Olympic Champion Tara Davis-Woodhall is set to face-off against Olympic Silver medalist Malaika Mihambo and Jasmine Moore (Olympic Bronze Medalist) in a rematch at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on June 15 US Audiences will be able to watch that battle LIVE on FloTrack. Davis-Woodhall scored the win on her big jump in the fourth round Mihambo responded with her best jump of 6.98m in the fifth but she was unable to catch or pass Davis-Woodhall Moore took Bronze with her first jump of 6.96m Mihambo has quietly been having an impressive season She currently leads the world leaderboards with her 7.07m jump from the INIT Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe on February 7th She also secured a third place finish at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in March Meanwhile, Davis-Woodhall waited until last week to open her season at the Drake Relays. She went 6.75m (+1.5) for the win. Out of the pit, she also announced a professional contract with Nike. It will be Davis-Woodhall's first time competing in Sweden Moore had a hefty indoor season that saw her secure a US Indoor Championship in the triple jump She currently has a season best of 6.79m in the long The 22-year-old from Italy has a personal best of 6.97m and she is the defending BAUHAUS-galan long jump champ (2023) Here's the full Wanda Diamond League schedule in 2025 The 2025 Wanda Diamond League series will distribute a record $9.24 million in total prize money with $500,000 allocated to each of the regular season meets including an increased payout for select Diamond+ Disciplines at each meeting the Diamond+ Disciplines will be 5000m Women the Diamond League is streaming live on FloTrack and the FloSports app and FloTrack is giving fans more Diamond League access than ever before the Diamond League is streaming to fans all the feeds Fans will have uninterrupted coverage for every throw leap and run during the meets as well as the traditional broadcast The Wanda Diamond League will be broadcast on FloTrack and the FloSports app starting with the 2025 season.  Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events. Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions Get the most important Track & Field stories delivered straight to your inbox Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Tara brought joy and light into the lives of all who knew her mother to Griffin Brown and Bayley Stacks with whom she shared a deep and enduring love And her role as a cherished aunt to her nieces and nephews Isabella and Hunter Hinojosa; and great-niece and nephew Tara’s zest for life was further amplified by her passion for travel To know Tara was to know she was a friend to many and a stranger to none Memorial services will follow at 3:00 p.m.  Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Home-Arkadelphia/Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Photo by: Creighton AthleticsBluejay Women's Basketball Adds Freshman Tara Dacic for 2025-264/30/2025 11:49:00 AM | Women's Basketball [Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Leverage: Redemption Season 3 Episode 5 “The Grand Complication Job.'”] who recurred during the original run of Leverage returns “It was such a delight to be there, and so when John Rogers and Dean [Devlin] asked me to do it This was one of my favorite characters I’ve ever gotten to play and one of my favorite shows to ever be on was Leverage I didn’t even hesitate,” Ryan tells TV Insider And it was so much fun to walk on that set see so many of the crew who were there from the original show who were still there Ryan said yes without knowing anything about the episode She’s a badass and you’re always something different What are we playing?’ Because she’s a grifter so she’s always a different character that she needs to be to get the job done,” she says That’s also what she enjoys so much about the show as well as just how much “fun” it is Executive producer Dean Devlin notes, “She couldn’t be an easier fit,” adding with a laugh, “Partially it’s because she’s brilliant as an actress and partly because we’re all such crazy Star Trek fans that there’s a natural parallel But it was so much fun to bring her character back It was well over 10 years that she had done that character And I attribute that to her as a performer but also to our writers for really being able to capture the essence of who she was as a character and why and she likes to win and not necessarily for the team.” Ryan agrees that it was “so easy” to get back into playing Tara so she’s an easy one for me to fall back into We have the same kind of snarky sense of humor and a lot of similarities that way So it really was getting back on a horse,” she explains also attributing getting to work with her friends “It was so much fun,” Bellman raves “Obviously it’s been a long time coming and our lives have evolved and so there was a lot of catching up to do in our personal lives the fact that we had this great rapport that we never really got to play out beyond that one episode because the episodes that she was in So it did feel like all these seasons that had been unfinished business So the fact that we got to play again this year just made it really feel very As soon as Sophie is kidnapped and it’s clear that those who took her had no idea who Tara was Riesgraf loved having Ryan back and working with her again And I really enjoyed my time with her on set.” She wants Ryan to return “I’m always happy to revisit this character and these characters.” But she’s not going to even begin to suggest what she’d want to do if she did “I’m not a writer,” she adds with a laugh They do a brilliant job coming up with things for Tara to do and I’m thrilled to do them when they think of it.” this episode sees Tara pretty much do it all: grift her way through a party which Ryan says is her favorite scene (“Those costumes steal the watch after crawling through vents and admitting they’re peaceful (“I don’t think they’re ever going to be a favorite of hers but I think she gained a little appreciation for them”) and fighting off bad guys whom Bligh had sent to Breanna’s truck She even got to say the iconic “Let’s go steal…,” and in this case The episode does make it clear how much things have changed since Tara was last around she and Sophie are talking about parenting when the latter is kidnapped Devlin enjoyed getting to pair them up since most of the time in the original series they didn’t share the screen other than a quick chat on a monitor (Tara took over as the team’s grifter while Sophie was away) Ryan enjoyed seeing those unexpected scenes of the two talking about parenting “and being able to bond over that kind of relationship because that was so not part of their lives before” as well as “watching that maturity in all of their lives play out.” “They’re so different and their styles are so different and the way they go about things but they’re so connected and they really love each other I love that they can just really be completely open and honest with each other and there’s no pretense and it’s just very genuine and very real and they’ve always got each other’s back.” and so it’s no surprise that she takes off at the end But would she ever stay with a crew for good “That’s a good question,” Ryan says I think she enjoyed it when she was there for a limited time I don’t know that she could do it long term and she really relishes her independence and doing things her own way and I think it’s got to be in short spurts for her.” “We don’t want to pretend that this is a different universe. So these characters have continued, and sometimes we get to see them like Hurley [Drew Powell, who has returned on Redemption and is back this season], and sometimes we only hear about them like Sterling [Mark Sheppard] and even Quinn is still floating out there,” Devlin explains “And it’s fun because the old fans of the show they freak out when they hear this and they get excited it feels like an expanded universe that they want to know more about but we don’t want to overdo it to the point where people feel like I don’t know who those people are.’ But I think the thing is there’s always great Easter eggs in the show and then we try to do it in a way that doesn’t alienate you if you’re brand new.” While Devlin would love to bring back every character, “I need some more seasons for that and more episodes,” he says. “Also sometimes, it’s just about availability. What are they doing? Are they shooting on another show? Can you get them to come? But yeah, there’s a lot of characters I still haven’t brought back. That top on my list is Wil Wheaton as Chaos I’m desperate to get him back on.” Sign Up TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Entrepreneur® and its related marks are registered trademarks of Entrepreneur Media LLC Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has stepped into an exciting new role—as Co-founder of Tara Gaming Ltd—marking his grand entry into the world of gaming With a legendary career spanning over five decades and more than 200 films Bachchan now brings his deep-rooted storytelling flair and cultural insight to the interactive entertainment space He joins hands with bestselling author and broadcaster Amish Tripathi and gaming veteran Nouredine Abboud to launch The Age of Bhaarat a AAA action-adventure game set in an epic reimagining of ancient India "Joining Tara Gaming is an extension of my lifelong commitment to storytelling," Bachchan said "When I heard Amish's and Nouredine's vision I was instantly drawn to the potential of creating something truly monumental India has always been a land of powerful stories Gaming is where stories come alive for the next generation and I'm excited to help shape that experience at Tara Gaming with a uniquely Indian lens." and an immersive storyline—brought to life with cinematic polish and technical brilliance The Age of Bhaarat is poised to be India's breakthrough into AAA gaming on PC and consoles "To welcome Mr Bachchan as our co-founder is a privilege beyond words," said Nouredine Abboud "His deep understanding of Indian culture and storytelling is invaluable as we develop a game that resonates globally The trailer is just a glimpse of this ambitious and immersive world that pays homage to Indian traditions while delivering cinematic-quality gameplay." "Mr Bachchan is a true visionary whose understanding of Indian heritage is unmatched His belief in our vision adds immense strength to our journey The trailer perfectly captures the bold vision we have to present Indian itihaas to the world in a cool modern context." Tara Gaming aims to place India firmly on the global gaming map championing the 'Create in India' movement with cultural authenticity and cutting-edge creativity We'll be in your inbox every morning Monday-Saturday with all the day’s top business news best advice and exclusive reporting from Entrepreneur she was the daughter of Sharon (nee Gunnarson) Robinson and the late Joel Miles Tara passed away peacefully at home on her own terms surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer Her dedication to helping others was unlike any other She worked as a juvenile probation officer for the County of Delaware in the City of Chester for the past 18 years Her work ethic was unmatched which was evident by the fact that she continued to work up until her final day despite her daily pain and discomfort Tara was also known for her legendary daily Facebook posts that showcased her biting humor in a way that only she could get away with Peterson; loving mother of Brayden Peterson and Jacqelyn Deuber-Peterson and Michael Deuber (Tina); adoring grandmother of Vinny and Aria; caring sister of Trina Riggs (Jamie) Family and friends are invited to Tara's Viewing 6:00-8:00 PM on Friday followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tara’s name to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, 3239 E. 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206, globaldownsyndrome.org Dining Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene. Michael Gallina refers to his wife Tara’s kale and tahini concoction as her famous salad, and there’s a good argument for that title. With its indulgent taste, wholesome ingredients, kid-friendly flavor and ability to hold up in the refrigerator for multiple days, this delicious salad is destined to be a staple of many dinner tables. *Pro tip: Seasoning greens evenly can be a challenge, make sure your dressing is really seasoned so that every bite is perfect.  Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here DINING NEWSLETTERS Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news (WPDE) — Police said a 24-year-old woman was found dead last night inside a vacant apartment on Ashley Drive in the Tara Village community of Laurinburg they don't suspect any criminal involvement in the woman's death he added that an autopsy is underway to determine the woman's cause and manner of death (WACH) — A Lexington County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after the death of a 15-year-old girl pled guilty on April 23rd in Lexington County General Sessions Court to Distribution of Narcotics - 2nd offense This offense resulted in the death of 15-year-old Tara Sanderson on January 26 Rose was sentenced to 20 years for distributing fentanyl to the minor victim Rose also pled guilty to an additional charge of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 1st degree and received a sentence of 10 years Rose also has a prior conviction for narcotics possession purchased a quantity of what he believed to be heroin on January 26 Sanderson quickly became symptomatic and then lost consciousness A witness attempted to intervene and reported to law enforcement that Rose told her a third party called 911 and reported that Tara was unconscious EMS arrived and attempted life-saving measures but Sanderson was later pronounced dead of a fentanyl overdose Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated the following: Sanderson's family has expressed the need for a law that is specifically designed to criminalize any narcotics distribution that results in the death of another person also addressed the Court and said the following: Department of Corrections to begin his sentence This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes and investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department By Jolie Peal Tara Blunt remembers picking up her youngest son from elementary school He loved learning and making friends with everyone he could she watched that change because of racial harassment and bullying he experienced as one of the few Black students in Falls City “The short distance he had to walk from the school doors to my car you could watch him walking to the car and (emotions) building up When Blunt picked up her son on an October 2022 day she had no idea that another student had shoved the fourth-grader to the ground and stomped on his head A school report reviewed by The Midwest Newsroom confirms the incident She recalled him complaining of a headache but didn’t find out what happened until eight months later when she requested records from the school It’s just one incident Blunt outlined in a complaint to the U.S Department of Education Office for Civil Rights “It was hostile for him every day at school,” Blunt said I don’t think that he got one day of school without being called something or something commented to him.” The Midwest Newsroom is not naming the 12-year-old boy because of his age and because he is an assault victim School records show the assistant principal at the time called Blunt about a fellow student stomping on her son’s head but Blunt said she never received a call from Craig There were also no records of her son being taken to the school nurse Their story isn’t unique in rural communities where people of color are often in the minority Falls City is no exception. It sits in the southeast corner of Nebraska, about halfway between Omaha and Kansas City, Mo. Of the 4,100 residents, less than 1% are Black, according to 2020 census data declined to answer questions about the head injury incident or questions about how the district handles incidents of bullying or racism Blunt said there were always little comments when her son started at the school as a kindergartner but the issues got worse when he entered his second semester of third grade in 2022 students called her son a “monkey,” “cotton picker” and the N-word who identifies as white and Native American recalled a day when her son was wearing a bracelet with the school mascot name “Tiger.” Another student told her son he should change the bracelet’s “T” to an “N,” according to the complaint and school records Blunt said Falls City Public Schools officials and teachers failed to discipline her son’s bullies and would continually brush off her concerns about the racist name-calling Teachers would ignore or dismiss the reports and tell Blunt’s son he was “tattling,” Blunt said The school principal and assistant principal at the time would say the other kids didn’t know their words were racist or school officials thought there was no racism going on Another instance in the complaint said that Craig brushed the racial harassment off as “boys being boys.” that sounded wrong in itself because you’re a principal You’ve been in school for 20-plus years,” Blunt said “You mean to tell me you don’t know what racism is You don’t know how to work with it or stop it or take any steps to make sure it doesn’t escalate?” The Midwest Newsroom reviewed emails between Blunt and various school officials school leaders separated Blunt’s son from another student who was bullying him Blunt’s son “made faces” at a group of boys after he felt they were teasing him we can make this work or fix it,” Blunt said I said this,’ and he ended up (running) lines that I would still handle what the other child did Officials also met with Blunt near the end of the 2023 school year but following those meetings and more back-and-forth communication Blunt said the school told her they wouldn’t discuss her concerns anymore so she decided to pull him out of Falls City Public Schools Blunt said her son still deals with headaches “I watched my son’s happiness be sucked from him,” Blunt said these are supposed to be the best years of their life Blunt said she wants the school to implement diversity training for teachers and students along with creating procedures to address racial harassment Falls City Public Schools used to have a program meant to help kids understand discrimination and racism The program was taught in one of the elementary schools starting in 2017 It was introduced to the middle school in 2021 which is when several parents — including a few whose children harassed Blunt’s son and the school board ultimately suspended it “I felt that the Second Step was going to help these children understand things that aren’t right here in front of our faces every day,” Blunt said Blunt initially submitted a complaint to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) in April 2023 Within a week officials told her the case was closed because it had been handled at the school level At the time, Heckenlively, the Falls City superintendent, was on the committee that handled NDE complaints about teacher certification The Nebraska Legislature disbanded that committee in 2024 due to a backlog of complaints that were not being addressed NDE has a hearing officer who makes recommendations to the commissioner about each complaint to expedite the process and dragged him to another location — then denied doing so,” according to the federal complaint Blunt met with the superintendent a few weeks later to discuss the alleged retaliation by the assistant principal and the ongoing harassment from other students school officials told her they wouldn’t discuss her concerns anymore This was in the summer before her son was to enter fifth grade “When the school told me they were no longer going to respond or speak to me about what happened She transferred her son to a nearby private school for the 2023-24 school year Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in June 2023 one of Blunt’s lawyers with the Public Justice Students’ Civil Rights Project said federal civil rights laws require schools that receive federal funds to protect students from discrimination The Nebraska Constitution also prohibits race-based discrimination in public schools and further allows someone to hold the school accountable for negligence As Blunt and her lawyers allege in the complaint the school’s failure to have policies in place created an unequal learning environment for Blunt’s son “The white students in Tara’s son’s class didn’t have to deal with these sorts of racial slurs being directed toward them,” Ouellette said “They didn’t have to deal with being attacked because of their race and being found in the fetal position on the ground and they didn’t have to deal with being called the N-word with all of the horrible history that word has specifically for Black people in the United States.” and one of the elementary school principals mentioned in the complaint have since left Falls City Public Schools One of the teachers mentioned in the complaint is now a principal Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is still investigating Blunt’s complaint It is unclear what will happen with her complaint as the new administration has cut the department in half and President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March directing the secretary of education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” Blunt, along with a parent in Michigan and the Victim Rights Law Center, filed a lawsuit in Boston challenging the federal government’s choice to cut staffing at the Department of Education Plaintiffs said these cuts and the potential elimination of the Department of Education are a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act which requires courts to stop agencies from random and sudden actions or decisions the government eliminated more than half of the Office for Civil Rights’ positions and closed seven of the twelve regional offices for the department “leaving a hollowed-out organization incapable of performing its statutorily mandated functions the system will exist in name only for children who have suffered most types of discrimination.” Blunt and her son aren’t alone in dealing with racism at school in a small community who previously worked for United by Culture Media a nonprofit that supports people of color in rural communities said he’s worked with young men and boys of color who feel isolated in rural areas “A lot of the time it’s not fully articulated Cox spent the past 20 years living in several rural communities across the Midwest He said while he loved seeing the childhood his kids had in smaller communities there’s still work that rural areas can do to be more welcoming “Communities can be doing better to educate themselves and to welcome people of other color and other ethnicities in their town so that the towns can thrive,” Cox said “Instead of having all these fractured communities they come together as one whole community.” but Cox said the difference is that people in big cities have a larger community they can return to and see their culture represented where cultural circles are small and everyone has to shop at the only available store for groceries “There’s nowhere to hide from the constant microaggressions and you don’t have as much people constantly pushing to educate or change so those microaggressions stop,” Cox said Cox said those microaggressions can build up over time it just chips and chips and chips away at people’s self-esteem And those experiences can affect students as they grow up She said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder because of the racism he experienced The family drives about two hours to Omaha and two hours back for him to meet with someone who can specifically support him with the racial trauma Monnica Williams, a psychologist and professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada, researches and treats people dealing with racial trauma. She published a book last year detailing a plan for clinicians who treat racial trauma She said it can be challenging to diagnose racial trauma because the symptoms are similar to PTSD “There are a lot of people who suffer with racial trauma and they may not even realize what the problem is,” she said “They may not necessarily connect all of their experiences of racism with why they feel isolated or depressed.” Long-term impacts of racial trauma can include risks for unhealthy substance use and suicide Williams said there’s not a lot of research on how racial trauma affects children but they frequently start to act differently isolate themselves and run away or skip school While Williams said clinicians are starting to talk about racial trauma more she said it’s also important for those conversations to happen in schools equity and inclusion training as helpful when supporting and protecting students dealing with discrimination that can lead to racial trauma “Too often it’s easy for teachers or administrators to say no big deal,’ without really understanding the impact of these behaviors on those kids that are marginalized they don’t have as many resources to fight back when things like this happen to them.” should extend outside of schools into their larger communities “We need much more education about the problem of racism — what racism is what kinds of things you can do about it when you see it rather than just trying to put a Band-Aid on it when something uncomfortable happens at school,” she said Illinois lawmakers passed the Racism-Free Schools Law in 2023 It requires school districts to have a policy against discrimination even though it’s already outlined in federal law The new Illinois law also requires training for school employees on how to recognize racism and called for schools to report the total amount of discrimination and harassment incidents to the state it promotes understanding and it promotes training,” Bill Curtin policy director for the nonprofit Teach Plus “I think that’s something that people can all agree on.” He said people in rural and urban communities had different definitions of what racism looked like especially in rural communities where there isn’t much diversity “It’s all the more important that the rest of the school understands the importance of not making casually racist remarks that are going to make that student feel unwelcome in the school,” Curtin said That baseline is what Tara Blunt aims to achieve in her complaint to the federal government She hopes the school district will create training and do better for future families it would be please don’t do this to another child,” Blunt said Let’s speak out to the families that were scared to speak out about racism Blunt said her son is much happier at his new private school “It really has been a positive change in our lives,” she said “Because he’s back to smiling all the time Her son is getting the chance to be a kid again Blunt said he loves video games and playing outside — especially in the winter when it snows he plays baseball in the summer and flag football in the fall and Blunt said he wants to dunk the ball like Michael Jordan Blunt said the superintendent of the new school consistently advocates for her son “I’m not saying we didn’t have any situations because there were a few Click here to read more about reporter Jolie Peal reporters Jolie Peal and Elizabeth Rembert reviewed Tara Blunt’s federal complaint filed with the U.S emails between Blunt and the school from Blunt’s lawyers and the lawsuit against the U.S The reporters conducted interviews with Blunt and one of her lawyers to further understand Blunt and her son’s experience They also spoke with someone who worked with students of color in rural communities and someone who advocated for the Racism-Free Schools Law in Illinois to further understand the wider reach of racism in schools “Families and victim advocates file lawsuit against U.S. Department of Education for gutting Office for Civil Rights”(Public Justice | April 21 “Midwest schools face civil rights investigations. Trump’s education department cuts may end them.”(Midwest Newsroom | March 26 Falls City census data(U.S “Parental concerns lead to spill over FCPS Board meeting; some Falls City Educators, Region V and The Committee for Children respond”(Falls City Journal | 2022) “Nebraska Professional Practices Commission”(Nebraska Professional Practice Commission) “Rule 28: Professional Practices Investigations, Hearings, and Determinations by the State Board”(Nebraska Department of Education | Sept “Does your school have a racial harassment policy? A new law requires one on the books by 2024”(WGLT | July 21 Investigative or Enterprise — In-depth examination of a single subject requiring extensive research and resources Get the latest from around Nebraska delivered to your inbox online and mobile platforms.Your support is essential Portland, ME t:207.477.7005 Email Maine office who focuses her practice in both labor and employment law and education law and higher educational institutions across Northern New England Tara provides strategic legal counsel and litigation defense in complex and high-profile matters Tara defends employers in complex discrimination as well as handling labor law litigation and compliance Tara has spent more than a decade litigating in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies in cases involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) Tara has guided private sector clients through all aspects of union organization campaigns including acting as lead counsel and advising senior leadership through several campaigns Tara has secured favorable decisions in campaigns from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and separately has served as lead negotiator Tara also focuses her practice on counseling independent K-12 schools and public and private institutions of higher education in a wide range of matters including student safety and institutional liability Tara regularly advises clients on the full spectrum of school community and employee issues drafting and negotiating employment agreements for senior leadership leading and overseeing misconduct investigations and guiding educational institutions through responses to high-profile incidents Tara also conducts on-campus trainings on a wide array of topics including professional boundaries for faculty and staff and maintaining student privacy and confidentiality Tara represents educational institutions in litigation involving Title IX and related sexual misconduct claims by students and employees and issues relating to the regulation of independent schools under state and federal law Through practical legal experience and deep industry insight and universities navigate complex challenges Tara was a partner and member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the Portland office of a large diversified New England-based law firm She also formerly served as Legal & Policy Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska where she spearheaded strategic litigation and lobbying efforts Tara served as law clerk to Justice Joseph M Tara worked at a nonprofit supporting and advocating for free and fair elections in Moscow and served as a volunteer English teacher with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Budapest Tara enjoys sea kayaking near her home on the coast of Maine and working on her 1973 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van.  So You’re Concerned About Losing Federal Funding: 3 Things Schools Should Do Right Now Maine Partner Discusses Legal Basis for Title IX Investigations Media Outlets Cover Fisher Phillips’ New Portland Maine Office Fisher Phillips Establishes Presence in Maine with Three Powerhouse Employment Partners — The two Democrats seeking their party's nomination for Northampton County executive went head-to-head Wednesday night County Controller Tara Zrinski and Amy Cozze debated at the Univest Public Media Center on the SteelStacks campus The moderators were LehighValleyNews.com reporters Tom Shortell and Ryan Gaylor The hourlong debate streamed live on LehighValleyNews.com, on LehighValleyNews.com’s Facebook account, and on the PBS39 YouTube channel Lehigh Valley Public Media will hold one more debate next week The Lehigh County executive debate will be held at 7 p.m Participating will be the two Republicans on the ballot — Mike Welsh and Roger MacLean The registration link for free tickets to that debate is here at the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home She was a faithful Christian and loved the Lord She also enjoyed crafting in her free time Left to cherish her memory is her devoting husband of 29 years Lisa Marlow Starrett and Harvey; step-mother Juanita Irwin; several aunts and uncles; as well as many nieces and nephews A celebration of life will be held at a later date Sports company PUMA has appointed Tara McRae (48) as the President of PUMA North America (PNA) a role in which she will oversee the company’s business in this strategically important market who until recently led PUMA’s Marketing and Brand Strategy in North America will with immediate effect take over the role from Bob Philion who will leave PUMA after 20 years with the company and eight years as President of PNA to pursue opportunities outside of PUMA “With Tara, we have appointed a leader with a great understanding of our consumers our industry and the North American market,” said PUMA Chief Commercial Officer Matthias Bäumer “I strongly believe she has the experience and the strategic mindset to help us succeed in this crucial market I want to thank Bob for the past eight years as the President of PNA a time during which we put PUMA back on the map in North America and I wish him all the best for the future.” Tara rejoined PUMA as Senior Vice President Brand and Strategy in 2024 she worked at Clarks as the Global Chief Marketing Officer and Digital Officer She also became the first Chief Marketing Officer at TB12 Tom Brady’s global health and wellness brand she already worked at PUMA North America between 2006 and 2016 where she held different positions in the media planning and sports marketing departments before taking on marketing responsibilities for the region.  Tara is also a strategic advisor for Relentless Consumer Partners and a non-executive board member at kegg Her work has been recognized in multiple leading industry awards most notably as a member of the 2024 Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO 50 list after a courageous battle against breast cancer She is survived by her husband of 38 years She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Houston She was a devoted wife and mother and truly loved her family Her acute eye for fashion would turn heads when she walked into a room and her taste for turquoise jewelry was ever visible on her arms and around her neck She loved her frequent travels to Santa Fe New Mexico where she enjoyed collecting antiques and sipping on a glass of Pinot Grigio in the desert mountains Tara's favorite pastimes were selling antiques during the Round Top Antique Festival and enjoying the birds and wildlife on her property in Burton Memorial donations may be directed to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at bcrf.org A Funeral Mass for Tara will be held on Thursday Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Burton 'Today' show host Daly dated Jennifer Love Hewitt in 1998 and Tara Reid between 2000-2001 Kevin Winter/Getty; Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty; Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Friends and family are invited to celebrate Tara’s life at a Prayer Service on Sunday  There will be a visitation with the family from 4:00 P.M there will be a Memorial Service at United Lutheran Church A private burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery the daughter of Gary and Carol (Beck) Ruschmann Tara spent her life enveloped in the love of her family and friends leaving a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those she touched Tara dedicated herself professionally as a manager at Bush Dry Cleaners where her warm smile and unwavering commitment were the hallmarks of her work ethic.  Tara had a vibrant personality that shone through her many passions and had a fondness for the Minnesota Twins Tara enjoyed the serene beauty of sunsets at the Pier in Okoboji the atmosphere of the Renaissance Fairs and sharing her faith in Christ with everyone.  Tara’s greatest love was for her family She took immense pride in being a mother and cherished every moment spent with her husband lovingly referred to as the "Seven C Crew": Chris (Katie) Urbanec Each of her children carried a piece of her spirit and none could ever forget the warmth of her nurturing embrace Tara's love extended to her grandchildren who brought her an immeasurable amount of joy; Ryleigh Also survived by her brother and sister Pat and Angie and nieces and nephews Tyler Tara was referred to as "Momma T" to all of the neighborhood kids who loved her deeply as a Mother.  Tara was preceded in death by her father Gary Ruschmann her spirit living on in the memories and hearts of all who knew her please have patience while we stay live during this process Terms of Service Privacy Policy Subscribe to our mailing list to get a weekly local news recap in your Inbox We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively seen in Wasco County Circuit Court before Judge Marion Weatherford during her sentencing on Thursday Those were the thoughts of one courtroom witness after hearing the sentencing of Tara Koch April 10 before Circuit Court Judge Marion Weatherford Koch was sentenced to four years in prison and two years post-prison supervision She is required to report to NORCOR jail in two weeks She was released to put her 89-year-old mother's medical affairs in order Haven is set to receive $51,757 immediately as a result of the sentencing Investigators seized $26,757.65 from Koch’s personal bank account and her $25,000 in bail is also being put toward payment on the $178,511 in court-ordered restitution Some 50 plus people sat in the courtroom Thursday listening to 7 hours of testimony The room included Koch’s family and friends Haven employees and The Dalles Police Chief Tom Worthy and former chief Pat Ashmore District Attorneys from Hood River and Wasco County Circuit Court Judge John Wolf was also seen in the hearing sitting with wife Leslie Wolf former Haven Board President and 21-year child abuse and domestic violence prosecutor in Wasco County Most were there to break the blister of anger and public outrage at the near public dismantling of Haven a shelter and program for victims of domestic and sexual abuse Haven came near to folding as Koch’s thefts curtailed donations and ultimately hobbled a program to the point it could no longer protect local abuse victims from their abusers Tara Koch took the leadership role at Haven in 2008 and served for over 13 years taking the small domestic shelter and abuse hotline service with three employees to a program with 21 employees with a budget of more than $1 million annually Koch told the judge that she leaned into grant writing developing marketing materials and building the program and the results of her hard work were lauded and affirmed as women and children were able to escape physical and mental abuse through Haven’s shelter and programs that reached into Wasco She had the full support of her board of directors Haven staff also described Koch as “toxic” and “controlling” and creating an environment of “chaos” in the work place received a letter from the Oregon Department of Revenue regarding a Haven tax debt of over $100,000.00 not only was Haven responsible for this debt 2022 Koch was arrested on 26 counts including theft She told the judge she “heard every word today… I hear frustration I am angry at myself… profoundly sorry… for my actions I was trusted with this amazing organization and I abused that trust… that’s something I face everyday.” Her defense Attorney Jody Vaughn and Koch friends said the 63-year-old had essentially been homeless in the years since her indictment She had only recently found part-time work and rented a rundown apartment while still relying on friends and family for money to make ends meet Those that showed up in Koch’s support testified that Koch was leading a “miserable” life since her aggravated thefts were discovered They also pointed to her history of abuse as a child and as an adult Koch read from a multi-page written statement to the judge describing her career at Haven and repeatedly said she worked 60 to 70 hours per week even when her mental and physical health kept her from sleeping She pointed out numerous times she did not have the support she needed to administrate Haven and also lacked support from the Haven Board She said when COVID hit she was on the verge of breakdown and was asking for help repeatedly and “getting very little” noting she recruited an accountant to join the board who told her it was imperative to get the nonprofits federal and state tax returns completed I wish I could answer that,” she told the judge “I wish I had been a better person and set boundaries.” community service and repaying restitution,” she said Prior to her plea multiple letters were read and people testified to the fact that Koch’s actions had affected them and their ability to help people who were under the thumb of an abuser Current Haven Director Marcelene Kukal Manning told the court she took over after Koch was put on leave Agencies like HAVEN are often the only avenue for women like me to reach safety,” Manning told the court Tara stole the safety from countless survivors and their children We will never know how many survivors were further victimized by Tara Koch… When I stepped into the Interim Executive Director position in October 2021 This great exodus was caused by the lack of financial stability of the agency Neither the Board nor myself could guarantee that Haven doors would remain open for more than a few days at a time All of our funding streams were frozen and we were only able to operate off of the balance in our bank account We found that we were in debt to the IRS for more than $300,000 and $100,000 to the State of Oregon for income related taxes that were never paid we were at risk of having our bank accounts frozen and losing what little money we had We had lost our 501 c 3 status as Tara neglected to file 990’s to the IRS for 3 years We were in breach of contract with all of our funders with some threatening to pull the contracts We could not receive any state or federal funds until we reinstated our 501 c 3 status with the IRS.” Victims advocates outside of Haven were equally impacted directly and within minutes had an answer or we were collaborating together to find solutions It was a great working relationship between programs and passionate advocates I will not take that away from you,” said April Aamodt Gilliam County Victim’s Assistant Director “That being said somewhere along the lines you forgot to do what we as advocates ask the people we work with everyday to do….you didn’t ask for help,” she told Koch tax payers and you decided to charge on a credit card or write a check for your own personal gain at the expense of others Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill called it a “devastated trail of trust” Koch’s actions dismantled a vital safety net,” he testified noting it precipitated the closing of a safe house and forced victims of abuse “back into the hands of their abusers.” Assistant Attorney General Tobias Tingleaf stated the Haven Board met with Koch on September 2 Despite knowing that her fraud had been discovered and being placed on paid leave Koch still took a vacation to Camano Island as the reservation was for six adults and one child This trip was not related to any Haven business purpose Haven intended to terminate the defendant’s employment on October 2 The defendant submitted a 35-page document as part of her resignation The next three pages appear to be a letter that the defendant drafted with some sort of belief that she would be allowed to remain in her position while a new executive director was hired It contains suggestions on how to transition and communicate with employees and community members the remaining 31 pages is some sort of handbook created by the defendant filled full of excuses and the defendant’s suggestions to the board on how Haven should be run The 35 pages are both perplexing and intriguing shedding light on the lack of acceptance of responsibility for her criminal acts and her conscious disregard of the detrimental impacts of her crimes The investigation showed that the defendant had spent Haven funds on her household utilities It seems anytime the defendant thought she could get away with stealing from Haven While Tingleaf was requesting an 8-year prison sentence for Koch her attorney Jody Vaughn asked for a downward departure of a sentence of probation with no prison time Vaughn maintained there was no rehabilitative purpose to putting Koch in prison and put Debbie (Gorski) Alltort on the stand as a authority on women who embezzle Alltort was convicted in 2007 of stealing $94,000 while working for the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center She told the court she entered a cognitive treatment program that helped her uncover the truth about why she stole the money and her work paid off and it made her feel like a “queen” but at the same time she “checked out and let go of all the things that were at the core of who I was.” such as that Koch endured as a child and adult that created the pain in her life which led to the “addictive behavior” of stealing later pointing out that the addiction or theft gave a sense of being “powerful” Alltort testified that in her life after prison she had worked with 300 to 400 women who were caught embezzling and the same patterns were present in them - they were all women mostly in their 40s and 50s and the pain in their past lives turned into the addictive behavior of stealing money responsibility of her life outside of work all contributed to losing herself and her life.” Alltrot said Koch had little to no chance of getting help if she went to prison In her testimony she said of the 1,400 women in Coffee Creek prison on convictions of embezzlement He said Koch was a victim of child abuse and mental abuse and was at an emotional disadvantage (An individual who has experienced or internalizes shame often stemming from negative self-evaluation may engage in behaviors such as self-sabotage to manage or mask these feelings according to theories of Dr A retired local banker and friend of Koch’s also told the judge that she was “appalled at the level of hypocrisy in the court today.” She said Haven and its Board lacked the internal controls to prevent embezzlement and the checks and balances are used unilaterally in professional businesses such as banks “The golden rule is do not give employees the opportunity to embezzle,” she said Prosecutor Tingleaf stated that the crime was analogous to a drunken driver causing a deadly crash “They don’t get probation or a get-out-of-jail-free card,” he said noting the continued comments that the thefts were somehow the fault of the Haven Board were “victim blaming and it continues throughout… I did not hear it — I take full responsibility,” he said The restitution is the tip of the iceberg,” he finished Judge Weatherford then took a 15 minute pause and held counsel with the defense and prosecution in his chambers before he pronounced Koch’s sentence Weatherford made statements toward his impartiality in the case He said he had no prior knowledge of the case before his assignment and knew not of the defendant nor the Haven Board and did not run in social circles within The Dalles community He said he was aware of a Gilliam County Case where Haven helped in creating a good outcome for a victim and that was the breadth of his knowledge concerning Haven Wasco County Circuit Court Judge Marion Weatherford explains his sentence as defendent Tara Koch looks on from the defense table on Thursday “I brought more goodwill than bias,” he stated “I understand the pressures are informed by the past,” he said “where abuses to you made services at Haven more important I don’t know what the soft landing in this case is.” But he said the law was clear in regard to sentencing guide lines for repetitive property crimes as legislators put it into statute in 2009 He said he found no facts supporting an upward or downward departure in the case and so settled on making a mandated sentence under the guidelines Weatherford did retain discretion on whether to make the sentences for theft either concurrent or consecutive - meaning he could either stack them up to 133 months or have them served all at once with a minimum of 24 months He then offered another theory for Koch’s mental breakdown He said Koch experienced “overwhelming stress” as she knew there was no way to hide the overdue taxes “Some day the taxes had to be paid,” he said A day of reckoning was coming… Your stress was knowing what you did would come to light.” Judge Weatherford said the 37-page manifesto that Koch wrote to the Haven Board at the time of her resignation spoke volumes providing a perspective on what Koch did and her ownership of it “It bias’ the victim in your crime,” he said “I’m not outraged but I impose a sentence that is fair and appropriate.” On two counts of first degree aggravated theft Koch was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of 24 months each for a total four- year prison term The remaining 6 charges will be served concurrently Koch must also complete 2 years of post-prison supervision and repay all restitution Haven Director Manning said they were satisfied with the sentence from Judge Weatherford “It will not make HAVEN whole again.  But it is the beginning of a new chapter for HAVEN.  The HAVEN team looks forward to moving on and healing with our community.  We recognize that trust is easily broken and difficult to rebuild.  We have worked tirelessly over the last 3.5 years to keep the doors open and put HAVEN back together We are committed to building an agency that our community can trust A big thank you to all that showed up for HAVEN yesterday in person and online.  It gives me hope for HAVEN's future.” Lead Editor here at Columbia Community Connection Get local news updates from the Mid-Columbia region in your inbox Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles CCC News’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region Contact us: News@columbiacommunityconnection.com - Tel: (541) 980 - 2756 Powered by Immense Imagery Columbia Community Connection409 Lincoln St,The Dalles Privacy Policy Terms of Service Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLUMBIA (WIS) - A Midlands man is set to spend decades behind bars after pleading guilty to charges linked to the death of a teenager The 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said 27-year-old Brian Rose pleaded guilty to a narcotics distribution charge on April 23 The count was linked to the January 2022 death of 15-year-old Tara Sanderson bought what he believed was heroin in January 2022 before eventually providing it to Sanderson The drugs Rose purchased were later found to contain fentanyl leading to Sanderson becoming symptomatic and losing consciousness but Sanderson was pronounced dead after EMS arrived and attempted to save her Her cause of death was later ruled as a fentanyl overdose “It is impossible to overstate the dangers of fentanyl within our community and the risks that this drug poses to young people,” 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard said in a statement “This case is a prime example of why law enforcement and prosecutors need a statute on drug-induced homicide There is a fentanyl-induced homicide bill currently pending at the Statehouse and we hope the legislature will provide us with the tools we need to fight this war.” The solicitor’s office also said Sanderson’s family is expressing the need for more legal protections designed to criminalize narcotics distribution that results in death “Tara was a beautiful girl who loved gymnastics and cheerleading she always knew how to light up a room,” Sanderson’s father “This man took the one thing in my life that meant the most to me She was just a baby … no father should have to bury their child at the age of 15.” Rose was transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin his sentence Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here formerly of Celina and most recently of Tiffin she was the cherished daughter of Tom and Kathy (Eichenauer) Kimmel and Greg (Nanette) Kimmel of Upper Arlington A member of Grand Lake United Methodist Church in Celina Tara embodied a joyful spirit and a kind heart She found happiness in life’s simplest pleasures: riding her bike Tara also found fulfillment and camaraderie through her active involvement in the workshops at Mercer County Developmental Disabilities in Celina and the Tiffin Developmental Center in Tiffin Funeral services will take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday The family will welcome friends and loved ones for visitation at the church prior to the service A graveside service will be held on Monday at 10:00 AM at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford providing an opportunity for a final farewell Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Lake United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice honoring Tara’s generous and compassionate nature The family is being served by Cisco Funeral Homes of Celina and St who are honored to care for Tara and her loved ones please visit www.ciscofuneralhome.com or the Cisco Funeral Home Facebook page and gentle soul will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Calendar UC Riverside education professor Tara J. Yosso, has been named a 2025 fellow by the American Educational Research Association in recognition of her exceptional and sustained research contributions A professor and associate dean of academic personnel in the School of Education Yosso was among 29 education scholars selected as 2025 Fellows Nominated by peers and approved by the AERA Council the fellows will be inducted during a ceremony at the AERA Annual Meeting in Denver on April 24 “The 2025 AERA Fellows join a brilliant group of scholars and they are most deserving of this honor,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J “Their significant contributions to the education research field demonstrate the highest standards of academic excellence and scholarship.” The honor follows Yosso’s 2023 AERA Division G Distinguished Research Award - Lifetime Achievement Award which recognized the influence of her research on the social contexts of education Yosso has reframed the debate about educational inequality Her work weaves together multiple bodies of literature presenting evidence to debunk “deficit” presumptions about students of color ostensibly lacking the appropriate knowledge and networks necessary for academic achievement She developed a model that recognizes cultural knowledges and networks utilized by communities of color this model has been received as a paradigm shift for thinking about social structures Yosso is now doing research for a book that will map Hollywood portrayals of Latina/o and Black students from 1955-2007 It will examine how these images contribute to a distorted image of U.S tel: (951) 827-1012 email: webmaster@ucr.edu This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page TN went to be with the Lord on February 18 Tara loved spending her time riding horses James William Torbett; father James Hughes and step mother Katheryn Klause and Elmer Lotz and Emma and Willie Hughes; brothers Donald Lynn Torbett and Mark Anthony Hughes Vickie Conine and husband Robert of Riceville and Sheila Hughes of Florida; grandchildren Cayla Cordell; several nephews and other loved family and friends The family will have a Visitation on Monday February 24 2025 from 4:00-7:00pm at Companion Funeral Home of Athens You are invited to share a personal memory of Tara or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com Companion Funeral Home of Athens and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements Add to Calendar Companion Funeral & Cremation - Athens Add to Calendar It appears you're running on a very old web browser that we're unable to support If you would like to view the site you'll need to update your browser Please choose from any of the following modern browsers 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year finalist under contract with Spirit for next four seasons Washington, D.C. (01/07/2025) – The Washington Spirit and standout defender Tara McKeown have exercised the mutual 2028 option on McKeown’s contract McKeown and the Spirit agreed to the defender’s current contract late in the 2024 season “Tara will continue to be a very important part of the Spirit moving forward and we’re thrilled she will be staying with the club,” said President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian Women’s National Team this week and will take part in this month’s camp “I’m excited to lock in another year at this amazing club and looking forward to the next four seasons,” said McKeown McKeown attended the University of Southern California before being drafted by the Spirit with the eighth overall pick in 2021 McKeown tallied 33 goals and 28 assists in 76 appearances earning First Team All-American honors once and First Team All-Pac-12 honors twice in the process McKeown also earned a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team nod in 2017 and an All-Pac-12 Third Team nod in 2018 Three-time Division II national championship winning head coach Tara Zollinger has been named the University of Delaware head field hockey coach Revenue Generation & Sport Administration Jordan Skolnick announced Monday "Tara has a proven track record of winning and competing at the highest levels," Skolnick said and children Isra and Elias to the Blue Hen family It was clear that she is committed to providing a great student-athlete experience and has a strong vision for player development We are all looking forward to seeing Tara continue the rich history of success of our field hockey program." Zollinger comes to Newark after spending the previous eight seasons (2017-24) as the head coach at DII Shippensburg in Pennsylvania where she won national championships in 2017 She also led the Raiders to the 2022 national title game and semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024 "I am incredibly honored and excited to join the University of Delaware as the head field hockey coach," Zollinger said "Delaware field hockey has a rich tradition of excellence and I am eager to build upon that legacy alongside our talented student-athletes My goal is to foster a culture of hard work and a championship mindset – both on and off the field I am grateful for this opportunity and want to thank Jordan Skolnick, Chelsey Burk Jenn Judy and the entire search committee for believing in my vision for the program and entrusting me with this opportunity to lead the Blue Hen field hockey program." She has directed four National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year and a trio of NFHCA National Coaching Staffs of the Year.  "I want to express my gratitude to Ange Bradley for giving me my first coaching opportunity and for serving as a lifelong mentor," Zollinger said "Her support and encouragement has been invaluable and Ashley Grimm for providing me with monumental opportunities to grow as a coach and further my development during my time at Shippensburg University A special thank you to Missy Meharg for her continued support and insight over the course of my career I am forever grateful to the student-athletes and support staff I have had the honor of working with and commitment that I have been able to evolve into the coach I am today." Over the course of her eight seasons in Shippensburg Zollinger has produced 41 all-league players She's claimed four regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) titles and a pair of conference tournament titles she spent four seasons (2013-16) as an assistant coach at Syracuse where she worked for former Blue Hen and UD Athletics Hall of Fame inductee (2005) Ange Bradley She helped Bradley and the Orange to a national championship and both NFHCA regional and national coaching staff of the year awards Zollinger was a part of one the school's most successful seasons She helped instruct a 2015 team that posted a perfect 16-0 regular-season record – the first team in 25 seasons to achieve the feat 1-ranked Orange also swept the 2015 ACC postseason awards becoming the first team to do so since North Carolina in 1994 Zollinger also serves as a coach with USA Field Hockey She's held a number of roles including Nexus coach (2021-25) supplemental coach for the women's U21 team (2024) high performance mid-atlantic region coach (2017-19) U14 futures national championship coach (2016-17) and futures assistant coach (2010-14).  Zollinger served a two-year term (2017-18 and 2018-19) as the field hockey representative on the coaches' council for WeCOACH (formerly Alliance of Women Coaches) She was one of 15 coaches from across the country spanning all three NCAA divisions that served on the council serving as an ambassador in coaching communities and networks Zollinger graduated from WeCOACH Academy 2.0 She played college field hockey for former Blue Hen and UD Athletics Hall of Famer (1998) Missy Meharg at Maryland Zollinger was an attacker who won two NCAA Championships (2010 2010) – reaching the Final Four in all four of her collegiate seasons She received Maryland's Kateri Simon Award in 2012 recognizing an athlete that persevered in times of adversity and displayed courage while bringing positive energy to all team sessions Zollinger earned her undergraduate degree in sociology in 2013 and was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) She was also a development assistant with the University of Maryland Terrapin Club coordinating and organizing member and donor events She also holds two master's degrees in sport administration (2019) and sport and exercise psychology (2018) from Lock Haven Zollinger and her husband Eyoel have two children - Isra and Elias For the full story and more information about the University of Delaware field hockey program visit bluehens.com See More Stories Contact us at ocm@udel.edu Contact us at 302-831-NEWS or visit the Media Relations website Read the latest news about Tara Ocean Foundation and learn about future events Rivers are the main vector for transporting waste of human origin to the ocean they discharge a staggering 8 to 12 million tonnes of plastic debris which accumulates in all the world’s ecosystems and poses a risk to biodiversity the Microplastics Mission studied the origin and flows of plastic pollution in Europe’s major rivers One of the scientists’ expectations was to be able to quantify the density (number of plastic particles per unit volume) and mass (mass per unit volume) of microplastics in the Loire a total of 2,700 samples were taken off the estuaries upstream and downstream of the first major city encountered Since all the samples were taken using the same sampling methodology the scientists were able to compare the results from the estuaries of these 9 rivers Two sizes of microplastics were studied: large microplastics with a size between 0.5 and 5 mm and small microplastics with a size between 0.025 and 0.5 mm The results of these analyses are worrying: all the European rivers studied are polluted by microplastics The analyses show that small microplastics (between 0.025 and 0.5 mm) are up to 1,000 times more numerous and heavier than large microplastics on the surface of the 9 European rivers studied but these results show that they represent the hidden part of the iceberg Scientists underline their concern about these alarming concentrations in rivers These small microplastics are even more likely to be ingested at all levels of the food chain This discovery was made possible by an increase in technology and precision in analysis methods in particular by mass spectrometry after pyrolysis of microplastics a system that pushes back the limits to the infinitely small and is increasingly accurate in establishing mass balances As the Rhône has the highest freshwater input in the north-western Mediterranean basin scientists have adopted it as a basis for analysis to understand the mechanisms by which microplastics are discharged from a river into the ocean Using 3D simulation models to assess the dispersion of microplastics released by the Rhône The study showed that particles spread throughout the Mediterranean basin in less than a year More than half of the large floating microplastics are exported to the Algerian basin and further east Sinking microplastics remain closer to the mouth The distribution of small microplastics is much more homogeneous in the water column affecting all ecosystems from the surface to the depths The scientists also wanted to find out whether the origin of the pollution could influence its impact on ecosystems They did not observe any systematic impact of urban areas on the concentration of microplastics in the water No major differences were observed between the samples taken upstream and downstream of the largest city closest to the river outlets This can be explained by diffuse pollution which comes not only from discharges from upstream towns but also from agricultural land and the transport of small microplastics in the atmosphere The impact of microplastics on the aquatic fauna of rivers and the Ocean was assessed by exposing stranded plastic granules to mussels which are filter feeders that bio-accumulate microplastics as well as the chemical substances they may contain The analyses highlight the ‘pollutant sponge’ effect of plastics which combine with numerous harmful substances such as heavy metals They also highlight the toxic impact of chemicals added during the manufacture of plastics 3,000 of which are already recognised as toxic The impact of plastics is therefore not limited to the chemical composition of the plastic but also to the chemical cocktail that the plastic picks up It is therefore necessary to take into account the systemic dimension of plastic pollution (toxic ‘Plastisphere’ is a relatively new term used to describe the microorganisms that live on plastic waste in the environment the first pathogenic bacteria virulent to humans (Shewanella putrefaciens) was discovered on a microplastic This bacterium is responsible for bacteremia soft tissue infections and peritonitis in humans This study demonstrates the additional danger posed by the dispersal of microplastics in the environment which can spread pathogenic micro-organisms over long distances This discovery embodies the link between plastic pollution and global health establishing a close connection between environmental health and human health These plastic “rafts “encourage the transport of micro-organisms from one environment to another contributing to the spread of the environmental impact of plastic across different ecosystems A participatory science initiative with schoolchildren it compared the distribution of different sizes of waste (macro meso- and microplastics) on a wide range of French coastal shores and beaches abundance and types of stranded plastic is needed which have received less attention than coastal beaches which currently involves more than 15,000 schoolchildren a year (i.e has revealed major pollution in France by primary plastic granules This primary plastic forms the basis for the manufacture of plastic products marketed by the plastics industry The study showed that these industrial plastic granules make up a quarter of the large microplastics collected on the banks of rivers and along the French coastline The study also revealed that riverbanks are mainly polluted by single-use plastics while shorelines are covered with fragmented debris larger than 2.5 cm *Plastique à la loupe’ is a participatory science initiative involving schoolchildren run by the Tara Ocean Foundation in partnership with CEDRE the Microbial Oceanography Laboratory (CNRS) ADEME and the French Ministry of Education and Youth These studies show the extent of plastic pollution in rivers confirming the widespread pollution that had already been demonstrated in the oceans Scientists have shown a direct link between plastic production and environmental pollution Plastic production has increased by a factor of 2 in the last 15 years (from 200,000 to 400,000 tonnes of plastic produced per year) There is an urgent need to act to drastically reduce plastic production in order to limit pollution at source Plastic pollution in the ocean is ubiquitous with the majority of plastics present being very small This pollution can only increase with the predicted rise in global plastic production Plastics are also real vectors of chemical contamination accumulating and transporting a cocktail of toxic substances Action is urgently needed to incorporate the chemical dimension of plastics into environmental regulations this pollution represents a direct risk to human and environmental health The presence of pathogens on polluting plastics establishes a clear link between this pollution and the overall health of our planet jeopardising the balance of life as a whole There is an urgent need to take action to limit the health impact of plastic pollution which affects human health and the equilibrium of Life Tara Oper is a CPP student who majors in criminology graduating this spring who also played on the women’s soccer team Oper has been playing soccer since she was five She expresses how much she loved and enjoyed playing soccer at Cal Poly Pomona and how the environment has been nothing but amazing for her time at campus An amazing experience Tara had during her time at CPP was last season when the women’s soccer team won the NCAA finals.  “It’s still hard to wrap my head around it.” Oper said Not many people get to do it and even make it to the final four and even the smaller percentage of winning it in your final year of eligibility Oper expresses that one of her favorite moments on CPP’s soccer team was scoring the tying goal in the National Championship game against Minnesota State as well as setting up the penalty kick for her teammate giving them the opportunity to win the game 2-1 Oper explained how her teammates and coaches felt like a big family She mentions how well the coaches create a family-oriented environment resulting in one of the reasons why CPP soccer has been her favorite team As a student-athlete majoring in criminology she has ideas of what to do after she graduates Her main goal is to play soccer professionally and then she wants to pursue law to work with juveniles Oper explains that criminology is more than just crime as there are so many more topics and aspects that get covered in the field Gang and Swat Units as well as Law and Politics  “I wanted to take it because it was interesting and potentially what I wanted to do but I noticed I can do so much more with it.” Oper said Oper got the chance to do a research project that consisted of a case study and in-person interviews She explains how it was an experience and something she hasn’t ever done before Oper mentioned that the best part of her time studying criminology at CPP was taking classes with criminology professor Jose Juarez who used to work in the corrections department as well as other branches of the probation and parole system He would tell the class his actual experience working in each area as well as sharing first-hand accounts Oper also explained how Juarez’s insight to the class about his experience in those fields helped her get a better understanding of the certain branches she is interested in working for Being a student-athlete can be tough for students trying to balance academics But Oper explained how she was able to balance everything.  The first thing she had was soccer practice as well as lifting weights early in the morning Her coaches required each soccer player to use a planner and plan out their days ahead she provided advice for any student-athlete that may deal with obstacles in front of them while trying to balance everything out “It’s going to be stressful but it’s all going to be worth it in the end.” Oper said “Just being involved in college athletics no one really gets this opportunity so just have fun and enjoy the moment stay present and don’t stress about the little things and the pressure is a privilege.”   More details would help here.  What round of playoffs?  Against who?  How did the PK CPP women’s soccer team celebrated their 2024 NCAA Division II national championship at Bronco Bound with a trophy ceremony on April 12 Tara Haskins oversees partnerships to support AgriSafe’s Total Farmer Health initiative She is also responsible for AgriSafe’s mental health programming Tara contributes to curriculum design and implements new Total Farmer Health trainings that optimize and expand upon existing programs She collaborates with organizations and government agencies that are interested in using the Total Farmer Health model as a public health framework Tara has worked in healthcare as a registered nurse for 37 years with clinical experience in medical surgical crisis intervention and opioid and alcohol outpatient treatment Haskins worked for 11 years in academia as lead faculty in musculoskeletal and psychiatric mental health nursing content across three universities She served as a consultant for an award-winning rural school-based telehealth program in North Louisiana Haskins is a National Rural Health Association Fellow Safra Nurse Scholar from the Parkinson Foundation She is a member of  American Nurses Association American Association of Occupational Health Nurses the Society of Total Worker Health and the American Holistic Nurses Association Haskins holds a Master’s of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington in the Nurse Practitioner track with a concentration on substance use disorders and treatment and a Nurse Educator certificate Her doctorate is from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis in Nursing Forensics psychological trauma and legal issues in individual and population health She holds a board certification as an advanced holistic nurse through the American Holistic Nurses Association We use cookies to improve your experience Please read our Privacy Policy or click Accept.× Please read our Privacy Policy or click Accept Tara Turner was a stay-at-home mom for her two young daughters when she joined Stewart’s part time a couple nights a week During her 17 years with Stewart’s Shops Tara grew from a part-time closer and food safety team member and is now the manager of our recently reconstructed Weibel Avenue shop in Saratoga Springs “I came here for the flexibility,” Tara says “What began as a great part-time job The flexibility at Stewart’s makes it an easy company to work for Stewart’s employs more than 5,500 people in New York our manufacturing plant and more than 400 convenience stores Stewart’s offers a wide range of employment options from accounting and truckloading to shop partners truck drivers and the teams who produce our soups sandwiches and award-winning milk and ice cream “There are a lot of part-time options too,” Tara says “There are opportunities for morning shifts college students and others who might be looking to earn some extra cash.” she was able to take on more shifts and more responsibilities helped her grow personally and professionally Working for a company where the employees own 40% of the business is another benefit that makes Stewart’s so special Stewart’s and the Dake family have donated $9 million to charitable organizations for years and recently made the decision to increase the annual donations total to $12 million “It’s a good feeling to work for a company that gives so much not only to employees but the communities that Stewart’s is part of,” Tara says Convenience Store Website Design and Development by Mannix Marketing, Inc. Having trouble using this site? Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements. View Site Map 1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, Michigan USA 49307 (231) 591-2000 © Editor’s Note: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic’s new desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Peak aims to connect readers to ideas they can implement in their own personal and professional lives. Follow Peak here Tara VanDerveer’s curiosity has led her to countless unexpected situations From swimming laps between Olympians Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel to making her own CDs on the piano I really enjoy meeting people and learning new things.” When VanDerveer retired after the 2023-2024 basketball season she had won more games than any college coach in history As a head coach for 45 years at three different schools VanDerveer racked up 1,216 wins (now second only to Geno Auriemma) won three national championships at Stanford and was named the national coach of the year five times it became clear that VanDerveer cared as much about leadership as results so much that she’s working on a book about leadership and teamwork making her the ideal person for Peak’s first Q&A about growth mindset and what it takes to be successful Curiosity is not just VanDerveer’s defining characteristic; it’s the backbone of her leadership VanDerveer has leaned heavily on her desire to learn from every person and situation often applying those takeaways to her own career she valued the importance of relationships and connections and only if she really knew her players and coaches did she feel like she could give honest she learned she would never connect with everyone so the most important thing for her was to always remain authentic “And we have a little saying: ‘Do your best and forgive the rest.’” How do you think your curiosity factors into your own leadership style I don’t feel like I have to be the smartest one in the room But I was always interested in learning more about the game and studying the game and the strategies of the game I’ll give you one example of exactly how I think of leadership I took flute lessons from the number one flute teacher in the country He was at Indiana University and I took lessons from him there was a top teacher who was really demanding “I’m not playing anymore.” And I loved playing the flute and I loved playing in the orchestra And I’ll teach myself.” My sister Heidi got me a keyboard for Christmas and within two weeks I realized I couldn’t teach myself so I went out and vetted different people about who to get as a piano teacher let’s just play duets.” I looked forward to my lessons; I loved them And what I realized about a great teacher and a great leader is that they take you to some place that you can’t go by yourself This teacher was so phenomenal and I still have three great CDs that I love listening to and people were just amazed I want to be a coach that I want to play for but the connections I have with my former players I just really love the chance to get to know them and be someone who can take them somewhere that they couldn’t go by themselves Your story is such a good example of how forms of good leadership can be found anywhere when you came back from coaching the women’s team at the Atlanta Olympics you spoke about the importance of the journey rather than the outcome I think there was tremendous pressure on that team to win the gold medal but you’re going to learn lessons either way I think the lesson of that gold medal was that there was nothing that was going to stop that team from winning the gold medal It was incredible because everyone bought in at a really high level I never had to take one player aside for one day or one minute and say you need to shape up.” But the journey was very demanding I like watching the very best of just about any sport Our synchronized swimming team won a national championship they’ve won five (consecutive) national championships When you look at the very best of something It goes back to curiosity and how you think you can always learn something from watching people I would love to know what you wanted to be when you were growing up so coaching was not an option because that wasn’t something that even existed I’ll major in pre-med and go to medical school.” But I had a falling out with chemistry I really loved biology and I liked physics but I’m more of a history and english person if I’m honest because I like to read So I majored in sociology with a minor in psychology And I ended up falling into coaching backwards because my sister’s high school team needed some help And you know how timing in life is everything My timing was bad for playing but really good for coaching I ended up going to the Cathy Rush basketball camps and working at the basketball camps I had a job from 6 in the morning until noon checking IDs at the rec center but then I ended up going to graduate school at Ohio State and I was a JV coach there and varsity assistant I had my job in Idaho and then it just happened I never thought I was going to be a basketball coach because there weren’t coaches at the time I’d like to write a book about you.” I was like so let’s do one about coaching and involve all the Stanford coaches and pick their brains.” So it will be about leadership I’m sure the process of writing this book in some ways has caused you to reflect a lot What’s your favorite memory or story from your journey of coaching what popped into my head right away was a young lady that I coached at Stanford She called me one hour after she had her first child and I’m like “I wanted to share this with you!” That is something that has really stuck with me. She’s just a really dynamic woman and to be part of people’s lives is what we it’s a very interesting time right now in college athletics We live in a time now where it’s all about the portal and NIL money I think NIL is a valuable thing for student athletes how are you going to have real relationships with your teammates and coaches Where is the resilience and the determination And when people are paid to do volunteer work So I just think in some ways the current athletic landscape is twisted and I don’t know that what is happening is always in the best interest of anyone How do you think we could move in a positive direction with all this If you’re a young person in a situation that is not going how you want it to go and not just throw the baby out with the bathwater Can this situation help me achieve my goals?” There is always going to be a thorn with every rose But you want the rose to be bigger than the thorn be in touch with themselves about what is important and what their priorities are Like when I said my piano teacher took me to a place I couldn’t get to myself There’s no basketball player out there who can get to the top by themselves We’ve talked so much about what you’ve learned over the years but if you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would you have benefitted from hearing the most I think that probably if you’re a coach and you do what I did for 40 years I think you internalize a lot of pressure to win You just do it to yourself because you’re competitive But if there was one thing I could tell my younger self it would be to turn the temperature down in situations Not look for ways to escalate confrontation because sometimes you get into it and you get upset and maybe you do things later on that you regret Sometimes I think your strengths are your weaknesses I would be introspective and if I felt like I was going off track I would ask for help and try to get back on track I think the hard thing is that with a lot of young people in sports there’s a gap between where they are and where they think they are you have players and parents who are delusional about their own abilities I like players who really give themselves up for a team but those are the players I’ve always worked best with Elise Devlin is a writer for Peak, The Athletic’s new desk covering leadership, personal development and success. She last wrote about how ESPN analyst Jay Williams juggles so many roles. Follow Peak here (Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Brandon Vallance / Getty Images) Elise Devlin is a content producer for Peak The Athletic's new vertical covering sports leadership she worked as a TV news reporter and anchor for WSPA 7NEWS at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg She was also preceded in death by her two brothers Tara is survived by her loving husband of 44 years retiring after 25 years of dedicated service with Wells Fargo Bank and later spending 8 years with Primerica she loved gathering for family dinners and playing cards She treasured her time with the "Lunch Bunch" crew sharing meals and stories with close friends and held a special bond with her longtime neighbor and dear friend She was an avid birdwatcher and lover of all animals She cherished annual trips to the Poconos or the Great Smoky Mountains each fall with her husband and all who had the privilege of knowing her A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m interment will take place in Southlawn Memorial Park The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m please consider making a donation to your local ASPCA in her honor Alvin Small Funeral Homes - Colonial Heights Chapel