Latest news with #BillFerguson
CTV News
04-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Northern Ont. railway group chugs forward with steam engine train revival project
The Nipissing Railway Historical Society is working on the 'Steam Tourist Train project – Fire Up 503' to get the train back on the tracks for tourist rides. A new committee is hoping to fire up an old steam-engine locomotive that's been sitting around for decades in North Bay and turn it into the city's newest tourist attraction. The Nipissing Railway Historical Society is working on the 'Steam Tourist Train project – Fire Up 503' to get the train back on the tracks for tourist rides. Nipissing train2 The Nipissing Railway Historical Society is working on the 'Steam Tourist Train project – Fire Up 503' to get the train back on the tracks for tourist rides. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) Train 4 Before it was decommissioned when the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission shifted to diesel engines in the 1950s or 1960s, the 503 was a mixed-use and yard locomotive. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) Committee director Bill Ferguson hopes to see the old 503 steam engine back on the tracks. 'This is a railway town, right? We've had three major railways here,' Ferguson told CTV News, while walking around the locomotive. 'We don't have a lot of symbols (about) our railway heritage. If you drive across the north to other communities, you'll find locomotives in much better condition. You'll find other pieces of equipment. You might even find museums dedicated to the railway.' Decommissioned decades ago Before it was decommissioned when the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission shifted to diesel engines in the 1950s or 1960s, the 503 was a mixed-use and yard locomotive. Ontario Northland sold the engine to the city for a dollar. It ended up in a few locations, one being Lee Park on Memorial Drive, before it wound up beside the bus terminal on Wyld Street near the beach volleyball court, where it currently is collecting cobwebs. Train 3 Committee director Bill Ferguson hopes to see the old 503 steam engine back on the tracks. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) Ferugson said that parts of the train have been stolen over the years. 'So a group of individuals got together and said, 'We've got to do something about this,'' he said. There are two ideas in development: put it back on the rails as a tourist ride between North Bay and Bonfield for special occasions like Mother's Day, Father's Day and Canada Day; or, at the bare minimum, restore it for a better static display and move it somewhere else in the city. It's estimated it would cost $2.7 million to refurbish the old engine, complete with a new boiler, new tubes and new controls. 'Pretty exciting' 'Over the next year, we're getting the business plan worked out, looking at operating rights,' Ferguson said. 'We would need somewhere to drive it.' City councillor Gary Gardiner would like to see the 503 on the rails again. The city's municipal heritage committee is currently exploring its options. 'Whether we would transfer that asset to the 503 Fire Up committee, or we would retain ownership and provide a memorandum of understanding as to how it operates,' he said. 'I think it's pretty exciting.' If the locomotive can be restored, the goal is to get the train ready for rides again within the next four years. If that can't be done, the society does have a backup plan. 'We do have lines on a couple of other locomotives that could be used instead,' Ferugson said. But until he knows more about the future, he plans to keep the revival plan chugging along.
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Federal lawsuit adds to allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland youth detention centers
A federal lawsuit could open a new chapter in an escalating legal battle in Maryland, where officials are struggling to address an unexpected onslaught of claims alleging child sexual abuse in state-run juvenile detention facilities. With thousands of similar claims already pending in state court, the litigation has raised questions about how Maryland will handle the potential financial liability. New lawsuit seeks $300 million The new federal suit, filed Wednesday on behalf of three plaintiffs, seeks $300 million in damages — an amount that far exceeds caps imposed on claims filed in state court. It alleges Maryland juvenile justice leaders knew about a culture of abuse inside youth detention facilities and failed to address it, violating the plaintiffs' civil rights. A message seeking comment was left Thursday with the state's Department of Juvenile Services. The department generally doesn't comment on pending litigation. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General declined to comment. Officials: Potential $3 billion liability An estimated 11,000 plaintiffs have sued in state court, according to the attorneys involved. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said Wednesday that he believes negotiations for a potential settlement are ongoing between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the attorney general's office. Officials have said the state is facing a potential liability between $3 billion and $4 billion. Budgetary concerns over abuse allegations Lawsuits started pouring in after a state law passed in 2023 eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims in Maryland. The change came in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But Maryland leaders didn't anticipate they'd be facing similar budgetary concerns because of claims against the state's juvenile justice system. Facing a potentially enormous payout, lawmakers recently passed an amendment to limit future liabilities. The new law reduces caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 against state institutions, and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. It allows each claimant to receive only one payment, instead of being able to collect for each act of abuse. Suing in federal court allows plaintiffs to sidestep those limits. "Despite Maryland's recent unconstitutional legislative efforts to insulate itself from liability for the horrific sexual brutalization of children in its custody, Maryland cannot run from liability under Federal law," plaintiffs' attorney Corey Stern said in a statement. "The United States Constitution was created for all of us, knowing that some would need protection from the tyranny of their political leaders." What the lawsuits claim The three plaintiffs in the federal case allege they were sexually abused by staff at two juvenile detention centers. While other lawsuits have mainly presented allegations of abuse occurring decades ago, the federal complaint focuses on events alleged to have happened in 2019 and 2020. The plaintiffs were 14 and 15 years old. The victims feared their sentences would be extended if they spoke out, according to the complaint. They accuse state officials of turning a blind eye to a "culture of sexual brutalization and abuse." Stern said he anticipates more federal claims will be forthcoming.
26-06-2025
- Politics
Federal lawsuit adds to allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland youth detention centers
BALTIMORE -- A federal lawsuit could open a new chapter in an escalating legal battle in Maryland, where officials are struggling to address an unexpected onslaught of claims alleging child sexual abuse in state-run juvenile detention facilities. With thousands of similar claims already pending in state court, the litigation has raised questions about how Maryland will handle the potential financial liability. The new federal suit, filed Wednesday on behalf of three plaintiffs, seeks $300 million in damages — an amount that far exceeds caps imposed on claims filed in state court. It alleges Maryland juvenile justice leaders knew about a culture of abuse inside youth detention facilities and failed to address it, violating the plaintiffs' civil rights. A message seeking comment was left Thursday with the state's Department of Juvenile Services. The department generally doesn't comment on pending litigation. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General declined to comment. An estimated 11,000 plaintiffs have sued in state court, according to the attorneys involved. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said Wednesday that he believes negotiations for a potential settlement are ongoing between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the attorney general's office. Officials have said the state is facing a potential liability between $3 billion and $4 billion. Lawsuits started pouring in after a state law passed in 2023 eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims in Maryland. The change came in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But Maryland leaders didn't anticipate they'd be facing similar budgetary concerns because of claims against the state's juvenile justice system. Facing a potentially enormous payout, lawmakers recently passed an amendment to limit future liabilities. The new law reduces caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 against state institutions, and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. It allows each claimant to receive only one payment, instead of being able to collect for each act of abuse. Suing in federal court allows plaintiffs to sidestep those limits. 'Despite Maryland's recent unconstitutional legislative efforts to insulate itself from liability for the horrific sexual brutalization of children in its custody, Maryland cannot run from liability under Federal law,' plaintiffs' attorney Corey Stern said in a statement. 'The United States Constitution was created for all of us, knowing that some would need protection from the tyranny of their political leaders.' The three plaintiffs in the federal case allege they were sexually abused by staff at two juvenile detention centers. While other lawsuits have mainly presented allegations of abuse occurring decades ago, the federal complaint focuses on events alleged to have happened in 2019 and 2020. The plaintiffs were 14 and 15 years old. The victims feared their sentences would be extended if they spoke out, according to the complaint. They accuse state officials of turning a blind eye to a 'culture of sexual brutalization and abuse.'
Los Angeles Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Federal lawsuit adds to allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland youth detention centers
BALTIMORE — A federal lawsuit could open a new chapter in an escalating legal battle in Maryland, where officials are struggling to address an unexpected onslaught of claims alleging child sexual abuse in state-run juvenile detention facilities. With thousands of similar claims already pending in state court, the litigation has raised questions about how Maryland will handle the potential financial liability. The new federal suit, filed Wednesday on behalf of three plaintiffs, seeks $300 million in damages — an amount that far exceeds caps imposed on claims filed in state court. It alleges Maryland juvenile justice leaders knew about a culture of abuse inside youth detention facilities and failed to address it, violating the plaintiffs' civil rights. A message seeking comment was left Thursday with the state's Department of Juvenile Services. The department generally doesn't comment on pending litigation. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General declined to comment. An estimated 11,000 plaintiffs have sued in state court, according to the attorneys involved. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said Wednesday that he believes negotiations for a potential settlement are ongoing between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the attorney general's office. Officials have said the state is facing a potential liability between $3 billion and $4 billion. Lawsuits started pouring in after a state law passed in 2023 eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims in Maryland. The change came in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But Maryland leaders didn't anticipate they'd be facing similar budgetary concerns because of claims against the state's juvenile justice system. Facing a potentially enormous payout, lawmakers recently passed an amendment to limit future liabilities. The new law reduces caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 against state institutions, and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. It allows each claimant to receive only one payment, instead of being able to collect for each act of abuse. Suing in federal court allows plaintiffs to sidestep those limits. 'Despite Maryland's recent unconstitutional legislative efforts to insulate itself from liability for the horrific sexual brutalization of children in its custody, Maryland cannot run from liability under Federal law,' plaintiffs' attorney Corey Stern said in a statement. 'The United States Constitution was created for all of us, knowing that some would need protection from the tyranny of their political leaders.' The three plaintiffs in the federal case allege they were sexually abused by staff at two juvenile detention centers. While other lawsuits have mainly presented allegations of abuse occurring decades ago, the federal complaint focuses on events alleged to have happened in 2019 and 2020. The plaintiffs were 14 and 15 years old. The victims feared their sentences would be extended if they spoke out, according to the complaint. They accuse state officials of turning a blind eye to a 'culture of sexual brutalization and abuse.' Stern said he anticipates more federal claims will be forthcoming. Skene writes for the Associated Press.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal lawsuit adds to allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland youth detention centers
BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal lawsuit could open a new chapter in an escalating legal battle in Maryland, where officials are struggling to address an unexpected onslaught of claims alleging child sexual abuse in state-run juvenile detention facilities. With thousands of similar claims already pending in state court, the litigation has raised questions about how Maryland will handle the potential financial liability. The new federal suit, filed Wednesday on behalf of three plaintiffs, seeks $300 million in damages — an amount that far exceeds caps imposed on claims filed in state court. It alleges Maryland juvenile justice leaders knew about a culture of abuse inside youth detention facilities and failed to address it, violating the plaintiffs' civil rights. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with the state's Department of Juvenile Services and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. The department generally doesn't comment on pending litigation. An estimated 11,000 plaintiffs have sued in state court, according to the attorneys involved. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said Wednesday that he believes negotiations for a potential settlement are ongoing between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the attorney general's office. Officials have said the state is facing a potential liability between $3 billion and $4 billion. Lawsuits started pouring in after a state law passed in 2023 eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims in Maryland. The change came in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But Maryland leaders didn't anticipate they'd be facing similar budgetary concerns because of claims against the state's juvenile justice system. Facing a potentially enormous payout, lawmakers recently passed an amendment to limit future liabilities. The new law reduces caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 against state institutions, and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. It allows each claimant to receive only one payment, instead of being able to collect for each act of abuse. Suing in federal court allows plaintiffs to sidestep those limits. 'Despite Maryland's recent unconstitutional legislative efforts to insulate itself from liability for the horrific sexual brutalization of children in its custody, Maryland cannot run from liability under Federal law,' plaintiffs' attorney Corey Stern said in a statement. 'The United States Constitution was created for all of us, knowing that some would need protection from the tyranny of their political leaders.' The three plaintiffs in the federal case allege they were sexually abused by staff at two juvenile detention centers. While other lawsuits have mainly presented allegations of abuse occurring decades ago, the federal complaint focuses on events alleged to have happened in 2019 and 2020. The plaintiffs were 14 and 15 years old. The victims feared their sentences would be extended if they spoke out, according to the complaint. They accuse state officials of turning a blind eye to a 'culture of sexual brutalization and abuse.' Stern said he anticipates more federal claims will be forthcoming.
