Latest news with #RealityCheck
Geek Girl Authority
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Recap: (S01E03) Reality Check
Revival Season 1 Episode 3, 'Reality Check,' kicks things into high gear regarding the mystery surrounding Em's murder. Dana clocks the nefarious Check brothers as the potential murderers. However, with Adam admitting he didn't know Em was a Reviver, something tells me this might be a red herring. Em and Rhodey are super cute lil emo kids, and the show continues its emo music streak with a tune from Alkaline Trio (last week, it was Senses Fail). This millennial emo kid is digging the needle drops. 'Reality Check' is another fun episode. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Revival episode, 'Keeping Up Appearances' Revival, 'Reality Check' We open with Kay (Maia Jae) telling Dana (Melanie Scrofano) about how Em acquired the bag full of oxycodone. In a flashback, Kay and Em (Romy Weltman) pay the Check family a visit. The matriarch, Dorothy (Wendy Lyon), has a flair for chicken-themed artwork. Kay explains that Dorothy asks the buyer to choose breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each selection offers something different (ahem, drugs). Em wanders upstairs to Andrew's (Matt Willis) room despite Dorothy's urging that she not disturb him. Em steals the bag of oxy from his dresser drawer and flees. Andrew barrels outside, gun trained on her, and fires. Dana can't believe Em would act out like that. Kay counters that perhaps Dana doesn't know Em as well as she thinks she does. Squid Pro Quo Later, Dana chats with Gunderson (Mark Little) at the station. He notices she's leafing through the Check brothers' files. Dana tells him that she believes they tried to murder someone who stole from them. However, it's their older brother Anthony who's pulling the strings. Anthony left for New York and now can't return to Wausau since quarantine went into effect. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Meanwhile, Jordan (Flora McInroy) encounters bullies at school. Cooper (Hudson Wurster) stands up for his friend when one kid attempts to stab Jordan with a pencil to see if she'd heal. You know, since she's a Reviver. Cooper slams Jordan's locker door in the boy's face, causing his nose to bleed. Elsewhere, Dana visits Dorothy Check. She shows Dorothy a picture of Kay, asking if the latter paid her a visit before Revival Day. Dorothy compliments Kay for being a sweet young lady, while her friend (Em) disturbed her son and stole from him. Then, Dana whips out a picture of Em, who Dorothy confirms as the thief. Before Dana departs, Dorothy urges Dana to purchase some chicken-themed artwork. You know, 'squid pro quo.' Most Likely to Die in Prison While Dorothy fetches a piece for Dana, Andrew descends the stairs, reuniting with his former classmate. He threatens Dana's family. Should she continue prying into things concerning the Checks, there will be more than one dead Cypress. He gives her a comic book for Cooper and informs her that the lead character has no qualms about killing those who threaten his family. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series After this, Dana pops by Cooper's school to pick up her son. She learns he's been suspended for the remainder of the week for hurting that kid (although he deserved it for trying to stab Jordan). However, the teacher seems to side with the bullies. Dana is incredulous. How can this little girl be a danger to society? Upon learning that the teacher called Jordan's parents an hour ago to pick her up, Dana decides to take her home. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) While Cooper and Jordan play upstairs, Dana chats with Jordan's parents. They tell Dana that their little girl died before Revival Day, and the one standing before them isn't her. When Jordan asks if she and Cooper can have cookies, they act awkwardly around her, refusing to make eye contact. Can I Get an Escort? Dana gives them the business for treating their daughter like sh*t. They might not believe Jordan is really Jordan, but she's no threat to them. I love how this series tackles the mistreatment and discrimination of marginalized people — it's very relevant, given the state of the US. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer After this, Dana drops Cooper off at Nella's. Meanwhile, Ibrahim (Andy McQueen) records his findings. Unfortunately, the CDC liaison still hasn't uncovered the reason behind Revival Day. Carla (Paige Evans) arrives with the toxicology report for Arlene, but she doesn't refer to the latter as such. Ibrahim insists Arlene is a person who deserves to be called by her name despite the circumstances. He fiddles with his samples before looking over the report himself. Then, Ibrahim asks Jeannie (Lenore Zann) if he can get a police escort to the Dittman house to conduct an investigation. He has a hypothesis he wants to test. Of course, he'd love to have Dana accompany him, but he'll have to settle for her dad instead. Wayne (David James Elliott) volunteers to join Ibrahim. How Did You Die? Later, Bob Dittman (Derek McGrath) is weirdly suspicious of Ibrahim. Ibrahim runs a few tests before wandering into the bedroom where Bob and his late wife kept his mother-in-law in chains. Mind you, the Wausau police force is still searching for Arlene. Ibrahim also spots a bottle of mercuric chloride on the side table among a bevy of medications. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 Next, Dittman trains his gun on Ibrahim for snooping around. Thankfully, Wayne defuses the situation before Dittman gets trigger-happy. We learn that the funeral for Dittman's wife is later that day, hence his tense demeanor. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Elsewhere, Em wakes up in Rhodey's (Kaleb Horn) room. Em finally got a decent night's sleep for the first time since Revival Day. Rhodey tells Em how he died — an infection in his hand from stabbing it while pitting an avocado. Not very punk rock. Em explains that she's unsure how she died. The circumstances surrounding her death are muddled at best. She recalls being high on the bridge before waking up at the bottom of the waterfall. Funeral Pyre Then, Em shows Rhodey her journal, which is full of illustrations related to her murder. Fragments of memories and imagery. Rhodey is invested. He wants to help Em solve her murder. At the same time, Dana stands on the bridge, trying to piece together her little sister's death. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Later, Wayne attends Terry's funeral. Dittman's eulogy gets weird and misogynistic. Suddenly, Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) lurches through the double doors, wailing for her daughter. She barrels toward the open casket. Wayne orders everyone to leave as he points his gun at her. Dittman tries to attack Arlene, but she snaps his neck. Wayne fires a few rounds at Arlene; however, bullets are quite ineffective. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) It's Blaine's (Steven Ogg) ritualistic demon-expelling that seems to do the trick. After Arlene crawls into the coffin, Blaine sets it ablaze. Can Arlene survive this? After this, we learn that the CDC will do its best to separate Arlene and Terry's charred bodies. Arlene's tissue is already healing, though. Blaine is in lockup, but he won't be for long. The public is already siding with him for burning Arlene. Wayne and Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) meet with Governor June Harris (Shauna MacDonald). If you recall, Wayne called the governor on last week's episode because, let's face it, Wausau ain't doin' so hot. Track and Tag Ibrahim soon joins them. He declares that Dittman was poisoning Arlene with mercuric chloride. He found traces of mercury in Arlene's brain matter. This proves Revivers aren't inherently violent. Governor Harris seemingly sides with Wayne, though, insisting the sheriff can have all the resources he requires to track down and tag all Revivers. Ibrahim and the mayor vehemently protest this. Harris takes it further — if any Revivers show signs of 'aggression,' Wayne has her permission to contain them how he sees fit. Ibrahim remarks that this is sounding an awful lot like internment camps for Revivers. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Harris adds that once the Revivers are under control, then they can discuss lifting the quarantine on the town. This is what happens when people fear what they don't understand — they exert tyrannical-like control. Elsewhere, Nella (Lanette Ware) tells Dana about Em's fight in the bar. She remarks that Em seemed down before she lashed out at a fellow patron. Then, she left with a punk guy. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Conrad Coates as Mayor Ken Dillisch, Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Dana pulls out the flyer for November Dismember, which Em left behind in her vehicle. Dana mutters that she explicitly told Em not to date musicians. It must run in the family. Speaking of Em, she's at the warehouse for November Dismember's show. Rhodey greets her before he takes to the stage. Andrew and his brother Adam (Joe Delfin) spy Em among the concert attendees. They recognize her. November Dismember Then, Dana enters the scene as Rhodey performs with his band. At one point, Rhodey slices his chest, even sticking his hand inside the wound. Next, the cut heals instantly. Everyone cheers. While Rhodey screams into a microphone, the Check brothers confront Em. They attack her. Rhodey calls them out before making his way toward Em. Andrew flees, but Dana manages to tase Adam. She also finds drugs on his person before taking him in. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Later, Em and Rhodey escape the concert, making a beeline for a bridge. Once a safe distance away from the danger, Em kisses Rhodey. At the station, Dana interrogates Adam. This is his third offense, so he could be going away for a long time. And now he's endangering innocent concertgoers. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Dana claims she wants to talk to Anthony Check, the brains of the operation. Dana is aiming to strike a deal with him. So, Adam dials his number. Dana proposes a truce between the Check and Cypress families. She'll drop the charges against Adam and release him. Hell, she'll even give back the oxy Em stole. In exchange, the Check brothers must steer clear of the Cypress crew. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Joe Delfin as Adam Check, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) We've Got a Deal When Anthony doesn't respond immediately, Dana calls him out. She knows the brothers are behind Em's murder. Adam realizes at this moment that Em is a Reviver. He claims he and Andrew didn't know who she was, that she was Dana's sister. Anthony decides to take the deal. He gives his word that Andrew and Adam will leave Dana and Em alone. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland Meanwhile, Ibrahim notices one of his samples has inexplicably grown — the mossy water from Moore Creek. Dana returns home to Cooper at the end of a long day. She gets a text from Em. Em reassures Dana that she's okay and safe, thanks to her. Dana looks emotional. Later, we see Rhodey and Em sitting on the edge of a bridge. He embraces her. Em reveals that she's never been to the beach. Hell, she's never flown on a plane before. She's been sheltered most of her life. However, it took dying for her to feel truly alive. Rhodey vows to take her to the beach once they can leave town. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Take the Leap Then, Rhodey encourages her to jump off the bridge with him. When she does, she sees flashes from the night she died. Blaine was on the bridge with her. Uh-oh. Speaking of, Wayne releases Blaine. Blaine reunites with his followers. He asks them if they're ready for a 'holy war.' They all cheer. Love a good religious zealot. RELATED: Read our Revival recaps Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
How Ohio's business leaders are transforming education
Today's students need more than a high school diploma. They need clear pathways to good jobs, living wages and long-term success. Why it's important: The country's long-term prosperity and success depends on an education system that meets the needs of both students and employers. Okay, but: Right now, too many students fall through the cracks — academically, financially or through a lack of opportunity. 🔎 Zoom in: Ohio Excels is setting a national example by helping ensure Ohio's education and workforce systems work together to prepare every learner for the demands of the future. The goals: to improve lives, strengthen communities and make Ohio more competitive in a fast-changing global economy. The background: The Columbus-based organization was founded in 2018 by the state's leading business organizations to bring a credible, coordinated, and nonpartisan business voice to education and workforce policy. Ohio Excels delivers results by combining data, partnerships and policy expertise. JPMorganChase has worked closely with Ohio Excels and other organizations to help break down barriers to opportunity and advance an economy that works for all. For example, the firm employs more than 18,000 Central Ohioans, making it one of the largest private employers in the state. The challenges: Ohio Excels launched an initiative called "Reality Check" to provide a clear picture of where Ohio students are — and where they need support. It highlights urgent gaps in student outcomes, including: 36% of third graders — more than 43,000 students annually — aren't proficient in reading. 44% of algebra I students — nearly 59,000 kids each year — aren't meeting grade-level expectations. Only 18% of seventh through 12th grade students are enrolled in career-technical education despite the surging demand for skilled labor. 25.6% of students miss more than 20 days of school annually. Only 52% of seniors completed the FAFSA, leaving behind $120 million in federal aid. The metrics are helping Ohio Excels tackle these challenges head-on through targeted reforms, coalition-building, research and regional systems change. Some examples: Working with policymakers, educators and business leaders, some of Ohio Excels' recent wins include… Creating a career-connected learning roadmap, developed with 15+ statewide partners and packed with bipartisan recommendations to expand pathways and work-based learning. Co-hosting the Annual Aim Hire Workforce and Education Conference with the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation to strengthen Ohio's talent pipeline and align education with workforce needs. Launching the state's first business-led coalition focused on preparing students for an AI-driven future. Supporting state budget reforms to reverse declining reading proficiency and help ensure Ohio's students are set up for success Here's what else: Ohio Excels is advancing this work regionally through its coordination of the Columbus New Skills Ready Network (NSRN), funded by a $7 million grant from JPMorganChase. This coalition of business, education, workforce and policy leaders aims to give young people real-world work experiences and help them access high-wage, in-demand jobs in IT, health care and beyond. The impact: Since its launch in 2020, Columbus NSRN reports that it has helped… Increase applications for Columbus City Schools' Technical Education programs by 29.8%. Engage 75+ businesses to offer students more work-based learning opportunities that align with education and workforce needs. Leverage community partnerships to grow access to IT and health care career pathways — with a 117% rise in participation among economically disadvantaged students in the past three years. Expand IT curriculum into middle schools, helping students prepare earlier for in-demand careers. Take note: Ohio Excels says its secret to success is building unlikely coalitions across the ideological spectrum between business leaders, educators, policy advocates and organizations — including JPMorganChase. "Ohio Excels has united groups that don't often share the same table — such as charter school advocates, urban school districts, conservative think tanks, labor organizations and major employers," the organization said. The takeaway: Taking a collaborative, nonpartisan approach has helped turn shared goals into lasting systems changes that benefit all Ohio students.
Technical.ly
5 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
How Philly's BioLattice is making the jump from grants to VC
For nearly two years, has hosted its monthly segment, Speaking, on WURD Radio's 'Reality Check' with Tonya Pendleton. Earlier this month, WURD cancelled the show after a round of layoffs. Winning pitch competitions and getting industry recognition don't always lead to funding. For Amelia Zellander, founder and CEO of the tissue engineering startup BioLattice, it took six years to get the 'proper funding' to pursue the biotechnology, which she finally secured at the end of 2023. Innovations like biomaterial to repair the front layer of the eye — an alternative to traditional cornea transplants — can be risky to develop, she said. In the current climate of risk-averse investors, that makes biotech money difficult to land. It was ultimately federal funding (the same programs now in limbo under the Trump administration) that made Zellander's initial research possible. Now she's seeking venture capital to maintain that momentum. 'My journey with this company in this form really started in 2017,' Zellander told reporter Sarah Huffman on Speaking, a monthly segment on WURD Radio's 'Reality Check' hosted by Tonya Pendleton. 'I applied for federal funding multiple times before I finally got the Phase One [National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research ] grant.' The funding served as a launch pad. Since starting a research partnership with Lehigh University, BioLattice has landed an $80,000 first-place prize at a pitch competition. More recently, Zellander was named Startup of the Year at BioLabs' third annual investor day. BioLattice is continuing its growth trajectory as a member of the inaugural HiveBio accelerator cohort. This is helping build the company's brand and supporting its path to securing investors, per Zellander. 'I have been getting a little bit of funding, but I'm just still in the battle to build my reputation,' she said, 'to build the trust with investors, and to present the need.' While positive recognition is useful in general, it doesn't always translate into dollars, Zellander said. As BioLattice gears up to raise its next $2 million to support the prototyping phase, she's hoping to make sure it can turn the accolades into securing VCs. BioLattice is currently in a preclinical, prototype stage. Its CorneaClear technology is compatible with rabbit eyes, and now needs more testing to conduct a formal animal study. 'Storytelling is the biggest thing,' Zellander said. 'Investors want to know: How are they going to get their investment back?'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
KC teen allegedly lit Tesla cars on fire. Feds want to imprison him for ‘decades'
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@ Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter. On paper, Owen McIntire's summer looks like a lot of 19-year-old college students: living back home with his parents, working shifts at a sandwich shop, trying to stay out of trouble. Come August, though, McIntire is unlikely to return to the University of Massachusetts for his sophomore year. He is more likely headed to federal prison. McIntire has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him: malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. One charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. All told, McIntire faces up to 30 years. His offense? Torching two Tesla Cybertrucks in a south Kansas City parking lot. There were no casualties. Nobody was injured. No buildings were damaged. But McIntire's case was elevated to the Department of Justice's national security division, an arm typically focused on terrorism and espionage. A small, isolated act of vandalism on State Line Road elicited comment from the top four law enforcement officials in the United States: the attorney general, her deputy, the director of the FBI and the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 'Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in April, announcing McIntire's arrest. 'You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.' The intensity of the federal response reflected the aims of President Donald Trump, who in March said he considered acts of vandalism against Tesla to be 'terrorism.' Trump's comments were made at a time when Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, was a high-profile advisor to the administration at the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their relationship has frayed in recent weeks as the two men traded blows on X and Truth Social following Musk's departure from the White House. But their political alliance was strong when the Justice Department took up McIntire's case and a handful of other cases involving Tesla vehicles and vandalism. That has put McIntire in a position few defendants in local cases encounter: facing federal charges with severe penalties in a prosecution where the victim is — or, at least, was — a close associate of the president. The Department of Justice declined to comment. McIntire grew up in Parkville, the only child of two music educators. His father, David, a retired college professor and experimental composer, runs a small classical music label from home. His mother, Michelle, teaches voice and piano and directs community theater productions. The McIntires did not respond to requests for comment. As a kid, McIntire trained in ballet, participated in Scholar Bowl, and worked on robotics teams. At the time of his arrest, he was studying physics at the University of Massachusetts. He's tall and rail-thin (6 foot 1, 140 pounds) with long hair that falls halfway down his back. According to court filings, he has long managed a set of diagnoses that includes autism, ADHD and depression. McIntire was back in Kansas City on spring break the night of March 17. Musk had been in the news. His fervor for firing federal workers in the name of government efficiency had sparked protests across the country and already led to some vandalism directed at Tesla cars in other cities. One week earlier, Trump had stood next to Musk at the White House and declared that he would label violence against Tesla dealerships 'domestic terrorism.' According to prosecutors, McIntire drove his parents' Subaru from Parkville to a house a block away from the Tesla dealership near 103rd Street and State Line Road. He proceeded on foot to the dealership, wearing dark clothes and a light-colored brimmed hat with a black ribbon. He carried a bottle of Bragg's apple cider vinegar with gasoline and a rag stuffed inside — a Molotov cocktail. A little after 11 p.m., a Kansas City police officer noticed a small blaze in the parking lot of the dealership. The officer approached the scene and saw that the flames were coming from an empty Cybertruck. KCFD arrived soon after and extinguished the fire, which in the meantime had spread to a second Cybertruck. Two nearby charging stations were also damaged. The dealership had been closed for four hours, and no human beings were anywhere near the fire. The damages were later estimated to be around $215,000. The next day, officials with the ATF, the FBI, and the Kansas City Police Department descended on the dealership to begin an investigation. By the end of the week, they had linked the firebombing to McIntire through surveillance footage and witness testimonies. A month later, he was arrested in Boston. If the severity of the charges hadn't already made clear that prosecutors intended to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on McIntire's case, that became unmistakable when he made his initial court appearance in Boston. There, prosecutors took the unusual step of arguing that the 19-year-old should be detained ahead of trial, saying he posed a danger to the community due to the alleged use of a destructive device and was a flight risk. They also cited a federal law that presumes detention for terrorism-related offenses. McIntire's federal public defender argued successfully that strict home confinement with GPS monitoring at his parents' house in Parkville would sufficiently mitigate any risk. But back in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, where the court proceedings moved after McIntire returned home, the government appealed that judge's order. By then, McIntire had hired Dan Nelson and Patrick McInerney of the Kansas City law firm Spencer Fane as his defense attorneys. In their opposition to the government's motion, they pointed to a string of recent cases involving similar or even more serious allegations where federal defendants were allowed to go free on bond. There was James River Phillips, accused of purchasing large amounts of ammonium nitrate and planting an improvised explosive device in an Ohio sports complex parking lot; he walked out on a recognizance bond. In Colorado, a man charged in April with firebombing two Teslas using Molotov cocktails — nearly identical to McIntire's alleged offense — was released on $10,000 bail. In another case, a South Carolina defendant who attacked Tesla charging stations with five incendiary devices was also allowed to await trial at home. Even a former federal agent who leaked classified information to an ISIS target was granted bond, despite national security concerns and government objections. Nelson and McInerney, who declined comment to The Star, also pointed out in their filing that the government didn't arrest McIntire for a month after identifying him as the person who set the fire. 'The Government's investigative conduct itself — waiting 30 days to effect an arrest — demonstrates that they have no genuine fear of public danger or flight risk from McIntire,' they wrote. On May 29, Judge Stephen Bough sided with the defense. McIntire remains out on bond under stringent conditions. He has a location monitor and is allowed to leave his parents' house only to work at the sandwich shop or meet with a lawyer or doctor. His trial is set for Aug. 11. What if McIntire had set fire to a car not made by the man who gave $250 million to Trump's campaign? What if he instead torched a couple of Tahoes in the Chevrolet lot around the corner from the Tesla dealership? McIntire 'would likely be charged in state court, not charged federally as a purported terrorist,' his attorneys argued in May. Several Missouri defense attorneys interviewed by The Star agreed that similar acts of property destruction have typically been prosecuted in state court, where punishments tend to be less severe. Attorney Casey Symonds described the likely state charges as Class E felonies, each carrying up to four years in prison. 'Probation would be the floor, and the ceiling is eight years in prison,' he said, adding that because McIntire is a first-time offender, probation would be the most common outcome. Tony Miller, a former county legislator and assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, said that for a first-time offender with no criminal history, probation or a short jail term followed by probation would be the likely result. 'As a defense attorney, I'd be aiming for probation with no time served,' Miller said. 'As a prosecutor, if I were being zealous, maybe a 120-day callback. That's basically a shock time situation where they do 120 days in jail and undergo a treatment program, a substance abuse evaluation or life skills program. And then they are released on probation.' He added that restitution for the damaged vehicles would also be a priority. Greg Watt, a former Jackson County prosecutor who now does federal defense work, agreed, saying that in a typical arson case involving property damage but no injuries, 'at most he would have a 120-day callback with a restitution plan in place.' Roughly 2% of federal cases actually go to trial. The vast majority are resolved through plea agreements where defendants plead guilty to reduced charges and receive a lighter sentence. But federal crimes that carry mandatory minimums — such as the malicious destruction of property charges against McIntire — give prosecutors a great deal of leverage in plea negotiations. If McIntire pleads guilty to that charge, the judge has no choice but to sentence him to at least five years in prison. A plea deal in this case could involve the government dropping that charge if he pleads guilty to the other charge of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. In such a scenario, the judge would not be bound to issuing a minimum sentence. But that assumes the Trump administration's Department of Justice is willing to bargain. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche — the second-highest-ranking law enforcement officer in America — said in an April press release announcing McIntire's arrest that 'the people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate.'
Axios
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
The Ones List with Philly radio personality Tonya Pendleton
Tonya Pendleton's two-year reign as host of WURD Radio's "Reality Check" ended last week, but she won't be off the airwaves for long. Why it matters: Pendleton, WHYY's "Things to Do" curator and one of Philly's enduring journalists and broadcasters, is already cooking up her next adventure. We caught up with Pendleton in our latest edition of "The Ones List" series. The interview was condensed for clarity: What's one story you tell about why you got into radio? While interning in college at WILD Radio in Boston, the music director left and I took her spot at 22 years old. Radio made me happier than anything else. Who's one person you grew up admiring in media? Charlie Rose. It was just him, the person at a table, and no fancy backdrop. Your one can't-break rule in radio: Respect the audience. There's somebody who may have woken up that day just to hear your voice. What's one daily ritual you can't do without? Meditation. I'm a fan of Insight Timer. What's one podcast you can't do without? Steven Bartlett's "The Diary of a CEO." What's one habit you wish you could break? Procrastination. Your one favorite person in Philadelphia: Rapper Chill Moody. He put the "E" in entrepreneur. Who's one person you interviewed who you still think about? Prince. The paramount thing to know about him: He cared about his craft. What's one thing you're going to miss about "Reality Check" and WURD Radio? Connecting with an audience that cares about our community.
