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Unami

UN Report Urges Iraq to Enhance Domestic Violence Protections, Highlights Legal Gaps

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly released a pivotal report underlining the urgent need for Iraq to bolster its domestic violence protections. This comprehensive analysis draws from a sweeping review of 100 domestic violence court cases across Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Mosul, alongside observations of trial hearings, examinations of court judgments, and extensive stakeholder interviews.

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Current Measures and Persistent Challenges

Iraq has taken significant steps towards addressing domestic violence, including the adoption of national strategies and the establishment of specialized directorates and courtroom positions. Despite these advancements, the report stresses that domestic violence continues to act as a discriminating force, severely limiting women’s rights and freedoms. A critical issue highlighted is the social stigma and various barriers that deter survivors from reporting incidents, compounded by the ineffectiveness of investigations leading to a concerning absence of justice, remedy, or protection for survivors. Additionally, the lack of a comprehensive legal framework on domestic violence in line with international standards is pinpointed as a major hurdle in effectively combating this issue.

Recommendations for a Holistic Approach

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The UNAMI/OHCHR report sets forth a series of urgent recommendations aimed at enhancing the judicial process related to domestic violence cases. It calls for the Iraqi government to adopt a comprehensive, survivor-centered approach that includes legislative reforms, specialized training for law enforcement and judicial personnel, improved support services for survivors, and heightened public awareness campaigns. These measures are deemed essential for ensuring effective reporting, protection, and accountability in cases of domestic violence, aligning with international human rights standards.

Future Collaborations and Expectations

In a move towards constructive collaboration, UNAMI/OHCHR express their readiness to work closely with the Iraqi Government in implementing these recommended measures. The goal is…

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Nanticoke

Nanticoke Man Slapped with 78-Month Sentence for Major Fentanyl Operation

SCRANTON, PA — A Nanticoke, Pennsylvania resident, 32-year-old Dario George, has been sentenced to a stern 78 months in prison. The sentence came down on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, for the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

George had previously pleaded guilty to distributing between 280 grams and 400 grams of the deadly opioid fentanyl in the Luzerne County area over the course of 2021 and 2022. United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam revealed these details, shedding light on the severity of George’s operation.

The charges hinged on an investigation during which investigators made four separate purchases of fentanyl directly from George. Then, on May 19, 2022, the authorities obtained a search warrant for George’s residence in Nanticoke. The search unearthed a staggering 30,000 individual bags of fentanyl, alongside additional amounts of heroin and cocaine, $8,098 in U.S. currency, and drug packaging materials.

This large-scale operation was brought down thanks to the diligent work of the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara expertly prosecuted the case, leading to this significant sentence.

The case highlights the ongoing battle against drug distribution, particularly the deadly opioid fentanyl, and the commitment of local and federal agencies to keep Pennsylvania communities safe.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News.

 



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Mohegan

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Mohican

Stay in a Treehouse in the Heart of Amish Country

Ohio’s Amish County is a popular spot for exploring markets, restaurants (like Boyd & Wurthmann!), and shops, and if you’re visiting the area, you need a solid home base. Enter Amish Country Lodging and their treehouses in Berlin, Ohio! Amish Country Lodging offers a variety of lodges, cottages, and treehouses throughout the region, and they invited us to stay in one of the Skyview Treehouses.

The Skyview Treehouse is a two-story treehouse with a crows nest. It sleeps six, with a pair of king beds and a couple twin beds. It features some nice outdoor spaces and a hot tub. Like the other Skyview Treehouses, it sits on an elevated piece of their property, so it offers some pretty nice views.

One king bed is located on the main floor.

While the other king bed sits on the second floor.

There’s a cute pair of twin beds tucked into little alcoves on the second floor.

And if you climb up the steep stairs between them (and duck your head), you’ll reach the crow’s nest!

The small windowed room includes a handful of seats. It’s a lovely spot with nice views, perfect for some reading or a quiet cup of coffee.

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Lenni Lenape

Merion Station Author Offers a Guide to Exploring Nature In and Around Philadelphia

Michael Weilbacher in the forest, holding his new book.

Image via Tessa Marie Images.

In his book, Michael Weilbacher offers nature lovers 25 field trips to parks, preserves and natural areas, all neatly organized by season.

Mike Weilbacher, a Merion Station resident, and author, has dedicated his life to finding creative ways to teach people about nature, writes the staff of Main Line Today.

Wild Philly- Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Philadelphia coverWild Philly is available on Amazon. Check the price. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

And now all his experience has culminated in his first book, Wild Philly: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Philadelphia.

Weilbacher is the executive director of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Roxborough and is known as the “All-Natural Science Guy” on WXPN-FM’s Kid’s Corner.

In his book, he offers nature lovers 25 field trips to parks, preserves, and natural areas, all neatly organized by season. He even added illustrated maps.

To provide the most in-depth and enriching information, Weilbacher created an eight-member “Naturalist Advisory Team” to advise his research process.

He explained that the extra insight added rich layers to the book.

He said, “The chapter on the Lenape, for example, was based on new scholarship that shows that they actively managed the land. They were burning parts of the landscape to keep certain plants, like nut trees, around…”

The book also has a chapter on how people can become citizen scientists simply by using their cell phones to contribute data to ongoing scientific studies.

Read more about Mike Weilbacher and the many ways he celebrates nature around the Main Line in Main Line Today.

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Mohegan

Breaking down the CIAC High School Boys Basketball tournament brackets

The CIAC unveiled its boys basketball tournament brackets Wednesday afternoon. Local teams East Catholic (Division I), Cromwell (IV) and Windsor Locks (V) were all champions last year and all could make another run to the finals, held at Mohegan Sun Arena March 16-17.

Here’s a quick look at each division and some of the local teams involved:

East Catholic's Brayden Jones (34) gets an uncontested dunk against Newington in a boys CCC semi-final game at the University of Hartford, West Hartford, Feb. 27, 2024. East Catholic won, 67-49 to advance to the championship game. Photo by Cloe Poisson/Special to the CourantEast Catholic’s Brayden Jones (34) gets an uncontested dunk against Newington in a boys CCC semi-final game at the University of Hartford, West Hartford, Feb. 27, 2024. East Catholic won, 67-49 to advance to the championship game. Photo by Cloe Poisson/Special to the Courant

Division I: Three-time defending Division I champion East Catholic is the fifth seed and will not have an easy first game. The Eagles, who will play for the CCC tournament championship against Windsor Thursday, will face 12th-seeded Staples in a second-round game March 7. Staples (17-5) was the fourth seed in the FCIAC tournament and beat No. 1 Ridgefield 73-57 in the semifinal. The Wreckers will play Trumbull for the conference tournament title Thursday.

Division II: Manchester has come a long way since last season when the Red Hawks were the 26th seed in Division II and lost in the first round to Staples. Manchester is the No. 1 seed and will play the winner of Hamden-RHAM on Wednesday in the second round. Manchester lost to Farmington, 68-61 in the CCC tournament quarterfinals. Windsor, which lost in the Division II quarterfinals last year to eventual champion St….

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Nanticoke

D2 SWIMMING: Class 3A Championships (Saturday Results)

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

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Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People’s Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People’s Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People’s Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People’s Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People’s Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People’s Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People’s Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People’s Rep’c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People’s RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom…

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Lenni Lenape

Was Manhattan really sold to the Dutch for just $24?

History is full of enterprising sales and screaming bargains. One of the most notorious, legend has it, took place in Manhattan, when the island’s Native residents sold it to the Dutch for a handful of beads and the equivalent of $24 in cash.

Or did they? Here’s how Manhattan really ended up in European settlers’ hands—and why the transaction itself remains a historic mystery.

Manhattan’s Native residents 

By the time European colonists made their way to the Hudson River region, the area had long been settled by the Lenape people, who named the verdant island along the Hudson Manahatta, or “hilly island.” The Lenape, who spoke an Algonquian language and traded with a variety of other Indigenous Americans, lived a seasonal existence on the island with rich natural resources and abundant animals.

Those animals—particularly beavers—attracted the attention of the first Europeans to encounter the Lenape and Manhatta beginning in the 1500s. In fact, much of North America’s appeal to early Europeans had to do with animal pelts, which were used to produce fashionable hats and luxury items for European consumers—particularly as Europeans had hunted fur-bearing animals on the their own continent almost out of existence.

Lured by the region’s plentiful beaver furs, Dutch merchants began trading with the Lenape and soon claimed land running from what is now Delaware to Rhode Island on behalf of the Dutch West India Company, which developed a monopoly on Atlantic trade. The company established New Netherland in 1621, extending Dutch rule across the Hudson River region. By 1624, Dutch people were living on Manhatta—eventually renamed Manhattan—in a settlement called New Amsterdam.

The Dutch West India Company’s charter enabled its members to make contracts with “princes and natives” of the region, trading goods and currency for the “peopling of these fruitful and unsettled parts”—places that already served…

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Mohegan

Local Teams Eye Championship Glory

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) has officially unveiled the brackets for its highly anticipated boys basketball tournament, setting the stage for a series of thrilling matches that promise to captivate fans across the state. With the announcement, last year’s champions, East Catholic in Division I, Cromwell in Division IV, and Windsor Locks in Division V, are once again under the spotlight as they prepare to defend their titles and aim for another victorious run.

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Championship Contenders and Key Matchups

In Division I, East Catholic is gearing up for a challenging face-off against Staples, having demonstrated their prowess by defeating top teams in their conference. Their performance has set high expectations for their potential advancement in the tournament. Meanwhile, Division II shines a light on Manchester as the top seed, marking a significant improvement from their previous season’s performance, with Windsor also emerging as a formidable contender. The competition intensifies in Division III, where SMSA holds the top seed and is anticipated to face tough competition right from the second round.

One of the most anticipated previews of a championship showdown could unfold in Division IV, where Morgan and Cromwell, both having showcased strong seasons, might clash in what promises to be a memorable match. Over in Division V, Windsor Locks is on a mission to defend its title, with its opening game against the winner of Litchfield-Kaynor Tech, highlighting the competitive spirit that defines this tournament.

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Path to the Finals at Mohegan Sun Arena

The road to the finals, scheduled for March 16-17 at the iconic Mohegan Sun Arena, is fraught with challenges and opportunities for the participating teams. Each match in the tournament not only brings them a step closer to the championship but also showcases the depth of talent and teamwork within Connecticut’s high school…

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Mahican

Sambo Creek Renamed to Paemasing Creek in Honor of Mahican Hero

At a pivotal moment in Smithfield Township’s history, local leaders have decided to rename a controversially named waterway to Paemasing Creek, a gesture that not only sheds a racist moniker but also honors a significant figure in the area’s history. This decision was reached during the Feb. 28 Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors meeting, where Alex Jackson, the Conservation and Recreation Director, detailed the renaming process and the preferred new names for Sambo Creek and its adjacent counterpart.

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Renaming Process and Public Input

Alex Jackson announced the preferred new name, Paemasing Creek, after extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the Lake Valhalla community’s proposal to rename Little Sambo Creek to Whitetail Creek. Public comments are welcomed until March 15, offering a platform for community engagement and input on this significant change. Jackson’s open invitation for feedback underscores the inclusive approach taken by the township in addressing this sensitive issue.

Historical Significance of Paemasing

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The choice of Paemasing as the new name carries profound historical significance. Paemasing was a Mahican Native American who played a pivotal role in the life of Johanna Boston, a slave seeking freedom from her notorious master, Solomon Jennings. By providing shelter and aid, Paemasing not only saved Boston’s life but also assisted in her journey to freedom. This act of heroism is commemorated through the renaming, highlighting the area’s rich historical tapestry and acknowledging the contributions of Native Americans and African Americans alike.

Shedding Light on a Dark Past

The previous name, Sambo Creek, had long been a source of contention within the community, with many viewing it as a racist slur. The discourse around the creek’s name revealed a complex history, including its prior name, N-word Run, which further emphasized the need for change. The township’s collaboration with the Monroe County Historical Association and…

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