/
When one Iowa City city council member raised the possibility of abolishing the police department during a meeting Tuesday, a majority of her colleagues spoke against it.
A majority of the Iowa City City Council made clear Tuesday that they’re opposed to the possibility of abolishing the police department. The discussion came during a meeting focused on reviewing recommendations for how the city could restructure its police department, and was prompted after one city council member published a newspaper opinion piece calling for the possibility of abolition to be “on the table.”
At a council work session Tuesday, a majority of council members made clear that while they’re still in the process of what they call “restructuring” the city’s police department, they have no plans of abolishing it. Mayor Bruce Teague said even the word abolish is politically “dangerous.
‘I got my life back’: Syracuse’s innovative way of battling suicide makes a difference
Updated 7:29 AM;
Today 6:00 AM
Jared Van Ramshorst plays with his dog, Ben. He was on the verge of suicide while attending Syracuse University as a doctoral student.
N. Scott Trimble | syracuse.comN. Scott Trimble | syracuse.com
Facebook Share
Syracuse, N.Y. Jared Van Ramshorst used to think every day about killing himself.
The 31-year-old college professor, who earned a doctorate in geography from Syracuse University last year, considered suicide a “convenient option” for dealing with his chronic depression and anxiety.
“If things got too bad, I had an escape plan I knew would work,” he says.
What happened in the hour before police fatally shot Jamesville teen? (Timeline, map)
Updated Mar 16, 2021;
Facebook Share
An hour later, the 17-year-old boy was dead.
Judson was fatally shot by police on March 4 when he pointed what looked like a handgun at officers, police said. It was an airgun made to shoot steel BBs but it was designed as a replica of a real handgun.
Police have released few details about what happened leading up to the teen’s death. Police agencies involved in the shooting have declined to answer most questions about what happened. The state Attorney General is investigating the shooting.
CEDAR RAPIDS The pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health and in some cases even created new barriers for people already dealing with mental health issues.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll conducted in mid-July, 53 percent of adults in the United States reported their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. This is significantly higher than the 32 percent reported in March, the first time this question was included in the polling.
“I think it’s safe to say that this has been a pretty tough year for everyone in one way or another,” said Drew Martel, crisis service director with Foundation 2, a local nonprofit that offers crisis prevention and intervention programs to people of all ages.
ABOUT Columns are the opinion of the author, and include both facts and the individuals personal perspective. Community members are encouraged to submit guest columns up to 600 words for consideration. Wed., December 23, 2020
When things start to feel unmanageable: Iowacrisischat.org; Iowa Crisis Line 1-855-325-4296; Mobile Crisis Outreach 1-855-800-1239
A crisis chat volunteer at CommUnity, formerly the Crisis Center of Johnson County, on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. (Cliff Jette/SourceMedia Group) Hannah Green
When the sun is shining and the sidewalk is warm, there are plenty of ways to get outside and shake that pandemic loneliness and cabin fever. But when the days get shorter and the ground gets colder, a lot of our go-to activities for relieving stress and managing anxiety are no longer an option. Carefully fold in the holidays, and everyone is going to need self-care more than ever this year. While our community has some fantastic resources for when