Latest news with #Laster
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Small town, big fest: the 34th Woods Hole Film Festival returns to the Cape
'It's the kind of festival that is open to everybody, and we really want people to be able to have the full depth of experience possible,' Laster said. Advertisement The small town at the south end of Falmouth has long been a Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'We attract people from around the world — it's an audience that is used to seeing film depending on where they come from,' Laster said. 'We put together a program that we think represents the best in emerging independent film.' Charlie Gillespie, left, and Sterling Beaumon in "Shattered Ice." Woods Hole Film Festival Several of the films have local connections, including ' Advertisement 'We try when possible to incorporate films by Massachusetts and New England filmmakers,' Laster said. 'We have a couple of narrative features which will be premiering here that I know people are very excited about.' ' Other films in the program highlight international perspectives. ' ' Cheuk Ling Ngan, left, and Wai Hing Cheung in "Revisit." Woods Hole Film Festival Of the 47 feature films screening, 28 are documentaries. Laster makes it a goal to include films 'relevant to the work that's happening in this community.' Advertisement John Hunter Nolan's ' Daniel Straub and Rosanna Xia's ' Like the festival's features, its documentaries span a wide range of subjects — Kim A. Snyder's ' 'We try to make this a festival that's accessible, that's interesting, and where the program is something you're not just going to see anywhere and everywhere,' Laster said. Festivalgoers can also attend two panel discussions on July 31. At 1 p.m., the filmmakers of three documentaries screening at the festival will discuss 'making science documentaries in changing times.' At 3 p.m., Elijah Wald, a former Globe music writer and folk-blues guitarist, will talk about his books on world music — his biographies influenced the films 'Inside Llewyn Davis' and 'A Complete Unknown.'He will be joined by former Globe film critic Ty Burr. The closing night on Aug. 2 includes the festival's award ceremony, which includes juried and audience awards. This year, the festival will present a new award by the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers to the film that best engages with 'universal themes that express our shared humanity.' Advertisement Woods Hole is a small town with unusually scientist-heavy demographics — its film festival, with its varied lineup, highlights the diverse perspectives inherent to living there. WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL July 26-Aug. 2. Various venues. Ryan Yau can be reached at
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Girlfriend throws hot chicken grease on boyfriend during fight, Georgia cops say
A fight between lovers ended with a man splashed with hot chicken grease, leaving him badly burned, Georgia police said. Olympia Laster, 43, was charged with aggravated battery in the May 6 attack on her boyfriend at an extended-stay hotel in LaGrange, the city's police department said in a news release. The couple were reportedly arguing when Laster threw a pot of hot chicken grease on Robert Herron, 46, according to police. At 5:17 p.m., officers were called to the Stay Lodge of LaGrange regarding a domestic dispute. They learned Laster had tossed hot grease on her live-in boyfriend as he sat in a chair, causing severe burns to his head, neck, back and shoulders, police said. Authorities didn't say what sparked the argument between the couple. McClatchy News reached out to the LaGrange Police Department for more information May 8 and was awaiting a response. Herron was taken to an Atlanta-area hospital for treatment, police said. Authorities didn't provide an update on his condition as of May 8. Laster remained in custody at the Troup County Jail without bond as of May 8, records show. LaGrange is about a 70-mile drive southwest from downtown Atlanta.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Two teenage basketball stars, coach, and school employee among eight killed in fiery collision in Kansas
Credits: Facebook/ X/ KJRH Eight people, including two teenage basketball stars from Tulsa, a former coach, and a school employee, tragically lost their lives in a head-on collision near Greeley, Kansas, on Sunday evening. The crash occurred just after 5:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 169, resulting in two vehicles bursting into flames. One person survived and was the victims were Donald 'DJ' Laster, 14, a freshman standout at Booker T. Washington High School , and Kyrin Schumpert , 14, a ninth grader at Union High School . Both teens were part of the Oklahoma Chaos basketball team. Laster was described as a dedicated student-athlete, one of only two freshmen to make the varsity basketball team. He was known for his bright personality, and according to Ron Horton, a teacher at Booker T. Washington, Laster's kindness stood out as much as his athletic talent. "He was just a good guy," Horton said. "He was always smiling, and everyone loved being around him."Also killed in the crash were Wayne T. Walls, 41, a former teacher and coach at Carver Middle School in Tulsa, and Ja'mon Gilstrap, 33, a transportation team member for Tulsa Public Schools . Walls had been a mentor and coach to many young athletes, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and crash took place when a GMC Yukon XL, attempting to pass a slower-moving vehicle, collided head-on with a Subaru Legacy. Both vehicles swerved before crashing into the shoulder, where they exploded into flames. The wreck occurred on a dangerous stretch of highway, with witnesses describing the scene as catastrophic. 'It was definitely a bad wreck,' said a local resident who saw the smoke rising from the crash site. The two vehicles were nearly completely destroyed by the Public Schools confirmed that three of the victims were part of their community: Laster, Walls, and Gilstrap. The district expressed profound sorrow in a statement on Monday. Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson said, 'We have lost friends, brothers, sons, and fathers. I am heartbroken for those who lost loved ones, and I am committed to honoring the immense impact each of these people had in our schools and in the lives of our young people.'The Union Public Schools district, where Schumpert was a freshman, also mourned his loss, stating, 'It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the tragic passing of one of our students. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those impacted.'Following the tragedy, both districts have provided support for students and staff, including access to counselors and psychologists. At Booker T. Washington, where DJ Laster had been a standout athlete, Ron Horton reflected on Laster's impact, emphasizing the teen's ability to balance academics and sports while maintaining a positive attitude. "He was a light," Horton said. 'It's a shock that he's gone.'The crash site remained closed for several hours as authorities conducted their investigation. The Kansas Highway Patrol is continuing to examine the cause of the collision, but no specific details have been released. The crash serves as a reminder of the dangers on this stretch of road, often cited by locals as a hazardous area due to its winding and narrow nature.
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Teen basketball players were among those who died in a Kansas highway crash that killed 8
GREELEY, Kan. — Two teenage basketball players, a coach and a trainer from the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area who were on their way back from a tournament were among eight people killed in a fiery head-on highway crash in eastern Kansas. Authorities said the other victims in Sunday's crash on a two-lane stretch of US 169 about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, included three members of a St. Louis-area family. The crash occurred when a southbound SUV driven by the trainer, carrying the teammates, collided with a northbound sedan with the St. Louis family as passengers, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. 4 This image taken from video from May 5, 2025, shows charred earth at the site of a fatal vehicle collision in Franklin County, Kans. AP Advertisement A third teenager from the Tulsa area survived the crash and was hospitalized with what the Highway Patrol described as potentially a minor injury. The young basketball players who died were Donald 'DJ' Laster, 14, a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa; and Kyrin Schumpert, a ninth-grader at the Union High School Freshman Academy in the Tulsa area, who also sometimes went by Kyrin Gilstrap, according to Union Public Schools. The boys were members of the Oklahoma Chaos youth basketball program, which called the crash 'an unimaginable tragedy' in a post on the social platform X. Advertisement 4 Kyrin Schumpert and Donald Laster both died in the car accident. Instagram/Oklahoma Chaos 'Please wrap their families and friends with love and support as they try to get through this very difficult time,' the post said. 'Our organization has taken a tremendous hit and we are deeply saddened.' Ron Horton, a teacher at Booker T. Washington, said in a video sent by Tulsa Public Schools that he has seen a lot of kids come and go in his 17 years of teaching and that DJ Laster was 'something special.' 4 The boys were members of the Oklahoma Chaos youth basketball program. Instagram/Oklahoma Chaos Advertisement He said Laster was a quintessential student-athlete who worked as hard at academics as he did at sport during the busy varsity basketball season. He said Laster was among only two freshmen to make the school's varsity team and stood out for how he put others at ease. 'It's just a shock, it is, that he's gone,' Horton said. Two adults traveling with them also died — Wayne Walls, of Talala, Oklahoma, 41, a former teacher and coach at Carver Middle School in Tulsa — and Ja'mon Gilstrap, a trainer and driver with the Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team. The survivor was Braden Walls, 15, also of Talala, Oklahoma. Gilstrap was driving the SUV at the time of the accident. 4 Two adults traveling with them also died — Wayne Walls, a former teacher and coach at Carver Middle School in Tulsa — and Ja'mon Gilstrap, a trainer and driver with the Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team. Facebook/Booker T. Washington High School Advertisement The other driver — Alexander Ernst, 37, of Ames, Iowa — also died, along with Madalyn Elliott, 33; John Elliott, 76, and Norleen Elliott, 69, all of Chesterfield, Missouri. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the crash occurred a few miles outside of Greeley, Kansas, a town of fewer than 300 people, at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, as Gilstrap, the driver of the SUV, attempted to pass a slow-moving vehicle. He and the sedan driven by Ernst were headed toward each other in the northbound lane, and both drivers swerved to avoid a collision, but both went into the northbound shoulder of the highway. The crash caused a fire, and 'both cars burned up,' officials said.
06-05-2025
Teen basketball players were among those who died in a Kansas highway crash
GREELEY, Kan. -- Two teenage basketball players, a coach and a trainer from the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area who were on their way back from a tournament were among eight people killed in a fiery head-on highway crash in eastern Kansas. Authorities said the other victims in Sunday's crash on a two-lane stretch of U.S. 169 about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, included three members of a St. Louis-area family. The crash occurred when a southbound SUV driven by the trainer, carrying the teammates, collided with a northbound sedan with the St. Louis family as passengers, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. A third teenager from the Tulsa area survived the crash and was hospitalized with what the Highway Patrol described as potentially a minor injury. The young basketball players who died were Donald 'DJ' Laster, 14, a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa; and Kyrin Schumpert, a ninth-grader at the Union High School Freshman Academy in the Tulsa area, who also sometimes went by Kyrin Gilstrap, according to Union Public Schools. The boys were members of the Oklahoma Chaos youth basketball program, which called the crash 'an unimaginable tragedy' in a post on the social platform X. 'Please wrap their families and friends with love and support as they try to get through this very difficult time,' the post said. 'Our organization has taken a tremendous hit and we are deeply saddened.' Ron Horton, a teacher at Booker T. Washington, said in a video sent by Tulsa Public Schools that he has seen a lot of kids come and go in his 17 years of teaching and that DJ Laster was 'something special.' He said Laster was a quintessential student-athlete who worked as hard at academics as he did at sport during the busy varsity basketball season. He said Laster was among only two freshmen to make the school's varsity team and stood out for how he put others at ease. 'It's just a shock, it is, that he's gone,' Horton said. Two adults traveling with them also died — Wayne Walls, of Talala, Oklahoma, 41, a former teacher and coach at Carver Middle School in Tulsa — and Ja'mon Gilstrap, a trainer and driver with the Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team. The survivor was Braden Walls, 15, also of Talala, Oklahoma. Gilstrap was driving the SUV at the time of the accident. The other driver — Alexander Ernst, 37, of Ames, Iowa — also died, along with Madalyn Elliott, 33; John Elliott, 76, and Norleen Elliott, 69, all of Chesterfield, Missouri. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the crash occurred a few miles outside of Greeley, Kansas, a town of fewer than 300 people, at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, as Gilstrap, the driver of the SUV, attempted to pass a slow-moving vehicle. He and the sedan driven by Ernst were headed toward each other in the northbound lane, and both drivers swerved to avoid a collision, but both went into the northbound shoulder of the highway. The crash caused a fire, and 'both cars burned up,' officials said.
