Latest news with #WNDU
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Bend trailer park residents face a chilling choice — remove their window A/C units or risk eviction
If you've ever sweated through a Midwestern summer without decent cooling, you know it's more than just uncomfortable — it can be downright dangerous. For folks at Countryside Village trailer park in South Bend, Indiana, this summer's heat comes with an added challenge: remove your window A/C units or risk losing your home. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it "They won't tell you why they want us to take them out," one resident shared with WNDU. "We've got elderly people that live in here, sick people that live in here, and they could die." The situation has residents worried, with Indiana lawmakers scrambling to find legal remedies for those facing the potentially dangerous summer heat. Since September, 2024, Countryside Village's management has been crystal clear. "If you have window A/C units, you must remove them,' management stated in a letter sent to residents, according to WNDU. 'After three violations, evictions can and will be filed." What makes this situation particularly tricky is that while many residents actually own their trailers, they pay lot rent fees to YES Communities, which owns Countryside Village as well as hundreds of other trailer parks throughout the country. YES Communities's guidelines, which all residents must sign with their lease, explicitly state that window A/C units are not permitted. With South Bend summer highs historically averaging 83°F in the month of July, residents could now face potentially hazardous indoor temperatures. 'With my medical issues, no it is not safe,' said another Countryside Village resident. 'I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and my doctor physically wrote me a doctor's note that I have to have an A/C unit in my trailer.' **Read more: No millions? No problem. With as little as $10, here's how you can access this $1B private real estate fund of diversified assets usually only available to major players Stephen Dempsey, who lives in Countryside Village, is one of the fortunate residents with central air, but he worries about his neighbors who aren't as lucky. "I think they're putting a lot of pressure on people unfairly, especially a lot of the longtime residents who are on fixed incomes,' said Dempsey. 'They can't afford to just go buy a whole brand-new air conditioner unit." And he's not wrong — portable air conditioners (which are the most likely alternative to window A/C units) typically cost between $300 and $700 at major retailers like Home Depot and Lowes, with additional costs for proper venting and installation. For those on Social Security or receiving disability benefits, that's no small expense. Dempsey also knows the dangers that a lack of air conditioning can have on elderly and infirm residents. "Especially for an older resident, anybody with any kind of health issues. It can be dangerous," said Dempsey. And he's not exaggerating. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heat-related illnesses cause more than 700 deaths annually in the United States, with elderly people and those with chronic health conditions at the highest risk. YES Communities has not issued a statement on the situation at Countryside Village, despite WNDU's multiple attempts to learn why it just started enforcing this long-standing ban. However, the situation at Countryside Village has stirred local politicians to step up for the trailer park residents. State Senator David Niezgodski has formally requested Attorney General Todd Rokita to investigate, calling the situation "not just a housing issue; it's a public health emergency," according to the Indiana Senate Democrats website. If you're facing something similar to the situation in Countryside Village, there are several steps you can take before removing A/C units that could be essential for your health and wellbeing: Check your lease for the exact policy details on window A/C units. Get medical documentation if heat affects your health and window A/C units are not permitted. Request accommodation in writing with management for health conditions that require A/C in your home. Contact local legal aid for assistance if management isn't cooperative. Contact your local news outlet in the hopes of drawing attention to your situation, as the residents of Countryside Village had done. Report potential violations to your state attorney general. The Fair Housing Act protects individuals with disabilities, and extreme heat sensitivity related to certain medical conditions may qualify for reasonable accommodations. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Berrien County GOP event featuring pardoned Jan. 6 rioters creates division within community
Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley attends a right-wing rally at the state Capitol, Feb. 8, 2022 | Laina G. Stebbins A fundraiser set to be held Friday night by the Berrien County GOP has drawn criticism for hosting Jan. 6 rioters in a local American Legion hall. The fundraiser, 'Battlefield Michigan: Untold Stories from Michigan Freedom Fighters,' will be held at American Legion Post 568 in Stevensville and will feature two men charged, and since pardoned by President Donald Trump, for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol – including former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley. It will also host William and Michael Null, who were acquitted of plotting to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. A flyer for the event calls the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol a 'mostly peaceful protest about a stolen election.' A bipartisan U.S. Senate report found that at least seven people died in connection with the riot, including three law enforcement officers. After the event was announced, criticism came from within the veterans community itself about hosting such a divisive event. Marty Goldrick, a veteran and former member of the American Legion, told WNDU he was opposed to the openly partisan nature of the fundraiser. 'First of all, they bring these people in, but then they divide the American Legion, veterans, forcing them because there's Democrats and Republicans, Independents in any organization, but this thing here is a wedge. To glorify these people is unacceptable,' Goldrick told the station. Once the criticism mounted, the Herald-Palladium reported that the American Legion attempted to cancel the event, and issued a statement saying officials had not been told about the nature of the fundraiser at the time it was booked. 'Upon learning the nature of the event, from an outside source, the post attempted to cancel the event but was unable to do so because of contractual obligations and the dollar amount requested by the Berrien County GOP to allow the post out of the contract. The American Legion is a non-partisan organization and has no position on the subject matter being presented at the fundraiser and is not a part of the fundraiser,' the statement said. The county party, in a statement posted to Facebook, said there was an 'effort underway on social media to sabotage our event and disparage the Berrien County GOP,' and that canceling the event would constitute a breach of the contract they had both signed. 'We simply want to give Ryan Kelley and our other guests an opportunity to share their experience and perspective because they deserve the opportunity to tell their story and set the record straight. The public deserves an opportunity to hear their stories,' said the statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
After buggy crash that killed 3 kids: No Indiana minimum age for driving horse carts.
BREMEN — A Marshall County crash on April 9 killed three Amish children in a horse-drawn cart, ages 9, 10 and 13. But the state of Indiana doesn't have a minimum age for operating buggies, wagons and carts, The Tribune's newsgathering partner, WNDU-TV, reported. The three children who died in the crash were all siblings, identified as Glenda Jo Yoder, 13, Darrell Yoder, 10, and Devon Yoder, 9. A car driven by a 17-year-old ran into the back of their cart at 8 a.m. near Fir Road and 4th Road just south of Bremen, WNDU reported. Attorney Dan Armstrong of the firm Keller and Keller spoke with WNDU about the concerns of trying to restrict such carts. 'One of the difficulties of course is not infringing on the way of life of a segment of the population that we have, so trying to make that balance between making the roads safer, but at the same time accommodating people who live a certain way and have certain beliefs,' Armstrong told WNDU. 'It's a tricky thing, I think.' Armstrong told WNDU that he doesn't represent anyone involved in the crash but he has experience in similar crashes. As for safety equipment, he said most of the horse-drawn vehicles don't have seat belts, though they must have lighting features that make them visible at night. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Horse cart crash killed 3 kids; Indiana lacks minimum age to drive one
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
3 Amish Siblings Die After Their Buggy Collides with an SUV, Throwing the Children from the Carriage
Three Amish siblings reportedly died when a buggy they were riding on collided with an SUV in Indiana. The Marshall County Coroner's Office identified the victims as Glenda Jo Yoder, 13, Darrell Yoder, 10, and Devon Yoder, 9, according to CW affiliate WISH, NBC affiliate WNDU and CBS affiliate WSBT. The incident occurred south of Bremen along Fir Road and 4th Road, WISH reported. The Yoders were heading to school on the morning of Wednesday, April 9, when a Mercedes GLA hit the back of their buggy, throwing the kids out, the outlet further noted. Related: Amish Woman, 23, Shunned By Her Family After Leaving Community: Inside the Restrictive Lifestyle She Escaped (Exclusive) Emergency responders, including a medical helicopter and an accident reconstructionist, arrived, WSBT reported. The children were pronounced dead at the scene. The Mercedes driver was uninjured, WIBC reported. In an interview with WSBT, Katie, a resident, recalled witnessing police lights 'and saw it looked like an accident and in the back of my head I kind of knew that I hadn't seen the Amish kids come down the road yet and go down the road onto to the school.' She also told the outlet she had seen many incidents between buggies and cars. 'So, you know you'll be going the opposite direction,' Katie said, 'and you'll see a horse spook at something and almost jump into your lane. It happens a lot and driving around them enough, you can see how easily it can happen.' Related: Ex-Amish Woman, 21, Details Escape with $24, a Partial Education and No Birth Certificate (Exclusive) According to the nonprofit organization Amish Heritage Foundation, per tradition, Amish individuals are not allowed to operate cars but can drive using horse-drawn buggies. In some communities, however, Amish people can own a vehicle for business purposes. There is no current minimum age to operate a horse-drawn vehicle in Indiana, WNDU reported. According to the Indiana-based law firm Keller and Keller, there were 20 incidents in 2015 involving horse-drawn vehicles in Elkhart County, which has an Amish population. The vehicles, the firm said, don't contain seat belts or airbags to maintain occupant safety. 'One of the difficulties of course is not infringing on the way of life of a segment of the population that we have,' Keller and Keller attorney Dan Armstrong, who does not represent anyone involved in Wednesday's incident, told WNDU, 'so trying to make that balance between making the roads safer, but at the same time accommodating people who live a certain way and have certain beliefs. It's a tricky thing, I think.' The Marshall County Sheriff's Office did not provide further comment to PEOPLE as the investigation is ongoing. PEOPLE also contacted the Bremen Police Department and the Marshall County Coroner's Office for additional information on Friday, April 11, but they did not immediately respond. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
2 people killed, 2 cops wounded in shooting at Indiana supermarket, suspect dead
Two people were killed and two police officers wounded in a shooting at an Indiana supermarket on Monday evening, authorities said. The shooter was killed in a firefight with cops outside the store in Elkhart, the local police department wrote in a Facebook post. Neither the shooter nor the victims have been publicly identified. One of the injured officers remained in the hospital in fair, stable condition on Monday night, while the other had already been treated and released, Elkhart police said. 'In this horrific situation, words cannot express the pain felt in our community when a tragic incident like this happens,' Elkhart Police Chief Dan Milanese said in a statement. 'This pain is especially felt by the victim's families, the responding officers, the families of the wounded officers and all the witnesses to this tragic incident.' The attacker walked into Martin's Supermarket in Elkhart around 5:30 p.m. Monday and opened fire, cops said. After killing two people inside the store, the shooter walked outside and was 'engaged' by police at the scene. Two officers were wounded in the ensuing shootout, and the attacker was killed. 'I was just down on the ground, just frozen,' expecting mother Erin Swary told local NBC affiliate WNDU. 'Obviously I didn't want to run when there were still gunshots going, but all I could think while I was down there was of my kids.' Any motive for the shooting remained unclear Tuesday. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit is leading the investigation.
