Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon was appointed to serve as a policy leader in Florida Association of Counties' Health, Safety & Justice and Agriculture & Rural Affairs policy committees.
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LuLu's founder Lucy Buffett announced Johnny Fisher as the new President and COO of her restaurant group, citing his impressive background and previous experience with the company.
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A TEENAGE drunk driver has been jailed for eight years after she ignored her friend’s desperate pleas to slow down and killed her in a horror crash.
Yasmin Martin, who was 17 at the time, got behind the wheel of a hired Vauxhall Astra after a Friday night out at six pubs with pals in Sunderland in December 2022.
She was almost twice the drink-drive limit and driving at up to 80mph on a 30mph road when she crashed, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Her “closest friend” and backseat passenger Mia Marsh, who was just 17, died in the vehicle from a head injury when Martin lost control and hit a crash barrier.
One witness said Martin, who was four days away from her 18th birthday, had been driving “like she didn’t care, like she was invincible” before she lost control and would increase her speed and become “angry” when being asked to slow down.
Martin initially lied to police that someone spiked her drink but CCTV footage proved her claim false.
The now 19-year-old mum, of Aldwych Road, Sunderland, who has never been in trouble before, later admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, Mia’s heartbroken mum Danielle McQuade said in an impact statement that she is now “stuck in a nightmare I cannot wake up from” and added: “No matter how hard I scream or how hard I cry in bed, I cannot wake up from it.
“The pain we are going through it unimaginable. I have to see her friends having families, going on holidays and enjoying life, something she won’t get a chance to do.
“We miss her in an unbelievable way, our hearts are forever broken.”
Ms McQuade added: “Yasmin has been lucky enough to have her 18th birthday, living her life as if she’s done nothing wrong, enjoying holidays and posting about life on social media.
“This has shocked me and been really upsetting while Mia has been robbed of any future to enjoy special birthdays or a career and have a family of her own.
“Mia loved life and was full of life.”
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court Martin had no experience of driving the Astra vehicle until that evening and was not insured to drive it, when she and her friends, including Mia, visited six licenced premises.
Mr Wardlaw said: “The group all drank pints of Strongbow dark fruits cider, Jager bombs and Vodka Red Bull.”
The court heard when the group reached the last bar Martin saw an ex partner, which made her “irate”.
She then told a worker she had a car parked nearby and he responded by saying he hoped she was not driving it.
The court heard Martin was served with a vodka and Red Bull when she said she was not driving.
Mia initially began driving the car home at 1am after the bar manager stopped Martin from getting behind the wheel due to her drunken state.
But after they stopped for petrol and Martin became “fussy” about someone else driving, she took over.
Mr Wardlaw said the passengers described Martin’s driving as “too fast” and one of them told the others to get their seatbelts on as a result.
He added: “One confirmed she heard the others shouting, telling her to slow down. However, she ignored their requests and increased the speed.”
The court heard Martin appeared to become “more angry” when she was told to slow before losing control of the car.
Judge Christopher Prince disqualified her from driving for 124 months and said she must pass an extended test before she can be behind the wheel again.
Judge Prince said the passengers knew Martin had been drinking but added: “They didn’t know you were going to drive in the manner that you did.
“They got into that car expecting you would take care of them.”
Judge Prince added: “There is nothing this court can say and no sentence a court can impose that can, even to the smallest extent and is not intended to, reflect the terrible and appalling loss of life occasioned by your offending.
“Mia Marsh was a 17-year-old teenager, her whole life ahead of her.”
Judge Prince said Martin was immature at the time, has never been in trouble before and had a difficult childhood.
Matthew Bean, defending, said Martin, who no longer drinks, accepts full responsibility for what happened and added: “Mia Marsh was at the time her closest friend and she will have to live with the fact she caused her death.
Mr Bean said Martin “wishes that she could turn back the clock”.
A PILOT was forced to emergency land after passengers on a Boeing jet started bleeding from their ears and mouths.
The Delta Air Lines Flight 1203 spun into chaos when the Boeing 737-900 aircraft dramatically dipped, according to passengers.
The aircraft was flying from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland, Oregon, before the pilot was forced to turn around mid air after a sudden issue occurred.
Passenger on the flight Caryn Allen said it didn’t take long before fellow passengers noticed something was wrong – which later was confirmed to be pressurisation.
She told KSL-TV: “I looked over at my husband, and he had both of his hands over his ears, you know, kind of leaning forward.
“I looked about a row behind me, over on the other side of the aisle, and there was a gentleman that clearly had a very bad bloody nose, and people were trying to help him.”
Another passenger Jaci Purser said the horrific sensation from the pressure felt like someone was stabbing her in the ear.
She told of how her ear popped from the pressure in the cabin – then bubbled.
Jaci said: “I grabbed my ear, and I pulled my hand back, and there was blood on it.”
Delta Airlines told The Sun that the aircraft was unable to pressurise above 10,000 and that oxygen masks didn’t deploy.
They also said that medical personnel met the flight at the gate and identified 10 people as needing evaluation or treatment.
The Boeing aircraft had 140 passengers onboard but no serious injuries were reported.
It has not been made clear what caused the pressurisation issue but Delta technicians were reportedly able to fix it.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate.
A Delta Airlines spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience on flight 1203 on Sept. 15.
“The flight crew followed procedures to return to SLC where our teams on the ground supported our customers with their immediate needs.”
It comes a month after Boeing was forced to ground its whole fleet of 777X test planes after cracks were found in the structure.
Workers reportedly found a concerning fracture on three out of four of the aircraft which had caused damage to a crucial engine component.
The initial test plane to be inspected was found to have a crack in it after it landed in Hawaii with an impaired structure over the weekend.
Two more planes were then checked once they touched down and found to have cracks in the crucial part of the assembly as well.
According to two sources close to Boeing, the issue led to the engine’s “thrust link” onboard being severed.
Thrust links are responsible for transferring the huge thrust of an engine to the structure of the jet through a titanium link sat beneath the wings.
A statement from Boeing to news outlet The Air Current said: “During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed.
“Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready.
“We are keeping the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) fully informed on the issue and have shared information with our customers.”
Boeing has previously labelled the 777X as one of their most state-of-the-art aircraft after years of development.
BOEING has faced scrutiny in 2024 after a series of concerning malfunctions.
Here’s a list of some of the biggest incidents regarding the aircraft maker:
HOUSEHOLDS have just days left to claim cost of living vouchers and free goods worth up to £400.
The latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF) is due to close on September 30, so if you’re eligible for help you need to apply now.
The HSF provides financial help to struggling households, and has been extended several times since it was first introduced by the Government in 2021.
The latest round saw £421million given to councils to distribute to those most in need in their area.
The amount applicants can receive is usually based on their financial circumstances and what benefits they receive.
Support can be paid out as a cash transfer, shopping vouchers or help with energy bills.
The current round of funding is due to end on September 30, but applications are still being accepted by some local authorities.
East Devon District Council is offering a one-off payment of £100 to households receiving a full Housing Benefit or full Council Tax reduction, with less than £3,000 in capital if someone living in the household is disabled or a carer.
The cash is also available to care leavers in receipt of Council Tax relief or other benefits.
Shropshire Council provides a one-off payment of £400 to households in receipt of Council Tax support with a dependant child, to help with household costs.
The application window for a direct payment has closed but those who have missed August’s payment run can still apply to have the funds added to their Council Tax account.
Coventry City Council has confirmed its scheme will be open until September 30 and applications can be made on the council’s website.
The council is offering support with food and energy costs as well as essential household items, toiletries, heating and lighting repairs as well as emergency expenses.
Medway Council in Kent is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.
Some could also qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100.
Meanwhile, those living in Canterbury have just hours left to make a claim, with applications set to close tomorrow (20 September).
There are three different areas of support households can get – but you can only apply for one from the list:
Many councils have warned that funds many close early if all the cash is allocated, and some have already stopped accepting new applicants.
But it’s worth checking with your local council and if schemes are still open, it’s best to apply sooner rather than later.
Earlier this month it was announced that funding would be extended for the sixth time.
The news means that thousands more will be able to access support when schemes reopen in October, with the new round of funding in place until April 2025.
Blackpool Council has already announced it’s support scheme will be extended until April 2025.
Households struggling with living costs could be able to access a £200 payment if there are one or two people living in their property, or £300 if three or more are resident.
To be eligible applicants will need to be over the age of 16, experiencing financial hardship and responsible for paying energy bills.
Every council will receive funding from the HSF in the next round of support so if you’re worried about making ends meet, keep checking your local council’s website for further details.
Schemes have also seen white goods and other support offered.
For example, Rutland Council offered residents free white goods, including air fryers, as well as food vouchers in the last round of funding.
To find your local council, use the Government’s council locator tool.
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first set up in October 2021 and has now been extended six times.
Councils in England are now able to benefit from the latest round of funding which amounts to £421million.
Nationwide councils have received a portion of the cash to distribute to households in need.
But there is a postcode lottery to determine who qualifies and each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.
Yet if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, or are deemed to be vulnerable or on benefits, you will probably qualify for help.
The HSF’s fifth round of funding will close on September 30, but the government has extended the scheme until April 2025 with the injection of a further £421million.
Applications may still be being accepted for the fifth round of funding, so it’s still worth checking with your local authority.
Applications to access the next round of funding will open in October.
Councils will determine how the cash is distributed. For example, households in Leicestershire have been able to apply for a financial award of £300 per household, which was paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food.
The payment could be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.
Meanwhile, residents of Leeds could receive council tax support with those with dependent children able to claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25.
You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
The help you can get varies, depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
You may be able to receive free cash or vouchers to cover the cost of heating your home, or the weekly food grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
Additionally, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
To get the help, you’ll need to look it up with your council because local authorities are the ones responsible for distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve identified your local council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding online.
Every council has a separate application process, meaning specific details regarding how to apply depend on whereabouts you live.
The eligibility requirements to access the fund might vary in addition so it’s best to check with your local council for further details.
Some councils won’t need you to apply for help and will get in touch instead if you qualify.
If you can’t find any information on your council’s website, it’ s a good idea to call them and ask for further information.
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
A FURIOUS mum has called out vile trolls who branded her little girls’ school uniforms as “inappropriate”.
Amyleigh Cavanagh, from Ayrshire, had proudly shared snaps of daughters Alea-Jay, 11 and Aria, aged eight, ready for their first day back after the summer holidays.
The two youngsters were dressed head to toe in the school-regulated uniform of blazer, school shirt, skirt, tights and school shoes.
Amyleigh said: “Everybody wears it to school, and I mean everyone, the full school. It is regulated by the school. It is not inappropriate in any way.”
So she was stunned when her sweet milestone post was hijacked by cruel haters who picked fault with her kids’ outfits.
One sick comment, shared by Amyleigh, read: “People like you who teach their young daughters to dress inappropriately disgust me.
“You’re out here in people’s inbox when you’re sexualising your young daughter.
“Now get back to being the superficial materialistic Barbie doll you are and teach your daughters there’s more to life than looking older than they are. Keep them young.”
Hitting back at the troll, disgusted Amyleigh fumed: “The fact that she’s used that word makes me more concerned about her looking at a picture of a child and seeing that.
“If you can look at any picture of a child and then use the word ‘sexualise’, you need help.
“Disgusting, horrible, nasty, nasty people. My mind is blown by this. It’s just horrible that people think that they can say these things to people and about children.”
She added: “I empower my kids every single day. I was one of the ones that was hesitant about the whole skincare phase and things like that. I’m like, no, they’re too young.
“It’s just crazy that people think that they can just say these things. It’s mind blowing.”
Sadly, Amyleigh – better known to her army of followers as @girl_mum – revealed she wasn’t able to guard her eldest daughter from the horrible comments.
“AJ has Instagram and saw some of these”, she explained.
“And that is what got me so riled up. I’m like, you can come for me, but not my kids. No way, this is not affecting them. No chance.
“When you’re commenting on pictures and videos with regards to my children, what they’re doing and what they’re wearing, who do you think you are?
“Who does anybody think they are to say something horrible and negative about somebody else’s children?
“I’m not the perfect parent by any means, but everything I do is for them. My world revolves around my kids.”
She added: “You get some horrible people but coming for kids is a whole different ball game
“This is your reminder to be kind. The internet is a festerous place. Be the people on the internet that are kind, that are nice, that are leaving positive comments, that are empowering people, building people up, especially as a woman.
“Social media gives people the false pretense that they think they can say anything to anyone and get away with it.
“That they’ve got this false sense of security that because they’re behind a phone or a computer screen that they’re allowed to say something to anyone.”
The mum of two has since been inundated with support from other mums and social media users who have defended her parenting.
One blasted: “It says more about how they are viewing a picture than the actual picture!! Absolutely vile!!”
A second wrote: “There is clearly something wrong with parents that feel the need to comment on other people’s children with cruel comments.Don’t let them get to you.”
A third added: “That just screams insecurity and jealousy to me. You are probably the nicest, most kind-hearted person I’ve come across!”
“Some horrible people out there hope you’re all ok”, chimed in a fourth.
A fifth said: “I hate haters just tell the girls to keep their heads up high.”
Meanwhile, a sixth commented: “People have honestly nothing better to do but feeling the need to slate kids just says it all about them.
