Latest news with #WakeUp
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Meet the young Kerry actor learning his trade on Fair City playing the son of a famous character
Kerryman When I last spoke to Listowel actor Tom Gould in October of 2023, the then-19-year-old actor had just attended the world premiere of the feature film in which he played one of the lead roles and was enjoying what he described as a 'pinch me' moment in his burgeoning career. Fast forward almost two years and I find myself again once more chatting to Tom, this time not just about that same feature film – titled Wake Up – which is now out and available to watch almost everywhere worldwide (it has yet to be released in Ireland or the UK) but also about his current recurring role on the Irish institution that is Fair City.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fake Adderall joins vapes as growing danger for high schoolers. These teens are fighting back
While cramming for finals, one Western Massachusetts teenager offered her classmate Adderall — a pill she got from a mutual connection on social media. She said she trusted him. 'This really helps,' the teen told her friend. 'Trust me.' But the pill wasn't Adderall. It was a fake pill laced with fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. And she was later found unconscious. Luckily, the scenario was a video created by Hampden District Attorney Youth Advisory Board. It's called "You Can't Study if you Don't Wake Up." But it's a real issue facing teens — and adults — today. In 2021, 19-year-old Clifton Dubois died of an overdose in Rhode Island, NPR reported. He had bought counterfeit Adderall the night before, according to the police report. It was laced with fentanyl. 'He thought by staying away from the street drugs … and just taking pills, like, he was doing better,'' Jennifer Dubois, his mother, told NPR. 'I do truly believe Cliff thought he was taking something safe.' Two Ohio State University students died after taking counterfeit Adderall in 2022, The New York Times reported. And two men in Massachusetts were charged after officials said they used a pill press to manufacture counterfeit pills, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and counterfeit Xanax pills containing clonazolam. Read more: 'They give me a lot of hope': High schoolers honored as 'valuable resource' for DA In 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2024 seizures are equivalent to more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl. The 2025 fentanyl seizures represent over 119 million deadly doses. The DEA considers 2 mg of fentanyl a potentially deadly dose. 'There's so much happening for our young people and around our young people that I think is different than it was even 10 years ago, and 20 and 30 years ago, when we grew up as parents or community leaders,' said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. 'Counterfeit pills and the use of things like Adderall, the misuse, are huge problems that really can be catastrophic.' But teens are working with Gulluni and his office to make a difference in Western Massachusetts. Over the past school year, 55 students from 24 schools were part of this year's Youth Advisory Board. The students, grades 10-12, were split up into seven teams for different topics, including substance use, social media, mental health and healthy relationships. The students create projects on their topics, including cook books, murals and videos. The students presented their projects at an annual conference on Thursday and provided their recommendations to representatives from school, law enforcement and community groups. 'For us to know about [issues teens are facing], impart it, not only here today, but throughout the year to school systems, to school administrators, to teachers, to police officers so they can address it as well in their communities, is enormously helpful,' Gulluni told MassLive after the conference on Thursday. And while they're heavy topics, Adderall use and vaping are something the students are seeing daily at their schools, multiple students told MassLive. " Every year, honestly, more substances are being used,' said Jaelle Dyer, 17, a senior at Springfield Central High School. 'Stuff that may not have been common before are becoming more common. [Percocet], Adderall, that's all stuff that people are now using." The No. 1 place students are seeing their peers use substances, such as vaping, are at school — classrooms, bathrooms and hallways, Joi-Lee Key-Washington, 17, a senior at Springfield Central High School, told audience members Thursday. This came from polling 191 of her peers. The second was social media and the third was at parties. 'That's what our youth are being exposed to every single day,' she told the crowd. Another student, Rachel Roblinski from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, echoed her concerns. 'Every day. Every single day I'm at school, I see something,' she told MassLive. 'See someone with a vape, see somebody buying one.' And her peers are frustrated because it is affecting their learning environment. Nearly half of the students Key-Washington spoke with said schools aren't doing enough to educate students on peer pressure and substance use. 'That tells us something is missing,' she told the crowd. She told the crowd this issue 'demands our attention, action and understanding.' The group also created a nearly 40-page document to help parents understand some of these issues with substance abuse. 'I think parents don't know where [vapes] are hidden, how they are used, how they smell, and in what forms they are in because they are in various forms,' Key-Washington told MassLive. 'So, in our guide we broke down how they look, how they work, where people hide them, just to create awareness and education and emphasize support and education.' The students worry the adults in their lives and community leaders have no idea how serious things have become. 'I don't think we know drastically how bad it's gotten. I don't think we realize that when people are taking substances, how fast it can affect somebody's mind and how much substances that people are starting to take,' Roblinski said. When schools try to address the issue, the teens said the response is often punishment — not support. But that approach isn't working. " They just get them in trouble, suspend them and bring them back,' Key-Washington said. 'They don't educate them on what they are actually experiencing, what they're actually doing and what they're actually hooked and helpless on." Instead, the schools need to focus on better education, she suggested. 'Especially going more into detail on why it's bad,' Dyer said. 'They just say it's looked down upon, but it's not emphasized why. And I feel like that's why so many students are using it because they don't really know the stuff that happens to you when you are using the products.' And all the teens in the program want to continue to be part of the solution — and a source of support. There are people, like Dyer and Key-Washington, that care and can help. 'You don't have to run to substances to feel the need to relieve any pain, anything that you have going on,' Dyer said. For all the projects, click here. WHS Drama Club presents 'All Shook Up' on May 8 and 9, featuring the songs of Elvis Presley Over 100 show up for May Day protest in Westfield Free boating safety class being offered next week in Southwick WHS Career Services counselor one of two recognized for state service award MGM CEO talks about 'ongoing discussions' on Springfield casino Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'It's something special': WNY will see a total lunar eclipse early Friday morning
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Lunar eclipses are a natural phenomenon that happen once or twice a year, but once in a blue moon (figuratively speaking) you might see a total lunar eclipse. 'It's something special, it's reminding us that we're part of this dance that the Earth, Moon and Sun make to cause the shadows to line up,' said Dr. Kevin Williams, director of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State. 'Being able to view these with our eyes instead of just seeing pictures of them makes that connection between use and the universe. Total lunar eclipse 2025: What to expect on 3/14 Unlike last year's total solar eclipse, you won't need any instruments to view this total lunar eclipse, other than maybe an alarm clock. 'Around 1:10 in the morning, that's when the moon will pass into the main part of Earth's shadow, and that's when you'll start to really see the moon start to get darker, between 2:30 and 3:30 that's when the moon will be entirely in the Earth's main shadow, so that's pretty much the best time to watch it,' said Dr. Williams. 'As we look at the moon we're actually seeing sunlight reflecting off the moon, as apposed to looking directly at the sun like we were last year.' Dr. Williams is the director of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State University, and gave a preview of the Total Lunar Eclipse on Wake Up. At the planetarium, they hold a variety of programs and events for people of all ages to learn more about astronomy and see that the night sky really looks like without light pollution. 'Once we get away from that light pollution, we can see several thousand stars, you can see the Milkyway and again it just reminds us that this is what the night sky looks like if we could get rid of the light pollution,' said Dr. Williams. For more information on the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, visit their website here. To attend one of their events, click here. Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Khaleej Times
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Winners of the Sixth TRT World Citizen Awards announced
The winners of the sixth edition of the prestigious TRT World Citizen Awards, launched in 2017 under the banner of 'Inspiring Positive Change,' were announced at a grand ceremony held in Istanbul. This annual event celebrates individuals who have made remarkable contributions to their communities, amplifying their inspiring stories on a global stage. Since its inception, the TRT World Citizen Awards have recognised 25 extraordinary individuals from 15 countries, highlighting their selfless efforts and impactful initiatives. This year's ceremony, hosted by TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, was graced by Fahrettin Altun, Turkey's Presidency's head of communications, along with TRT executives, politicians, NGO leaders, and distinguished guests from culture, arts, media, and academia. Adding a musical touch to the evening, Palestinian singer Ilnur performed his moving compositions, 'Wake Up' and 'Keep Your Key,' dedicated to Palestine. Delivering an impassioned speech, Altun emphasised the core mission of the TRT World Citizen initiative: to institutionalise goodness in an era where negativity often dominates. This programme is a testament to how one human's inspiration and courage can spark change in another," Altun remarked. "By sharing the stories of real-life heroes, we provide a platform for their invaluable contributions to society. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have made this initiative a reality. It is essential that we sustain this mission, passing on the ideal of goodness to future generations. This program stands as a beacon of hope in addressing humanity's challenges." In his keynote address, Sobacı highlighted TRT's unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of those championing justice and truth. "The TRT World Citizen Awards shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes whose sacrifices often go unnoticed. Their stories of resilience and compassion inspire hope and pave the way for a brighter future,' Sobacı stated. "As Türkiye's public broadcaster, TRT leverages its extensive global network to bring these impactful narratives to the forefront, championing goodness and justice worldwide." Sobacı added, "Through 17 television channels, 17 radio channels, digital platforms, and international events, TRT serves as a voice for the marginalized, ensuring their stories reach audiences around the globe. We are proud to represent humanity's collective pursuit of goodness in all that we do." The ceremony celebrated remarkable individuals across various categories. In the "Communicator" category, Azima Dhanjee and Arhum Ishtiaq were recognised for their exceptional contributions. Rana Dajani received the award in the "Educator" category, while Hélène Ba was celebrated in the "Youth" category. The coveted Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Steve Sosebee, founder of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF). His unparalleled efforts have saved the lives of thousands of children in war and conflict zones. The prestigious World Citizen of the Year Award was posthumously awarded to Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, who tragically lost her life during a protest in Nablus on September 6, 2024. The award was accepted by her father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, on her behalf. Additionally, a special honor—the TRT Special Award—was presented to Dr. Amani Ballour for her extraordinary leadership in managing a hospital during the Syrian war, embodying courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
