A Dutton family trust operated lucrative childcare businesses while he was a cabinet minister Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was the beneficiary of a family trust for two years Four Corners investigated property records for both leaders Documents show Mr Dutton's family also had a long business history with former childcare mogul Eddy Groves and his family Link copiedShareShare articleOpposition Leader Peter Dutton failed to declare for two years his interest in a family trust that operated lucrative childcare businesses when he was a cabinet minister Documents obtained by Four Corners and ABC Investigations show that while Mr Dutton's register of interests disclosed his wife Kirilly's interests in childcare operations at the time he did not declare between 2014 and 2016 that he was a beneficiary of the RHT Family Trust that owned the businesses The investigation also analysed more than 20 years of property records tied up in complicated and opaque trust structures and found that the Dutton family made almost $15 million in profit from buying and selling private childcare businesses as well as dozens of residential property deals The Dutton family made millions from multiple childcare business dealings the Dutton family made millions from multiple childcare business dealings with a group closely linked to controversial ABC Learning mogul Eddy Groves — the man at the centre of one of Australia's biggest corporate collapses The RHT Family Trust was responsible for the final business transaction with a group closely linked to Mr Groves and his family The transaction — the sale of a childcare business — was signed on May 20 the day before the last federal election and 10 days before Mr Dutton became opposition leader Live results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continues Mr Dutton declined an interview but the Liberal Party responded late on Sunday night in a statement to say that he "has disclosed his financial interests and those of his family including in relation to his wife Kirilly's previous childcare businesses" "Mr Dutton's declarations lodged over the period between 2014 and 2022 show that RHT Investments acquired operated and subsequently disposed of interests in a childcare business," the statement said The statement did not answer many of our questions and did not respond directly about the non-disclosure of Mr Dutton's interest in the trust The ABC investigation uncovered Mr Dutton's failure to declare his interest in RHT over two years after obtaining copies of the deeds of Mr Dutton's private trusts that confirm his position within the structures when they were first established MPs are required to declare to parliament any beneficiary interests in trusts and the nature of the trusts' operations beneficiaries and holdings are not publicly available The deed for the RHT Family Trust reveals its structure when it was set up in 2014 The deed lists Mr Dutton and his wife Kirilly as the primary beneficiaries when it was established in February 2014 It also reveals that Mr Dutton and his wife were appointors of the trust with the power to choose the trustee who administers the trust Mr Dutton disclosed to parliament the existence of this trust on his register of interests in April 2014 but this declaration listed only his wife as having an interest in the trust and noted that the trust had purchased a childcare business Mr Dutton's declaration on the register did not mention he was a beneficiary It was not until two years later in August 2016 that Mr Dutton declared on the register his beneficiary status in the trust when he lodged his first register of interest in the newly elected Turnbull government Director of the Centre for Public Integrity and former court of appeal judge Margaret White said at the very least the failure to include an interest on the register "gives rise to a perception of a conflict of duty and personal interest" Ms White said it raised questions that "call for a response which would disabuse the disinterested political bystander of concerns" it calls for an explanation because of the reason that it goes to the character of a person who wants to be prime minister." Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore said family trusts could be legitimate financial structures but needed to be properly disclosed "The public has a right to know not just whether a politician has a trust but what financial interests are held within it — especially if those interests could be influenced by or benefit from government policy," Mr Moore said He said without full transparency trusts undermine public confidence Go behind the spin and the slogans as Louise Milligan investigates the men vying to be the next prime minister. Watch Four Corners’ True Colours tonight at 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview Four Corners did a deep dive into the historical finances of both the prime minister and the opposition leader finding that Anthony Albanese made $1.8 million in profit from the sale of two investment properties in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill Mr Albanese did not have business outside of his work as a parliamentarian Mr Albanese bought a $4.3 million clifftop home in Copacabana on the NSW Central Coast with his fiancee Jodie Haydon The investigation has found that since the 1990s the Duttons — in various complex ownership combinations including via the RHT trust his father Bruce and wife Kirilly — have owned four Brisbane childcare centres All four of the childcare centres owned by the Dutton family over 20 years have been found to have had significant business dealings — including sales and leases — to and from ABC Learning or entities connected to Eddy Groves Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverage a Dutton-owned childcare business at Everton Hills in Brisbane was sold to a company in which Mr Groves's stepson Scott Noonan was a shareholder and director The centre was rebranded as an Imagine Early Learning centre a sprawling childcare empire in which Eddy Groves's wife has been heavily involved for more than two decades US court documents show that Mr Groves is a shareholder of the American operation of the Imagine business The US business even has the same rocket logo as the Australian business The logo for the Australian Imagine Childcare (top) and the US-based Imagine Childcare (bottom) Four Corners used publicly available documents to calculate the 2022 sale price of the last childcare lease the Duttons owned it can be revealed that $2.7 million was paid for the childcare business in Everton Hills This method for calculating the sale of leases and property has been confirmed by the Queensland Revenue Office The lease sale was signed the day before the 2022 election that then-prime minister Mr Dutton described Eddy Groves as a friend Mr Groves twice made political donations worth a combined $15,000 to Mr Dutton's campaign in 2004 Mr Dutton's statement said that: "Any donations that were made were to the party and not to Mr Dutton directly" "Political donations are a matter for party divisions and declared in accordance with the requirements set out in the Commonwealth Electoral Act," the statement said Mr Dutton did not comment directly on Eddy Groves or the business between the families ABC Learning collapsed in 2008 — when taxpayers funded a $56 million bailout of the childcare behemoth disappeared from public view more than a decade ago after ABC Learning's demise caused havoc in the childcare sector Eddy Groves was the founder of the now-defunct ABC Learning childcare centres The Duttons' dealings with Eddy Groves-related entities began in 2002 Mr Dutton and his father sold a property in Brisbane's Waterford West to Mr Groves's then-brother-in-law for $500,000 That centre was then leased to ABC Learning Lease documents from 2002 obtained by Four Corners also show that Mr Dutton shared with his father $167,500 a year from leasing another two centres to ABC Learning the Duttons sold the two centres leased to ABC Learning for more than $2 million The lack of publicly available information about the trust was highlighted in a major controversy in 2018 Mr Dutton's interest in the RHT Family Trust came under scrutiny over whether its receipt of federal government childcare subsidies may have caused him to be in breach of a section of the constitution that prohibits MPs doing business with the Commonwealth Hear the latest election news as it happens on the Election Central Playlist saying he had obtained legal advice in 2017 confirming he was not in breach who was asked to provide advice on the matter But Mr Donaghue noted in his opinion that he had been given limited information about the case including not having access to the deed of the trust At the time Mr Dutton described the trust as being operated by his wife and said that he had always complied with cabinet rules and "declared any interests that I've had in any discussion" Mr Dutton failed to disclose his interest in the trust for two years He also said in an address to the National Press Club in 2018 that he had "never taken a dollar of dividend or distribution" "I was very clear at the start that I would not take a dollar of distribution from that trust which she operates and I've been true to that,'' he said Earlier this year when issues were raised about his business transactions and delays in declarations to his register of interests Mr Dutton said he had always conducted himself with integrity "I've been proud of what my family and I have been able to achieve," Mr Dutton said at a press conference "I actually think the Australian public wants somebody who knows how to manage money I've demonstrated that as assistant treasurer." In 2019 Mr Dutton said he had relinquished his interest in the RHT Family Trust Four Corners met with Peter Dutton during our research period in his office in February we have made multiple calls and texts to his staff rode on his campaign bus for three days and at the end of that process Stars arrive at Met for fashion's biggest nightLIVE CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and here’s the KSJD Outdoor Report for Tuesday Unsettled spring weather is on the way for the Four Corners this week Expect scattered afternoon showers and isolated storms temperatures will warm slightly with highs near or just below average for late April A weak system will move through on Wednesday increasing chances of rain in the valleys and light snow above 9,000 feet—especially in the Uintas and central Colorado high country The best opportunity for valley rain will occur Wednesday night into Thursday with mountain areas possibly seeing a light slushy coating another stronger and colder storm is expected There's also a possibility of a late spring freeze in the valleys early next week Stay tuned to Morning Edition on KSJD from 7-9 AM for further updates throughout the week as this system develops Former gym owner and alleged drug dealer Sayit Akca tells Four Corners he ‘removed’ explosives threat while denying any involvement in antisemitic attacks The man alleged to have masterminded a spate of antisemitic attacks in Sydney and a “fake terrorism” caravan plot has denied responsibility – but admits he was involved in having the caravan moved In January, police discovered a caravan packed with explosives in the outer Sydney suburb of Dural triggering a massive multi agency investigation Former gym owner and alleged drug dealer Sayit Akca has told Four Corners he was able to divert the caravan – which he says was being moved between an illicit buyer and seller – and informed the Australian federal police (AFP) about the explosives in an attempt to gain more lenient treatment in the courts Akca was charged in 2022 with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of illicit drugs and recklessly engaging with the proceeds of crime. He did not attend a scheduled court appearance at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on 28 September 2023. He is now in Turkey, according to the ABC. Read moreCourt documents seen by Guardian Australia allege Akca was smuggled out of Australia to Thailand via Thursday Island in September 2023 Akca told ABC’s Four Corners he fled Australia after he was charged partly because he feared he was a possible target of other criminals Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email he had approached authorities to organise a “trade-in” – hoping it would assist his return He said he did not buy the explosives but directed the driver of the caravan to leave it in a “safe spot” and remove the detonators. He denied any knowledge of a note listing Jewish community targets that New South Wales police alleged was found inside the caravan “I actually picked Dural and I just told the driver … to just put it in a safe spot,” Akca said including on a childcare centre and synagogues In March, police said the caravan was part of a “fake terrorism plot” allegedly orchestrated by organised criminals for personal gain Police alleged the “con job” was fabricated by organised crime figures for personal benefit and that the undisclosed figures were based in Australia and offshore The AFP deputy commissioner, Krissy Barrett, alleged in March that: “We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan.” Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters Read moreBarrett said the incidents were designed to gain the police’s attention and divert resources with alleged offenders “accepting these tasks for money” the plan was the following: organise for someone to buy a caravan place it with explosives and written material of antisemitic nature inform law enforcement about an impending terror attack against Jewish Australians.” The plot was “never going to cause a mass casualty event” Akca told the ABC this week that he “removed something off the street and gave it to [the AFP] And then there’s a bunch of other things they’re alleging was me After supplying the AFP with further information about explosives as part of his bid for leniency Akca gave up on the hope of returning to Australia In April, it emerged that a senior NSW police officer signed a non-disclosure agreement when told by the AFP in early February that the motivation of the “mastermind” behind Sydney’s fake terrorism caravan plot was to influence prosecutions The AFP said on Monday that it questioned “the motivation of the individual interviewed by Four Corners” “That person has been charged by the AFP for an alleged illicit drug importation which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” an AFP spokesperson said “That person is also accused of unlawfully leaving Australia while on bail.” NSW police told Guardian Australia: “Operation Kissinger is an investigation by the joint counter-terrorism team (JCTT) comprising members of NSW police force “The NSW police force is committed to preventing and disrupting any threat to the safety and wellbeing of the community and has been working collaboratively with our partner agencies under JCTT arrangements to investigate terrorist activities NSW police said a number of people connected to the investigation had been charged and were before the courts Guardian Australia contacted Akca for comment GA — Fire crews responded to a massive fire early Wednesday The Thomas County Fire Chief says flames broke out around 11:30 a.m prompting 39 fire personnel from Thomas County Thomas County Fire Chief Chris Jones said firefighters battled the flames for hours using 60,000 gallons of water to contain the fire was removing millions of pounds of cotton and cotton seed from the warehouse to access burning areas While the fire is no longer actively burning Thomas County Fire remains on scene to monitor and control hot spots The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause Officials urge drivers on Highway 19 North to remain cautious as smoke may still affect visibility Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. Like us on Facebook Follow us onInstagramand X. Report a typo We cover stories making an impact in Thomasville. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Thomasville and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood Architect drawing of new apartment building at 2-8 Bowdoin St The owners of Down Home Delivery & Catering at 2-8 Bowdoin St won approval last week for its plan to replace their current building with a 7-story apartment building with 2,400 square feet of ground-floor space for their restaurant The Boston Planning Department’s board voted to approve the Webster family’s 22-unit project on Thursday The new building will include 5 one-bedroom apartments Four of the apartments will be rented as affordable There will also be a roof deck for residents which is near the 23 bus route on Washington Street and less than a half mile from other routes and the Four Corners/Geneva Fairmount Line stop The proposal had support from the United Neighborhood Association state representatives Chris Worrell and Russell Holmes and state Sen said the project “will improve the public realm by widening the sidewalks in the vicinity and adding new lighting for pedestrians the project will contribute $6,050 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system and $22,000 to the City’s Fund for Parks.” Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $50 for 52 Issues in the continental US Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $60 for 52 Issues in the continental US BOZEMAN — A fatal crash early Tuesday morning near Four Corners is bringing to the forefront the hazards of driving on Highway 191. "When I was coming to work this morning, I said oh please, Lord, don’t let it be one of our families or coworkers or teachers," says Karen Cook, a preschool teacher at Quail Hollow off Highway 191. She speaks to the hazards they experience daily: "This intersection here, it’s just so dangerous." According to details released by the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), two people died and two more were injured after a GMC truck going southbound towards Big Sky lost control on icy roads and was struck by a Dodge truck headed northbound. The GMC came to rest in a field nearby where it caught fire, killing two of the three occupants. The third GMC passenger and the driver of the Dodge truck were taken to the hospital. MHP says the accident is still under investigation. "The road from Four Corners to Big Sky is such a funny section of road," says Sergeant Daniel Haydon. Haydon is one of the supervisors for the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office for the area around Big Sky and West Yellowstone. He says that stretch of road poses a variety of hazards, especially during winter conditions. "With it being the end of winter, we’ve had such an impact from the freeze-thaw cycle, and so there’s a lot of extra ruts and potholes that make for new and changing hazards that we need to be aware of," he says. Sergeant Haydon says speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), or while distracted are some of the main factors that contribute to accidents in this area. And as Bozeman and Big Sky continue to grow, increased traffic has only made these issues more prominent. "Around 5 or 5:30, the busiest times or most hectic time, it’s almost impossible to get out of here. Especially in the wintertime, you can be sitting here for 10 or 15 minutes to have an opportunity to get out," says Cook. She says that they’re constantly worried for the parents and children they serve getting here safely—only further exasperated by speeding cars. WATCH RELATED: Husband, wife arrested after high-speed chase on Highway 191 "If you’re 10 miles under the speed limit, coming from the canyon, you’re adding maybe three or four minutes to your commute. Just accept it. Put on some music. They are going to get there in almost the same amount of time and have such a safer drive," says Haydon. Haydon encourages people on 191 to drive responsibly and report any incidences that may pose a risk to other drivers. Watch Sayit Akca speaks to Four Corners' Mahmood Fazal in Türkiye, where he is on the run from Australian authorities. COLDWATER —On the northwest quadrant of Four Corners Park Friday morning crews from Case Welding and the city's Department of Municipal Services and Board of Public Utilities installed a 16-foot steel tree Welding students at the Branch Area Career Center constructed the tree as an art sculpture project leased by the city for a year for the park The formal dedication is on Wednesday at 9 a.m so students who worked on the sculpture from both morning and afternoon classes from Coldwater and Pansophia high schools who attend the Branch Intermediate School District technical program can attend with additional support from Case Welding and Fabrication covered the cost of the work insured for $10,000 The sculpture commemorates the city's 19th year as a Tree City The city planted a real dogwood in Heritage Park for the celebration Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Coldwater Reporter BISD and the city will determine what to do with the sculpture at the end of the lease term Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com  BRANCH COUNTY — County Democrats plan a "Hands Off" demonstration from 10 a.m Party Chair Anita Hoyt said the protest is not only for those in the Democratic Party but also for independents and even Republicans concerned about the cuts from the Trump administration "This is really against the policies that the Trump administration is taking towards everything and every family," she said Hoyt and others wanted a time for local residents to let Trump know there are people in conservative Branch County concerned about what the Department of Government Efficiency Hoyt said there is support for federal and other workers who lost jobs because of the DOGE actions "People are at risk of losing their homes because they lost their job for no better reason than a couple of rich guys think that's okay The organizers ask supporters to bring signs to tell Congress and the president that they don't want cuts in Medicare or farm subsidies that supply food pantries and programs for people The group made extra signs for those who do not bring their own Hoyt said many don't support the way Trump is handling the problems "You know our philosophy is that it wouldn't be okay if that happened to your family member Leaders held two training sessions on how to protest and avoid confrontations Subscribe Support local news. Subscribe to the Coldwater Reporter Hoyt said she reached out to Republicans to prevent any conflicts Contact Don Reid dReid@Gannett.com   These fearless and forensic documentaries expose scandals We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. InstagramYouTubeFacebookTiktokSubscribe to our newsletterSign up to the What to Watch newsletter for the best of ABC iview delivered straight to your inbox each week A large storm system will be impacting the Great Lakes and Northeast down to the Southeast. To the West, a weak low-pressure system brings scattered rain and mountain snow to the Four Corners and northern California. The Breakfast Brief is published Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A spring clipper continues slowly east today after bringing rain, severe thunderstorms and snow on Monday. More of the same is expected today, and it's already making for a soggy morning along the cold front in the Appalachians and into the Northeast, with snow falling in the Upper Great Lakes. See the WeatherRadar? Not to be outdone, gusty winds accompany this storm. The WindRadar shows gusts in the 30 to 50 mph range with higher gusts likely in the mountains for the entirety of the eastern third and up into the Upper Great Lakes To the West, a weak low pressure will produce showers, mountain snow and even a few thunderstorms for the Four Corners and into northern California. These will start early and move north and northwest throughout the day, as seen on the WeatherRadar. Have an umbrella and your app alerts switched on in case of heavy downpours or thunderstorms The WeatherRadar shows forecasts up to four days out It's a great tool for predicting what's ahead for your spring break holidays Here’s your KSJD Outdoor Report event roundup Battle Rock Charter School is hosting a yard sale from 9 AM to 2:45 PM to support their sixth graders’ Grand Canyon trip There will also be a silent auction and raffle prizes the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center will hold a Child Abuse Awareness Walk at Parque de Vida in Cortez HomesFund offers a full-day Homebuyer Education Class at the Cortez Chamber of Commerce Celeste Moore will give a talk on preparing homes for fire season at the Dolores Public Library Four Corners Food Not Bombs will gather at 30 N Beech Street in Cortez from noon to 2 PM to share food and distribute supplies Donations of clothing and camping gear are welcomed For more details and events head to the Community Calendar Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Hands of Hope America founder and chief executive officer Evelisse Bookhout’s history as an at-risk youth led her to start the nonprofit in the Four Corners community to fill the critical needs of residents She created Hands of Hope America in 2019 after discovering gaps in needs like childcare education and food security in the Four Corners area The nonprofit started with a food pantry and has grown to provide wraparound services like free mental health counseling after-school tutoring and adult English classes in Lake Now the organization serves thousands of families from its centralized location in Clermont being able to advocate for what we believe our community needs,” Bookhout said showed there is a lack of collaborative funding and efforts across county lines leaving many residents without critical services Pressing concerns across all four counties include major gaps in housing, food security healthcare, employment services, education and transportation She and her team of interns discovered public transportation times are limited and they don’t connect from one county to another.  we are calling for collaborative partners to be able to work together to continue to serve the need here in this community,” Bookhout said A centralized community center to link families with an after-school program and bigger space for kids also is needed children play in the building’s parking lot.  so we have a lot of violence and drug use within our youth in our community and I think it’s because parents need to work and so parents are not around when kids get home from school,” said Rose Sterling Sterling learned about Hands of Hope’s services through one of its food distribution events and he was really struggling mentally,” Sterling said She brought her son to one of the nonprofit’s summer programs and he immediately started building leadership skills and making friends.  “Being able to give back to not only the community but the place that gave me so much hope,” Sterling said Next steps for Bookhout and the organization include more advocacy for those who need a hand who didn’t have a lot of as she was raised by a single mom “Those experiences have truly shaped my passion for serving the community and it’s something I’ll continue to do as long as I can,” Bookhout said clear communication and resource sharing is required She said she and the organization will work to bring together county governments nonprofits and leaders to meet the needs of the growing population KSUT Executive Director Tami Graham announced that the station will pause the Four Corners Folk Festival in 2025 She cited a series of factors that have sprung up since the radio station acquired the two festivals previously presented by FolkWest in October 2019 the Four Corners Folk Festival has been about more than just putting on a festival,” said Graham “It has always been driven by our passion for music discovery supporting the businesses of Pagosa Springs and shining the spotlight on some of the best bands and musicians in the nation We have not been driven by profit or bottom line and only made a profit once — at the 2021 Four Corners Folk Festival.” Upon acquiring the festivals from previous directors Dan Appenzeller and Crista Munro in the fall of 2019 KSUT immediately booked a strong lineup for the following spring and put tickets on sale that December only to see the pandemic cancel both festivals in 2020 and Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass in 2021 Once festival production resumed with the 25th annual festival in 2022 KSUT faced skyrocketing production costs that left it in a serious financial hole Costs included unexpected increases in insurance from nearly 3,000 people in 2021 to less than 2,000 in 2024 be attributed to competition from newer festivals such as Billy Strings’ Renewal and Tico Time Bluegrass as well as established events around the state and region including Phish’s Labor Day concerts at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the Denver area Attendees may also have discovered or renewed their passion for activities such as rafting and fishing during the shutdown during the pandemic NPR released an article this past September exploring The Year the Music Festival Died revealing a similar list of factors to what KSUT has faced Among the national festivals to suspend operations in 2024 were Desert Daze a psychedelic rock fest in southern California; the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia The NPR article cited decreasing consumer confidence in an overall willingness to spend on entertainment and activities “Due to the cost-of-living increases and higher interest rates many of the usual festivalgoers are tightening their belts and refusing to fork over as much money for expensive festival tickets and all the accompanying costs of attending festivals,” according to the NPR story “We’re also seeing similar downturns in other leisure and hospitality sectors The 2025 shutdown is considered to be short-term as the station looks for opportunities to recover from the significant revenue losses caused by producing the festivals KSUT also plans to announce ways festival attendees and other donors can contribute to the station’s general operations Once the station’s general ledger is back in the black fundraising activities for the Four Corners Folk Festival will commence The station's annual Party in the Park will continue as will the collaboration with the City of Durango on its 4th of July street dance KSUT will also explore a handful of small venue concerts BOZEMAN — If you've driven out to Four Corners in the last couple of months then you probably have seen a building being constructed for the last several weeks; it's one of the first hotels in the area LaRell Baldwin is the general manager of Home2 Suites by Hilton and has been working in the hospitality industry for more than two decades She's now putting the finishing touches on the first hotel set to open in Four Corners we're right smack in the middle,” says Baldwin And it's really amazing that we're the first hotel in the area The Home Suites Brand is geared to people who plan on vacationing longer “Towards people that are staying five days or more,” says Baldwin Something that Bozeman Chamber of Commerce CEO Daryl Schliem says is a shift in the Gallatin Valley’s hotel market “So I think that's a diversification that you're seeing in our market right now standard hotels and the brands that are coming in but also the new shoot-offs of what those have to happen,” says Schliem Schliem says the 191 corridor could see more hotels in the next decade as a central location to destinations throughout Gallatin County “Four Corners itself is maturing,” says Schliem “I think the traffic counts and everything else—so finally people took a look at is it now validates that people coming from Big Sky Virga Capital was the developer behind Four Corners’ first hotel and Schliem says developers could be eyeing 191 in the second half of the decade Shliem believes that hotel inventory could double in the next decade “Gallatin County and Belgrade and Four Corners—even up through Big Sky I think you can see investment in hotels and growth there,” says Schliem The Home2 Suites in Four Corners is expected to open in March because I have some good news: a massive warehouse in Four Corners is going to look very different in just a few months with an all-new pickleball court coming your way “It’s one of the few sports that a 20-year-old woman can compete and have fun against a 65-year-old man and enjoy it,” Andrew Brief tells me Andrew Brief and his wife Kelly are the proud owners of what’s to be The Picklr But let's go back for a second to learn how the Briefs got into this niche sport Andrew and Kelly are from upstate New York “Started playing pickleball for the first time when I came out here and heard my cousin was playing And I was frustrated that he could be better at me in a racket sport He was always a soccer player,” says Andrew Which is what opened Andrew’s eyes to the world of Pickleball As in a massive warehouse near Four Corners off Laura Louise Lane And after partnering with a franchise Pickleball company called The Pickler that has 450 different locations “We signed the franchise agreement for all of Montana this is the first location,” Andrew explains they’re hoping to make their mark right here in Bozeman And this empty warehouse might not look like much now And we’re going to really make this someplace special and a place for the community to hang out,” says Andrew monthly memberships will start at $119 per month for access to everything you can also reserve courts and pay hourly rates I asked Andrew why he feels the Bozeman area even needs this Pickleball extravaganza And it creates this chaotic scene in the parks and makes it intimidating for new players to want to get out there and play,” explains Andrew Which is why the Briefs are excited to offer year-round Pickleball access to players of all skill levels “I think people are more active here than the general population But they also like to be together and have community and that’s what Pickleball does,” Andrew says The Picklr is set to soft launch at the end of June the 1,500-foot formation that towers almost 30 miles west of Farmington is a bellwether of progress for clean air advocates in the Four Corners “We never had the vantage points like this and the clarity when the coal plants were in operation,” said Mike Eisenfeld energy and climate program manager at San Juan Citizens Alliance over the crackling headset inside one of EcoFlight’s six-seat planes the Weminuche Wilderness and the La Plata Mountains peaked with whitecaps on the horizon It was a flight like this nearly 20 years ago that catalyzed Eisenfeld and EcoFlight’s work in the region EcoFlight has long used aerial perspectives to educate people about environmental issues Shiprock was barely visible then through the haze of smog from the two coal power plants The Durango Herald accepted an invitation from EcoFlight to view the energy transition from above but paid fair market cost for seats on the plane Shiprock sits within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation stretches from northern New Mexico into Southwest Colorado coal and natural gas extraction – “the trifecta” of dirty energy it passed first over phase one of the San Juan Solar and Storage Project a 200-megawatt solar facility with 100 megawatts of battery storage sitting on 1,100 acres it passed over the San Juan Generation Station – or what’s left of it The station’s four 400-foot smokestacks were blown up last August as part of an ongoing demolition effort electricity-generating units shuttered in 2022 only about a quarter of the original infrastructure remains as the power station’s once-stalwart profile slowly turns to dust and metal wreckage with just a hint of delight in his voice as the plane hummed over trucks moving debris below Eisenfeld dismissed the idea as the machinations of “snake-oil salesmen.” When the plant shut down and layoffs began, the Public Service Co. of New Mexico, the majority owner, agreed to compensate former workers and committed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in solar power projects in the region to offset the loss in property taxes Phase one of the San Juan Solar Project was completed last year and phase two is expected to bring online another 200 MW of generating power The project relies on some of the transmission infrastructure that once carried electricity away from the coal plant The $500 million solar project is a significant investment in the community the EcoFlight turned back east toward the Four Corners Generating Station The five-unit coal plant (three units were decommissioned in 2013) was once considered one of the dirtiest sources of power in the country it is the last big coal power plant still operating on the Colorado Plateau the two that still operate and can generate about 770 MW of power each; the Navajo Transitional Energy Co and has full ownership of the expansive Navajo Mine to the south which generates 4.7 million tons of coal annually including the 20,000 tons of coal the Four Corners station uses each day The remaining two units at Four Corners are slated to close in 2031 as power companies transition to cleaner energy sources and face regulatory burdens that make renewable power a more financially appealing option some want to explore whether carbon capture and sequestration could reduce Four Corners’ carbon emissions and keep the aging generating station alive past 2031 or the amount of carbon sequestered in 7.3 million acres of forest NTEC received a $6.55 million grant last year to evaluate the feasibility of designing a carbon capture system that would cut the plant’s emissions by 95% The company did not respond to emailed questions as of Friday afternoon the project would only strengthen the fossil fuel industry’s waning grip on energy production “It’s like retrofitting a Pinto when you could build an electric vehicle,” he said Eisenfeld is not as optimistic that Four Corners’ owners will contribute to the community as significantly as PNM did when the San Juan station shut down Although NTEC is trying to hang on to the plant Skrelunas said there are also plans in the works to ensure that the demolition and remediation create jobs and that renewable energy development is ready to step in (and) there’s a lot of jobs in reclamation,” he said “But you’ve got to start planning way ahead to maximize those benefits.” Whether the carbon capture project will succeed is unknown “Part of what’s driving this is really a lot of the portfolio standards and the states around us they’re really transitioning to cleaner energy,” he said “… The Navajo Nation is looking at several utility-scale renewable energy projects that will really significantly make up for the future lost revenue.” Choose from several print and digital subscription packages Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: The email "' + userEmail + '" could not be added Please try again or email Shane at shane@durangoherald.com for assistance We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to our policies UPDATE — Gallatin County Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer has identified the two men who died in a collision between two pickup trucks on Highway 191 near the intersection with Cobb Hill Road on Tuesday was identified as the driver of the GMC Sierra that became engulfed in flames after the crash with a Dodge Ram truck The GMC passenger who died in the crash was identified as 22-year-old Oscar Jacuinde The Montana Highway Patrol's fatality crash report stated that Farias was a Las Vegas resident Springer said the cause of death for both men was determined to be blunt force injuries and the five men who were injured in the crash were not identified BOZEMAN — The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) has released more information about a deadly crash on Highway 191 just south of Four Corners that left two people dead on Tuesday Nevada was driving a GMC Sierra south on Highway 191 with two passengers: a 24-year-old man WATCH RELATED: Fatal crash near Four Corners renews Hwy 191 safety concerns The report says the driver lost control on the icy roadway and rotated counterclockwise into the north travel lane near the intersection of US-191 and Cobb Hill Road The GMC was struck on its passenger side by a Dodge Ram 3500 hauling a cement mixer that was traveling northbound A total of five people were in the Dodge at the time of the crash: the driver a 36-year-old Gallatin Gateway man; three male passengers from Bozeman the report says the GMC went off the road to the east The driver and the passenger from Belgrade were pronounced dead at the scene the 27-year-old Bozeman passenger was injured but not hospitalized and the 28-year-old Bozeman passenger was not injured WATCH RELATED: Man who places white crosses at fatal crash sites talks about dangers on Hwy 191 The report states that it is not known if the two men who died were wearing seatbelts except for the 34-year-old Dodge passenger from Belgrade None of the people involved in the crash have been identified at this time and no information about the current condition of the injured parties was released speed is suspected as a factor in the crash; drugs and alcohol are not suspected as factors We will update you if we get more information 3 PM — According to the Montana Department of Justice two pickup trucks collided on Highway 191 after one driver lost control on icy roads early Tuesday morning press secretary for Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in an email to MTN News that the driver who lost control was traveling southbound on Highway 191 in a GMC pickup The truck slid sideways into the northbound lane where it was struck by a Dodge pickup the GMC caught on fire after coming to rest in a field to the east of 191 The driver and one of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene Another passenger from the GMC truck and the driver of the Dodge pickup were taken to the hospital There is no word on their current condition Scheuer said the crash remains under investigation 1:45 PM — Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer has confirmed with MTN News that two people died in the Tuesday morning crash south of Four Corners on Highway 191 MTN News has reached out to the Montana Highway Patrol for more information but we have not gotten a response at this time No further details are currently available We will keep you updated as we get more information BOZEMAN — A multiple-vehicle crash just south of Four Corners is blocking lanes of traffic Tuesday morning According to the Montana Department of Transportation's Traveler Information Map the incident was reported on Highway 191 North at the intersection of Cobb Hill Road around 6:30 a.m Travelers are advised they should be prepared to stop The Montana Highway Patrol's incident map states the crash involves a fatality We will update you as we get more information The future of the Four Corners Power Plant a coal-fired facility vital to the Navajo Nation’s economy will be the focus of a crucial meeting on Jan 16 at the Arizona Public Service headquarters in Phoenix Resources and Development Committee members along with representatives from the president’s office and the Division of Natural Resources will meet with APS and the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to discuss the plant’s fate ahead of its scheduled closure in 2031 emphasized the importance of this discussion explaining that the committee’s role is to provide guidance on revenue streams and define the Nation’s position regarding the plant’s future “The purpose of the meeting with APS is to discuss the future of the Four Corners Power Plant and to get the Nation’s position on how we want to proceed,” said Jesus including Council delegates Casey Allen Johnson Nez noted the plant’s impact on his district calling the issue critical to his constituents has been a cornerstone of the Navajo economy for decades it is scheduled to cease operations by the end of 2031 as part of a larger transition toward cleaner energy sources This decision aligns with national goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but raises significant concerns for coal-dependent communities like the Navajo Nation The closure of the power plant mirrors the 2019 shutdown of the Navajo Generating Station in LeChee Those closures caused the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs and $40 million in annual revenue for the Navajo Nation which hit the tribe’s coffers and created economic challenges posed by the decline of coal the Nation is exploring options to mitigate the impact and chart a sustainable path forward One potential solution under discussion is the implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage technology at the Four Corners Power Plant which manages the Nation’s energy resources and holds a 7% ownership stake in the plant recently secured $6.55 million in federal funding from the Department of Energy to study CCS feasibility CCS could capture over 95% of the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions potentially allowing it to continue operating beyond 2031 and logistical aspects of equipping the power plant with the technology the majority stakeholder with 63% ownership has expressed reservations about carbon capture citing high costs and technical challenges the future of CCS at the aging coal-fired power plant remains uncertain raising concerns that the financial and operational burdens could fall solely on the Navajo Nation if NTEC seeks full ownership of the plant renewable energy projects such as solar and wind are being pursued as part of the Navajo Nation’s broader effort to diversify its economy The region’s abundant natural resources make it well-suited for these initiatives which offer opportunities to replace lost revenue from coal while creating new jobs Nuclear energy is also being explored as a potential clean energy solution is advancing research on small modular reactors and easier to deploy than traditional nuclear reactors SMRs could serve as replacements for retiring coal plants providing reliable power while reducing emissions LANL is addressing key challenges associated with nuclear energy such as waste management and reactor safety The transition from coal to clean energy presents both opportunities and challenges for the Navajo Nation coal mining and power production were integral to the region’s economy and culture The closures of plants like the San Juan Power Plant and the NGS have caused significant economic and social disruption leaving families and local governments searching for new ways to adapt PNM had considered carbon capture technology Discussions to use carbon capture technology at the San Juan Generating Station had sparked debate over its feasibility and costs New Mexico set a goal for itself to move toward renewable energy goals so questions arose about whether retrofitting the coal-fired plant with carbon capture and storage technology was a realistic option once a major source of electricity in the Four Corners region determined that transitioning to renewable energy sources and natural gas was a more practical path forward PNM’s long-term energy strategy prioritizes reducing carbon emissions and meeting New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard which requires 50% of electricity to come from renewable resources by 2030 and 100% carbon-free energy by 2045 Retrofitting SJGS with carbon capture technology was considered but ultimately deemed unworkable because of the high costs and operational inefficiencies PNM estimated that adding carbon sequestration to the plant would increase the total cost of its energy transition plan by $1.3 billion Monthly bills for customers would have risen by $10 per household compared to savings of nearly $7 under PNM’s preferred plan carbon sequestration would have required 29% of the plant’s generated power just to operate the technology The increased coal consumption needed to sustain it – estimated at 40% more than usual – would further drive up costs placing already significant strains on local resources While the technology captures carbon dioxide emissions using the captured carbon for industrial purposes could result in a net increase in emissions critics argued that CCS did not align with the broader goals of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and prioritizing cleaner energy One significant concern about retrofitting SJGS with CCS would have been its impact on renewable energy development The plant’s continued operation would have limited the transmission capacity available for lower-cost renewables like solar and wind coal-fired plants with carbon sequestration are also less flexible than renewable energy sources meaning they could force reductions in renewable energy output curtailments would have reduced renewable energy generation by an estimated 328,000 megawatt-hours per year the equivalent of one-third of the plant’s output PNM explained its decision to retire SJGS to transition away from coal while supporting workers and communities affected by the closure significant funds were allocated to help workers More than $17 million was designated for severance packages for over 200 affected employees with an average of six months of severance per worker Additional funds were set aside for job training and community support Around $2.8 million was allocated for training programs to help workers transition to new industries A displaced worker fund received $12 million to assist employees and local businesses affected by the plant’s closure The act also included $6 million for economic development and $1.8 million for programs focused on Navajo communities The closure of SJGS also signals a shift in how the region manages its energy future coal-fired plants like SJGS played a central role in powering the Four Corners area and supporting local economies the rising costs of coal and the need to address climate change have accelerated the move to cleaner energy sources Jesus reiterated the importance to the RDC members before voting on approving who’d be attending the meeting with APS “A lot of us delegates are going to be down in Phoenix to discuss the future of the Four Corners Power Plant to get the Nation’s position on how we want to proceed … so again we need to start having these dialogues,” said Jesus More weather » Tuba City: US 160 at SR-264 Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress San Juan County and the Navajo Nation are working on a project to build a new freight rail line that would connect the Farmington area to the BNSF railway corridor near Gallup A railroad crossing located northwest of Gallup is pictured on Tuesday A train sits on a track in Gallup on Tuesday Train tracks looking west in Gallup are pictured on Tuesday A map of potential routes for a proposed freight train line in the Four Corners region With millions in federal grants and state matching funds San Juan County is finally on track toward a new rail line People in Farmington have been talking about what a train line could do for the region’s economy for 50 years — since the narrow-gauge railroad connection from Farmington to Antonito “What really helped to spur this was the closure of coal-fired power plants that was happening both on and off the Navajo Nation,” San Juan County Manager Mike Stark said Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content it provides narrative coverage of local trends going beyond the headlines to keep you informed Cathy Cook is a news reporter for the Albuquerque Journal. 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email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account those four petals have their similarities and differences one of the four corner neighborhoods of Chicago I decided to visit the other three corners of Chicago — Edison Park and Hegewisch — all on public transportation I wanted to see if it was possible to circumnavigate the entire city in a single day my neighbors could hardly believe how far I’d traveled 11:05 a.m.: Board the 290 Cumberland bus at Howard Station with a big book — Stephen King’s The Dead Zone — for the long trip ahead 11:57 a.m.: Get off the bus at Touhy and Ozanam in Park Ridge watching for the street signs to change to let me know I’m back in Chicago 12:11 a.m.: Emerald Style is Edison Park’s t-shirt headquarters They’re really proud of being Irish in Edison Park I buy a green “Edison Park” t-shirt with a shamrock-shaped Chicago flag Right next door is a bar called Emerald Isle 12:31 a.m.: I drink a beer at the Edison Park Inn while watching the NASCAR race and waiting for a Metra train 1 p.m.: Catch the UP-NW train from Harvard the first leg of my trip to Mount Greenwood 1:15 p.m.: Change to the Blue Line at Jefferson Park Change to the Orange Line at Clark and Lake Catch the 52A 115th/Springfield bus at the Kedzie Orange Line station A two-hour journey from Edison Park to Mount Greenwood I step off the bus right behind a guy wearing a Trump 2024 baseball cap Mount Greenwood is one of the few neighborhoods in the city where you can safely advertise your support for Trump heavily populated by cops and firefighters Almost every precinct here voted Republican in 2020 — and 2016 making it the Trumpiest neighborhood in Chicago which has the seals of Ireland’s four provinces painted on the front They’re really proud of being Irish in Mount Greenwood I’ve heard some great political discussions here since half the patrons are for Biden and the other half are for Trump “The Nashville White Sox,” says a man at the end of the bar “They need to move to Nashville and let a real baseball team take over in Chicago I fail to buy a t-shirt in Mount Greenwood Schools R Us sells shirts for every Catholic school on the South Side — Brother Rice Margaret of Scotland — but it closes at 3 p.m I peer through the window of MG — closed for the holiday weekend — and see a “Police Lives Matter” shirt Also closed for the holiday weekend is a store selling Chicago Fire Department shirts — another very Mount Greenwood sentiment In the windows of all three stores are portraits of Officer Luis Huesca the Chicago police officer killed in an off-duty shooting in April 4:11 p.m.: Mount Greenwood and Hegewisch are only eight miles apart but to get from one neighborhood to the other on public transportation takes an hour and a half I ask to be dropped off at Pudgy’s Pizza in Hegewisch “I’ve always wanted to try this place,” I tell a man in an apron sitting out front “You came all the way from Rogers Park to eat here?” But it’s where I wanted to eat in Hegewisch.” and sit down to eat it at one of Pudgy’s two tables but the crust isn’t as crisp as I’ve come to expect from Chicago tavern-style pizza when the man in the apron asks if I’d give it a good review at Brandon and 135th — Chicago’s southernmost bar There’s a t-shirt behind the bar with a shamrock in place of the “O.” They’re really proud of being Irish in Hegewisch I buy a baseball-style shirt that reads “Old Time Tap Hegewisch.” I want people to know where I’ve been I catch the South Shore Line to Millenium Station I change to the 147 Howard Station bus on Michigan Avenue The bus drops me off outside the Lighthouse Tavern I walk in wearing my new Old Time Tap t-shirt “I’m sure there’s a Hegewisch in London,” a woman says “I’ve never been to Hegewisch,” says a third man Chicagoans in their neighborhoods can be so provincial Yet I’m being treated as though I visited a foreign country I guess the North Side and the South Side do see each other that way We hope you enjoy our newsletters.To subscribe to the print edition of Chicago magazine, go to chicagomag.com/subscribe Tags: Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered The Four Corners Child Advocacy Center will host its first Child Abuse Awareness Walk on Friday at Parque de Vida to mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month family-friendly event aims to raise awareness and promote prevention strategies to end child abuse and neglect centered around “A Walk in the Park,” invites community members to honor children's right to safety with a walk around Parque de Vida “The centerpiece of this walk is to bring participants together to honor children and their right to grow up feeling safe and loved the Fours Corners Child Advocacy Center’s Margo Lee told The Journal “This is a family-friendly event open to everyone who wants to show their support for children and families in our community.” Participants can enjoy a complimentary lunch from God’s Dogs and sample Buckskin Bar’s nonalcoholic “Go Blue” piña colada punch Informational booths will offer resources and activities like temporary tattoos Local speakers and emergency responders will be on hand to engage attendees A Classic Air Medical Helicopter visit will take place while a pinwheel contest for fifth graders The winner will be announced during the event Cortez Fire Department and the Southwest Memorial Hospital ambulance will also be part of the event “Informational booths offering valuable resources from the Piñon Project Department of Social Services and other community partners will be on-site along with engaging activities for all ages,” Lee said “Guests will also have the chance to meet local inspiring community speakers and connect with emergency responders who play a vital role in ensuring child safety.” with the walk starting at noon from the playground shelter on Mildred Street proceeding north to Empire Street and circling the park the color of child abuse prevention awareness with proceeds supporting the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center The event space was donated by Cortez Parks and Recreation For volunteer opportunities, booth registration or more details, contact Lee at (602) 361-6544, visit www.nestcac.org or follow the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center on Facebook A new study shows that a native potato species was brought to southern Utah by Indigenous people in the distant past adding to an ever-growing list of culturally significant plant species that pre-contact cultures domesticated in the Southwestern U.S led by Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) at the University of Utah used genetic analysis to reveal how and where tubers of the Four Corners potato (Solanum jamesii) had been collected transported and traded throughout the Colorado Plateau The findings support the assertion that the tuber is a “lost sister,” joining maize beans and squash—commonly known as the three sisters—as a staple of crops ingeniously grown across the arid landscape “Transport is one of the early crucial steps in the domestication of native plants into crops,” said Dr. Lisbeth Louderback associate professor of anthropology at the U and coauthor of the study “Domestication can begin with people gathering and replanting propagules in a new location.” The authors collected DNA samples from modern Four Corners potato populations near archaeological sites and from non-archaeological populations within the potato’s natural range in the Mogollon Rim of central Arizona and New Mexico The findings indicate that the potato was transported and cultivated likely by the ancestors of modern Pueblo (Hopi reflects the significant influence of humans on plant diversity in the landscape over millennia,” said Dr former director of conservation at Red Butte Garden and lead author of the study The paper published on July 12 magnesium and iron content than an organic red potato and a single tuber can grow to yield up to 600 small tubers in just four months The nutritious crop would have been a highly valued trade item and crucial in the lean winter months.While the unique distribution of the Four Corners potato came as a surprise to scientists and researchers local Tribal members suspected this all along overlooked secondary region of domestication Ancient Indigenous People were highly knowledgeable agriculturalists tuned into their regional ecological environs who traded extensively and grew the plants in many different environments,” said Wendy Hodgson herbarium curator and research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden “Such studies highlight the need to learn from Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives and to view landscapes and some plant species from a cultural The Mogollon Rim region encompasses southcentral Arizona extending east and north into the Mogollon Mountains of New Mexico Jagged limestone and sandstone cliffs break up the ponderosas pinyons and junipers scattered across the high-altitude terrain jamesii is widely distributed across the Rim—the plants thrive in conifer woodlands and thousands of small tubers can grow beneath a single pinyon pine canopy These “non-archaeological” populations lack an association with artifacts grow to be quite large and are continuously distributed across the habitat Alastair Bitsóí (Diné) holds a harvest of Four Corners Potatoes that he grows on his farm on the Navajo Nation “archaeological populations” of the potato occur within 300 meters of ancient habitation sites and tend to be smaller than in the species’ central distribution isolated populations across the Colorado Plateau exhibit a genetic makeup only explained by human gathering and transport “Tribes of the Four Corners region have nurtured a connection to food and landscape biodiversity since time immemorial,” said Alastair Lee Bitsóí (Diné) a Navajo journalist who grows and reports on the Four Corners potato Grand Staircase and Mesa Verde region at my family’s farm in the Navajo Nation and from them a new generation has been born I am a dispersal agent for its transport and cultivation.” to create viable seeds—flowers must receive pollen from a different plant with specific plants will clone themselves by sprouting from underground stems to create a genetically identical daughter plant jamesii to persist even when conditions are far from ideal It also provides a genetic stamp marking where each population originated This signature is common in potatoes carried to locations with few other individuals and persists for hundreds of generations Researchers collected DNA samples from 682 individual plants across 25 populations of the Four Corner potato—14 populations were near archaeological sites while 11 were from non-archaeological areas in its natural distribution The results showed that the most genetically diverse populations of S jamesii were concentrated around the Mogollon Rim populations from archaeological sites exhibited reduced genetic diversity because the transported tubers may have only contained a fraction of the available genes Tracing the origins of archaeological populations jamesii in Escalante Valley in Southern Utah have two different origins—one directly from the Mogollon Rim region and one related to Bears Ears These archaeological sites form a genetic corridor suggesting ancient people transported the tubers south to north Each bar represents the genetic composition of a given potato population and shows where the genes came from four archaeological populations around Escalante Valley show distinct origins The genetic signatures could indicate that people transported potatoes to new locations multiple times in the distant past in a pattern likely corresponding to ancient trade routes “The potato joins a large assemblage of goods that were traded across this vast cultural landscape,” said Louderback people of the southwest participated in social networks migration and trade routes in the region.” What is clear is that the species has been transported and grown far from its center of natural distribution Scientists from the USDA Potato Gene Bank have been sampling the genetics of the Four Corner’s potato for decades and were intrigued by the diversity of genetic patterns along the geographic range “We used to wonder about the patterns of genetic diversity distribution of Solanum jamesii,” said Dr plant geneticist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the U.S Department of Agriculture Potato Genebank and coauthor of the study “It wasn’t clear to us that humans had altered its range but now we have evidence confirming just that.” The researchers interpret the transport of the Four Corners potato as early stages of domestication they plan to analyze specific gene sequences to learn more about S holds a harvest of Four Corners Potatoes in a Diné Basket at his farm in the Navajo Nation “We’d like to look at specific genetic markers for certain desirable traits such as taste tuber size and frost tolerance,” said Pavlik “It’s entirely possible that Indigenous people were preferring certain traits and thus trying to encourage favorable genes.” and other domesticated species are excellent candidates for arid land cultivation at a time when we are faced with many challenges including food security and water resource availability,” said Hodgson protecting and understanding the distribution and ecological and cultural roles of these plants requires interdisciplinary collaboration between botanists Dr. John Bamberg of the USDA Potato Bank was also a coauthor of the study titled “Evidence for human-caused found effect in populations of Solanum jamesii at archaeological sites: II Genetic sequencing established ancient transport across the Southwest USA” in the American Journal of Botany The work was funded by the National Science Foundation (award # BCS-1827414) the Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah A view of the Washington Street corridor looking north from Codman Square in 2023 The city’s contentious Squares + Streets re-zoning program for Codman Square and Four Corners has been put on pause until 2026 Planning Department officials confirmed this week The reason: to do more study in partnership with neighbors A high-priority project of Mayor Wu, the Squares + Streets process will continue in other areas. In Fields Corner, the goal is to get final recommendations approved this year – much to the chagrin of some in that neighborhood. The Roslindale program was approved by the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) board last week we built strong relationships and received helpful feedback about how best to commence a successful and equitable planning process in these communities,” read a memorandum sent out from the Planning Department on Tuesday “We are looking forward to launching a Squares + Streets planning process in Codman Square + Four Corners in 2026 and will continue engagement at that time.” Initiated by former Planning Director Arthur Jemison the effort proposes a “toolbox” of new codes to build density and reform business regulations in business districts and main corridors like Washington Street in Codman Square Areas in the plan would be upzoned using five new zones (S0-S4) so that larger buildings and business uses could be pursued by right without the usual community processes The efforts in Codman Square and Fields Corner were announced in early 2024 and kicked off late last spring – with meetings pop-ups and other engagement going through the year neighbors in the Square were hesitant from the get-go and things only got spicier last summer when the Planning Department looped in Four Corners with little outreach skeptical neighbors along the Washington Street corridor have formed the grass-roots Codman United and have run meetings that stress the need to consider affordability and anti-displacement measures The “pause” announcement came first at the Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC) on Feb 5 when Dorchester’s Mike Prokosch surprised some in relaying that new Planning Director Kairos Shen had agreed to hold up the plan in Codman/Four Corners “In a meeting with the new head of the Planning Department,” said Prokosch “we got a commitment to pause the process in Codman Square…and talk about an affordability plan and do a study about displacement and use a community-approved federal law – the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Act This is supposed to be a time to work things out with the community It could hardly be more confusing but we hope for a process to figure it all out.” said he has been working with neighbors and felt this was something that needed more thought “We don’t want to be re-developed into another Seaport there aren’t many people there that look like those of us in this community,” he said There is a blended community in Codman Square and Four Corners… [The planners] aren’t from here but they think they know what’s best for the people and they want really drastic changes to the community without public input.” Prokosch noted that Codman United supports more building and the plan’s frameworks but “we want to also make sure we’re around to enjoy it.” Added CSNC President Cynthia Loesch-Johnson we were on our own trying to navigate this blindly It seems like we’re going to move in the right direction now.” But with the well-received news in Codman Square The Planning Department confirmed with The Reporter that there will be no pause in Fields Corner’s process Officials are now moving toward planning for how to best use Dorchester Avenue They have hosted pop-in meetings about how to best use the street the avenue this month and are using an online application called ‘StreetMix’ to gather input “Building on recent Main Street and civic association meetings the Planning team will soon be scheduling workshops and forums to refine ideas and finalize recommendations together with community members and other City departments this spring,” a spokesperson noted “followed by further engagement with the community and a future comment period on the draft plan.” Members of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) and Dorchester Not for Sale said they would like to slow their process down so they can get protections in place from unfettered development caused by upzoning the neighborhood – focusing on affordability and anti-displacement regulations “We are wanting to make sure that the voices of neighborhood residents our immigrant and refugee community members are heard and valued in any planning process for development/redevelopment that happens in the neighborhood,” said Kevin Lam said they are not opposed to Squares + Streets in Fields Corner but they won’t consent to it without protections in place “I definitely don’t think that we’re in a different place than they are,” she said and Codman Square all share the same concerns which are putting protections in place before upzoning and having meaningful engagement…I’m concerned our process seems to be moving ahead and not really slowing down.” She said they aren’t being “obstructionist,” but notes they haven’t gotten answers She also said that Wu had said she would meet with them in the fall “It’s now stop and pause and let’s really address what we need to have in the community,” she said Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $60 for 52 Issues in the continental US. Watch 1m 46sThe man publicly labelled the mastermind behind a series of antisemitic attacks in Sydney has spoken exclusively to Four Corners, admitting he was involved in sourcing a caravan full of explosives. REITs invest in the majority of real estate property types Nareit’s REIT Directory provides a comprehensive list of REIT and publicly traded real estate companies that are members of Nareit The directory can be sorted and filtered by sector CEM Benchmarking’s 2024 study also reveals allocations and risk-adjusted performance of 12 asset classes over 25-year period Partnerships are occurring across a range of REIT property sectors is the REIT industry’s largest annual gathering of executives REIT industry by ensuring its members’ best interests are promoted by providing unparalleled advocacy continuing education and networking.  sat down for a video interview during Nareit’s REITworld: 2024 Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Nov Lenehan noted that the company was relatively inactive in early 2024 due to unfavorable capital costs but entered what he called the "Green Zone" by August and September With a strong capital raising effort underway the company plans to be able to carry acquisitions momentum into 2025 Lenehan noted that they raise concerns about credit issues affecting certain sectors and stores like dollar stores and furniture retailers he emphasized that Four Corners does not own properties in these troubled sectors positioning the company advantageously to take advantage of opportunities while others are dealing with portfolio challenges Lenehan focused on the importance of maintaining the momentum built in the latter part of 2024 He highlighted the company's expanded acquisitions team are companies that own or finance income-producing real estate across a range of property sectors These real estate companies have to meet a number of requirements to qualify as REITs and they offer a number of benefits to investors REITs historically have delivered competitive total returns steady dividend income and long-term capital appreciation Their comparatively low correlation with other assets also makes them an excellent portfolio diversifier that can help reduce overall portfolio risk and increase returns These are the characteristics of real estate investment Nareit serves as the worldwide representative voice for REITs and real estate companies with an interest in U.S Nareit’s members are REITs and other real estate companies throughout the world that own as well as those firms and individuals who advise the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts®, is the worldwide representative voice for REITs and publicly traded real estate companies with an interest in U.S Nareit's members are REITs and other businesses throughout the world that own National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts® and Nareit® are registered trademarks of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) When a mysterious and deadly illness began to sicken members of the Navajo community in the Four Corners region of the Southwestern U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigators were stumped the cause of the illness was less of a mystery to Navajo elders Because officials were willing to listen to valuable insight gained from centuries of traditional knowledge a virus that was previously unknown to infect humans in North America was identified as the source of the disease.   Local officials had stumbled on an outbreak already in progress.  New Mexico state health officials requested assistance from the CDC The epidemiology team quickly narrowed the cause to 3 possibilities: a new aggressive influenza virus; an environmental toxin or a previously unrecognized pathogen.   Indigenous knowledge offers a wealth of insight into the subtle patterns of the land Passing stories from 1 generation to the next makes history extremely personal knowledge becomes more than just the facts in a sequence The listener gains ownership; it becomes their story as well have preserved their history and their culture in this way for centuries.   humans and mice come from different worlds and Upsetting the balance with too much intermingling between species can bring on diseases like what was seen in the Four Corners region Elders warned their people to be careful of deer mice and prairie dogs as contact with their waste could spread disease They recommended burning contaminated clothing and sealing food to protect it from rodent access and contamination.  When CDC investigators met with tribal elders they were informed of this regional history One of the first important clues to the identity of the pathogen came from these meetings Because investigators were willing to seek out local knowledge and take in the wisdom granted to them they began to make real progress in identifying the mysterious illness.  combined with the knowledge gained from the Diné led scientists to consider a previously unknown hantavirus as the culprit.   hantavirus outbreaks in the Western Hemisphere had only ever been seen in rodents the team began an extensive rodent-trapping program to test their theory.  Genetic and antibody testing along with detailed clinical and pathological examinations of more than 1,700 mice revealed the source of the mysterious illness was a previously unknown hantavirus.   Initial symptoms of hantavirus infection are “flu-like,” and include fever, headache and muscle pain. These usually begin within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. In the U.S., severe cases will progress to HPS, which has a 40% mortality rate most HPS patients will experience some amount of low blood pressure Pulmonary edema and pleural effusion are common and patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms begin to decline rapidly.   early detection and care are critical for successful intervention are the only ways to manage severe disease progression death usually occurs within 24-48 hours of cardiopulmonary system involvement.   Names based on a location or specific population can cause unintentional social, psychological and economic problems for the affected groups by provoking backlash against them The Navajo experienced this during the 1993 outbreak when the media dubbed it the “Navajo disease.” Vacation reservations were canceled and major events were moved to other locations dealing a heavy blow to an already fragile tribal economy. Racial stereotyping led to Navajo people being refused service at various businesses and Navajo students were required to undergo medical testing to visit college campuses.   it is taboo to speak a loved one’s name for 4 days after their death or to say anything negative about them Sin Nombre takes on a poetic meaning in this way If stating a name gives something power to harm then refusing to grant a name takes that power away.   The Four Corners outbreak demonstrates the immense value of Indigenous knowledge investigators need to use every available resource The people who have lived with the land for generations may hold the answers to the source of the next emerging infectious disease or the next medical breakthrough But only if scientists are willing to listen a real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the ownership and acquisition of high-quality net-leased restaurant and retail properties announced that the company entered into a fourth amended and restated revolving credit and term loan agreement with a group of existing lenders The credit agreement increases the overall size of the facility from US$765 million to US$940 million by increasing the revolving credit facility capacity to US$350 million and entering into a new US$225 million term loan Latham & Watkins LLP represented Four Corners Property Trust in the financing with a banking team led by Los Angeles partner Jason Bosworth Advice was also provided on tax matters by Century City partner Pardis Zomorodi with associates Brian Rogers and Joseph Marcus KSUT Public Radio will pause the Four Corners Folk Festival in 2025 Executive Director Tami Graham announced on Friday She cited a series of factors that have sprung up since the radio station acquired the two festivals We have not been driven by profit or bottom-line and only made a profit once – at the 2021 Four Corners Folk Festival.” Upon acquiring the festivals from previous executive directors Dan Appenzeller and Crista Munro in the fall of 2019 Once festival production resumed with the 25th annual Four Corners Folk Festival in 2022 These costs included unexpected increases in insurance NPR released an article this past September exploring “The Year the Music Festival Died,” revealing a similar list of factors to what KSUT has faced Among the national festivals to go fallow in 2024 were Desert Daze a psychedelic rock fest in Southern California; Sierra Nevada World Music Festival a reggae fest in Northern California; Kickoff Jam a country music festival in Florida; Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia; Sudden Little Thrills a multi-genre festival in Pittsburgh; and Float Fest in Austin and Moab Folk Festival all saw decreased ticket sales from prior years has been forced to present a much smaller indoor festival since the pandemic Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass and the Tico Time Jam Festival have both shut down operations many of the usual festivalgoers are tightening their belts and refusing to fork over as much money for expensive festival tickets and all the accompanying costs of attending festivals,” it wrote Graham and her KSUT team are viewing 2025 as a short-term shutdown while the station looks to find solution opportunities to recover from the significant revenue losses as a result of producing the festivals KSUT plans to announce ways festival attendees and other donors can contribute to the station’s general operations KSUT plans to continue its annual Party in the Park and collaborate with the City of Durango’s 4th of July street dance and will explore a handful of small venue concerts For more information, contact KSUT Festival Director Jill Davis at festivaldirector@ksut.org or 970-563-5788 or Executive Director Tami Graham at tami@ksut.org or 970-563-5780 The Pagosa Daily Post welcomes submissions letters and videos from people who love Pagosa Springs Call 970-903-2673 or email pagosadailypost@gmail.com The Pagosa Daily Post is published by Bill Hudson Productions LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome. Send to pagosadailypost@gmail.com Indicate that you would like to share your letter with our readers ALL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS can be sent to pagosadailypost@gmail.com Content on the Daily Post is shared via a CREATIVE COMMONS license.  Learn more here. Listen 3m 20sSayit Akca in Türkiye, where he is on the run from Australian authorities. (Four Corners: Mayeta Clark) the man publicly labelled the mastermind behind a series of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney admitting he was involved in sourcing a caravan full of explosives Akca denies orchestrating the attacks but says the caravan filled with explosives was part of a trade-in with the Australian Federal Police in an attempt to negotiate a deal Watch 45m Over summer, organised crime cast a terrifying shadow over Australia. AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE: This twisted self-serving criminality has terrorised Jewish Australians The Great Synagogue: It felt it was out of control and suddenly Australia and Sydney were the worst places in the entire world for attacks against Jews NSW PREMIER: …breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre BUSINESS OWNER: what has happened to our city What has happened to the people that are around us MAHMOOD FAZAL: Then came the news of a chilling discovery… a caravan packed with explosives… and a list of Jewish sites NSW PREMIER: This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event There's only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism NSW Police: I'm suggesting the 14 incidents and also the caravan job are all being orchestrated by the same individuals JEWRY: Never for a second did we think organised crime could be playing a part in this SENATOR JAMES PATTERSON: What can you tell me about Mr Sayit Akca REPORTER: The man labelled the mastermind has been on the run MAHMOOD FAZAL: I'm travelling halfway across the world to meet him MAHMOOD FAZAL: Were you manipulating law enforcement REPORTER: For the past 7 weeks Türkiye has been rocked by anti-government protests I've come here in the midst of this turmoil to meet an underworld figure in hiding Sayit Erhan Akca is a key person of interest to police investigating Australia's wave of antisemitic crime He didn't want Australian authorities to know exactly where to find him he's sent a driver to take me to another location somewhere outside of Istanbul All we know is it's going to be a long drive and eventually we're going to meet with Sayit SAYIT AKCA: I couldn't sleep last night REPORTER: It's taken months of negotiation to arrange this meeting… with the man police are hunting NEWS REPORTER: Sayit Aron Akca also known as Aron is a wanted man who is believed to have fled Australia more than a year ago NEWS REPORTER: Sayit Aron Akca is alleged to have used the terror plot as a form of bargaining REPORTER: His face has been all over the Australian media as the man suspected of orchestrating a wave of antisemitic crime culminating in a caravan filled with explosives Why have you decided to speak to Four Corners SAYIT AKCA: So people have an idea of what the other side of the story is I feel like it's been so lopsided and just to clear the air with my family on what the actual truth is I don't know how it all just got ruled directly to me REPORTER: We can't verify a lot of what Akca says REPORTER: Why should we believe a criminal isn't based off what they have done in the past but that's I mean… sometimes criminals are the most honest It's probably the most honest form of trade if you think about it Sayit Akca was riding high as a gym owner and entrepreneur in Sydney's south INTERVIEWER (FACEBOOK VIDEO): How many gyms have you opened now INTERVIEWER: And you own how many businesses INTERVIEWER: And what's if one of them is a private investment firm I just like to do as much as I can with the knowledge I have MAHMOOD FAZAL: He promoted himself as a self-styled business and personal development coach SAYIT AKCA (FACEBOOK VIDEO): Five years ago I was sleeping on the gym floor fast forward a few years and I'm worth a few mill the way I did that wasn't it's honestly REPORTER: But the AFP has charged the outwardly successful businessman for conspiring to import a commercial quantity of illicit drugs SAYIT AKCA: The real problems started in like 2021 i just remember my door getting pounded like at 5am or something when i opened the door it was just a wave of federal agents storming into my house i think there would have been like 40 of them maybe more REPORTER: Sayit Akca was arrested during Operation Ironside a global organised crime bust led by the AFP 2021): More than 4000 officers from law enforcement in Australia have been involved in executing over 525 search warrants in every mainland state and Ironside has arrested and charged who we allege are some of the most dangerous criminals to Australia we allege they have been trafficking illicit drugs into Australia at an industrial scale SAYIT AKCA: I was charged with conspiracy to import and proceeds of REPORTER: Are you responsible for some of the biggest drug imports in Australian history REPORTER: He says it wasn't only police who were after him he feared underworld enemies were closing in too… what a tracker on the car typically is is what people do if they're targeting you for a kidnapping the Sydney businessman says he travelled to Queensland to see his wife and young child SAYIT AKCA: I just made up my mind and just said you know what 'I'm either going to get killed or I'm going to go in a cell I just kissed my family goodbye REPORTER: He'd already surrendered his passport as part of his bail conditions SAYIT AKCA: I had to go and hide out for a couple of days and organise a way out REPORTER: How hard is it to organise a way out SAYIT AKCA: Depends on how resourceful you are I didn't struggle I was out of there in 48 hours 48 hours i had everything in cement REPORTER: How much did you pay to get out of the country SAYIT AKCA: Umm… quarter of a mill but I mean here was also return favours involved so i got a pretty good rate… REPORTER: By the time Sayit Akca reached Thailand… the world had changed — mass terror had struck Israel ABC NEWS: From neighboring Gaza Palestinian militants parachute themselves into southern Israel Bypassing the only two crossing points on the Israel Gaza border REPORTER: Israel quickly retaliated with airstrikes pounding Gaza SAYIT AKCA: I actually thought it was World War 3 based off what i was seeing; when I saw that REPORTER: The ramifications of October 7 and its aftermath fueled anguish and anger on Australian streets JEWRY: I think there was a failure to recognise that the venom of antisemitism the fact that it resides here in Australia as well and that if it's left unchecked and unchallenged it gets worse and worse and worse and it escalates in terms of the criminality and the violence of it We became very fearful of what might happen next that things would escalate rapidly and very quickly spiral out of control NATIONAL IMAMS COUNCIL: When you look at it there was an opportunity to undermine social cohesion REPORTER: An unprecedented surge in fire and vandalism attacks on Jewish targets took off last October BUSINESS OWNER: Afterwards I started to think why did they firebomb us No ones sent us any letters or any threatening anything It is disgusting behaviour that's against community standards ABC REPORTER: and the Chiswick restaurant was vandalised REPORTER: By now Sayit AKCA had been on the run for more than a year Police issued an arrest warrant for skipping bail and he didn't have a passport SAYIT AKCA: It's basically like a jail sentence you're surrounded by four walls all day You don't really have anyone to talk to You're just trying to stay safe and stay composed until you can find a way to legitimize yourself REPORTER: Did you ever think maybe I should just go back and face the music SAYIT AKCA: That was when I decided to reach out to a lawyer and just said look what would it take to get back REPORTER: For some time underworld figures have negotiated secret trade-ins with police And that's exactly what Akca was hoping for He was trying to do a deal with the Australian Federal Police He offered to get explosives off the street in return for having his bail reissued… which would mean he'd be able to come home and avoid jail while awaiting trial prior to this conversation with your lawyer did you hear of explosives being on the black market REPORTER: Explosives would be Sayit Akca's key bargaining chip as he desperately tried to broker a deal to come back home SAYIT AKCA: I know they've mentioned that other things link up to me but i didn't have involvement in that… like i never offered that I never offered anything to do with those antisemitism attacks REPORTER: NSW Police were gathering evidence that low level foot soldiers were being directed to carry out attacks And the suspicion was that organised crime might be involved YVONNE STRASSER: My father was killed in the Holocaust SHARON GREENBERG: It's like a physical reaction and literally you are frozen for a few seconds there SOUTHERN SYDNEY SYNAGOGUE: This is the sort of thing that happens when you allow racism and antisemitism to go unchecked THE GREAT SINAGOGU: I was astonished to wake up morning after morning and find there'd been another attack on some sort of Jewish site but going from cars to institutional buildings to people's homes raises the level of danger exponentially higher ABC NEWS: There's been another alleged antisemitic attack in NSW ALEX RYVCHIN: You can see people pour petrol across the width of the road from one side to the other leading to the cars parked in the driveway Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin had apparently become the target with his former home attacked ALEX RYVCHIN: to then kind of break it down and think it through that people had spoken and conspired and plotted and planned to do this knowing that there would be people in the middle of the night sleeping in that home to know the terror that this would inflict on a family and families and society as a whole ABC NEWS: Police are investigating a fire at a childcare centre in the city's east CHRIS MINNS: It's completely disgusting and these bastards will be rounded up by NSW police MAHMOOD FAZAL: What was your reaction to the attack on the childcare center there's kids that go there like what do you what do they grow up thinking that someone just blew up their school SAYIT AKCA: I'm trying to go back to see my son REPORTER: Authorities were scrambling to stem the escalating wave of hate crime and find who was responsible National Cabinet was convened — and briefed by AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw The Commissioner fronted the media the following day COMMISSIONER REECE KERSHAW: We believe criminals for hire may be behind some incidents so part of our enquiries include who is paying those criminals REPORTER: Did you see that press conference MAHMOOD FAZAL: Were you concerned at all that uh MAHMOOD FAZAL: You didn't think for a moment I was actually in conversations with friends saying which we were trying to figure it out amongst ourselves REPORTER: Later he would emerge as a key suspect A year ago I was working on another program investigating the meth trade That's when I first came across Sayit Akca Police sources told me he was a major drug trafficker On January 29 this year he sent me an extraordinary tip that news was about to break… about the discovery of a van full of explosives targeted at Israelis He told me it was in Dural in Sydney's northwest He said it was targeted at the Israelis and was terror-related DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAVID HUDSON: That caravan contained an amount of explosives and some indication that those explosives might be used in some form of antisemitic attack I believe the blast zone could have been 40 metres in diameter but which is a significant amount of damage CHRIS MINNS: This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event REPORTER: The news set off fears the months long antisemitic crime spree had crossed a deadly line—into the realm of mass terror BENJAMIN ELTON: I understand there was a handwritten note inside the caravan with a name and the address of the Sydney Jewish Museum and the name and the address of the Great Synagogue written on it the idea that the perpetrators wish to convey that a caravan could be parked outside my synagogue and detonated causing injuries and deaths that initially achieved what it set out to do great fear and terror in the Jewish community REPORTER: But the public wasn't getting anything like the full story police strongly suspected that the caravan was not intended to be used in a terrorist attack — that would only be revealed six weeks later And watching all this unfold was Sayit Akca He confirmed he played a central role sourcing the explosives in the Dural caravan by working his contacts in the Australian underworld SAYIT AKCA: I sort of just asked a few people that I knew might have knowledge the people that I knew on this side of it was just people trying to make a dollar who knows what they're going to be using it for let's have a conversation about it and I've got information on a movement of explosives MAHMOOD FAZAL: He says the AFP officer was interested in the deal REPORTER: What was the AFP's response REPORTER: It's hard to pin Akca down on just what his involvement was here SAYIT AKCA: I didn't organize the caravan; I just organized the seizure of it REPORTER: We pressed him for evidence that he didn't set up the whole thing SAYIT AKCA: Well I've changed phones too many times I wouldn't be able to pull out anything from prior to February REPORTER: He does admit he took charge of the caravan's movements SAYIT AKCA: I actually picked Dural and I just told the driver that I had intercepted to do the seizure off to just put it in a safe spot that we selected off that map my clear instruction was make sure this is not going to explode… REPORTER: he says he instructed the driver to remove the detonators from the van SAYIT AKCA: if this ends up in the wrong hands or if a kid opens that door or if cops don't react to it fast enough There's so many ways this could go wrong What if the wrong agency found it and it had the detonators ready to go I'd have a terrorism charge when I was actually just trying to get the stuff off the street to be able to go back home REPORTER: This is the first time we've heard that there were detonators in the caravan REPORTER: I believe the detonators were just in a bag on the ground and the det- the everything else was just on the ground MAHMOOD FAZAL: The most sinister aspects of the caravan plot was the note listing Jewish sites Akca insists he had nothing to do with that REPORTER: Or someone might think that's one way to get the police's attention But I didn't know it was in there until way after REPORTER: This is another aspect of Akca's account where it's difficult to pin him down Even before the note was made public he'd messaged me to say "the van . Akca says he told the AFP the caravan's location in Dural around the 10th of December SAYIT AKCA: It took 'em quite a while to go and look for this thing So I actually remember sending someone for a drive to see if it's there SAYIT AKCA: I don't know So the emotion back then was just like anxiety attack We thought maybe it went to the pound impound REPORTER: Akca says what happened next derailed his plans SAYIT AKCA: The gentleman that lives right on that bend somewhere he called South Wales Police.and I believe at that point that vital point is when everything went belly up REPORTER: NSW Police had no idea about the AFP's covert operation with Sayit Akca… The AFP told them they had an informant but couldn't disclose the details DAVID HUDSON: We repeatedly asked what the motivation of the person providing that information was however their internal policies prevented them from doing that Sayit Akca was making his way to Istanbul… on a Turkish passport issued in Jakarta He showed us Signal messages on his phone suggesting he was in regular contact with two AFP handlers… offering up weapons and what he claimed was intelligence on terrorist threats Have we had much progress with the prosecutors?" AFP HANDLER 1: "I'll be honest with you I'm pushing shit uphill at the moment The news article from the daily telegraph has pushed things back the caravan was a trade-in by an organised crime syndicate But I'm still working on it in the background for you." REPORTER: We can't verify the names behind these messages REPORTER: At what point did you begin to suspect that you were no longer just an informant providing intelligence SAYIT AKCA: As soon as I got asked if I can set people up and the answer was no I felt like from there on it just became like cold REPORTER: Six weeks after the caravan hit the news the AFP and NSW Police finally announced there was never a terror plot DEPUTY COMMISSIONER: Today I can reveal that the caravan was never going to cause a mass casualty event but instead was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit There were several people who had different levels of involvement in this fake terrorism plot but put simply the plan was the following: organise for someone to buy a caravan Leave it in a specific location and then once that happened inform law enforcement about an impending terror attack against Jewish Australians We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KRISSY BARRETT: Almost immediately experienced investigators within the Joint Counterterrorism Team believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorist plot that's the part I don't know because I was the interceptor REPORTER: Reaction to the police press conference was distressing to the Jewish community ALEX RYVCHIN : The media that I was doing in the immediate aftermath the first question each time surely you must be relieved And I found that to be an utterly bewildering question to now learn that organized crime for some mysterious shadowy purposes had injected themselves into the antisemitism crisis of this country and exacerbated it Relief was the furthest thing from my mind at that point in time BENJAMIN ELTON : that is a real act which has caused real damage and real terror And it was directed deliberately against Jews that makes it antisemitic and to suggest otherwise is gaslighting and is an attempt to further erode the morale of the Jewish community and to make Jews feel even more isolated and alone DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KRISSY BARRETT: The AFP is working with local and overseas law enforcement officials in our bid to have all of those responsible brought to justice REPORTER: Sayit Akca was feeling the heat but says his AFP handlers were reassuring him AFP HANDLER #1: …it's been a rough couple of days… There's a few things going at the moment that we need to work through on our end Your safety has been our priority from the start… What has happened in the media is out of our control AFP HANDLER #2: Try not to listen to the circus…give us a couple of days to let the dust settle SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS; What can you tell me about Mr Sayit Akca who's been publicly reported as the individual believed to be responsible for coordinating these attacks from offshore REPORTER: The AFP has resisted pressure to directly answer questions about Sayit Akca.At senate estimates AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett delivered this… REPORTER: Were you exploiting the trauma of Jewish people to leverage police I would never have the antisemitism in my trades REPORTER: I'm going to go through every attack and ask if you're responsible REPORTER: Were you responsible for graffiti attacks in an attempt to light a synagogue in Newtown co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian jury was sprayed with red paint and antisemitic graffiti and a car was set on fire two homes and cars were sprayed with antisemitic graffiti REPORTER: Akca rejected involvement in any of the graffiti and firebombing attacks SAYIT AKCA: What actually offends me the most because anyone that really knows me back at home ever take bread off someone's table but the semi antisemitic attacks I got pretty offended by a couple of them 'cause I know that's just not my core values REPORTER: But this pledge of core values sits uncomfortably against Akca's social media postings in the past ALEX RYVCHIN: this individual had made a series of antisemitic comments denying the Holocaust So the individual posted under an alias or a variation of his name and it was determined that it was the same individual who is now believed to be the mastermind the orchestrator of the fire bombings and the dual explosives caravan plot you photographed yourself next to an orthodox Jewish man in New York City I And in comments under that photo you say you are going to ask for directions to the nearest Jewish oven for the finest bagel experience to allude to the Holocaust in any way as a joke I'm deeply remorseful about that a y like I was just joking around on social media back then I actually had a lot of followers for it and that was just my persona you posted on the Facebook page for the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies How did 6 million die when only 3.2 registered Jews in Europe at the time SAYIT AKCA: I understand it's not the right thing to say out loud but back then I was just very controversial and I was known for it REPORTER: The following day in responses to a post by the Jewish Board of Deputies about vandals targeting the Jewish community by spraying swastikas on cars you wrote Zeig Heil the victory salute used by the Nazis SAYIT AKCA: I was just being young and silly and now that we're in this time of life and this environment REPORTER: Do you accept that that kind of banter can be really harmful REPORTER: NSW Police have made scores of arrests in relation to the antisemitic crime wave of the past few months NSW POLICE FOOTAGE: (banging on door) Police search warrant REPORTER: Police say some of the alleged offenders are criminals for hire BENJAMIN ELTON: There were people with severe mental problems with severe drug problems and no history of antisemitism And they were paid in cash to carry this work out And while their actions are clearly reprehensible you have to feel a level of human sympathy for them REPORTER: This 20 year old was arrested in connection to a stolen vehicle Later used in the Maroubra Childcare attack ANONYMOUS 20-YEAR-OLD: I didn't know it was didn't know it was some racism or nothing and which I was kind of just forced to drive ANONYMOUS 20-YEAR-OLD: Filled up the car tank That got me a bit of weed because I'm a stoner REPORTER: can you tell me why you've asked me not to film your face ANONYMOUS 20-YEAR-OLD: These people don't fuck with them I can't believe what I got myself involved in I'm worried about my family's sake to be honest ABC NEWS: A second man has been arrested over an attempt to set fire to a synagogue in Newtown earlier this month RAPPER: My brother that got charged for the graffiti and the attempted arson on the synagogue REPORTER: Rapper NTER's brother was also charged in connection to the attack on Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin's former home… and antisemitic graffiti in Queens Park NTER: There's no real reasoning for him to go out and do it unless he's doing it for drugs or something like that You know these people have no political views whatsoever He wouldn't be able to tell you who the Prime Minister is at all I want you to go graffiti this on that.…You know you'd do it you'd know (If you're sick you'll step over a dead body to get what you need to get to you know what I mean That's just that's the reality of it DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAVID HUDSON: As different individuals were charged we were getting a better picture of what was happening in the environment and the links to those jobs it became more apparent to us that there was potentially a common source between all jobs REPORTER: No one's been charged over the Dural caravan but two people named in a search warrant have been connected with the investigation Soon after New South Wales Police seized the caravan officers raided the western Sydney home of Tammie Farrugia and her partner Scott Marshall Tammie put out a call on social media to buy a caravan her partner Scott Marshall posted a photo of a kitten with wads of cash At the time of the raid both were in custody They have been charged over a separate antisemitic attack in Sydney's east DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAVID HUDSON: We're not suggesting that the owners of that caravan were the criminal masterminds behind any of these jobs— We are suggesting that the owners of that caravan have been manipulated by the mastermind REPORTER: Does the name Tammy Farrugia mean anything to you REPORTER: What about the name Scott Marshall I don't know what their involvement is in in the other antisemitic attacks or in what was going on I just saw that there was some posts made on their Facebooks REPORTER: Three weeks after the interview Sayit Akca arranged for me to meet the man he says drove the caravan to Dural the police haven't caught up with this guy yet so we're just driving out now into the suburbs The man we're meeting insisted on not being identified DRIVER: I'm a driver within the underworld it's up to me whether I want to accept it or not You never know who's behind the phone giving the orders REPORTER: Do you remember where you picked the caravan up from MAHMOOD FAZAL: Or where you delivered it to DRIVER: It was intended to go to East Killara and from there someone else was supposed to take it REPORTER: What were you told to do with it DRIVER: I had received a message from an identity that's quite respected and they had advised me to not go ahead with the job make sure there's nothing inside there that could I only looked on the ground what was in front of me I picked up a bag with detonators and that was as far as it went did you put the list of Jewish targets in the caravan any letter I had only just grabbed the bag what was in front of me and that's it MAHMOOD FAZAL: I pressed him for more information on the detonators MAHMOOD FAZAL: And he ended the interview abruptly Neither the AFP nor NSW Police would speak to Four Corners the AFP questioned "the motivation of the individual" we interviewed Sayit Akca says he's found a refuge in Turkey and is confident he won't be sent back MAHMOOD FAZAL: Do you think you'll ever be caught or extradited back to Australia SAYIT AKCA: I don't wat to talk big on this fact and I don't want to really blow smoke or anything MAHMOOD FAZAL: Why don't you just come back and face the charges SAYIT AKCA: Because it's just blown out of proportion really bad RABBI DR BEJAMIN ELTON: The experience made me a sadder person it's caused me concern for my community and frankly for my family and for myself So a combination of feeling under threat from the attacks themselves and also isolated by those we hoped and combined to create great distress inside the community ALEX RYVCHIN I think it's shown the vulnerability of our democracy and our freedoms and the things that we take for granted as Australians and as Australian Jews have been able to meet in our place of worship or send our kids to school walk down the street with a Jewish head covering or a star of David necklace around our necks All these things now seem like acts of defiance And that to me shows that the character of this country has changed and to bring it back to what it was and what it should be Caravan plot “mastermind” speaks for the first time organised crime cast a terrifying shadow over Australia The Jewish community in Sydney was left reeling — shaken by a wave of attacks that culminated in the discovery of a caravan packed with explosives and a list of Jewish sites NSW police have maintained that the crimes are connected that a mastermind has orchestrated more than a dozen attacks In the months following the caravan's discovery a name began to emerge: Sayit Erhan Akca — a figure well-known in Sydney's criminal underworld currently on the run from Australian authorities Reporter Mahmood Fazal travels to the country where Akca is hiding to seek answers about his involvement and to challenge his account in the hope of piecing together the truth of what really happened In his first ever TV interview Akca makes stunning admissions raising questions about how authorities have responded to this unprecedented wave of crime and hatred The Susan and John Hess Family Theater is equipped with an induction loop and infrared assistive listening system Learn more about access services and programs *Audio description will be available for the performance on October 12 at 1 pm Please check back here or visit us for updates on Instagram to receive the most current information about performance ticket availability Presented at part of Edges of Ailey, the mission of EVIDENCE is to promote understanding of the human experience in the African diaspora through dance and storytelling and to provide sensory connections to history and tradition through music leading deeper into issues of spirituality Brown’s Ife: My Heart was built as the journey of three families traveling to one destination Originally choreographed for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2005 the work looks at the parallel journey of three traditions towards love or “ife” (loving one another the way God loves us) the piece implores each of us to “release your heart” in response to the conflicts and conditions in the world and in our personal relationships Four Corners brings to life the vision of four angels standing on the four corners of the earth and trails the dancers as they embark upon a powerful and hope-filled journey of tribulation Four Corners was commissioned and performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2013 Ife: My Heart(2005)Choreographer - Ronald K BrownAssistant to Choreographer - Arcell CabuagMusic - Various artistsOriginal Lighting for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Brenda GrayLighting Re-creation: Tsubasa KameiCostume Design: Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya "My House" (Poem) Written by Nikki Giovanni "Ochun Dide" (afro bembe/DR) Composed by Ballet Folklorico Cutumba "Release" Composed by Ursula Rucker Four Corners(2103/2016)Choreographer - Ronald K BrownAssistant to Choreographer - Arcell CabuagMusic - Carl Hancock Rux Mixed by RKB Costumes - Omotayo Wunmi OlaiayaOriginal Lighting for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Al CrawfordLighting Re-creation: Tsubasa KameiCostume Design: Keiko Voltaire you son...Four Corners with blades and sheaths.....Stand Up.... There will be a 10-minute intermission between programs is the recent recipient of the Martha Hill Mid-Career Achievement Award (2024) and American Dance Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) His other awards and recognitions include the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award (2020) as well as the Dance Magazine Award (2018) and Samuel H He has also received an AUDELCO Award for his choreography in Regina Taylor's award-winning play Crowns and a Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography in the Tony Award-winning Broadway and national touring production of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess arrangement by Diedre Murray and directed by Diane Paulus I am interested in sharing perspectives through modern dance I want my work to be evidence of these perspectives,” says Brown.  Brown was named Def Dance Jam Workshop 2000 Mentor of the Year and has received the Doris Duke Artist Award National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers Fellowship New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award Brown is Co-Artistic Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre’s Youth Arts Academy and a member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society For more information on the company and dancers, please visit the EVIDENCE program Ife: My Heart was originally commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2005. Four Corners was originally commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2013 © 2025 Whitney Museum of American Art A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City Commercial air service will return in May to the Four Corners Regional Airport 14 unanimously ratified a two-year risk-sharing agreement with SkyWest Airlines to provide once-a-day air service to and from Denver on United Express Airlines “Their proposal is to start out with one flight per day later evening arrival,” Airport Manager Mike Lewis said adding that is “the best timing we could have.” This will allow passengers to “make all connections to flights in Denver and all connections coming back,” Lewis said “Or if you are just going to do business in Denver leave in the morning and come back the same day.” Mayor Nate Duckett wants to be on the first flight in May “I can’t wait,” he said during the meeting where I don’t have to pay for parking,” Duckett said and I don’t have to worry about making any late-night trips back and forth to Durango or Albuquerque.” Duckett added that this is a two-year opportunity to prove the citizens of Farmington want air service if we use this service – that is the key – we have to use this service Under the risk-sharing agreement the city agrees to pay the airline up to $6.9 million over a two-year period “We’re not subsidizing the airline; we are sharing the risk with them,” Lewis told the council “They’re asking us to use the funding that we have to only break even if the revenue from a flight falls below their cost.” Lewis said the potential cost could work out to be a “really good deal,” as it is less than other airports in the region are paying for air service the city has one federal-funded grant and a possible state-funded grant to offset the cost Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program and officials are applying for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Rural Air Service Enhancement Grant which provides $2.75 million to rural airports that don’t have air service the total cost over the two years would be just under $1.5 million “We are expecting that this will be successful and the amount of money that we have to reimburse the carrier will be very minimal,” Lewis said “so we are both in the same mindset when it comes to that.” SkyWest stated in its proposal that “if passenger revenue is greater than costs no subsidy is owed for the quarter.” if the airline’s costs are more than passenger revenue “the difference will be paid to SkyWest as its subsidy for the quarter,” the proposal states “They will look at us for shortfalls at a quarter,” Lewis said adding the city will make its first reimbursement payment to the airlines in August 2025 the city will be informed of the airline’s revenue on a monthly basis SkyWest officials stated they will “actively coordinate” with Lewis to be ready for business in May “This includes the necessary hiring/training of local staff for the operation preparing the airport space for the implementation of the United Airlines brand and securing all the requisite equipment to service passengers/aircraft,” the proposal states This agreement was the result of five years of negotiations between city officials and SkyWest as well as having improvements made to the airport “We have been dedicated to bringing jet service back,” Duckett said “That runway up there was not approved for jet service.” The city received $25 million from the FAA to “lengthen the runway to make it safe to bring in jet service,” Duckett said The United Express-branded Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft will be utilized for the service two jet engines and a cruise speed of 530 mph “These aircraft can accommodate wheelchair passengers have a private lavatory and are serviced by a professional flight attendant,” the proposal states Area residents who want to use the air service will be able to begin booking flights on Jan “This is a momentous time for our community,” City Councilor Janis Jakino said with “the potential to open the door for us in many ways KSUT Public Radio Executive Director Tami Graham announced Friday that the station will pause the annual Four Corners Folk Festival in 2025 citing a series of factors that have sprung up since the radio station acquired the festival and Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival from FolkWest in October 2019 held over Labor Day weekend on Reservoir Hill in Pagosa Springs features not only an extensive lineup of musicians the Four Corners Folk Festival has been about more than just putting on a festival,” she said in a news release Friday The timing of KSUT’s acquisition of the two festivals in late 2019 from previous Executive Directors Dan Appenzeller and Crista Munro proved to be a case of unfortunate timing: According to the news release it began booking artists and selling tickets that December for the next summer and both festivals were canceled in 2020 and Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass was called off again in 2021 When the Four Corners Folk Festival returned in 2022 “KSUT faced skyrocketing production costs that left it in a serious financial hole,” the news release said adding that the costs included unexpected increases in insurance “KSUT also saw decreased attendance yearly from nearly 3,000 people in 2021 to less than 2,000 in 2024,” the release said camping and fishing during the shutdown during the pandemic.” the pause on the next Folk Festival is just that – a pause Graham and the rest of KSUT are looking into solutions to “recover from the significant revenue losses as a result of producing the festivals,” the release said “KSUT plans to announce ways festival attendees and other donors can contribute to the station’s general operations fundraising activities for the Four Corners Folk Festival will commence.” the station plans to hold its annual Party in the Park and collaborate with the city of Durango’s 4th of July street dance It’s also exploring the idea of hosting a handful of small venue concerts contact KSUT Festival Director Jill Davis at festivaldirector@ksut.org or (970) 563-5788 or Executive Director Tami Graham at tami@ksut.org or (970) 563-5780 Daily Service Connects Oil & Natural Gas and Tourist Mecca with United's Denver Hub 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) is pleased to announce the launch of daily nonstop United Express service to United's Denver International Airport (DEN) hub beginning May 8 SkyWest Airlines will operate the route with the comfortable providing access to the carrier's global network spanning six continents Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) announces daily nonstop United Express flights to Denver (DEN) starting May 8 the City of Farmington has been steadfast in its mission to bring commercial jet air service to Four Corners Regional Airport Although a 2019 agreement with SkyWest Airlines to launch service in 2020 was derailed by the unprecedented challenges of that year we have remained resolute in pursuing this goal," said Nate Duckett and we are confident the region's demand will support a 50-seat jet with the potential for additional flights and destinations as interest grows This milestone marks a significant achievement for Farmington and the surrounding areas enhancing both quality of life and economic opportunities throughout the Four Corners." "We're excited to bring this new United Express service to the four corners area," said Cody Thomas Managing Director of Market Development at SkyWest Airlines "Little is more important to a community than quality air service passengers can easily connect to hundreds of destinations worldwide on United's global network through Denver." Four Corners Regional Airport Director Mike Lewis thanked SkyWest Airlines and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for establishing the flights "The Governor's office has championed this initiative as a key component of our state's economic development strategy," Lewis said Lewis also recognized State Representative Dayan Hochman-Vigil's contribution by introducing the New Mexico Rural Air Service Enhancement Fund (RASE) legislation "The strong bipartisan support for RASE in the Statehouse has made these flights possible This program demonstrates New Mexico's commitment to strengthening rural connectivity and economic growth." 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