Latest news with #Downing
Western Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
In court from Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, and Fishguard
The four defendants were charged with offences including drug-driving, riding a motorbike without L plates despite only having a provisional licence, and causing a car to be left in a dangerous position. Their cases were heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. Here's a round-up of the cases. KAMERON HAWKRIDGE, 24, of Hazelbeach Road in Waterston, was riding a motorbike without learner plates and whilst under the influence of cannabis. Hawkridge was riding a Yamaha SR on the A4075 near Yerbeston on March 22. The court heard that, despite only holding a provisional licence, Hawkridge was not displaying an L plate on his bike. This meant that he was also riding without a valid insurance policy. When tested, Hawkridge recorded having 7.7 micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre (µg/L) of blood. The legal limit – to exclude accidental exposure – is 2µg/L. Hawkridge admitted drug-driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without insurance at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on July 1. He was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 in costs, and a £48 surcharge, and has lost his licence for 12 months. COURTNEY DOWNING, 22, of Boundary View in Pembroke Dock, has been banned from the roads for three years after being caught drug-driving. Downing was behind the wheel of a Renault Clio on Pill Road in Milford Haven. When tested, she recorded having 4.1µg/L of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in her blood – more than double the legal limit of 2µg/L. The case came before Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on July 1, and Downing pleaded guilty to driving whilst under the influence of cannabis. She was sentenced to pay a £120 fine, £85 in costs and a £48 surcharge, and was disqualified from driving for three years. KEVIN MACDONALD, 27, of Allt Y Carne in Goodwick, was caught drug-driving on the A40. MacDonald was driving a Vauxhall Corsa on the A40 at Scleddau on December 4. When tested, he recorded having 316µg/L of benzoylecgonine - the main metabolite of cocaine - and 22µg/L of ketamine in his blood. The legal limits for these are 50µg/L and 20µg/L respectively. He was also accused of causing his car to be left in a dangerous position on the A40 at Scleddau on that date, in such that there was a risk of it causing injury to other road users. MacDonald pleaded guilty to all three offences, and was sentenced to a one-year community order at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on July 1. As part of this, he must complete a 12-month mental health treatment programme and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge, and was banned from driving for 20 months. KRISTIN MORANT, 39, of Garnlas in Fishguard, was under the influence of cannabis whilst behind the wheel. Morant was driving a Volvo XC90 on the A40 at Trefgarne on January 16. When tested, she recorded having 4.9µg/L of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in her blood – more than double the 2µg/L limit. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on July 1. She was also fined £120, and must pay £85 in costs and a £48 surcharge.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Legendary 80s Metal Band's Founding Guitarist Reimagines Iconic Debut Album Track
K.K. Downing, the founding guitarist of the legendary 80s metal band Judas Priest, has released a brand new version of the band's hit track "Never Satisfied" from their 1974 debut album Rocka Rolla - and the newly recorded version of the song also includes former Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. "We just had fun in a spare bedroom, trying to create something different," Downing, 73, recently told Ultimate Classic Rock in an interview about the song, reminiscing about writing it with the band's original lead vocalist, Al Atkins. "We wrote quite a lot of stuff and then we went on the road. In my memory, 'Never Satisfied' was always in the set. When Al left and Rob [Halford] joined, then we were on the road for at least a couple of years. We had the song in the set [at that time] with Rob singing it as well." Last year, the band reissued Rocka Rolla in honor of its 50th anniversary and included a full remix of the entire album - which, in turn, got Downing back into the band's first output. From there, the idea to rerecord the song just came naturally to him. "I thought, 'I'm just going to plug the guitar in and have a go at jamming along to a couple of these songs,'" he told the outlet. "I just had fun doing it and I thought I would put the track down and ask Ripper if he'd do the courtesy of throwing a vocal on there. It came about really quickly and it was fun." For Owens' part, he wanted to really honor the original track as much as possible, particularly in the way it was recorded. "It's really cool," the singer, 57, explained to Ultimate Classic Rock in a separate interview. "It's me singing it, but staying true to the melodies. I changed a little bit, added a little bit of rasp [and] some high notes." The vocalist hopes that this new version will lead to more rerecordings in the future - and there's a lot to mine there, if they go down that route. "I said, 'Ken, let's record the whole damn thing. I don't care, let's have fun,'" Owens told the outlet. "You want to do 'Rocka Rolla,' okay. 'Run of the Mill' [would be fun]. I've always wanted to do 'Cheater,' because I felt the guitar with more balls [would be good]. I think he's just having some fun and there'll be some more coming, I hope." Interestingly enough, the band's 1974 debut and their 1976 follow-up Sad Wings of Destiny were owned by the band's original label, Gull Records, for nearly 50 years, as the band broke their contract with the label to move to CBS Records in 1977. Because of that, they were unable to do anything with the music from those albums as they were not the rights holders. However, Gull sold the masters and publishing to Reach Music and Exciter Records in partnership with the band in 2022, which allowed the band's longtime producer, Tom Allom, to oversee the remixing of Rocka Rolla that was released for the album's major milestone anniversary. Allom will also oversee the remixing of Sad Wings of Destiny for an upcoming 50th anniversary rerelease. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Leader Live
16-06-2025
- Leader Live
Shotton couple jailed after dog attack injures toddler
Thomas Moir and Kayleigh Godbert, both of Westminster Crescent in Shotton, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Friday afternoon. Both defendants had been convicted at a previous hearing of being an owner/person in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control which caused injury to another. Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, told the court that the offences came to light in 2023 when an ambulance was called out to treat an injured child in Flintshire. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had sustained a "deep laceration" to the top of their head - in addition to numerous other facial and head injuries. Ms Downing said the primary laceration, which was an inch wide and two inches long, medics "could see the child's skull." It had been caused by an Akita dog owned by Godbert, now 39, and Moir, now 38. As Ms Downing described the impact of the 'sustained dog attack', Judge Simon Mills remarked on the "breathtaking" wounds he'd seen in photographic evidence. "These defendants are so lucky they're not in court facing a charge of manslaughter," he said. Ms Downing told the court that when the injuries were analysed by police, it was determined the child had been subjected to 'six separate bites' to the head and face, causing significant damage. And the defendants had been warned previously that the dog may be dangerous after it had bitten someone on an earlier date, she said. Duncan Bould, defending Godbert, told the court that following the warnings the couple received about the dog's temperament, both defendants did attempt to rehome it. "With the benefit of hindsight and the tragic injuries caused," he continued, "of course Ms Godbert wishes the dog had been put down. "That wasn't a course adopted at the time. "This is a lady who has expressed remorse - and that remorse is genuine. "From the day she entered her guilty plea, she's known the overwhelming likelihood is that she'd receive an immediate custodial sentence." Alexandra Carrier, defending Moir, said: "This may not be a total failure to act - some steps were taken, but there was a failure to see those steps through to conclusion in time." Kayleigh Godbert (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police) Ms Carrier invited to the court to consider whether any prison sentence for her client had to be immediate, and spoke of the benefits community-based intervention may have. "Punishment can be made by alcohol abstinence and unpaid work," she said. "And whilst that's a punishment, it might help Mr Moir get back on his feet and get back into work. "He hasn't had the opportunity to work with probation before." Judge Simon Mills told both defendants that prior to the attack, they had both received a "very clear" warning about the dog's potential risk. He said: "The injuries this [child] suffered in what appears to be an unrestrained dog attack were frightening. "It's your utter negligence that has brought about this result. "I have read the pre-sentence reports and they don't make for very good reading. "Mr Moir; you expressed severely limited acceptance of responsibility. "You said it had 'nothing to do with you.' Thomas Moir (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police) "Ms Godbert, you told probation you thought you'd get a fine for all of this and described the prospect of going into custody as a 'farce.' "Certainly at that point, neither of you were showing any appreciation whatsoever of your responsibilities for this terrible incident or the harm it caused." Judge Mills concluded that the seriousness of the offences meant only an immediate custodial sentence would suffice and jailed both defendants for 18 months. They were both disqualified from keeping or possessing any dog for the next seven years. Read more Detective Constable James Grimwood said: 'This was a horrific incident and has sadly resulted in serious and lasting injuries to a vulnerable child. 'Both Moir and Godbert have shown little remorse throughout this investigation despite the lifelong consequences their actions have had on a young child. 'The court outcome reflects the seriousness of this incident, and I hope that this sends a message to any dog owners to ensure that they do not leave their dogs alone with children. 'I would urge anyone with information of concerns around a dangerous dog to report this to North Wales Police via 101 or though Crime Stoppers.'
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Teen Stuns Viewers as 'Vintage' Prom Dress Donated by Millennial Goes Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Gen Z teen's dress-up session with her millennial neighbor's prom gowns has captured the internet's heart. Erinn Downing (@er1nnh), 34, from San Diego, shared a TikTok video of her 16-year-old neighbor trying on three of her old prom dresses—garments that Downing wore almost two decades ago, in 2006 and 2008. The video, which juxtaposed clips of the teen in each outfit alongside throwback photos of Downing wearing them at the time, has amassed 4.5 million views and 367,700 likes. "I am so happy I saved them! Watching her try them on brought me right back to being 16 and how beautiful I felt in those dresses! They brought back the joy and excitement of prom!" Downing told Newsweek. Downing shares an incredibly close bond with her neighbor, who she has known since the day she was born. The dresses included a floor-length green mermaid gown from Cache, a pink satin gown with diamante details around the chest and waist from Bloomingdale's, and a white gown with silver embellishments—also from Cache. Each one fit the teen perfectly. "Emily had mentioned that wearing 'vintage prom dresses' were 'in.' So luckily I had saved all of my dresses and were just goofing off one night where she tried them on and modeled them for my parents and her mom! My parents and especially my mom loved it because she had gone shopping with me for all three of the dresses so she loved re living it all through Emily, who is like a daughter to them both," she said. A split image showing Erinn in her white prom dress in 2007 and Emily rocking the gown in 2025. A split image showing Erinn in her white prom dress in 2007 and Emily rocking the gown in 2025. @er1nnh/@er1nnh Reflecting on the significance of each dress, Downing explained that the white gown had a special purpose beyond prom. She told Newsweek she got it because she was part of NCL—the National Charity League. "Seniors have a sort of debutant ball where they have to wear a white dress! When I found the white one it worked for both NCL presents and prom!" she said. As for the pink dress, the motivation was simple: "The pink one I'm sure I bought just because pink has and always will be my favorite color!" Of all three, Downing still holds a soft spot for the mermaid-style green gown. "My personal favorite is the green one! At the time I wore it—I felt the best in it! Something about that giant center stone and the mermaid flow made me feel invincible!" While it may seem surprising that clothes from the 2000s are now considered "vintage," the label isn't far off. According to Martha Stewart, an item is generally considered vintage if it is at least 20 years old but less than 100. That makes Downing's 2006 and 2008 prom dresses officially vintage as of the mid-2020s. The video also sparked a wave of nostalgia online, with TikTokers sharing memories and reactions to the throwback looks. "That white one was ahead of its time," commented one user. "Ok white one still slaps," added another. Jen chimed in: "Oh my god I had that white one in hot pink!" Others were astonished Downing had kept them all these years. "How do you even have these still? The only thing I've kept from high school is my senior yearbook," one viewer commented. And many millennial viewers had a moment of existential crisis. "'Vintage' just hurt my feelings. I was class of '08," said Anna McDowell. Ultimately, Emily did not end up wearing any of the dresses for prom, but Erinn is holding out for her senior year. Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers in Montana urge defense of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood signage is seen in the Financial District neighborhood of Manhattan on April 16, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Democratic lawmakers in Montana asked the state's congressional delegation Tuesday to defend 'affordable health care access' for Montanans and oppose efforts to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and 'slash Medicaid' in the reconciliation bill under consideration in Washington, D.C. The letter, signed by Democratic legislative leaders in the Montana House and Senate plus 45 other legislators, said Planned Parenthood is a 'trusted, irreplaceable part' of the state's health care system, and it has served communities for more than 55 years. 'We write in support of the thousands of Montanans who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers, especially those who live in rural, remote and medically-underserved communities where Planned Parenthood is the only provider who can care for patients, many of which are Medicaid recipients,' said the letter. The lead signers to the letter were Rep. Katie Sullivan of Missoula and Sen. Pat Flowers of Belgrade, minority leaders in the House and Senate, respectively. The massive tax and spending bill is in the U.S. House, and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday it still has 'a number of loose ends to tie up,' according to States Newsroom's Washington, D.C. bureau. The letter from Montana Democrats was directed to U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, all Republicans. Daines, Sheehy and Zinke did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment. Downing, however, said many Americans don't want federal money to pay for abortions. 'For too long, the U.S. government has subsidized abortions at Planned Parenthood with complete disregard for the sincerely held beliefs of millions of Americans,' said Congressman Downing in an email from his office. 'If the brutality of abortion should exist in this country, may it never receive another penny of federal funding.' Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana describes Planned Parenthood as the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care in Montana, with four health centers in the state and telehealth services for thousands of patients, including Medicaid recipients. The advocacy group said Planned Parenthood is like any other health care provider, with health centers reimbursed through health programs like Medicaid: 'Medicaid funds are not used for abortion other than in rare exceptions due to the Hyde Amendment.' The federal law known as the Hyde Amendment disallows federal funds for abortion except to save the life of the parent or for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest. Mary Sullivan, with Planned Parenthood Advocates, said language in the bill is specifically pointed at Planned Parenthood, but because the Hyde Amendment already restricts funding for abortion, the effect would be a limit on other services. 'Really, where they're drawing the line is birth control, cancer screenings, STI (sexually transmitted infection) screenings,' Sullivan said. The bill (Sec. 44126) identifies entities prohibited from receiving funds as nonprofit organizations that receive more than $1 million and are 'primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care.' Sullivan, of Planned Parenthood Advocates, said if health care centers were forced to close, many patients would have nowhere to turn, and the health care landscape in Montana is 'already overwhelmed.' In a statement, Quinn Leighton, with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, said the organization would continue to work to ensure care remains available and affordable for Montanans. 'Every Montanan, no matter where they live or how much money they have, deserves access to essential, affordable health care,' Leighton said. A 2025 public opinion report about abortion and reproductive health policy said respondents generally opposed 'a number of actions' the Trump administration could take, including taking away funds from Planned Parenthood. 'Opposition crosses party lines — with about four in 10 Trump voters or more in opposition (including 63% who oppose taking away funds from Planned Parenthood),' said the report from PerryUndem, which describes itself as a nonpartisan public opinion research firm. In the letter from Democrats, the legislators said the consequences of 'defunding' Planned Parenthood 'could be catastrophic.' 'No other provider would be able to fill the gap left by Planned Parenthood, and making cuts to Medicaid would put rural hospitals and medical centers in jeopardy,' the letter said. A separate letter Monday organized by the State Innovation Exchange's Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council described the prohibition in the federal bill as the latest in 'politically motivated attacks' against Planned Parenthood and abortion providers. The letter was signed by 562 lawmakers from all 50 states, according to the council.
