Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Brian Williams was placed on administrative leave following an investigation into a bomb threat he allegedly made against City Hall earlier this year, Mayor Karen Bass’ office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The Mayor’s Office was notified that the FBI searched Williams’ home Tuesday as part of their investigation, according to a statement from the office. “The mayor takes this matter very seriously,” Deputy Mayor of Communications Zach Seidl said in a statement. “When the threat was reported, LAPD investigated and determined there was no immediate danger. Following additional investigation, LAPD referred this matter to the FBI for further investigation.” According to a Los Angeles Police Department statement, the agency’s initial investigation determined Williams was likely the “source of the threat.” “Due to the department’s working relationship with Mr. Williams, the investigation was referred to the FBI,” LAPD said in a statement. “The FBI remains the investigating agency.” “No additional information is being released,” the LAPD added. A representative for the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Williams joined Bass’ office in March 2023. He was tasked with working closely with critical safety departments such as police, fire, Los Angeles World Airports police, and emergency. Prior to his appointment, Williams served seven years as the executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. Williams also previously served as deputy mayor under Mayor James Hahn, where he was responsible for the management and oversight of the Department of Transportation, Public Works and Information Technology Agency.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. People are also reading... 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"But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. States with gains By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. States that lost At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Why it matters Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." 20 political cartoons draw out Donald Trump's win November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Leicester stars party in nightclub next to ‘Enzo I miss you’ sign hours after Chelsea loss on night before Cooper sacked
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WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Presbyterian Church dedicated a new organ just in time for the holiday season after it determined that the cost of repairing its old one was too costly. “Imagine sitting at the organ, playing a piece and your timing is perfect, but the notes are playing after or not at all,” said the Rev. Brittany Lane. “Our organist was working with that. I mean truly think about how much mental capacity it takes to adjust pieces right and left, making changes so that we could use that organ every Sunday.” Due to high costs, the church’s organ had not been updated since the 1980s, Lane explained, noting that such instruments typically require updates every 20 years or so. “Organs are incredibly expensive to both purchase and keep up with,” she said, explaining that factors like the sanctuary’s temperature and humidity levels play an intricate role in its tuning and performance. “We can’t afford to heat and cool the space regularly, like every other space in this building that’s used daily – from renters or us using it.” Refurbishing the organ, Lane said, would have cost the church approximately $200,000. With each maintenance session, the price doubled. What originally started around $20,000 steadily increased over the years. Seeking a solution, Lane, who grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, contacted some of her connections, explaining the church’s predicament. “One of the members from my home church suggested we go to Allen Organ company,” said Lane. After reaching out to the trusted name in the industry, the church was presented with two options: repair its current organ for $150,000 to $200,000 or purchase a new one for $55,000. Lane said an organ committee consisting of members Jim VanKirk, Jerry Germroth, Ruth Burnett, Malina Johnston, Liz Sollenberger, Becky Cooper and herself was formed. To fund its purchase, the committee appealed to the congregation for $60,000, covering both the cost of the organ and its installation. “We started with running a matching campaign, up to $20,000,” Lane said, explaining that members each took a Sunday to share with congregants a bit more about the organ, its problems and their proposed solutions. Due to a significant anonymous donor, funding was achieved in roughly four weeks. Extra funding was placed into the church’s music program for varying events, including bringing in local artists or high school students. “Everyone was sad that we were losing the pipe organ, but we were gaining all these pipe organs from around the world. And their sounds. Once we played it for the first time, the congregation was like, ‘We’re good!’” Known for producing realistic and affordable pipe sounds through technological innovation and advancement, Allen Organ Company installed the church’s new electric organ, a GX 215, on May 7. She praised salesman and teacher Ken Saliba for his expertise and knowledge. “The really cool part is that they actually took recordings from pipe organs from around the world,” Lane explained, noting that its A-5 might be from Notre Dame. It’s awesome.” Lane added that the organ also can record and playback later and has a significantly wider choice of reed stops or instruments, something they didn’t have before. “We have chimes, we have a trumpet stop. So, basically, what they mean is when you press the stop, it plays the notes, kind of like an electric piano.” With lots of opportunities and a lifetime of music, Lane said the beauty of the new organ is its longevity. “It doesn’t need to be tuned,” she said. “And if something goes wrong, you can replace the circuit board. It’s basically like replacing a hard drive on your computer, which is awesome.” Woodworker and congregant Keith Coffman constructed the new base as well as installed the speakers. Lane noted that the original pipes remain, in case at a future date the church wishes to return to the pipe organ. “But I think what blew me away most is that this was my first capital campaign as a pastor. And just the speed with which folks jumped on board for this was outstanding. That was really exciting to see,” she said. “But also that they trusted the committee to make the right decision. They were ready to say yes, and keep moving forward – which I think is a pretty fair statement about this church in general – they may have questions, but they’re ready to keep going whether its theology, mission or a new organ, they’re on board.” On Nov.r 17, the church hosted an organ dedication concert where congregants and the community gathered to hear a standard stop list including Classic Allen, English, Cavaille-Coll, Schlicker, Arp Achnitger, Aeolian-Skinner, Wurlitzer, Barton, and Morton. “We chose different pieces of music – both secular and religious – that would show off different aspects of the organ.” Following songs and hymns such as “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” “All Hail the Power” and “Over the Rainbow” a litany of dedication took place, led by Lane. “We present this instrument to be consecrated to the glory of almighty God and for service in this congregation.” Looking for ways to use the instrument to help the community, Lane said one of the church's goals in the coming year is to engage in more ways than just church. “Church is great. This building is such a gift, and that instrument is such a gift that we want it to be used for other things as well. We couldn’t do that before, because no one wants to play an organ that doesn’t play all the time.” Hoping to offer lessons, concerts, or other musical opportunities, Lane said music is the heart and soul of her congregation. “Music is such a big part of who God is for them,” she said. “And how they live out their faith because music can reach people like words cannot.” Join Woodstock Presbyterian Church, 142 E. Court St., at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve for a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizersAP News Summary at 3:38 p.m. EST