Stephen Kamnik allegedly committed the crimes using Commonwealth devices HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the filing of new charges against a Pennsylvania State Police Corporal who kept a cache of pornography including child sexual abuse material and lewd images and videos he created using artificial intelligence Stephen Kamnik allegedly created the material while on-duty at Montgomery County barracks Kamnik is also charged with secretly filming dozens of individuals he came into contact with while on police duty and with repeatedly entering a women’s locker room at state police barracks and taking photos in consultation with the Office of Attorney General charged Kamnik on Wednesday with numerous felonies was arraigned Wednesday on the new charges “This defendant swore an oath to protect and serve the people of the Commonwealth and in doing so was entrusted with resources to uphold that oath he used his power and the trust placed in him to prey on innocent and unsuspecting coworkers and create sexually abusive material some involving depictions of children,” Attorney General Sunday said “His alleged conduct is an affront to Pennsylvania State Police Troopers and law enforcement officers everywhere who honorably protect our communities every day.” Kamnik was previously charged with felony unauthorized use of a computer and misdemeanor misapplication of entrusted property Those charges were withdrawn and replaced with the new charges An investigation by the Internal Affairs Division of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Attorney General revealed that Kamnik allegedly misused Commonwealth computer resources for years for his own personal sexual gratification including the creation of A.I.-generated pornography of numerous female citizens of Pennsylvania His cellphone and an external hard drive from his home revealed evidence that he also used a secured database to obtain hundreds of photographs — in violation of JNET usage policies Among the materials investigators found was a “deepfake” video of a Montgomery County magisterial district judge during a court proceeding Investigators also discovered that Kamnik had a .22-caliber handgun which was reported stolen from a burglary in Berks County in 2010 The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General James Price of the Public Corruption Section and Deputy Attorney General Kimberly Moraski of the Child Predator Section are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty Contact Us Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative A high-ranking Pennsylvania State Police officer is accused of keeping a cache of pornography and lewd images and videos he created using artificial intelligence Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday alleges that Cpl created the material while on duty at the Montgomery County barracks in Schwenksville using state-owned devices Kamnik is also accused of secretly filming dozens of individuals he came into contact with while on duty and repeatedly entering a women’s locker room at state police barracks and taking photos More Local News Warminster man facing drug charges after he failed to pay his hotel bill. What happened charged Kamnik on Wednesday with more than 550 felony counts including charges for sexual abuse of children His bail is set at $500,000 cash and he was taken to Montgomery County Correctional Center did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Wednesday An investigation by the state police Internal Affairs Division and the Office of Attorney General revealed that Kamanik allegedly misused state-owned computer resources for his own sexual gratification including the creation of A.I.-generated pornography of many Pennsylvania women His cellphone and an external hard drive from his home allegedly revealed evidence that he also used a secured database Among the materials investigators found was a so-called “deepfake” video of a Montgomery County magisterial district judge during a court proceeding reported stolen from a 2010 burglary in Berks County some involving depictions of children,”  Sunday said Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com ShareSaveCommentLifestyle20 Years Of Vranec At Chateau Kamnik: A Talk With The WinemakerVranec, the uniquely Balkan grape, makes fantastic wines for ageing and for drinking. Sandra Georgievska, winemaker at Chateau Kamnik, a leading producer, explains.ByPer and Britt Karlsson Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Britt & Per Karlsson write on wine and wine travel 11:58am EDTShareSaveComment@font-face{font-family: "Schnyder"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Euclid"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/euclidcircularb/euclidcircularb-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/euclidcircularb/euclidcircularb-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Schnyder"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-light-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-light-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-regular-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-regular-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Euclid"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/euclidcircularb/euclidcircularb-regular-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .color-accent{color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .headline-embed.bg-accent #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .bg-accent{background-color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .headline-embed.color-base #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .color-base{color: #FFFFFF;} #article-stream-0 .headline-embed.bg-base #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .bg-base{background-color: #FFFFFF;} #article-stream-0 .headline-embed.font-base #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .font-base{font-family: Schnyder,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} #article-stream-0 .headline-embed.font-size #article-stream-0 .headline-embed .font-size{font-size: 54px;} #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed.color-accent #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed .color-accent{color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed.bg-accent #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed .bg-accent{background-color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed.font-accent #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed .font-accent{font-family: Euclid,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed.font-size #article-stream-0 .subhead-embed .font-size{font-size: 26px;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.color-body #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .color-body{color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.color-body-border{border-top-color: rgba(51,51,51 #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .color-body-border{border-top-color: rgba(51,51,51 0.8);} .bg-body{background-color: #333333;} #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed.font-accent #article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .font-accent{font-family: Euclid,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.color-accent #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .color-accent{color: #FFFFFF;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.bg-accent #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .bg-accent{background-color: #FFFFFF;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.color-base #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .color-base{color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.bg-base #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .bg-base{background-color: #000000;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.font-accent #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .font-accent{font-family: Schnyder,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} #article-stream-0 .quote-embed.font-size p #article-stream-0 .quote-embed .font-size p{font-size: 36px;}Chateau Kamnik One of the pioneers of wine in North Macedonia is Chateau Kamnik This year it celebrates its twentieth anniversary It was founded in 2004 and made its first wine in 2008 it is one of the leading producers of quality vranec in this Balkan country where wine has been made for thousands of years a pioneer in a country with millennia-long wine history It is a story that is similar to that of many of the countries in central and eastern Europe the wine industry still existed but was focused on making large quantities of cheap wines It was the production model of the Soviet Union This virtually eliminated quality winemaking which was only revived after the fall of the Iron Curtain it was similar but different; it was part of Yugoslavia It was only after Yugoslavia disintegrated in the early 1990s and its provinces became independent countries (North Macedonia Slovenia) that quality again became important it was barely ten years later that it was founded Chateau Kamnik is today one of the leading producers of vranec wines in Macedonia vranec being the emblematic grape of the country Attesting to its quality is the fact that in the Balkan Vranec Selection by CMB competition that took place in late 2023 one of Kamnik’s wines was awarded a gold medal and named one of five “revelations” at the occasion of the Vranec Selection by CMB competition I had the opportunity to meet with Chateau Kamnik’s winemaker one of the few (too few) women winemakers I’ve encountered in Macedonia I wanted to ask Sandra some questions about vranec so we sat down in a corner of their winery each with a glass of Kamnik’s vranec in our hands celebrating its 20th anniversary and Sandra has been there for fourteen years almost (but not quite) from the very first vintage which is why she says 13 and not 14 as it is today.) Vranec is a grape variety quite unique to the Balkans Several of the countries mentioned above grow it It often gives quite powerful wines with very dark colour and full-bodied with plenty of tannins to give structure It is generally a wine that goes well with grilled meat the styles differ; you can even find lighter styles that are excellent for poolside drinking (although that would be unusual) Many famous people have visited Chateau Kamnik: I asked Sandra Georgievska if she would agree with me that vranec is like the soul of Macedonian wines it's very difficult for making wine because it's very wild; in the process of fermentation and in ageing process – every day is different.” In other words it is a grape that can give outstanding results you have to know what you do and control the winemaking process and not let the wine run away from you “You can make vranec for everyday drinking and vranec to drink one glass at the end of the dinner with a cigar or selected cheeses vranec is a very blessed variety to make different types of wine Watch the whole interview with Sandra Georgievska on this video: then is it Sandra tries to bring out in her vranec wines “I want it to taste in harmony like every other wine you have to feel the muscles and the heavy body and the oiliness and concentration of the anthocyans to feel the harmony and not feel the alcohol Like in amarone-style — there you feel the alcohol and sugar But here (in vranec) you feel the freshness It was very nicely said by one of the masters of wines: it is an iron fist in a velvet glove.” Vranec/vranac grapes on a vine in North Macedonia ready for harvest does it have any particular challenges for a winemaker “Comparing it with different varieties like syrah and merlot – (with these varieties) you know what will happen in fermentation and after fermentation.” But vranec is not so easy… Sandra continues you will think it needs sulphites to conserve the wine you need to bring oxygen for it to open up it just needs patience and time and proper ageing in barrels.” it certainly seems like a complicated wine to make But one that is definitely worth the while not only from the winemaker but also from the consumer It can be a fabulous wine for ageing in the cellar Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardPa State Police corporal created thousands of deepfake porn images AG saysStephen Kamnik secretly recorded coworkers and women he met on the job and used those images along with mug shots and driver's license photos to create deepfake porn A Pennsylvania State Police corporal stationed at the Troop K barracks in Skippack used his department-issued computer to create deepfake pornography of multiple women including coworkers and women he met while on duty Investigators also found that Stephen Kamnik secretly recorded his coworkers and other women and filmed himself breaking into a female locker room at the barracks to rifle through his coworkers’ underwear And Kamnik also downloaded and viewed child pornography “This defendant swore an oath to protect and serve the people of the Commonwealth and in doing so was entrusted with resources to uphold that oath,” Sunday said in a statement He also faces charges for possessing a .22-caliber pistol that prosecutors say was reported stolen in 2012 He remained in custody Wednesday with bail set at $500,000 The investigation into Kamnik began in November when state police officials noticed that the computer assigned to him had been using an unusually high amount of internet bandwidth according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest investigators found that he was using it to run a side business in which he hosted and sold website domains But investigators said further analysis revealed much more Evidence on the computer showed that Kamnik had been connecting an external hard drive to it on which they later learned he had been storing thousands of images of pornography 3,000 were deepfakes that Kamnik created by digitally superimposing the photos of women he met on the job onto the bodies of naked women Some of that deepfake pornography was based on images of a 12-year-old girl Kamnik used photos from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s driver’s license database as well as mug shots and other images stored in a law enforcement database Other files found on the computer depicted videos that Kamnik surreptitiously recorded on his cell phone in which he filmed his female coworkers at the barracks He also recorded videos of women he met while on duty including women involved in domestic-violence investigations and assault cases Kamnik sometimes made the women open their mouths and stick out their tongues gestures that investigators said served no purpose other than to satisfy his sexual urges Kamnik recorded himself with a male suspect detained at the barracks Kamnik accessed his phone illegally and recorded himself looking at multiple nude videos and photos of the man’s wife that had been stored on the phone He later secretly recorded the man’s wife when she came to the station After seizing Kamnik’s personal phone as part of their investigation detectives also found that he routinely searched for images of preteen girls and had two images of a nude girl between the ages of 7 and 9 saved on the device He is scheduled to appear before a district judge for a preliminary hearing on May 5 Hiking my first mountain as a broke student was a revelation one that has often helped me face up to personal struggles I live in northern Slovenia, in the medieval town of Kamnik This town lends its name to one of the three Alpine ranges that overlook the territory of Slovenia They might not have the country’s highest peaks I have been looking at one of their most distinguishing features be it from the village where I grew up or from Ljubljana where I lived for a couple of years This saddle became the backdrop to the story of my life Despite always having the Alps within reach and living in a town known for its mountaineers, I ignored them for a long time. Even though they were right in front of my eyes, it is only recently that they have become fundamental to my very existence. And now no summer is complete without strenuous hikes into their dramatic interior My focus when I was growing up turned south to the Adriatic coast because this was my family’s – my parents’ the warmth of the sea over the Alpine breeze the sound of cicadas over the cackling of birds of prey the sea meant sweaty leisure and mountains meant sweaty exertion my family’s slight aversion to hiking and mountain climbing had to do with the simple fact that their daily jobs were already physically and mentally taxing; who in their right mind would want to exert themselves even more by walking a steep hill for four hours with at least 6kg on their back They were so invested in the idea of rest and relaxation they always managed to justify the (high) price of their Adriatic fantasies the sum of their travel and accommodation expenses as well as the costs of eating out most of the time I naturally had no choice but to go – to rest and relax – with them what finally propelled me to walk my first mountain was my first financial crisis that began in 2006 and extended well into the global financial crisis of 2007-8 but still tried to make some sense of my summer – I yearned to go somewhere nice to experience something that wouldn’t depress me even more I could have chosen to visit galleries and museums of modern and contemporary art Even if they came in the form of an open-air event Somewhere nice was a stand-in for spaces outside direct human action hiking in the mountain range that was comically close to where I lived presented itself as the best idea but also cheap to organise: you only needed enough water rucksack – which I borrowed; since I didn’t want to end up calling for search and rescue Luckily, I reached the summit of Brana (2,253m) in one piece Contrary to how I might have looked sitting there under the blazing sun – tired a little shocked – I was experiencing what I hadn’t experienced in a long while feeling tired and shocked were on my “broke menu” daily It was not (only) the altitude that enabled that giggly state it was the privilege of encountering and absorbing such immense the colonies of lush shrubs growing among boulders the shy demeanour of snakes and the silence Growing up as a creature of the Adriatic coast I had no idea the world could be so vibrant Free weekly newsletterThe most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment Read moreWhat I have noticed in recent years is that my hiking adventures come as binges I undergo these intense periods when I feel I absolutely must hike or climb I absolutely must expose myself to that immense arresting beauty if I wish to face up to both personal struggles such as the rise of fascist discourse and politics I must do it in order to remain a proper human who is able to offer attentive care to myself and others to me the beauty of the Alps is larger than the beauty of a novel A lot of us were probably taught to disregard the failings and even the cruelties of artists in order to still be able to enjoy their art but the beauty of the mountains requires no such tiresome negotiations one that can be absorbed directly through the eyes It is exactly the encounter with that simplicity that creates an overwhelming sense of calm and comes as a relief to me Some may call that relief a form of meditation these encounters will remain incredibly important to me I suggest you search for them yourself if you can Just remember: hiking in the mountains might be free but they will always demand at least a little bit of your humility the landscape fades from green to russet and soon the mountains will be blanketed in snow Sara Hutinski (2nd L) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Shainah Joseph (3rd L) of FC Porto spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Victoria Pinto (L) of FC Porto spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Players of Calcit Kamnik celebrate scoring during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Shainah Joseph (Top R) of FC Porto spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Masa Pucelj (Front R) of Calcit Kamnik bounces the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Masa Pucelj (R) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Mika Grbavica (R) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Shainah Joseph (R) of FC Porto spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana Gabriela Coelho (L) of FC Porto spikes the ball during the CEV Champions League Volley 2025 Women between Calcit Kamnik and FC Porto in Ljubljana People wearing Italian traditional costumes dance during the parade of the 51st National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Day in Kamnik The 51st National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Day ended Sunday in Kamnik with a traditional parade during which about 2,000 participants dressed in national costumes walking through the center of Kamnik A boy wearing traditional shepherd's costume participates in the parade of the 51st National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Day in Kamnik A boy wearing Slovenian traditional costume participates in the parade of the 51st National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Day in Kamnik A young lady offers a flower from a passing carriage during the parade of the 51st National Costumes and Clothing Heritage Day in Kamnik Nivaldo Diaz Gomez (R) of Benfica spikes the ball during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Kelvin Nwachukwu (R) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Players of Calcit Kamnik celebrate scoring during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Tomas Teixeira of Benfica digs the ball during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Jurij Oman (C) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Players of Benfica celebrate scoring during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik instructs players during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik Maj Nanut (1st L) of Calcit Kamnik spikes the ball during the round of 64 match between Calcit Kamnik and Benfica between at the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 in Kamnik 2025 at 10:16 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Stephen M a corporal with Pennsylvania State Police Troop K is charged with felony unauthorized use of a computer and misdemeanor misapplication of entrusted property PA — A Pennsylvania State Police corporal from Delaware County used his work computer to store thousands of pornographic images including A.I.-generated pornographic media according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office when investigators seized his work station containing a hard drive with thousands of pornographic files Attorney General Michelle Henry's office said Thursday The hard drive also contained evidence that some of the pornographic media was produced utilizing software to create "deepfakes," artificial images/videos that are created using a person’s photo or video Kamnik is charged with felony unauthorized use of a computer and misdemeanor misapplication of entrusted property Pennsylvania State Police filed the charges He surrendered Wednesday and was arraigned on the charges Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. state trooper had thousands of AI-generated porn images on his work computer Kamnik was charged with unauthorized used of a computer and related crimes A Pennsylvania State Police corporal was suspended after authorities said they found thousands of AI-generated porn images on his work computer who was stationed at Troop K in Schwenksville surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was released on unsecured bail of $1,000 Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement was charged with felony unauthorized use of a computer and related crimes by the Pennsylvania State Police Authorities seized Kamnik’s work computer and found thousands of pornographic files on the hard drive artificial images or videos generated using photos or videos of a real person could not be immediately reached for comment No attorney for him was listed in court records the Pennsylvania State Police said that maintaining the public’s trust was crucial and that they filed the charges against Kamnik swiftly and referred the case to Henry’s office A visitor is pictured at the rose garden in the Volcji Potok Arboretum near Kamnik in Slovenia About 1,200 rose cultivars were on display at the Volcji Potok Arboretum.(Photo: Xinhua) A rose is pictured at the Volcji Potok Arboretum near Kamnik in Slovenia People enjoy themselves at the rose garden in the Volcji Potok Arboretum near Kamnik in Slovenia Play the WILL AM news & talk livestream Play the WILL FM classical and more livestream Betsy Crosswhite says it felt like a punch in the gut when her son’s school closed to limit the spread of the coronavirus That’s when she realized she would need to become her son Shane’s teacher and therapist.  Crosswhite and her family live in Wilmette On the last day of March, Illinois schools shifted all instruction to e-learning or remote learning days. A directive from the Illinois State Board of Education says the goal is to get educational opportunities to students by any means possible. The state recently published recommendations for best practices including for students with disabilities.  that transition from parent to teacher isn’t an easy one relies on a schedule and he struggles when his routine is disrupted “So his recreational activities all shut down his therapies decided to shut down and he really can’t receive occupational therapy via telehealth services and speech therapy is also hard for him via (video conferencing),” she says.  Most Illinois school districts use some form of digital learning service to communicate with students including the video conferencing service Zoom or a Google classroom But Crosswhite says screens are particularly challenging for Shane She says like many children with special needs works on a cut and paste project at his home in Wilmette “Whatever iPad time he has it's really closely monitored by me,” Crosswhite says “And I only give him about 15 minutes a day So e-learning for him that first week was a real challenge And I kind of cried uncle early on saying it's too hard for him He doesn't understand why he's not in school He doesn't understand why he's seeing his teacher on a video and not in person And it led to crying fits and all that stuff.” Shane attends New Trier Township High School in Winnetka Crosswhite says they tried a video conference with a speech therapist from school “It was me chasing him around with the camera while (the speech therapist) is trying to even do one or two things for him And it just didn't work out,” she says “It's exhausting because it's 24/7 Crosswhite says her son sees the people in his life in specific roles It’s hard for him to adjust when they take on roles he’s not used to “So it is a challenge and we're having to really break down those barriers for him and I think it's really uncomfortable for him It's not the norm of what I'm asking him to do and pushing him to do.” Most special needs kids have what are called individualized education plans IEPs are legal documents that lay out a program to meet a child’s unique needs They include goals and objectives tailored to each student Crosswhite says she took a look at Shane’s IEP goals recently.  “I just think we all have to anticipate that he's not going to meet them this year And we'll have to sort of do a redo for next year,” she says Lauren Kamnik is home alone with her three children in Deerfield She says trying to give her children individualized attention is nearly impossible.  these are very long days,” she says.  Kamnik’s children attend Deerfield Public School District 109 or GATAD2B-associated neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an intellectual disability and difficulty with speech.  “He’s in a classroom where he’s learning how to wash his hands and brush your teeth and money and that kind of thing And he's not learning those skills (right now),” Kamnik says.  He normally attends a therapeutic day school.  “He's in an environment where they're trying to get them socially and emotionally regulated And he's not getting that right now,” Kamnik says.  Kamnik says she relies on her children’s school district to provide the interventions and support her sons need My son (Wesley) was nonverbal and because of speech therapy These things make a difference,” she says Kamnik also relies on the school day to get a break for herself She says managing three children as a single parent it’s taking a toll on her mental health whether it's a car ride to work or just time to decompress and take a break You don't have it at all,” Kamnik says “I feel myself spiraling into sadness and depression I think everybody in the country is sad because it’s a very lonely ‘The system just doesn’t work for him’ Tia Hartsell and her partner are both essential workers Hartsell is a social worker at a nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities But he just doesn't really get social stuff very well super high energy,” Hartsell says.  Haden attends the Urbana School District 116 and spends half his day at a program that provides services for young children with autism Hartsell says her son thrives in a one-on-one learning environment which he’s not getting now.  "He can't really do the online learning stuff because he literally needs somebody right there with him to be able to get him to really focus on that and do it There's just no way that I can do that like all the time.” Hartsell’s partner works nights and is home during the day but can’t provide the attention Haden needs Hartsell says she doesn’t have time or the energy to work with him during the evenings.  Hartsell says the Urbana school district has done a great job providing parents with resources “The problem is we’re not teachers,” she says “And the system just doesn’t work for him Sit down at a computer — he just can’t do it on his own And we don’t have the ability to do it to the degree that he needs it but there's not much they can do either.” Hartsell also worries the progress Haden has made will erode the longer students remain out of school “I'm just terrified that he's just going to go back after months and months and months of no structure and you know that it's just going to be like starting from ground zero again,” she says ‘They don’t have that structure’  Cindy Kline (left) is a special education teacher at Triad Community Unit School District 2 in Troy Tina Murray (right) is a teacher's aide who works with Kline special education teachers across the state have struggled to teach their students.  Cindy Kline works with special education students in the Triad Community Unit School District 2 located east of St She’s set up a Google classroom for her students But Kline says talking to kids while they’re at home can’t recreate the classroom they don't have all the things that we spent all year setting in place to keep them focused And so then that escalates into problems with parents or them getting behind or them getting stressed and that makes it difficult,” she says Kline says she’s changed the way she teaches now It’s less about meeting their IEP goals and more about making sure they’re OK She recently asked her students to write journal entries as a school assignment.  “But I don't go in and work on the things I normally would work on,” she says “I don't highlight their capitalization and punctuation and all those things.. I write back to them just like it was a letter and I encourage them to go outside and get some sunshine… because I don't want them getting in a funk and getting depressed.” It’s not just the students who might be depressed says she finds solace in social media groups for parents of special needs children “It's nice that I have a bunch of friends that I can pull up and be like ‘I've hit my wall.’ And they can't do anything but at least they talk you through it and make you laugh,” she says.  Follow Lee Gaines on Twitter: @LeeVGaines College of Media Slovenia was full of microbreweries with around 200 in operation The microbreweries were gradually bought up and closed down by the two national beer giants the town of Kamnik is a haven for microbreweries entering a bar in Slovenia and ordering a beer was only a question of choosing red (the color of the Union can) or green (the Lasko) a few pizza pubs started making beer alongside local independent microbrewers there are between 60 and 80 microbreweries in Slovenia many of which can be found in the city of Kamnik The reason there are so many microbreweries concentrated in Kamnik comes down to one thing: its water Water is crucial in beer-making because of its calcium Calcium determines the "hardness" of water and helps to define the flavor and clarity in a finished beer In Kamnik—where oddly enough the water quality changes just a short drive out of town—water quality plays a big role in the number of microbreweries popping up You can taste the local beers at Gostilna Korobac or Pub Pub Skalo For more information or for beer-related tours Some of the best renditions of traditional British dishes can be found on the site of a 15th-century inn Grab a pint of British-brewed ale or cider and a hot roast pork bap at this quintessential London pub this craft brewery draws on European beer-making and West African palm wine-fermenting techniques This convenience store-turned-brewpub serves up inventive Indian cuisine and a wide selection of beers This landmark honoring a local beer brand is an iconic part of the Minneapolis skyline Catch a live show while drinking cocktails made with local spirits Luxembourg's first beer museum honors the Grand Duchy's contributions to the art and science of beer-production “The Cajun Music Capital of the World” has kept things French in a Louisiana prairie town for over 75 years Slovenia – The venue known today as Dom kulture Kamnik (DKK) located to the north of Ljubljana in Slovenia was built in 1953 as part of the Kamnik Chemical Industry DKK was designed to be a cultural entertainment centre to serve the local community Although the main stage incorporated hoists the venue was primarily used as a movie theatre until it temporarily closed its doors in 1991 With the idea of revitalising live performances came the decision to renovate the building including the recent installation of a stage machinery system from ETC Rigging a ColorSource Raceway prewired power and data distribution system we were at DKK installing an ETC ColorSource ThruPower system for dimming and an Element console,” says Ivan Franinović “We were asked by Primož Jeras – the man holds together this venue in every technical respect – to come up with some ideas for replacing the hoists “As demand to see theatre shows was growing the risks associated with using 70-year-old counterweight hoists were also increasing No disrespect to the original stage builders but the hoist structure was made of wood and pipes hanging on hemp ropes and together they worked on design proposals including Prodigy P2 They were mindful of minimising any negative effects of installing a modern hoist system in a venue of this age particularly with its local historic importance there were no structural calculations available the greatest challenge was to establish the possibility of hanging the desired weight according to today’s safety standards the Prodigy P2 with compression tube was the best solution to integrate with the old building structure The second challenge was to design a structural support for the new hoists capable of carrying the required loads and find a way to manoeuvre the steel support structure into the building the decision was made to install an ETC Prodigy P2 stage machinery system The biggest challenge then was the race against time with delays resulting from the pandemic “There were nine original rope counterweight hoists that needed to be replaced and two of them had to be electric lighting hoists,” notes Franinović “The Prodigy P2 system with QuickTouch Preset was one of the best options available Although there were other hoists that could potentially work for this project Prodigy P2 was certainly the best combination of standard and safe structural components to get the project running in just a matter of days.” The Prodigy P2 System is designed and built to meet the European Standard EN17206:2022 for Stage Machinery and TÜV Certified according to DGUV-17-28 (BGV-C1) It enables the creation of a complete stage machinery system simply and without expensive expansion costs complete-package solution offers a 300kg ELL lifting capacity making it a good choice for venues with medium travel heights the complete stage machinery installation comprised a Prodigy P2 system with compression tube Helix cable management and ColorSource Raceway prewired power and data distribution system This was combined with a ETC QuickTouch Preset controller with the connection of a simple CAT5e control cable without needing additional equipment or cables to commission or run “The QuickTouch Preset controller is easy to use and is user-definable,” says Franinović “It also perfectly integrates with ETC Element console Magic Sheets so the lighting operator can have an overview of hoist heights and light intensity at the same time the software is constantly evolving and no doubt there will be even more useful features added in the future.” © 1999 - 2025 ET Press Ltd News Stories • Slovenia’s Calcit Kamnik win women’s MEVZA League title • RSU/MSG Riga become the second Latvian team ever to win the women’s Baltic League • Estonia’s Selver/TalTech Tallinn triumph in the men’s Baltic League Three zonal/regional club volleyball competitions in Europe crowned their 2024 champions last week Slovenia’s Calcit Kamnik claimed the women’s MEVZA League trophy while Latvia’s RSU/MSG Riga and Estonia’s Selver/TalTech Tallinn triumphed in the women’s and the men’s Baltic League A captivating gold medal showdown crowned the two-day women’s Middle European Volleyball Zonal Association (MEVZA) League Final Four tournament in Maribor Calcit Kamnik came back from a set down twice during the match against Croatia’s Mladost Zagreb to triumph with a 3-2 (19-25 15-8) victory and collect the club’s fourth zonal title 18-year-old outside hitter Masa Pucelj led Calcit with 19 points while Mladost’s 21-year-old opposite Andrea Mihaljevic produced the match high of 21 points Calcit defeated Final Four hosts Nova KBM Branik Maribor in an emphatic 3-0 (25-16 while Mladost beat Hungary’s Swietelsky-Bekescsaba in straight sets picked up the bronze on Sunday after a 3-1 (25-14 Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb and Austria’s Oberbank Steelvolleys Linz/Steg also took part in the main phase of the MEVZA League Calcit Kamnik’s team roster A post shared by MEVZA (@mevzavolley) RSU/MSG Riga became the second Latvian team ever to win the women’s Baltic League 25-19) victory over Estonia’s TU/Bigbank Tartu led by 16-year-old middle blocker Karmena Struka who secured 16 points The TalTech sports hall in the Estonian capital hosted the Final Fours in both the women’s and the men’s Baltic League on Friday and Saturday 25-22) semifinal win over hosts TalTech Tallinn while Bigbank Tartu won an epic 3-2 (22-25 15-10) battle with fellow Estonians Rae Spordikool/Viaston The bronze went to TalTech Tallinn after a 3-1 (25-20 25-16) victory over Rae Spordikool/Viaston in the third-place match A total of 10 teams took part in the women’s Baltic League this season – four Estonian Karmena Struka was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league outside hitters Nette Peit (TalTech) and Agija Ankevica (RSU/MSG) middle blockers Liisbet Pill (TU/Bigbank) and Katriin Pold (TalTech) and libero Kadri Kangro (TU/Bigbank) made up the tournament’s Dream Team RSU/MSG Riga’s team roster A post shared by Volejbols Latvija (@volejbolslv) The men’s Final Four also took place at the TalTech hall Hosts Selver/TalTech Tallinn claimed the Baltic League trophy for the eighth time after coming back from a set down twice in Saturday’s all-Estonian final (pictured in the main photo; credits: TalTech Volleyball) The winners faced Bigbank Tartu in the final 15-12) victory in front of over 1,200 spectators in the stands 26-year-old Australian opposite Matthew Aubrey contributed 18 points to his team’s success while Bigbank’s 31-year-old middle blocker Mart Naaber was the best scorer of the match with 20 points 25-19) sweep of their semifinal against Latvia’s Jekabpils Lusi Jekabpils Lusi snatched the bronze with a 3-0 (25-18 one more from Latvia and two more teams from Estonia took part in the 2023-2024 Baltic League The winners’ 28-year-old French playmaker Valentin Bouleau was honoured with the MVP award while the Dream Team was composed of setter Janis Jansons (Jekabpils) outside hitters Timo Lohmus (Bigbank) and Keith Pupart (Selver/TalTech) middle blockers Mart Naaber (Bigbank) and Marx Aru (Selver/TalTech) Selver/TalTech Tallinn’s team roster A post shared by Eesti Võrkpalli Liit // Estonian Volleyball Federation (@estvolleyball) The FIVB is the governing body responsible for all forms of Volleyball on a global level Working closely with national federations and private enterprises to develop Volleyball as a popular media and entertainment sport FIVB Fédération Internationale de Volleyball Château Les Tourelles Edouard-Sandoz 2-4 1006 Lausanne Switzerland Phone: +41 213 453 535 Fax: +41 213 453 545 Shepherd Peter Erjavsek dressed in traditional clothes is pictured in Velika planina Slovenia (AP) - There's no mistaking it depicts Donald Trump: a large wooden statue of the U.S The nearly eight-meter high (26 feet) construction shows Trump with his trademark hair style His right arm - fist clenched - is raised high like that of New York's Statue of Liberty a mechanism opens a red-painted mouth and shark-like teeth appear The monument was built on private property among the lush greens and rolling hills of the sleepy village of Sela pri Kamniku some 30 kilometers (20 miles) northeast of the Slovenian capital The statue has a temporary permit and has to be removed by Halloween and everyone tells me it's a provocation." saying it is "provocation against populism that the world is full of." which no one today knows what it represents," he said He can do and say whatever he wants without consequences." Two American tourists came Friday to this remote corner of Slovenia after hearing about the statue "It seems like a really unusual location for a piece of art like this," said Eddie Flawer from Santa Rosa "I'm not very fond of Donald Trump and I didn't know what to make of his hand up and doing the salute and the spikes coming out of the top of his head," Flawer said "But maybe it's a metaphor of the Statue of Liberty which would make some sense since he seems to be doing everything in his power to negate the beauty and the spirit of the Statue of Liberty." It's not the first time in Slovenia that a member of the Trump family has been carved in wood first lady was unveiled in her hometown of Sevnica in June The rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a linden tree showing her in a pale blue dress like the one she wore at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration Her face is depicted in a naive local style changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump two years later AP writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report Love was in the air the moment US writer Noah Charney set foot in Ljubljana there was a whole country to get passionate about I embarked on a Eurorail trip – a sort of smorgasbord of travel in European cities You buy an open ticket that allows you to travel indefinitely by train throughout Europe I’d lent my Lonely Planet: Europe on a Shoestring to five friends who had already been on such a trip said Slovenia’s Lake Bled was the single most beautiful place they had seen in Europe “slow food” version of my rail smorgasbord to get a feel for what it would be like to move there indefinitely And that is where I fell in love – with the country and the future Mrs Charney I was obliged to survive the dreaded shranga a gauntlet of pre-nuptial feats of manliness required of aspiring grooms from beyond the Slovenian mountain village confines Once I’d got through the nerve-racking bouts of scythe-sharpening and was permitted by the grumpy-looking villagers to enter the church and carry on with my wedding and have since come to feel truly a part of it and part essay collection singing its praises There are only so many times that Slovenia can be called a “hidden gem” and still claim to remain hidden But those who come to this tiny country nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic seem to feel they’ve discovered a little-known paradise While cheap flights from London have made it an easy weekend destination the entire country boasts wonderland landscapes Slovenia offers travellers a destination that is easy to navigate (with English spoken just about everywhere) It is one of the safest countries in the world not to mention the cleanest (it won National Geographic’s 2017 World Legacy Award as the most sustainable tourist destination and Ljubljana was Green Capital of Europe in 2016) A quintessentially Slovenian view Photograph: Urska CharneyHaving chosen this country as my new homeland settling in the charming three-castled alpine town of Kamnik I wanted to get to know it in a more intimate way I wanted a local’s-eye-view of the secret facets of this “hidden gem” I set about contacting people I found interesting – for instance and even the prime minister is just a message away I struck up friendships and collaborations with many of the people I met in this way working my way through a who’s-who of interesting Slovenians a Bruce Springsteen-like musical icon in Slovenia This is a flatland of storks and slow-churning wooden mills on the river with a lively and culturally influential population of Gypsies listening to bands mixed of Slovenians and Gypsies and speaking a dialect that is unintelligible to most Slovenes My wife and I attended a party at the Kreslins’ weekend home there all gathered around a bubbling cauldron of bograč a rich goulash spiked with paprika from the nearby Pannonian plain and ripping apart deep-fried catfish from the nearby Mura river grabbed instruments and played an impromptu concert as the moon rose high above the roll and roil of accordion The village of Kras Photograph: Matjaž TančičAs a tourist I’d found Lake Bled a bit twee It was only when I went with actor/director Branko Đurić as a co-organiser of the short-lived Bled Film Festival We’d gathered at a villa on a cliff above the lake which had once been a favourite residence of Tito Celebratory homemade schnapps was consumed and as night fell we were rowed out to the single A trail of floating candles guided us to the cascade of stone steps that led up from the island’s mooring to the medieval church The festival guests used the steps as seating and the mooring became a stage upon which we gave out the awards with the church’s schnapps-fueled priest particularly keen to take a selfie with American actor Armand Assante in a light as magical as anything I could imagine the one that taught me most about my adopted country was this summer’s road trip with Janez Bratovž tasting indigenous Slovenian ingredients for his next cookbook Bratovž is the godfather of nouvelle cuisine in the former Yugoslavia – the first to introduce carpaccio and rare steak to a land of delicious but well-done cutlets doused in cream sauces He picked 20 key ingredients that he uses in his cooking and we spent the summer crisscrossing the country we tasted what many think is the world’s best prosciutto wonderfully fatty blackstrap pigs are prepared by Uroš Klinec and pre-sold to select restaurants around the globe From the Caravaggesque darkness of his cellar a vegetarian’s nightmare (but this carnivore’s delight) of hanging hocks of ham and enjoyed prosciutto so delicate and light that it melted on the tongue A high mountain pass in Slovenia Photograph: Matjaž TančičAcross the country, in Kreslin’s Prekmurje flatlands, we tasted the finest Styrian pumpkin seed oil, hand-pressed in century-old presses by the Kocbek family and of such flavour and delicacy that it is used not only to dress salads but as a sauce for ice-cream and to lace bars of dark chocolate a real-life Narnia (one of the movies was filmed here) to meet a farmer bringing back the colossal with flesh so delicious that today it is only served as a carpaccio This was the site of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms where this king of trout nearly became extinct in the first world war as hungry soldiers flung grenades into the river to catch a meal ‘Eighty legs a year from indigenous wonderfully fatty blackstrap pigs are prepared by Uroš Klinec and pre-sold to select restaurants around the globe’ Photograph: Matjaž TančičAt the salt flats near Piran whose family has been harvesting salt for generations in flats that date back to the Roman empire when salt was used as pay (the term salary comes from salaria with a mountain-sized sheep farmer eager to show us his dominion arriving at the top only to find the still-warm remains of a gutted sheep which showed that a bear was lurking somewhere nearby in the darkness barely held back by the ebbing twilight (I opted to stay in the car for that one while Tančič took photographs of the farmer and Bratovž kept an eye out for bears and wolves) We dipped down to the Istrian peninsula to meet former property lawyer Aleš Winkler bought 30 goats as lawnmowers for his rural holiday house taught himself online to make cheese and this year gave the keynote speech for Slow Food International teaching Italians and French how to make a proper chèvre Aleš Winkler, the goat cheese maker. Photograph: Matjaž TančičBack in the Kamnik region, in the vast meadow atop mesa-like alpine mountain Velika Planina low-slung shepherds’ huts that recall The Shire and are full of traditional artefacts (including a rain-repelling shepherd’s gown made of strips of shaven wood and anti-witch knives carved with runes) we sampled breast-shaped Trnič cheeses (which always come in pairs) This summer’s travels with Bratovž opened up locations and delicacies that I’d never have found on my own for they allowed a constellation of indigenous ingredients to show me an intimate Easyjet flies to Ljubljana from Gatwick and Stansted, Wizz Air from Luton, from £21 one-way. Slovenia Explorer offers daytrips covering the whole country and is great for outdoor activities festooned with photographs of Tito and Archduke Franz Joseph which features all four of Kamnik’s microbrewery beers large sharing platters and coffee spiked with spicy cinnamon schnapps cycling and adventure sports when daytime temperatures are around 25C two pendant seals made of red and black wax in natural wax cups owned by the Carniolan governor Hans von Auersperg lord of Šumberk (Schonberg) and by the Carniolan Vicedom Erasem Braunbart wood was an important element used in construction and for a number of other purposes as well The situation in Kamnik and its surrounding areas was no different Territorial princes very early on granted the town of Kamnik the right to use vast forests in the vicinity of the Kamniška Bistrica valley that the town slowly came to regard these forest as its property Kamnik's ownership over them was not established until 1783 when it was entered into the landed property register (Landtafel) but according to Valvasor they reached up to the tree line in the Kamnik Alps which caused a number of disputes with the neighbouring population with the owners of the neighbouring manors (such as with the Lambergs of Črnelo castle) and later also with the convent of the Poor Clares in Mekinje who also claimed certain rights over the Kamniška Bistrica forests (the right to collect firewood or wood for building One of such disputes was in 1496 settled by the verdict of the Carniolan governor Wilhelm von Auersperg who by the order of the territorial prince decided that the common land and the forests in Kamniška Bistrica belonged solely to the town of Kamnik livestock owned by inhabitants of the surrounding area was allowed to graze there during the day the verdict was confirmed by the Carniolan Vicedom Georg von Egkh and by the steward of the Stari grad in Kamnik Veit von Thurn The peasants of the surrounding area were not the only ones with whom the townspeople of Kamnik argued when it came to the forests in Kamniška Bistrica Also strained were their relations with the princely master huntsman In his over exaggerated concern for the preservation of wild animals he tried to prevent the townspeople from stocking up with firewood and from pasturing their livestock He also threatened to kill all the pigs the people put out to graze there on beech mast and to burn down the property of cottagers Territorial prince retained the right to hunt in the Kamniška Bistrica forests until 1667 when he granted it to Count Wolfgang Engelbert Auersperg Mid-April 2016 marks the 500th anniversary of the settling of the dispute between the Mekinje convent and the town of Kamnik in regard to the cutting down of trees in the territory of the Kamniška Bistica valley The verdict was issued by the Carniolan governor and the lord of Schonberg Hans Auersperg (Janns von Auersperg) and by the Carniolan Vicedom Erasem Braunbart (Erasmen Braunwart) The arbiters explained in writing that the dispute in question was between the abbess Ann Lamberg (Anna Lambergerin) and the Mekinje covent (Minckhendorff) on the one hand and the town of Kamnik (Stein) on the other The dispute had been settled before by the Carniolan administrator Paul Rasp (Paulsn Raspn)who managedto reach an acceptable agreement (durch ainen petlichen vnnd angenomen vertrag hingelegt sein) Rasp at the time had not issued any written confirmation about the matter and the dispute dragged on and on despite the fact that both parties agreed with his verdict the Carniolan governor and the Carniolan Vicedom issued a charter During the signing of the charter a number of witnesses were present: Veit von Thurn (Veiten vom Thurn) a steward and amtman in Upper Kamnik (Oberstain) his relative Hans von Thurn (Hanness vom Thuren) Erasem von Dornberg (Erasmen von Dorenberg) Friedrich Gallenberg (Fridrichen Gallenberger) his brother Andree Gallenberg of Šinkov Turn (Anndreen Gallenberger zum Schenckhenthuren) as the attorney of the convent and the entire town council as well as a number of townspeople (aus der gemain) The arbiters determined for all eternity (zu ewigen zeittn) and in the light of the submitted and accepted agreement that the town of Kamnik had to allow the convent in Mekinje and its attorney - when he resided there – a sufficient cutting down of firewood and building wood for their own needs The town should not obstruct such actions in any way Should one of the party violate this agreement the other party may turn for help directly to the aforementioned governor and Vicedom or to their successors who had to ensure that the provisions of the agreement were respected Similar right to wood was later granted also to the Franciscan monastery in Kamnik The charter is written in two identical copies and authenticated with two pendant seals of the Carniolan governor Hans von Auersperg and of the Carniolan Vicedom Erasem Braunbart The charter we are presenting here is kept in the Collection of charters at the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia (SA AS 1063) and is one of the 220 charters in the series Charters of the Convent of the Order of the Poor Clares in Mekinje Up until the dissolving of the convent in 1782 After that they were taken to Vienna to Haus- Hof-und Staatsarchiv and returned to Slovenia in the second half of the 20th century Since 2005 the entire collection of charters has been digitized and individual charters can also be accessed online among them also the here presented charter Charters of the Convent of the Order of the Poor Clares in Mekinje Discover the online column Archivalia of the Month Did you find the information you were looking for Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website ask for a reply "We went from just being so sad and so in despair and thinking we're never going to have children to having three - overnight." Photo / Thinkstock Lauren Kamnik always knew that she was meant to be a mum she'd been envisioning the chubby feet and the tiny outfits and the happy chaos of a house with kids "I wanted to be a mother more than anything in the world," she says Her mother had had a difficult time having children And Lauren struggled for years with anorexia that wreaked havoc on her body So after she and Joe Kamnik married in 2006 and spent a year trying to have a baby the old-fashioned way they turned to a specialist and entered the particular hell of fertility treatments "They told me I was never going to get pregnant," she recalls Joe wanted to keep trying for a biological child beginning the paperwork for adoption and seeking out a gestational surrogate in whom the first of their four remaining embryos was implanted the Kamniks were approved to adopt a child Lauren got a call telling her that a newborn was waiting for them in Jacksonville She suspects that because she and Joe hadn't specified a race or gender and weren't averse to a baby who may have been exposed to drugs they drove to the Florida home of a social worker caring for a two-day-old boy "I remember we walked in and it was just this little baby an interracial child with hair the color of steamed carrots they decided to try implanting the final embryo with the surrogate the surrogate reported that she was pregnant During a trip to the beach two weeks later Lauren began to feel "a little off." The feeling persisted until a friend convinced her to take a pregnancy test Lauren was placed on bed rest for much of her pregnancy and went into labor four weeks early As she lay in the hospital bed with newborn Wesley in her arms She was in labor and heading to a different hospital the Kamniks headed back to the hospital with Wesley He would remain in the hospital for a month and be in and out for much of his first year although no one could say exactly what was wrong I thought he was going to die," Lauren says She and Joe took turns staying at the hospital with him and relied on an au pair to help with the babies at home Wesley needed a feeding tube and remained developmentally delayed He was 4 when the Kamniks finally received a diagnosis - a genetic disorder so rare that it doesn't really have a name Only seven people in the world are known to have it "I was really angry and really sad for a really long time," Lauren says 'All we really want for our kids is for them to be happy Wesley has been in speech and physical therapy for years "Vivienne and Oliver worship him," Lauren says the au pair emerging from her room in the basement and a nurse showing up to help with Wesley's feeding tube It's actually easier now that the kids are a little older - Oliver is 5 the other two are 4 - and they all go off to school or preschool for at least a few hours a day it's a struggle for Lauren to take all three kids out for shopping trips by herself and the family often attracts curious stares When people hear that Wesley and Vivienne were born within hours of each other Sometimes it's worth explaining because it's fun to see their reactions." It's a struggle to keep up with Wesley's therapy appointments and the other kids' activities to pay all the bills and maintain a marriage and some semblance of sanity Oliver and a friend played hide-and-seek while Vivienne fixed a new Barbie's hair and Wesley pealed with laughter as Lauren picked up a plastic dinosaur and roared The downstairs playroom was covered in toys and somehow the mess-makers have a way of disappearing just in time for cleanup "I'm still just kind of in shock," Lauren says "We went from just being so sad and so in despair and thinking we're never going to have children to having three - overnight baths and corralling three little bodies into their own separate beds How did I get here?' And then you go to bed at the end of the day and it's like Telegraph: A cash-strapped university student who tried online sex work tells her story The Hunter's Lodge "Kamnik" is located on the outskirts of the city just take the highway from the center towards the Airport and you will see a big billboard on your left hand side I will skip that part and turn to the food and wine The restaurant is famous for its wild game dishes which have been hunted on their own ground will undoubtedly make you feel like you are in a cabin somewhere in the woods I would suggest you try a three-course meal one that you can easily arrange to suit best to your liking then order some hedgehog pâté with bread and maybe some type of salad The establishment has its own vineyards and wine factory that produces high quality white and red wine Website Find your way with 52 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters "Fat Kitchen Bistro" in Skopje has become a favorite of customers of all ages You just have to try their burgers & gourmet delicacies.. Leaf Cafe is peaceful green spot by the Central City Park It's the perfect quiet escape for coffee and relaxing after hitting the bustling main streets "Fitness & Spa PARK - Hotel" in Skopje is my ideal place to burn some calories or put on some muscles "Restaurant Harmonija" in Skopje is a healthy vegetarian fast food shop I always have lots of trouble when it comes to ordering.. "Cafe 9" is a cafe in Skopje with a tradition going back many years What I love about it is that it's great for going alone "Corner Bar&Kitchen" in Skopje is an amazingly charming and hospitable snack cafe/bar I like their coffee and that they welcome everyone "Pizzeria 511" in Skopje serves pizza like we have it around here I have many childhood memories from this place.. "Bitpazar" in Skopje offers the ultimate local experience: the marketplace "Kapan An" has existed since the 15th century Today it's a cultural monument but also a restaurant & club.. "Pole People Skopje" is the place to go to realise that your moves can be music video-like I always feel invigorated and wanting to come back for more.. "Flower Of Life Beauty Salon" works with high quality products and have a soothing atmosphere This Skopje parlour is my favorite for its Oriental massage "Peking Garden" Skopje is on a small terrace with an inviting air of calmness Everything I order at this Chinese restaurant looks so good ✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters Europe Americas Asia Africa San Francisco About Spotted by Locals Become a Spotter Collaborations Terms of Service Privacy Policy Cookies statement Become a Spotter 💚 Privacy Policy Cookies statement The first two-week festival of Trnič cheese which the organizers called "Trnič on every table" The trnič cheese festival is part of the Trnič na evno mizo project and it will start at the Okusi Kamnika - Podeželje market March edition of the food market Tastes of Kamnik - Countryside this time it will be partially transformed into a space for live cooking: there will be 3 renowned Kamnik chefs in the mobile kitchen on the main square Janez Uršič (Inn at the mountain eagle) and Primož Repnik (Inn and guesthouse Repnik) So will these hard cheese with a characteristic pear shape from Velika Planina will be offered to visitors for tasting and trnič will also be available for purchase The opportunity to taste the delicacies will then be all up to and including April 13 within the framework of the holiday continued in engaged local restaurants with special dishes and menus which include the thorn more or less creatively cheese will also be available throughout Slovenia in selected restaurants and shops which will be in Institute for Tourism and Sports in the municipality of Kamnik also in the future presented at various events in Slovenia From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers about the latest in lifestyle From year 2023 we offer content in major global languages From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers daily about the latest in lifestyle style and products that inspire with passion we offer content in major global languages 2025Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Stephen Kamnik has been hit with a slate of disturbing criminal charges including allegations that he created child sexual abuse materials using artificial intelligence secretly recorded coworkers in the women's locker room and used state-owned devices to fabricate explicit content.  According to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday Kamnik allegedly captured images of unsuspecting coworkers—including a sitting judge during a court proceeding—and used those to create AI-generated pornography A stolen firearm was also recovered during the investigation who was previously charged in January with related offenses Voter status record for Stephen Kamnik indicating Republican Party affiliation  While MAGA-aligned online communities regularly claim individuals charged with these sort of crimes are all Democrats official Pennsylvania Department of State records confirm that Kamnik is a registered Republican.  two Hungarian hikers got lost in the Kamnik Alps one of Slovenia’s most picturesque but extremely dangerous mountain ranges The harsh weather conditions in the mountains strong winds and the risk of avalanches made the rescue operation difficult and it took days to complete According to Telex the rescue operation faced serious challenges from the start Slovenian mountain rescuers were informed of the victims late on Sunday afternoon With wind gusts of 100 km/h and near-zero visibility in the area Rescuers tried to reach the hikers on foot but the extreme weather conditions slowed progress More than 40 rescuers working in the area struggled to make progress are a beautiful but dangerous mountainous region The mountain range covers 900 km² and has 28 peaks over 2,000 m but in the winter months it is a dangerous place especially due to the danger of avalanches and rapidly changing weather The Hungarian hikers got lost on a trail starting from Turska Hill, probably straying from the marked path. According to Telex rescuers found the woman hiker alive on Monday afternoon Her clothes and sleeping bag kept her alive through the cold nights she descended into the valley under her own power and was taken to hospital when he was still able to communicate with his companion and the rescuers this attempt led to his untimely death as he slid deeper into a ravine The man’s body was found on Thursday A rescue team used ropes to descend into the gorge to retrieve the body The rescuers worked with unprecedented determination in difficult conditions The technical equipment used in the rescue enabled them to search the most inaccessible areas The close cooperation between the helicopter rescue teams and the foot teams was an outstanding example of teamwork emphasised that they had managed to carry out one of the most challenging operations of the year although the result was not entirely successful the Slovenian Mountain Rescue Service has warned that it is essential to check the weather conditions and plan the route carefully before setting out on a hike Hikers should be aware of their own abilities and preparedness to avoid similar tragedies the Mountain Rescue Association expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased and praised the work of the rescuers who carried out their mission in extremely difficult conditions The rescue operation demanded an unprecedented effort from those involved This tragedy is a warning to all walkers that the power of nature can never be underestimated and that even the most prepared walker can be in danger While the beauty of the Kamnik Alps is alluring a lack of responsible planning and caution can easily have fatal consequences and website in this browser for the next time I comment Y"},"category":false,"taxonomy":{"active":false,"name":"category"}},"markup":{"custom_html":true,"wpp-start":"","wpp-end":"<\/ul>","title-start":"","title-end":"<\/h2>","post-html":"{thumb} {title} {stats}<\/span>{excerpt}<\/p><\/li>"},"theme":{"name":""}} You have successfully joined our subscriber list SupportUs Newsletter © 2025 DailyNewsHungary | All rights reserved