Carter said. “But the outpouring of love and support that we as a family received from the people in this room and from the rest of the world was just so remarkable and meaningful to us.”

“And it really turned that whole process into a celebration,” he continued.

Jason recalled a recent visit with Jimmy in Plains, during which they both watched an Atlanta Braves baseball game.

“But I said, Paw Paw, you know, I can’t—people ask me how you’re doing. And I say, ‘I don’t know,’” Jason said.

“And he said, ‘Well, I don’t know myself,’” the younger Carter said, as the members in the audience chuckled. “So, he’s still there.”

Jimmy was the 39^th president of the United States and is the oldest living former U.S. president.

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Texas: Part Of Pelican Island Bridge Hit By Barge, Prompting Oil Spill

Abril Elfi — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:15:08 +0000

Oil spills into the surrounding waters after a barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. A bridge that leads to Pelican Island, located just north of Galveston, was hit by a barge around 9:30 a.m., said Ronnie Varela, with the Galveston’s Office of Emergency Management.(KTRK via AP)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
12:15 PM – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

A bridge connecting Pelican Island and Galveston, Texas, was hit by an incoming barge, prompting a closure and an oil spill.

The Galveston Sheriff’s Office stated that a barge hit the Pelican Island Causeway on Wednesday morning, causing a piece of the bridge to fall, which resulted in an oil spill that funneled into the bay.

BREAKING: A Massive Barge has crashed into a bridge that goes over Pelican Island Causeway in Galveston, Texas…

Chemicals or fuel said to be pouring into water..

Developing Story.. pic.twitter.com/PuGHi1xZXJ

— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) May 15, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard decided to move forward with the closure because the oil leak was heading toward the coast, according to County Judge Mark Henry. While personnel rushed to the location, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was closed.

Given that the waterway along the Texas coast sees a significant amount of maritime commercial traffic, the closure is a severe blow to operations. The closure is also a complication for those on Pelican Island as it is the only way into the city.

Henry said that at around 10 a.m., the vessel under tow broke loose and slammed into the railroad side of the bridge, which has not been in use. He also told the press that two crew members on the ship were either thrown or jumped off, but they were quickly rescued.

As a result of the incident, vacuum oil gas is still leaking from the barge, which has a capacity of 30,000 gallons. However, it was not immediately known how much oil the barge had been carrying.

The sheriff’s office stated that crews are now on scene assessing the damage, and despite the initial outage, the island has switched over to their secondary power source.

Texas A&M University Galveston is on Pelican Island and the school shared an alert on Wednesday about the bridge closure.

“Sea Aggie Alert: The Pelican Island Bridge is closed to all traffic at this time due to a barge strike. Electricity has been restored and additional updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. The next scheduled update will be at 1200.”

Update (1/2): Power has been restored to campus. However, the bridge remains out and is closed to all vehicular traffic. The Galveston Campus Incident Command Team has been established, and we are working with city, county, and state officials to determine impacts to campus.

— Texas A&M Galveston (@AggiesByTheSea) May 15, 2024

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N.Y.C: Victim Recounts Filmed Attack, Rapist Suspect Who Choked Her With Belt Arrested

Abril Elfi — Wed, 15 May 2024 17:53:55 +0000

Photo via; NYPD

OAN’s Abril Elfi
10:53 AM – Wednesday, May 15, 2024

A man has been arrested after choking and sexually assaulting a woman in New York City in the late hours of the night.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested Kashaan Parks, 39, and charged him with rape, strangulation, assault, sexual abuse, public lewdness, and harassment.

#BREAKING BRONX RAPIST ARRESTED – Kashaan Parks, 39, has been charged for the rape of an elderly woman and escorted out the 41 precinct by NYPD detectives to a waiting jail transport vehicle.

The brutal attack seen in a now viral video shows a man, who police believe is Parks,… pic.twitter.com/zPPs57kSaO

— FreedomNews.Tv FNTV (@FreedomNTV) May 11, 2024

JUST IN: Woman strangled by a belt while getting dragged in between two cars where she was assaulted.

The video was posted online with little information besides that it happened in New York.

Crimes against women continue to plague NYC. Just yesterday for example, a 17-year-old… pic.twitter.com/hwzSJ2rUYI

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 9, 2024

Last week, police released a video that shows the suspect walking up behind the victim and tossing a belt around her neck.

The victim was then choked unconscious before the suspect dragged her in between two cars in order to sexually assault her.

According to the NY Post, a woman named Beverly Parks took responsibility for turning in her son, Kashaan, to the police. She claims that on Friday morning, his spouse informed her that he had sexually assaulted and strangled a woman the night before. Soon after, Beverly persuaded Kashaan to turn himself in.

“I had my son go be accountable for his actions, no matter that he was drunk, that he was on drugs, that he was grieving. He did something wrong and he has to deal with it. Period,” she said.

Beverly mentioned that her son had found out his father died last month in Belize, and he’s been “spiraling” ever since. However, she still emphasized that this was no excuse to take part in such barbaric behavior.

Public records showed that Kashaan also has two previous arrests.

On October 14^th, 2018, he was charged with third-degree assault and criminal mischief in the Bronx for allegedly hitting a 46-year-old woman several times during an argument and jumping on top of her, the police said.

Authorities also said that he punched her in the head so hard that it left a lump, in addition to throwing her phone at a lamp, breaking the light.

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India: At Least 14 Dead, 75 Injured After Billboard Collapses In Mumbai

Abril Elfi — Wed, 15 May 2024 00:12:55 +0000

Rescuers look for victims under a billboard that collapsed following heavy rain and thundershowers in Mumbai, India, Monday, May 13, 2024. Scores of people were thought to be trapped after the collapse in the suburb of Ghatkopar, Mumbai police said on social media platform X. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
5:13 PM – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

At least 14 people have died and 75 others have been injured after a 100-foot-tall billboard collapsed in Mumbai, India.

Authorities told the Press Trust of India news agency that 89 people had been rescued since the incident on Monday night, and the rescue effort was still underway on Tuesday morning.

The billboard fell onto a gas station in the Ghatkopar suburb due to “strong winds and rain.”

Videos posted to social media showed the billboard wobbling in high gusts. The roof and a number of parked cars at the gas station below are then crushed and flattened by the billboard after it came crashing down.

On Monday night, rescuers began searching through the debris for bodies, while heavy machinery was being used to cut through the metal girders that held the billboard in place.

Rescue workers continued to clear the area on Tuesday, which still had debris and mangled cars.

City officials reported that over 125 rescuers were onsite and that 32 injured people who had been hospitalized have now been discharged.

They also stated that police are now investigating the incident, as the billboard was reportedly “illegally installed.”

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Florida: Boat Found In Connection To Hit-And-Run Incident That Killed 15-Year-Old

Abril Elfi — Tue, 14 May 2024 22:45:34 +0000

(Photo via: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
3:46 PM – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

The boat that killed a 15-year-old girl in Miami, Florida, has been found in connection with the tragic incident.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesperson George Reynaud told the press that Ella Adler, 15, was reportedly “hit by a boat” while she was wakeboarding near Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne on Saturday afternoon.

He said that the teen had fallen into the water and was waiting to be recovered by her own boat when another boat suddenly struck her, without stopping.

The FWC said on Tuesday that following a daylong search, authorities had finally found a boat that matched the description given by a witness and that the boat’s owner is now cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto expressed that the FWC had called in additional help and “worked around the clock” to find the boat.

“As a father and grandfather, my heart is broken for the Adler family,” Barreto said in a statement. “Ella’s death is devastating for her family, friends, and the community at large. The FWC and our partner law enforcement agencies will not stop until we have all the answers and the case is solved.”

The boat has been described as a center console boat with a light blue hull, blue bottom paint, and multiple outboard engines. It is believed to be 30-to-40 feet in length.

A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information in the investigation: FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers are both offering up to $5,000, while Adler’s family is offering an additional $10,000 reward, Reynaud said.

FWC called for anyone with more information or footage of the accident to contact them.

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