The Mount Vernon City School District will lay off 84 staff — teachers, teaching assistants and administrators — plus 40 civil-service employees at end of the 2024-25 school year, the acting superintendent said in a community message posted April 30. “I want to thank every one of them for the great work they have done for the district and I am saddened that our financial situation required a reduction of workforce,” K Dig deeper: Mount Vernon, with fewer students, proposes closing 3 schools, moving away from K-8 model Mount Vernon voters had approved a $106 million bond several years ago to reorganize schools including closing two middle schools and moving grades 7 and 8 to 13 elementary schools the district said the K-8 model proved too costly as student enrollment declined Parker School on South 6th Avenue; the former Nichols School on North High Street now called Mount Vernon Leadership Academy; and the Mount Vernon Honor Academy next to district offices on North Columbus Avenue we needed to develop a plan where we could staff the district in accordance with our declining enrollment," Smith said "Expensive building repairs and a designation of significant fiscal stress from the New York State Comptroller also contributed to the decision." The district cut its expected expenses for the 2025-26 school year by $16.9 million Certified staff were notified of the layoffs by March’s end while civil service employees were notified by April 22 Jon Thibert woke early Saturday morning to large flames out his window at Wood Lake Terrace RV and Campground Two mobile homes were destroyed in Saturday morning's fire while three others were damaged Thibert says an electrical shed also went up in flames knocking out power to a portion of the RV park "I opened my eyes and my face was right next to the window and I saw the whole hillside glowing orange," Thibert said He said he first saw the fire at about 4:45 a.m. but despite the best efforts of the park's residents to slow the spread while the exteriors of three others were scorched by flames "As soon as I saw the flames I got dressed started yelling as loud as I could to try and get everybody out," Thibert said "Everybody banded together to try and control it as much as we could while we were waiting for the fire department .. we had a couple of smaller extinguishers and whatever garden hoses were going but the water pressure was being affected by something." Thibert said no one was injured in the large blaze and they're still not sure what started it Mulitple homes were completely destroyed during a large fire at Wood Lake Terrace RV and Campground near Oyama early Saturday morning and one witness said crews weren't able to get the large blaze under control until after 6 a.m Park resident Jon Thibert said the fire started in one mobile home but spread to others before fire crews arrived It's not clear how many homes were impacted The cause of the fire is not known at this time A large structure fire burned just south of Oyama in the early morning hours of Saturday at the Wood Lake Terrace RV and Campground A resident in the area said the local fire department showed up a short time later and appeared to have the fire under control by just after 6 a.m Video from the scene shows large flames in the RV park but it's not clear exactly what burned Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions during the fire and the smoke could be seen from far across the region Castanet will update this story as more information becomes available Iowa — The 20th annual Chalk the Walk festival is underway today on Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street This year’s event honors Henri Matisse with a massive community re-creation of “Woman in a Purple Coat.” participants get chalk and a square to help complete the 40’ x 80’ mural More than 160 artists are also creating original chalk art and $1,375 in prizes rounding out the weekend Justin Vernon found he couldn’t leave the house Then a new relationship changed his concept of love His radiant new album shares the revelations Justin Vernon would rather not be doing any of this. Releasing a new Bon Iver album “I don’t need to do this any more,” he says that I’m going to do something I haven’t been comfortable with to put them out.” As soon as Vernon hit the public eye in 2008 he started pulling away from its obsessive glare – and from the caricature of him as the lonely woodsman who made his era-defining debut in a hunting cabin in his native Wisconsin Kanye West and Taylor Swift wanted to collaborate But anxious from the demands to flay himself for entertainment which only created more distorting attention As Vernon puts out his first album in six years he knows better than to make such declarations though he “might peace out” after releasing Sable If he is going to give these pivotal songs a chance the colour of life – T-shirt bearing the image of a giant salmon “I’m not gonna hide my face any more,” he says It’s why the 43-year-old songwriter is sitting cross-legged on my sofa in north London in mid-March He’s kicked off his “footies” – hand-sprayed in salmon – freeing the ankle he recently sprained playing basketball Wearing a blue hoodie advertising a hometown brewery he relays the dark and light of his past half-decade with dude-ish enthusiasm and ease Bon Iver performs during Lollapalooza 2009 in Chicago Photograph: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesSable Fable documents a period when what had felt like irrevocable darkness became light The Sable part arrived as a three-track EP last autumn: lovely straightforwardly sad songs about hitting a wall “I wanted to try to be basic,” says Vernon as new love enters his life: “You can be remade,” he sings The revelation invites the radiantly funky secular gospel of nine infatuated songs that make up the remaining Fable part of the album The lyrics have strikingly simple repeated internal rhymes “I just want it to feel good and feel happy,” says Vernon “To have a song about sex where the only way to listen to it is to move rather than be like It has a beautifully silly chorus that crests like a sunrise: “Damn if I’m not climbing up a tree right now!” – childish ecstasy meeting the fear of what you do once you get that high I feel so good I don’t know what to do,” says Vernon “We put it on the wall to see what else gathered around it.” the future really “looked like a brick wall that I didn’t have the mechanics to go around” but I remember telling my therapist: if a bus hit me today that would be a fucking relief.” Vernon’s body had been “buzzing with anxiety for a dozen years” making 2011’s Grammy-winning followup Bon Iver “It was so funny to me that we had blown up so hard so I had all that courage: y’all are crazy I’m gonna do a record where it starts out like metal and ends as 80s sex rock.” The pandemic soon prompted Vernon to ask himself some “hard questions” about the future and wrote the incantatory Things Behind Things Behind Things “I would like the feeling / I would like the feeling / I would like the feeling gone / Cause I don’t like the way it’s / I don’t like the way it’s / I don’t like the way it’s looking,” he sings summoning it so that you could throw it in the wind and have it blow away like dust.” then immediately started having this panic exhaustion.” He felt trapped until the tour ended he definitively sold or donated all his live gear: “If I didn’t I was almost afraid that I could get pulled back into it accidentally.” He still felt unwell for another year There was one immediate improvement: he attended a five-week programme to quit smoking He had started in his mid-20s while working as a chef brought Bon Iver into being.) It worked: Vernon replaced smoking with nicotine toothpicks “all the good parts of me kept going and all the shitty parts kind of hit that wall.” Smoking became a metaphor for other ways Vernon wanted to better himself He asked: “What validation was I getting from being this sad The attention came to me and of course I’m going to react subconsciously you steer towards a little more self-destruction.” long before the rapper’s heel turn – “but it’s a good example of observing when people have their head up their ass a little bit He concluded that his problems weren’t “that hard” you better get the fuck out of here because you can’t keep acting like this I could see the quality of my character slowly diminishing from trying to be too much to too many people.” He believes the world needs more hard decisions Vernon faced that scenario again with the new love he sings about in Awards Season and this person made me feel really good about myself,” he says “Like everything I had done to this point had been OK.” Then came the classic next step: “Let me just give you everything Please give it to me constantly.” He had to pull back from the relationship What parts of me are just rushing to conclusion?” every day since I left the house at 18 was kind of a letdownVernon says that the relationship is neither over nor ongoing now we’re together.” That’s the Fable part: “Little lessons about what happens after that” – messages he’s still getting from the songs His favourite is the gleaming benediction There’s a Rhythmn “It says: I don’t know what’s gonna happen It might not matter whether we’re together or not because you changed me for the better We should just be thankful for what we do have.” ‘Was I looking for that relationship because I wanted to have that peace?’ … Justin Vernon Photograph: PRThe experience overhauled his idea of relationships every day since I left the house at 18 was kind of a letdown So was I looking for that relationship because I wanted to have that peace I have to make that for myself before that can ever happen.” Vernon might be technically middle-aged, but he’s stopped feeling as if he is running out of time. “I’ve done enough personal work where now I feel young,” he says. “When I was 33, I was like, oh my God, I’m gonna die soon – like, life is short. But now, I’ve got my health. I feel like I’ve got a lot of years to live. To be able to say that and feel truthful, I feel like I really overcame some shit.” He knows some listeners might hate this sea change: after all, everything today is not exactly peaceful love. “I’m not really afraid of that,” he says. “I know that I need to do this for me. I would hate to think it feels like a distraction or that I’m ignoring the problems of the world to sell myself. But I give myself permission to put this kind of art into the world because it is about love, and we’re animals out here.” Read moreIt didn’t initially dawn on him that both Sable and Fable contain the word “able” it’s: “Can you conceive of having the strength to move forward?” Next he might start a new group reunite with Hadestown’s Anaïs Mitchell (who cast him as Orpheus in the original album) or create “a secular music church with the greatest sound system in the world” “What can I take from what me and my team have accomplished to break down the format of this tired thing that is touring It’s a good time to still be young and to try to rattle the cage.” It’s why he can’t diss that weird Dylan show And just because I was uncomfortable with everything musically Vernon thinks he has now taken all he can from Sable “It’s me constructing this giant map and then staring at it and the wind is about to blow it away and then it will be for everyone else.” It’s another fable: just because a moment might not last doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful or worth doing This article was amended on 11 April 2025 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker (Jagjaguwar)This companion album to last year’s Sable EP gives those sorrowful songs a soulful lift with Vernon’s beautiful falsetto vocals to the fore Fable review – Justin Vernon’s most easy-going record yet(Jagjaguwar)This companion album to last year’s Sable EP gives those sorrowful songs a soulful lift the Wisconsin musician has wrapped a soul album around that dark-hearted release Fable cover shows a black square encircled by a salmon-coloured frame The Sable songs serve as a jumping-off point for what is Bon Iver’s most easy-going record to date Read moreKicking off with the pedal steel-enhanced, sweet soul yearnings of Everything Is Peaceful Love, a vivid kind of equanimity hovers over Fable, which also continues Vernon’s run of nuanced duets with notable creatives (Danielle Haim on If Only I Could Wait; Flock of Dimes on Day One) with just Vernon’s falsetto to the fore – such as Walk Home – that win the day Watch the video for Walk Home by Bon Iver.This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Home / Sports / Iowa High School Sports / High School Basketball Former assistant inherits an elite backcourt from a team that won the Class 3A state championship last season The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread “I don’t need to come in and reinvent the wheel,” Jacob Misener said Monday upon the announcement that he has been promoted to girls’ head basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School “This is a ready-made program.” Misener, 32, had served as an assistant for the past four years under Nate Sanderson, who resigned April 8 “Nate and the girls put a great foundation in place,” Misener said Mount Vernon captured the Class 3A state championship in March The Mustangs will take a 25-game winning streak into 2025-26, and are slotted as the state’s fifth-ranked team in The Gazette’s preliminary Class 3A rankings Despite the graduation of all-staters Chloe Meester and Sydney Huber Mount Vernon will return an elite backcourt Twins Taylor and Courtney Franck will be seniors next season; Savanna Wright will be a sophomore That trio combined to average 28.4 points per game Junior-to-be Rylee Rasmussen will be counted on in the post Misener graduated from Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 2011 He works at the Shoot 360 basketball facility in Robins “I’d kind of been dragging my feet for the past decade on being a head coach,” he said who played at Central DeWitt and the University of Wisconsin and has served as an assistant at Cornell College The hire leaves two prominent girls’ basketball coaching vacancies — at Cedar Rapids Xavier and at Clear Creek Amana High School Sports Reporter. Get the Sports Newsletter The Gazette has been informing Iowans with in-depth local news coverage and insightful analysis for over 140 years independent journalism with a subscription today © 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved SIOUX FALLS — A Mount Vernon man's felony illegal firearm possession case in U.S district court has been postponed to later in 2025 Cory Cumings' case was scheduled to go to trial in federal court in April but has been pushed back Cumings faces one charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person the criminal indictment alleges that on or about Dec knowing he was an unlawful user of controlled substances was in possession of excess of 100 firearms and ammunition The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund Those firearms are subject to a federal forfeiture case which has been stayed in court until the resolution of the illegal firearm possession case The firearms and ammunition were seized by authorities from his Mitchell Roofing business in Mitchell and his residence near Mount Vernon Cumings answered the federal complaint against him denying the allegations argued that Cumings' Second Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights were violated by the federal authorities seizing his property without a hearing or other due process and violating his right to keep and bear arms Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application      Paul Vernon Erskine of St and died peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 3 2025.     Paul joined the Navy in 1955 and served aboard the USS Ticonderoga Paul came home to Michigan and met his life’s love Paul worked for over 25 years at Wolverine World Wide in Ithaca He officially started Erskine Construction in 1987 though he had always worked side jobs throughout the years Paul built many homes in mid-Michigan and completed countless construction jobs Paul went on to become the building inspector for the City of St a position he held until summer 2024.     Paul spent several years as an Elks Club member where he served on the board and volunteered his time As a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gratiot County he guided and spent time with two young men in the community who had lost their fathers Paul volunteered at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1454 and served on the board of the Heroes Center in Alma Michigan.     Not only did Paul work hard And there is no stick long enough by which to measure his love for his family “time with family.” When his daughters were young He doted on his grandchildren and went out of his way to ensure he established strong bonds with them attending his granddaughter’s school events and going to see his grandson sing and play guitar and went for long drives.     Paul enjoyed nothing more than connecting with others he relished playing the sport with friends and family and dependable man who could be counted on to help in any way he could “He’d give you his last five dollars and last five minutes.”     Paul is survived by his beloved wife Donna; daughters Stephanie (Doug) Teed and Sandra (Joe Knisley) Mitchell; granddaughter Megan Green and grandsons: Adrian (Morgan) Mitchell and Liam Knisley; brother Mark (Nancy) Massaro; and many nieces Paul and Irene Erskin and sister Caroline Simmons.     Join family and friends for a memorial service and luncheon to celebrate Paul’s life on Thursday Michigan.      In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the VFW Post 1454 or the T.A Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Vernon will once again be a stop on the “Run for the Wall” – a cross-country motorcycle ride to honor veterans and raise awareness of POW/MIA service members stop at Huck’s at 24th and Broadway to refuel regroup at Rural King and continue east on Broadway to the airport for a luncheon You are invited to show your support along the route There will be increased motorcycle traffic that morning You can learn more about the ride and its mission at www.rftw.us Broughton was the seventh choice in the third round and the 71st overall selection He was the 10th defensive tackle picked and the first of four consecutive defensive players that the Saints would draft New Orleans needs to fix a defense that ranked 30th overall last season Here are the abilities that attracted the Saints to Broughton that might help do it DT - Vernon Broughton, TexasClemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is pressured by Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (45) Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Longhorns won the recruiting battle for Broughton a four-star recruit from Cypress Ridge High School in Texas Broughton would appear in 26 games as a reserve he had 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss among his 14 total tackles Broughton was a more active member of the Longhorns line rotation and had a sack to go with 5 tackles for loss He was a starter last season and would respond with 4 sacks Despite a formidable build at 6'4" and 305-Lbs. Broughton doesn't always play with the necessary power required at an interior line position He's been inconsistent against the run too often getting buried or moved off point by double-teams Texas Longhorns edge rusher Vernon Broughton (45) rushes Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Cutter Boley (8) Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images Broughton is still developing those traits He'll need to expand his tools as a pass rusher and must also disengage more consistently to be involved in plays down the line Broughton gets almost instant penetration into opposing backfields because of his explosive burst at the snap His constant upper body movement helps him set up counter moves and gives him several tools as a pass rusher.  Broughton plays with very good leverage that helps him anchor against double-teams his terrific lateral agility helps him make plays down the line of scrimmage He also has surprising speed and closing burst to chase plays down from behind.  Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (45) hits Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) during the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bo Davis was the defensive line coach at Texas for three years while Broughton was with the Longhorns Davis is the new defensive line coach of the Saints the familiarity between Davis and Broughton was a major factor in the choice.  Broughton must show that he can be a force inside against the run at the NFL level he also has enough athletic skills and pass rush ability to play end in 3-man fronts that the Saints are expected to employ more often.  New Orleans desperately needed a big-bodied interior force particularly against opposing rushing attacks The familiarity between Bo Davis and Vernon Broughton could be an indication that the Saints believe they found just that player in Round 3 of this year's draft.  Gianna Licursi singled in two runs; Madison Manco singled twice; and Gianna Catania walked and drove in a run as the sixth-seeded Jefferson Township High School softball team topped third-seeded Randolph in the quarterfinal round of the Morris County Tournament there Friday Jefferson (15-1) will play seventh-seeded Montville in a MCT semifinal at 5 p.m The MCT championship game is slated for Saturday Kama Skrek pitched a six-hitter with three strikeouts Skrek hurled a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and no walks and also doubled in two runs as Jefferson defeated 11th-seeded Whippany Park in a first-round MCT game at home April 29 Emmagrace Bartels was 2-for-3 with two doubles two RBI and two runs and Weber was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs to key the decision Here’s how other Jefferson teams fared recently: Mike Struck singled in a run and scored; Dylan Rockey and Josh Hale each singled twice; and Jake Small singled and scored as ninth-seeded Jefferson bowed to eighth-seeded Pequannock Jefferson (10-6) had advanced with a 6-3 decision over 24th-seeded Parsippany Hills in the preliminary round at home April 25 The Falcons were led offensively by Nick Do (2-for-4 Jefferson is seeded eighth for the MCT and is scheduled to play host to ninth-seeded Randolph in a first-round contest Tuesday The Falcons improved to 7-5 with a 12-2 win at Vernon on Thursday Jamison Reid (four saves) and Wesley Mancias (zero saves) led the way The 11th-seeded Falcons dropped a 16-5 decision to sixth-seeded Mountain Lakes in the second round of the MCT there April 28 Samantha Kepler had two goals and Riley Strauch added a goal and an assist to pace the offense Jefferson (6-4) will play host to Madison at 4:30 p.m Zachary Geise shot a team-low 83 and was followed by Lucas Studnick (84) Ryan Saletto (86) and Michael Baumann (95) as Jefferson placed 13th of 24 teams in the MCT on April 30 at Flanders Valley Golf Course Samantha Cocca shot a 52 and was followed by Jefferson teammates Erin Nimbley (58) Katherine Blair (60) and Phoebe Szekula (61) as the Falcons finished ninth in the MCT on April 23 at Flanders Valley Golf Course Kiley Shatzel won the high jump with an effort of 5-4 and was followed by Julianna Caruso to highlight the Jefferson girls at the Morris County Relay Championships on Thursday afternoon Benjamin Janitz was the highest place-winner among Jefferson boys placing 13th in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.90 Matthew Frick was right behind in 16th place in 1:02.69 Vernon will host an electronics recycling event Saturday Residents are encouraged to bring recyclable items to help keep the community clean and sustainable A limit of two televisions per household will apply (LEX 18) — A vehicle collision involving a school bus in Mt Vernon is under investigation by Kentucky State Police officials responded to an injury accident on South Wilderness Road involving a pickup truck and a Rockcastle County Schools bus Investigation revealed that 76-year-old Ronald McClure was driving a truck when it collided with the school bus 23 children were transported to a local hospital for evaluation The bus driver and McClure were also transported for medical evaluation in private vehicles The bus monitor was treated at the scene of the collision and was also transported to a local hospital Report a typo Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInVERNON PARISH (KPLC) - An Evans woman has been found safe the sheriff’s office posted a welfare concern for Janelle Henderson Vernon “Roger” Sauer passed away May 2 where he graduated from high school and spent many of his adolescent years working as a farm hand — laying the foundation for the work ethic that would define his life He is preceded in death by his wife and best friend Roger and Joanne were married on September 12 they raised four sons and built a legacy that includes 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren teaching his family the value of hard work through every season of his life He built a family farm in Lakeville as well as maintaining multiple areas of farmland he and his wife also owned and operated several gas stations over the years.  He was never short of work ethic and also worked as a semi truck and dump truck driver within different companies competing in tractor pulling, camping Later in life he took pride in being along side two of his sons who owned South Bend and Plymouth Motor Speedways.  But let us not forget the pastime he enjoyed most— being on his tractor mowing lawn those who knew him well saw the deep well of love and loyalty underneath you knew it — not through grand gestures unwavering support that stays with you long after the moment has passed Roger is survived by his four sons; Vernon (Marinel) Sauer II of Lakeville and his siblings; Diane (Bob) Schwede of Biscoe Roger was preceded in death by his parents and siblings; Steven (Rita) Sauer and Baby Sauer Visitation for Vernon will be held from 4pm-6pm on Sunday May 11 2025 at the Palmer Funeral Home inside the Palmer Community Complex Lakeville.  Visitation will also be held from 12pm-1pm on Monday May 12 2025 at the funeral home and a funeral service will begin at 1pm.  Burial will follow at Bremen Cemetery memorial contributions in Vernon's name may be made to the Ascension St      Patrick "Pat" Steven Vernon at his home.     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca Burial will take place at the Ithaca Cemetery with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M.     Patrick Steven Vernon was born April 23 Michigan to Keith Vernon and Lorraine (Westerlund-Vernon) Merchant and Myla; and daughters: April (Philip) Alt of Grand Rapids Owen and Nola; and Bonnie (Corey) Fowler of Ithaca MI and their children: Nellie and Dean; sisters: Sue (Pat) Crawford of Ithaca MI and Sally Bosley (Kevin Newberry) of Gaylord MI; mother-in-law Ilma Jean Bare of Ithaca MI; sister-in-law; Milly (Mike) Space of Ithaca MI; Phyllis Buss of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews father-in-law Clarence Bare and sister-in-law Kathleen Burch.     Pat was raised in Ithaca and graduated from Ithaca High School in the great class of 1974 He worked at Aircraft Precision in Ithaca for 15 years and then at Shults Equipment in Ithaca from 1989 until his retirement in 2019 He knew where all the city and county garages were throughout the state and enjoyed the friendships he made with them over the years He enjoyed watching grandchildren play sports neighbors and acquaintances who he loved to spend time with bowling and especially playing cards with his regular group of guys.     In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Carol Vernon for designation to the Ithaca Schools Golf Program Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has hired Jake Vernon as chief commercial officer Vernon will oversee ticketing and sponsorship operations as well as the team’s business intelligence department He will report to Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli “I’ve been looking to add to our leadership structure on the business side of the organization and after a lengthy search we have found the right fit for our organization in Jake,” Guelli said “Jake has extensive experience in the sports industry and has been thriving in an arena model for the last two decades I’m excited to see what he can add to our organization as we continue to strive to provide an incredible experience for our great fans.” Vernon joins the Sabres after spending the last 12 seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx most recently serving as the team’s chief sales officer he led all initiatives related to ticketing in addition to the team’s partnership with its concessions partner Vernon guided a best-in-class sales organization that evolved to set multiple franchise records in ticket sales and premium partnerships 1 in new full-season tickets sold and set a franchise record with a 94-game sellout streak The Timberwolves’ remarkable growth was recognized by the Sports Business Journal as a 2024 Sports Business Award Team of the Year finalist and by the NBA ranking in the top five in the league for fan experience Vernon has helped lead two significant renovation projects during his tenure in Minnesota he helped lead an eight-figure investment into Target Center including the opening of an all-new 500-person Backcourt Club an expanded Courtside Club and additional upgrades throughout the arena to enhance the gameday fan experience Vernon was also part of the design team in 2017 tasked with re-imagining Target Center and transforming the fan experience as part of the $150 million renovation Vernon also helped transform the Timberwolves’ customer experience leading a redesign of the team’s membership platform with a focus on delivering unprecedented value Those changes resulted in a customer satisfaction rating that ranked No “I am incredibly honored by this opportunity to join the leadership team in Buffalo and look forward to working with the entire Sabres organization to re-ignite the fan base and take this historic franchise to new heights,” Vernon said Prior to joining the Timberwolves and Lynx Vernon spent two years as president and founder of Get Real Sport Sales a sales consulting and outsourcing company that worked with collegiate and professional sports teams to increase ticket and corporate partnership revenue The majority of Vernon’s career was spent with Pacers Sports and Entertainment working with both the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever He got his start as a ticket sales account executive for the Indiana Fever culminating with being named vice president of ticket sales and service in June of 2005 Vernon graduated from Xavier University with a degree in communications and has held previous positions with the Cincinnati Reds The former Commanders' tight end is entering the world of equestrian sports as the co-founder and CEO of DHG Equestrian Davis is shifting his passion for athletic excellence into the realm of horsemanship building a facility in the same Washington area where he played that emphasizes education this venture is deeply personal—it’s a tribute to his late brother and former NFL cornerback READ MORE: Commanders second-round draft pick grateful for 'surreal' opportunity Vernon Davis on the set of “Hell on the Border.” (Courtesy of Vernon Davis) (Hell on the Border) / Vernon Davis“As I step into the equestrian world I do so with Vontae in my heart,” Davis said in the release “DHG is a tribute to that energy and a way to honor his legacy… a space for healing and for discovering what’s possible when you build trust – between horse and rider and his brother Vontae are both Washington The tight end stayed in the area for college attending and playing for the Maryland Terrapins while younger brother Vontae was a standout cornerback for the Illinois Fighting Illini in his collegiate career Both brothers became first-round picks in their respective NFL Drafts and each would be selected to two Pro Bowls during their careers the elder Davis brother has found his way of remembering his younger sibling while also ensuring part of him lives on through the work of the center The equestrian center sits on 25 acres and is designed to provide inclusive top-tier services for riders of all ages and skill levels DHG Equestrian is grounded in the values Vernon championed throughout his football career: discipline DHG Equestrian features a variety of services Tailored Riding Lessons: Private and semi-private sessions that focus on horsemanship and communication for riders of all levels Premium Boarding: Top-level care with daily turnout immersive experiences for children that combine fun activities with foundational equestrian education “The equestrian world embodies the same values I believed in as an athlete—connection we’re opening doors for people to connect with horses Vernon Davis is expanding his legacy far beyond football From representing the Washington Commanders on the field to honoring his brother’s memory in the saddle READ MORE: Commanders add 1,000-yard receiver to roster following NFL Draft Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason • Could Commanders host Super Bowl? New stadium 'dramatically' increases odds • Commanders starter undergoes surgery ahead of 2025 season • Commanders linked to signing two-time Super Bowl champ in free agency • WATCH: Washington D.C. Mayor releases hype video for Commanders new stadium deal DARIUS HAYES The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER to Vernon Roy and Lois Moore Buckway in Hill Field David was raised in Ogden and graduated from Ben Lomond High School in 1971 He frequently participated in shenanigans with friends which included getting in trouble for playing with bottle rockets in the street he worked at the Rainbow Gardens bowling alley and apparently made excellent tips he attended automotive school in Denver Colorado David worked as a drafter/carpenter at Hurco Industries in Ogden for over 25 years He married Michelle Lindquist on September 1 David used his extraordinary skills to add on and improve their Roy home David coached little league baseball for many years and was a high school baseball coach for a year at Roy High School He was an avid golfer and played every summer with his two brothers He enjoyed watching all kinds of televised sports from college football to pro basketball In November of 2008 David’s great love After a few years of being a bachelor he met Sherry Chandler and they were married in a quiet ceremony on August 27 He went on to work at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse (as per Dave) and retired in July 2015 David sold his home in Roy and moved to North Ogden with Sherry where he happily managed their half acre yard He soon referred to himself as the dog butler due to their blended family of pets including two love birds (aside from Dave and Sher) If friends or neighbors needed help with a home improvement project or anything of the like There was no project too big or too small for David Planting a garden every summer was an absolute must if only so the kids and grandkids had their pick of fresh veggies One of his other favorite hobbies was carpentry and he completed countless projects for family including two captains beds for his grandkids Dave would sit on the deck surveying his green domain He was preceded in death by his first wife please donate to a charity of your choice or show kindness to a friend in need or even a stranger Friends may visit with family on Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m George Mason University Board of Visitors meetings aren’t typically jam-packed, but a battle over diversity programs among the school’s leadership has stirred up the university’s student body At a meeting yesterday (Thursday), board members questioned university staff on whether the school is complying with the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity equity and inclusion initiatives in education Similar instructions were also sent to public schools at the K-12 level With GMU’s Board of Visitors scheduled to vote yesterday on a resolution barring the university from considering race students and a handful of non-student supporters filled both the meeting room and an overflow room in Merten Hall (4441 George Mason Blvd) at GMU’s Fairfax campus many carrying signs supporting the school’s diversity programs outlined several programs that had been dissolved or eliminated since January in response to the Trump administration’s demands Several jobs within those offices have been eliminated or “realigned to reflect broader institutional priorities.” Additionally Artis said at least six research projects related to diversity were terminated As of April 11, GMU researchers had seen a total of 20 projects paused or terminated “due to changes in federal funding,” Stephanie Aaronson deputy vice president of communications and digital strategy for the Office of University Branding Artis said the school has paused 112 GMU Foundation-managed scholarships and the Black Male Success Initiative Artis said the school had undergone external review from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia but some on the Board of Visitors said the school would still benefit from having additional outside agencies double-check the school Visitor Reginald Brown suggested having a law firm or some other outside agency review GMU’s changes and ensure the school is in compliance with new federal guidelines “We have to take seriously the obligation to follow the law or we’re going to lose a lot of federal funding,” Brown said “I definitely saw evidence of changes outlined here but we all carry our biases with us.” Rector Charles Stimson, at one point, asked Artis about GMU hosting Nolan Cabrera a University of Arizona professor who studies racism on college campuses Stimson highlighted Cabrera’s comments that DEI concerns are “a manufactured crisis” and that “the attack on DEI is the real cancel culture,” then asked Artis if she agreed I just have to provide a space where we can have different opinions,” Artis said “We have many different conferences that we support with different perspectives.” GMU President Gregory Washington came to Artis’s defense there weren’t two sides,” Brown said “The office didn’t create space for people who didn’t believe in DEI I’m a free speech absolutist: people should be able to say what they want to say but they need to confront each other in a university environment.” countered that it’s not uncommon for a panel of speakers to share the same perspective or political alignment “We had a conference at the Mercatus Center called If Nativists Have Their Way and all the speakers in that conference had the same perspective Sometimes that’s how university conferences go,” Washington said “I think it’s problematic when we try to [govern] how university faculty set up their conferences We have a strong cohort on the right and a strong cohort on the left… I could pull up 10 conferences with five on each side.” Washington and others on the Board of Visitors expressed agreement with Brown that the school could benefit from having additional external review of the school’s compliance with federal requirements “I think we’re in agreement that compliance is important We’re not looking to have federal funds taken away from us but I think we’ve wasted a lot of time this year talking about things we didn’t need to talk about,” said student representative Carolyn Faith Hoffman “We could have talked more about student funding or tuition… and yet we’re here belaboring the same point when we’re clearly in compliance for federal funding.” have often broken down along political lines The board went into a closed session for further discussion but left the anti-diversity resolution tabled for another day students and faculty from the school’s chapter of American Association of University Professors (GMU-AAUP) expressed mixed feelings on the meeting While some celebrated the showing from students and faculty others said the discussion being tabled would give school leadership a chance to approve changes in the future with fewer observers Faculty and some students read anonymous letters written by international students at the campus who said they were afraid to publicly speak out on topics after the Trump administration moved to strip hundreds of students of their visas — including 15 students at GMU The Trump administration has reportedly begun restoring records for students whose visas had been revoked after several students filed lawsuits Fourteen of the affected GMU students had their records restored but eight of them had already left the country a university spokesperson told Virginia Public Media on Wednesday (April 30) “I don’t see today as a win,” a student said “It’s another example of the [Board of Visitors] choosing not to prioritize our students… They don’t care about our perspectives The only thing that came out today that I appreciated was seeing students The name of the American Association of University Professors has been corrected Vernon Ultra Athlete Shanda Hill is currently in third place at the Brazil Ultra Tri 2025 Deca A Deca consists of 10 full Iron-distance triathlons and includes 38 kilometres of swimming Hill is currently about 850 kilometres into the cycling portion of the race She started yesterday in a lot of pain and reached out to another professional athlete in Vernon and the race physiotherapist applied tape to help alignment and treated her with acupuncture After beginning the day unsure if she could continue Hill's discomfort disappeared and she was able to continue without Tylenol “She’s still dealing with a fair amount of chafing and pain, but she always prefers to avoid medication if possible, in the best interest and trust of her health,” said Hill’s manager Jacs on Facebook Jacs has joined Hill in Brazil and is providing first-hand updates on her progress The pair slept for two hours yesterday before Hill started racing again and she encouraged Jacs to sleep for two hours longer “After doing almost a half marathon of running around trying to get Shanda everything she needed yesterday it really takes a toll when you’re running on fumes,” said Jacs after getting four hours of sleep “I have a deep respect for the level of determination it takes for her to get back out there and just keep piling on the miles.” Jacs said many people have been sending in questions for Hill and he encourages people to continue doing so “She actually had a lot of fun answering them Her food yesterday mainly consisted of nuts and she’s the only athlete who doesn’t eat meat so they create a special meal just for her,” said Jacs in response to questions Hill is trying to set on a new record this year: the most iron-distance races completed in a single year KARK – A Mount Vernon man is offering a $4,000 reward for anyone with information as to who fatally shot his dog on Sunday Josh Brown said he was returning from Mississippi on Sunday and his elderly father had let out his three dogs to chase rabbits in the yard “It wasn’t long after that he came walking up on the porch here and his face covered in blood,” Brown said judging by the amount of blood on his dog Draco’s face that he had to wipe off with a hot rag and the “little pellet holes” left on his skin he believes the fatal injuries came from a shotgun “It was definitely a turkey load,” Brown said.  “But he was just doing what I trained him to do Brown said he trained Draco to hunt rabbits ever since he was three months old “It was wrong to have him out there this time of year I get that,” Brown said.  “But we have names on the collars every dog man does all you have to do is call us.” Brown said he believes he knows who shot and killed his dog and said there are landowners in the area who let people onto their land to hunt annually “I know every truck that comes down this road I know every hunter who hunts this road,” Brown said. “It’s weird that every year there’s a certain person that comes here and it seems like there’s always a problem.” Brown said he worried about Draco suffering long from the aftermath of the fatal shot Brown said during turkey-hunting and deer-hunting seasons it’s practice to not let a dog out for fear a similar incident could occur Brown is asking for the community’s help to confirm the name of the person responsible for shooting and killing his dog and I hope he doesn’t do it again,” Brown said.  “I hope it help someone else not do it either.” Brown said he spoke with an Arkansas Game & Fish warden but is not pressing charges or pursuing a legal avenue at this time anyone who intentionally kills or injures an animal owned by another person without their consent could face up to a year in jail and a $1000 fine Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals friend…exhaled the last breath from his earthly body and was set free Proving that two things can be true at once we are equally joyous for him and sad for ourselves we are grateful for the mercy and grace that prepared a way for him and will be our comfort Preceded in death by his parents Walker and Imogene Fritts sisters-in-law Ruth Ann Fritts and Roxann Collins Kinzey daughters Machelle and husband Bobby Bates Granddaughters Alyssa and husband Nick Kilgore Brother & Sister-in-law Sam and Ruth Collins The family appreciates Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo Texas for their care of our family at this time A pedestrian was struck the afternoon of Tuesday on Westchester's Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon snarling traffic on the westbound Cross County Parkway and southbound Hutchinson River Parkway The accident prevented traffic southbound on the Hutch and at New Rochelle Road from accessing the Cross County for about three hours The man in his 70s was struck around 2:30 p.m by a foot bridge near Mount Vernon High School He said the victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx in critical condition But he had no immediate details on the extent of the man's injuries or what he was doing on the parkway as detectives had just begun their investigation The Cross County was reopened by 5:30 pm but traffic delays continued.