Page 23 - Fred Thomas News Today

Battle over police accountability ramps up in Washington state January 18, 2021 at 8:02 am Brian Giordano holds a sign during a vigil for his best friend, Manuel Ellis. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images) George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Manny Ellis. These were the names being chanted in the streets of Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and many other Washington cities in 2020, as the Black community had enough and demanded change and accountability during months of protests that still c...

PARKER MILES BLOHM / KNKX A proposal to impose sweeping restrictions on police tactics and techniques in Washington is highlighting stark differences of opinion between police and reform groups. That divide was on display Tuesday in the House Public Safety committee during a lengthy, virtual public hearing on an omnibus bill sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Jesse Johnson. His measure, which is co-sponsored by several other Democrats, would ban: Chokeholds and neckholds The use of tear gas ...

Community members gathered in June for a celebration of life for Manuel Ellis, who was killed by Tacoma police in March. In this photo, one of the attendees hangs a flyer with Ellis’ image that says “Happy Father’s Day Manny.” Credit: Parker Miles Blohm / KNKX Police and reformers face off over proposal to ban chokeholds, tear gas and military equipment By A proposal to impose sweeping restrictions on police tactics and techniques in Washington is highlightin...

Pastor Fred Thomas | Facebook/Mary Thomas Walker Pastor Fred Thomas, a beloved comedian and cast member of the popular Rickey Smiley Morning Show, known for his "Church in 60 Seconds" segment, has died following a two-week battle with the new coronavirus, his family announced. Thomas, who founded the Word of Faith Church in McKinney, Texas, joined the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, led by fellow Christian comedian Rickey Smiley, in January. His son, Aumon Wyatt, announced his death on his Facebo...

Editors Note This story was compiled almost completely from the reporting of Lee Montana newspapers’ staff over the past nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It started the way most Montana storms do, signs of trouble coming on the west wind. On Leap Day, Saturday, Feb. 29, Washington state reported the country’s first COVID-19 death, the first healthcare worker infected, and the first known outbreak in a care facility. By early March, a few Montanans began to worry. Many others paid...

All three candidates for finance director of Alexander City currently work for the city or have in the past. Steve Hays is a former Alexander City finance director. Donna Barrett currently works in the city’s finance department. Miles Hamlet is currently the city’s purchasing agent. The council asked the three the same questions and hopes to appoint a new finance director at its Jan. 4 meeting following the non-reappointment of finance director Sandy Stanbrough. Hays has been living i...

Dec 23, 2020 Fromer Greenville Mayor Tom Oliver, left, and Council member Fred Thomas joined in a 2018 discussion over how to address concerns over racism, as part of a workshop co-sponsored by the Greenville Corporation for Cultural Diversity File photo Pastor Fred Thomas, who served on the Greenville City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission, has died after falling ill to COVID-19. Family members announced Thomas’ passing Wednesday morning on his Fac...

Dec 23, 2020 By Mark Moody Web Exclusive If in a fever dream you ever imagined a collaboration between new comer Squirrel Flower, Xiu Xiu, The Get Up Kids, and Saturday Looks Good To Me’s Fred Thomas, Polyvinyl Records is here to serve that up for you. And that’s just one song (“Do U Remember”) out of the 11 on the Exquisite Corpse compilation (digitally released in September and now being released in physical form). You’re probably aware of the “exquisite corpse” game eve...

“When I got the news about Mike, it just stunned my heart,” said longtime friend Vanessa Vaughter. As choir director of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Carrollton, Vaughter says Link touches lives through music and ministry. She says Link’s health declined quickly. He was admitted to the hospital over the weekend and is now on a ventilator, she said. Vaughter says Link is taking small steps toward recovery. “I really, really want you [Link] to fight for this and I expect a hug,”...

McKinney pastor and comedian dies of COVID-19 "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of my father Pastor Fred Thomas," his son wrote in a Facebook post. Author: Elizabeth Wiley Updated: 11:28 AM CST December 23, 2020 Updated at 11:29 a.m. with additional details about Paster Fred Thomas. The family of a McKinney pastor and Christian comedian confirmed Wednesday that he had died of COVID-19. Fred Thomas learned he had contracted COVID-19 in early De...