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Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Little boy found abandoned at courthouse after desperate parents pleaded with cops to 'take him away'
A Missouri couple has been arrested after they allegedly abandoned their young son at a courthouse alone and pleaded with cops to 'take him away.' Jeremy Lamp, 36, and Jessica Lamp, 31, are accused of leaving their infant son behind at the Livingston County Courthouse in Chillicothe. They allegedly left the young boy with no food, clothes or plan for his care - with police saying they did so 'without remorse and without ensuring proper care.' They've both been charged with child neglect and are expected to appear in court Monday for a bond hearing. Cops say the couple showed up to the courthouse the day before for a routine drug screening with a Missouri Department of Social Services investigator, which was part of an ongoing child welfare case. Jeremy reportedly tested clean but Jessica's mouth swab came back positive for methamphetamine. This led to a social worker recommending a 'safety plan' to protect the child. But instead of cooperating, Jeremy allegedly refused all options - including having Jessica stay away from the home, having him and the baby leave the house or even allowing the child to stay with a relative. 'The investigator explained that due to the drug test coming back positive, she couldn't leave the baby with them,' the Chillicothe Police Department stated in the couple's probable cause affidavits. Officers say the Lamps returned to the courthouse the next day and left their child behind 'without remorse and without ensuring proper care.' 'Jeremy and Jessica then left the courthouse without the child,' police wrote, adding that the boy had been left with no clothes, food or other infant care. The couple was later found at a nearby medical center, where they were arrested. Jeremy allegedly admitted to abandoning the child, saying: 'The way I looked at it was that they were gonna take him anyway.' He also told officers that 'none of the options' the court presented were acceptable, according to his statement. 'Jeremy said that none of the options were viable. He said that Children's Division told him that they would take the child so he left Victim 1 with them,' the probable cause statements read. 'When I questioned him about this he said 'the way I looked at it was that, they were gonna take him anyway.' Both Jeremy and Jessica have prior criminal convictions, including assault and DWI charges for him and child endangerment for her. Authorities say the child is now in the custody of Missouri Children's Division.
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Historic heatwave hits East Coast as American cities open SHELTERS to rescue vulnerable populations
The East Coast is bracing for extreme temperatures as major cities open shelters for vulnerable populations to escape the unbearable heat. Tens of millions of people are under extreme advisories as a heat dome shifts from the Midwest to the Northeast. A heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps hot air and blocks cooler air, is driving prolonged heat waves across the US. New York City, Boston and Philadelphia issued extreme heat warnings that went into effect on Sunday, while Washington DC and Baltimore's warnings will begin on Monday. These areas are expected to see temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, lasting at least until the middle of the week. If East Coasters do not properly prepare for the scorching weather, the consequences could be dire. 'Summer in the city is here - and so is our first heat wave of the year,' NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced at a Saturday press conference. 'This extreme heat will not just be uncomfortable and oppressive, it will be brutal and it will be dangerous to those who spend extended periods outside.' Adding the potentially record-breaking heat wave could be 'deadly and life threatening,' he outlined NYC's plan to protect residents - especially those most at risk. When temperatures are forecasted to reach 95 degrees or higher for one or more days, or 100 degrees or higher for two or more days, the NYC Department of Social Services issues a Code Red Alert. From Sunday to Wednesday, the Big Apple will likely see temperatures around 100 degrees each day, with the heat spiking on Monday and Tuesday at 105 degrees, according to ABC. Under the alert, those 'experiencing heat-related discomfort' can visit designated shelters to get a break from the sweltering conditions outside. The groups particularly at risk of heat related illnesses include people aged 60 and over, young children and those with pre-existing health conditions. New York City Emergency Management Department Zach Iscol said the city is rolling out its emergency response on Sunday, offering 248 cooling shelters to vulnerable New Yorkers. These locations include libraries and other community spaces. Iscol also urged people to 'take the heat seriously' by staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous outdoor tasks and finding places to cool off. Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston has also warned her residents of the heat's severity. Boston has 'splash pads' open at playgrounds and parks around the city, as well as public pools and cooling centers. Philadelphia's health commissioner, Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, has issued a Heat Health Emergency in the Pennsylvania city. 'The best way to protect our loved ones is to make sure they can get into air conditioning during the hottest part of the day,' he said on Friday. Extreme heat has been a leading cause of all weather-related deaths over the last 30 years. In 2023, roughly 2,300 Americans died from the heat, according to The Weather Channel. 'Extreme heat is tragically the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in America,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. 'There is an amplified risk of heat-related illnesses because this is the first heat wave of the year for millions of people, and their bodies are not yet acclimated to this type of heat and humidity' The National Weather Service urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
ABC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Almost half of refugees suffering from 'occupational downgrade' 10 years after settling
Engineer Sam Matti worked at a power plant in Baghdad, helping maintain electricity to the war-torn capital of Iraq. But he fled after the Islamic State group threatened him, putting his life and career on hold. He spent two years in a refugee camp in Turkey before finally resettling in Australia in 2015. "As an automation engineer, I was really hopeful to find something in my field in Australia," he said. But his engineering bachelor's degree from Iraq was not recognised in Australia, and instead he spent the next two years working in casual jobs, cleaning construction sites and catering at aged care homes. "You feel disheartened," he said. Sam's story has been echoed in a new report from the Department of Social Services' Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). The report found that after arriving in Australia, most refugees struggled to have their skills and qualifications recognised. Before arriving in Australia, 30 per cent of women and 19 per cent of men worked in managerial or professional roles. But after a decade of residency in Australia, those figures dropped to 17 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Lead author Dr John van Kooy said the study aimed to uncover how long it took for refugees to make the transition into employment and what kinds of jobs they eventually found. "What we observed in the study is 'occupational downgrading'," he said. "This means people had managerial or professional roles, white-collar jobs in business, human resources, marketing or IT — in their home countries, but they have been unable to reach that same occupational status or even a similar occupational status even after 10 years of permanent residency in Australia." For refugee women, the downgrade was even more pronounced. Among those who had been managers or professionals in their home countries, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) were not in paid work after 10 years of living in Australia. The remainder were mostly working as carers, cleaners, education aides or sales assistants. About 2,400 humanitarian migrants were surveyed over a 10-year period — starting when their first visas were granted in 2013 — as part of the study. A 2024 report by national not-for-profit service provider Settlement Services International found there was potential for a "billion-dollar benefit" in the employment of refugees and other migrants whose skills were thought to be chronically under-utilised. "There are around 37,000 refugees in Australia right now … working below their level of skill and qualification," said Dane Moores, SSI's head of strategic relations. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Nhi Tran moved to Australia in 2017 after studying business and customer service. She worked for eight years in operations and sales roles in both France and Vietnam. Despite her experience, finding work here became challenging and her university qualifications were not recognised. Ms Tran, now 36, worked for two years in hospitality for less than the minimum wage, shattering her confidence. "Especially when in your home country you already have manager work experience and you move to a new country trying to give you a different perspective and more opportunities," she said. "I don't complain about it because I understand if you face [a] language barrier, it's very hard for employers, but it deeply affects your confidence." According to Mr van Kooy, a surprising outcome from the AIFS report was the impact of social connection. "We found that participants who had friends from a mix of ethnic backgrounds — diverse friendship groups — were more likely to be employed than those who only had friends from their own ethnic background, or no friends," he said. The report recommended more coordinated recognition of skills and qualifications gained overseas, as well as inclusive recruitment practices and language support. Mr Matti, whose skills have become better utilised in his current job as an infrastructure project manager with Australia Post, said simplifying the path for refugees could make things easier. "Some of the skills and the experience locally is so meaningful and so important, but people with overseas qualifications also have experience," he said. "A bridge is a bridge … there are basic principles everywhere you go.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Parents charged after their twin babies were found being eaten alive by rats
Two South Carolina parents are facing charges after their twin babies were allegedly found being eaten alive by rats in their dingy trailer home. Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24, were arrested on Friday after she called 911 saying she discovered their six-month-old baby girl covered in blood. When deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office arrived, they found the girl and her twin brother both suffering bite marks and cuts caused by rodents. The girl was found in her bassinet with bite marks on her head, ears, face, arms and back, which were deep enough to draw blood. She was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital near their home in Belton, South Carolina, and deputies said she would remain in hospital for several days. The baby girl's twin brother was also found with bite marks on his feet, and both infants were taken into the custody of the Department Of Social Services. When the parents were grilled by deputies, they reportedly admitted that field rats had been a persistent problem inside their home for months, per WHNS. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said that a third child was also taken in by the Department Of Social Services, but it was not clear who the child was. After admitting that they allowed their infant twins to remain in their home despite knowing of the rat problem, Akayla and Justin were both arrested. They are now facing two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. Their next bond hearing is due on Tuesday.
