March 8th, 2011 – 8:19pm
The Washington Examiner
By Emily Babay
When Kevin Ricks admitted last week that he took sexually explicit photographs and videos of boys in his care for more than three decades, U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride called the former Manassas teacher a “dangerous and serial predator who assaulted scores of young men.” The Ricks case is just one of dozens of child pornography cases in local courts. The number of such cases in the D.C. region has risen dramatically in the past decade.
That’s the result of both the rapid proliferation of online child pornography and a more vigorous effort to apprehend those who produce, distribute and view it.
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August 20th, 2010 – 4:36pm
The Washington Examiner
By Emily Babay
One year ago, Douglass Berg, of Reston, said goodbye to his son and daughter before they boarded a flight with his ex-wife on what was supposed to be a three-week visit to her native Japan. He has not seen the children since.
Stefanie Gardner, a native of Germany, traveled to that country with the two young sons she had been raising in Northern Virginia with her estranged husband, Gregory. Since then, she has refused to allow them to return. He accused her of kidnapping the boys, and a warrant for her arrest was issued in the United States. But a German court has awarded her sole custody.
For an increasing number of parents in the Washington area, child-bearing relationships with a foreign partner are deteriorating into charges of child abductions, and in many cases legal struggles in which the deck is stacked against Americans fighting the laws of another country.
Nationwide, the number of cases is rising dramatically. There were 1,135 international child abductions in fiscal 2009, according to State Department statistics. That’s nearly double the 642 cases reported in 2006.
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June 17th, 2010 – 5:52pm
The Washington Examiner
By Emily Babay
A convicted killer wanted for a parole violation. Two sex offenders who failed to register with authorities. A mugger on the run after violating probation.
Those are some of the “Most Wanted” fugitives that authorities took into custody over the past two years, thanks to readers of The Washington Examiner.
But of the 20 fugitives who were apprehended after having been profiled in The Examiner’s “Most Wanted” feature, nearly half are already out on the street. Six have been released, one is slated to be let go within weeks, and two others are out on bond awaiting trial.
The others are being held in various local, state and federal detention facilities.
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August 10th, 2009 – 6:19pm
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
Just minutes after Mission for All Nations opened the doors to its food pantry Tuesday night, dozens of people filled the waiting room, eager to stock up on cereal, fruits and vegetables. Cars were double-parked outside the faith-based charity near South 21st and Q Streets.
And that, executive director Mary Anaya said, was a slow night.
The previous week — at the end of the month, when paychecks, unemployment benefits and food stamps run low — more than 400 people received food.
As the economy continues to lag, area food programs are seeing big increases in the number of people seeking help, forcing food banks and pantries to spend more money and be more aggressive in seeking donations and volunteers.
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July 29th, 2009 – 9:28pm
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
Outside the livestock pavilion at the Sarpy County Fairgrounds, Payton Holling’s hand slipped from the red rope holding his sheep. The 7-year-old’s wheelchair veered to the side.
Priscilla, a 1½-year-old ewe wearing a hot pink feather boa, started to saunter away.
Morgan Cox, a two-year veteran of a local sheep club, reined both back in.
“Priscilla, we lost him!” the 16-year-old said good-naturedly as she handed the Suffolk-Hampshire cross sheep’s rope back to Payton, who has Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Payton is a member of the True Buddy sheep club, a new program that pairs special-needs children with local 4-H’ers who show sheep.
The club has met every other week since mid-June. This week, at the Sarpy County Fair, its members will show the sheep they have learned to walk and care for.
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July 23rd, 2009 – 9:35pm
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
It’s a daily routine for many teens and young adults: open the laptop, log on to Facebook, send messages to friends.
And learn about their grandfather’s knee replacement and view a former teacher’s vacation pictures?
More adults are using social-networking Web sites such as Facebook to communicate with friends and family, marking Facebook’s shift from a place where college students interact with their peers to one that attracts a more mainstream audience.
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June 28th, 2009 – 10:00pm
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
When Lyons, Neb., celebrates its 125th year this Independence Day, the recession isn’t going to get in the way.
The town of about 1,000 in Burt County is spending twice as much as usual on its fireworks display, said Denise Johnson, chairwoman of the Fourth of July committee.
About four years of fundraising efforts have gone into the fireworks show and a weekend-long bluegrass festival.
The town supported suppers, barbecues and dances to raise the funds, Johnson said. And this weekend, the streets will be filled with games, music and fireworks.
It’s a sharp contrast to cities large and small throughout the country, including Miami and Ridgefield Park, N.J., that have canceled Independence Day events because of the economy.
In Lyons, scaling back wasn’t an option.
“It’s our 125th. We really didn’t want to do that,” Johnson said.
In the Midlands, even communities not celebrating milestones aren’t cutting back on festivities. Fundraising has been a bit tougher, celebration planners say, but a less-severe economic downturn here and communities willing to support long-standing traditions are keeping celebrations alive.
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June 7th, 2009 – 11:45am
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
Drummer and vibraphonist Luigi Waites has played before live audiences thousands of times in his decades-long career.
In 2005, the Omaha arts community celebrated his 1,500th jazz performance at Mr. Toad’s in the Old Market with a party at the bar. Waites, then in his late 70s, was lauded for his energy and longevity.
“For an old man, he’s got a lot of spunk,” Doyle Tipler, a trumpeter in his band, said at the time.
Now, the spunk of Waites’ live shows — heard by generations of Omahans — will make its way to a CD. He has performed weekly at Mr. Toad’s since the mid-1970s.
The album will be the first recorded live for Waites, now 81, and his band, Luigi Inc.
And Waites expects it to be his last recording.
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July 29th, 2008 – 10:24pm
Erie Times-News
By Emily Babay
For couples like Kirsten Rispin and her girlfriend, the path to marriage is filled with legal and logistical obstacles.
The Erie women might take advantage of the California Supreme Court ruling in May that made same-sex marriage legal.
Some couples in the Erie region are contemplating cross-country trips. Others question the value of doing so.
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July 17th, 2008 – 10:33pm
Erie Times-News
By Emily Babay
Erie Hotline is going out of business at the end of this month.
The crisis and support help line will end operations on July 31 at 8 a.m., according to a letter sent in June to hot-line volunteers by Kathy Pistorio, Erie Hotline president, and Dick DeLuca, the director of operations. The Erie Times-News reviewed a copy of the letter this week.
The hot line cut its hours July 1. The 37-year-old hot line now operates weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. and round-the-clock on weekends. It had been available round-the-clock seven days a week.
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