A Bird eBike. (File photo courtesy of the company)
Law-enforcement agencies and healthcare professionals from across the county sought to raise awareness Monday of safety issues surrounding the use of electric bicycles and electric motorcycles.
Authorities said in a statement they wanted to highlight “the growing safety concerns and enforcement challenges surrounding the illegal and unsafe operation of electric off-highway motorcycles, often marketed or mistaken for e-bikes.”
State law allows Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes to operate on public roadways and bike paths, according to the San Diego Police Department.
However, “high-powered electric motorcycles are not street legal,” officials said.
Not only can electric motorcycles not be registered for street use, they also “lack the required safety equipment and do not meet Department of Motor Vehicles standards for operation on public roads,” officials said. “Riders who operate them in traffic face citations, fines and the impound of their vehicles.”
SDPD Cmdr. Benjamin Kelso said the Monday event was “about education, safety and protecting our communities.”
“Families need to know the difference between a legal e-bike and a high-powered motorcycle that are not street legal to ride,” Kelso said. “These vehicles are putting young riders, drivers and pedestrians at risk.”
Physicians are seeing a rise in serious injuries connected with the electric vehicles “and that is very concerning,” said Dr. Ning Lu, a trauma surgeon at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Education and awareness “are key because one wrong decision on these machines can change a life forever,” said Dr. Vishal Bansal of Scripps Mercy Hospital.
“Many of patients are children and teenagers who suffer broken bones, head trauma and other preventable injuries,” added Bansal, medical director of trauma at the hospital.
Public safety leaders offered these safety tips for e-bike riders:
— ride in bike lanes, roads or bike paths that allow them;
— don’t ride on crosswalks (which are for pedestrians only), near businesses or on sidewalks;
— ride in the same direction as traffic and use bike lanes when available;
— obey all traffic signs and signals, just as motor vehicle drivers do;
— passengers are only allowed if the e-bike is designed for them; and
— helmets are required for riders under 18 (and for all ages for Class 3 bikes).
More information is at https://www.sandiego.gov/police/bike-safety.
Along with Scripps Health and SDPD, other agencies that participated in the Monday event were the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office; California Highway Patrol; California State Parks; and the Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside and San Diego Harbor and San Diego Unified School District police departments.
Home renovation projects can be very rewarding. They’re a good learning experience, and once successfully done, they can transform a space completely. Whether you’re updating your kitchen, installing shelving, improving your interiors or updating your bathroom, home improvement projects not only enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your home but can also increase its value.
When taking on a project at home, one major thing to think about is safety. Safety is non-negotiable and should be something you prioritise from start to finish. Proper precautions not only protect you and those around you, but also ensure that your renovation goes smoothly, without unnecessary delays caused by accidents or injuries.
How to reduce the risk of accidents during renovation tasks
Wear the correct clothing
Whenever you take on any renovation project, it’s important that you wear the correct clothing. Proper workwear can protect you from cuts, scrapes, burns, and chemical splashes. Companies like Strauss provide renovation work clothing which is reliable, durable, and designed specifically for the demands of DIY and construction tasks. Work clothing often features reinforced areas, breathable yet sturdy fabrics, and practical pockets for tools, combining both safety and convenience.
Plan ahead
Before starting any project, take the time to understand the tasks involved. Read instruction manuals, watch tutorials, and identify any hazards, such as electrical wiring or unstable surfaces. A clear plan reduces mistakes and unexpected dangers.
Use the correct tools
Always use the correct tool for the job and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Inspect tools before use for damage or wear, and never attempt to bypass safety features. Sometimes you won’t have the tool that is needed to complete the work. If that’s the case, be patient and get the right tool in, instead of risking using something else.
Protect yourself when up high
If your project involves ladders or elevated surfaces, make sure ladders are stable and on level ground. Avoid overreaching, and consider using scaffolding or other stable platforms for higher tasks.
What features should you look for in safe and durable work clothing?
Features which you should look for in safe and durable work clothing include:
Reinforced areas
Look for reinforced knees, elbows, and seams in areas prone to wear. This adds longevity and extra protection for tasks that involve kneeling, bending, or carrying heavy loads.
A good fit
Clothing should fit comfortably, allowing freedom of movement while avoiding loose fabric that can get caught in tools or machinery.
Practical pockets and storage
Well-placed pockets for tools, measuring tapes, and small accessories can keep your hands free and reduce accidents caused by carrying items improperly.
Durable materials
Choose fabrics that are tear-resistant, heavy-duty, and able to withstand abrasions, sparks, and minor impacts. Materials like reinforced cotton blends or canvas are ideal for tough renovation tasks.
Safety for DIY and home renovation is hugely important. By planning your projects, using the correct tools, protecting yourself when up high and wearing the correct clothing, you can focus on your home improvements without compromising your health. Remember to never rush anything and be patient. If you don’t have the right kit at the time, order it and come back, instead of taking risks.
How do you manage safety for DIY projects around the home?
As a new parent myself, I can tell you unequivocally that when babies become mobile, the world becomes their playground. Coffee tables become climbing gyms, cabinets become treasure troves, and phone chargers become rope toys. Babyproofing your home isn’t about bubble-wrapping your life; it’s about thinking like a young mind and getting one step ahead of curiosity. We’re here to help: This guide will help you spot hidden dangers, make smart fixes, and provide a safe space for little ones to explore without hazards around every corner.
Whether you’re expecting or your baby is still firmly in the potato stage, it’s best to start babyproofing sooner rather than later. Baby and toddler safety expert Holly Choi—whose business, Safe Beginnings, offers CPR courses, safety consultations, and more—warns that little ones often advance faster than you think. “Some kids can go from zero to 100 in a week,” she says. “They’re constantly practicing in their crib. Half the time we don’t even see it, and then suddenly, they’re in everything.” Think of babyproofing less as a weekend project and more as an ongoing lifestyle shift.
Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test/Silence button on a household carbon monoxide alarm detector.Photograph: Kenneth Cheung/Getty Images
Both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor of your home, especially in or near sleeping areas. Test them monthly by pressing the built-in test button (usually in the center or on the side), and replace the batteries once a year, or right away if you hear that low-battery chirp.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 87 percent of homes built before 1940 have some lead-based paint, which can be a serious risk to children and pregnant women. The safest way to rule out lead-based paint is to hire a licensed lead inspector with your municipality’s department of health.
Courtesy of Newton
A safe sleep starts with the right mattress. A newborn mattress should be firm with no give, and it must fit snugly in its bassinet or crib with no gaps around the edges. (Fellow WIRED parenting writer Nena Farrell loved the one above for her son.) Stick to a fitted sheet designed for a mattress that size, and skip extra add-ons like pillows, blankets, and stuffies.
As cozy as rugs are, they can be a tripping hazard, which is the last thing you want when you’re carrying a newborn in your arms. Use nonslip pads beneath your rugs or double-sided rug tape to keep them in place, and avoid small rugs altogether in high-traffic areas. Also clear the premises of other obstacles like loose toys or cords that could catch your foot mid-step, especially on the stairs. “One in four babies injured on the stairs were being carried by an adult,” Choi says.
Introducing a baby into a home where pets rule can be stressful for everyone involved, so establishing routines with them early will help make things smoother for the whole family. Before Baby arrives, work on basic obedience with your pets. Teach dogs to sit and stay, and make sure they know the off-limit areas in the house. Help cats get comfortable with baby gates and closed doors.
First aid, CPR training with an infant mannequinPhotograph: Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images
Not a traditional babyproofing checklist item, per se, but unthinkable accidents happen no matter how prepped your home may be. Check your local hospital or the Red Cross for courses (they even offer them online) to prep you before baby arrives.
How to Babyproof Your Home’s Interior
Babies are naturally curious. We’ll break down the practical steps to make your space safer.
“If you are going to do one thing, period, I want it to be anchoring your furniture,” Choi says. “Tip-over injuries are so fast, and furniture is probably the largest hazard we all have in our home. You’re really lucky if you get a second chance with tip-over injuries.”
It takes surprisingly little force to tip over even heavy pieces of furniture, and the risks are serious. Use wall anchors to secure anything in your home that could topple over, especially tall, narrow pieces and in areas where your baby is the most mobile. Mounting furniture takes minutes, and most kits come with the basic hardware you need. And don’t forget about TVs, which should be mounted to the wall or secured with anti-tip straps.
Cover Outlets and Hide Cords
Eye-level cords and outlets are particularly inviting for babies to poke and prod. Snap-in or slide-in outlet safety covers keep tiny fingers and toys blocked from danger.
Hide or secure cords from electronics like lamps and chargers—they can be pulled, chewed on, tripped over, and dangling wires can be an opportunity to pull and bring heavy electronics down with it. Cord covers, floor strips, and cable boxes are all smart ways to keep electric cords out of reach.
Courtesy of Amazon
Stairs, kitchens, and bathrooms can be danger zones once a baby starts moving, and baby gates are your first line of defense. (WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell recommends the one above.) For the top of stairs, a hardware-mounted gate is best, because they’re sturdier and can’t be pushed loose. “If a child throws themselves against a pressure-mounted gate, they will go down the stairs with the gate,” Choi says. “And the mechanism of injury of going down the stairs with the gate versus just going down the stairs is significantly worse.”
Doorways and hallways can use pressure-mounted options. Make sure that the gates are tall enough that your baby, a future toddler, won’t be able to climb over them and that latches are secure and childproof.
Coffee tables, TV stands, and low bookshelves often have sharp edges right at a baby’s head height. Corner guards soften the impact if your little one bumps into a corner. They come in a variety of shades and styles to blend in with furniture—just be sure they’re gripped nice and tight, since babies can be surprisingly good at peeling things loose.
Keep Medications and Cleaning Supplies Out of Reach
If you have a young one, you know that they love sticking things in their mouths, and every pill and spray can look like a toy. Medications, vitamins, and cleaning supplies should be locked up high and out of sight, and ideally in cabinets with childproof latches. This rule also goes for any “natural” or herbal products, which can still be toxic in large doses.
Close up on child proof cabinet latch and knob on far rightPhotograph: tiburonstudios/Getty Images
No matter what, you’re bound to have child-level cabinets that’ll have hazardous materials in them. Installing childproof locks on cabinets helps keep little hands away from toxic cleaners, medications, and dangerous and sharp kitchen cabinets. “We’re not locking things down because we’re going to not supervise our kids,” Choi says. “We’re locking things down since we’re just buying ourselves time.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to face questions after recent CDC shakeups
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to answer tough questions from Senators following his controversial decisions regarding CDC leadership and vaccine policy changes.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will face serious concerns from senators on Thursday regarding his handling of public health matters, following his decision to force out the recently sworn-in CDC Director Susan Monarez and replace her with Jim O’Neill, who has a background in business.On Wednesday, more than 1,000 current and former Health and Human Services employees who worked with Kennedy called for his resignation in a letter, accusing him of prioritizing politics over science. Kennedy has been reshaping the nation’s vaccine policies and has voiced skepticism about the safety and effectiveness of long-established shots. He’ll be answering questions on Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee. “The CDC was once the world’s most trusted guardian of public health,” Kennedy said in a video message posted ahead of the hearing. “Its mission was simple and noble, protect Americans from infectious disease, but over the years, the agency drifted. Bureaucracy politicized science and mission creed corroded that mission and squandered the public trust.”Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana expressed his concerns, saying, “What I’m most interested in is restoring the confidence of the American people in public health in America, and so far that hasn’t been done.”Last week, under Kennedy’s leadership, the FDA changed COVID-19 vaccine guidelines, limiting their use for younger adults and children. Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
“The CDC was once the world’s most trusted guardian of public health,” Kennedy said in a video message posted ahead of the hearing. “Its mission was simple and noble, protect Americans from infectious disease, but over the years, the agency drifted. Bureaucracy politicized science and mission creed corroded that mission and squandered the public trust.”
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana expressed his concerns, saying, “What I’m most interested in is restoring the confidence of the American people in public health in America, and so far that hasn’t been done.”
Millions of Americans heading to the shore for the holiday weekend are encountering warning signs instead of waves.
From New England to California, public health officials have flagged dozens of beaches for high levels of fecal bacteria, urging swimmers to stay out of the water.
The advisories, affecting coastal stretches in Massachusetts, New York, California and even Hawaii, cite unsafe concentrations of E. coli and enterococci, bacteria linked to sewage and storm runoff. Exposure can cause stomach illness, skin rashes and ear infections, officials warn.
The problem is not new.
A recent Environment America report found that 61% of U.S. beaches recorded at least one day of unsafe bacterial levels last year, with hundreds exceeding safe thresholds on a quarter of the days they were tested. Aging sewage systems, heavy rains and rapid coastal development continue to strain water quality.
Local authorities recommend avoiding swimming for at least 72 hours after storms, when runoff is most severe. Children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of illness.
The closures underscore a national challenge: protecting recreational waters while balancing public demand. Health experts say without significant investment in infrastructure, the cycle of advisories and closures is unlikely to end.
So what beaches are closed?
Northeast & East Coast:
Keyes Memorial Beach in Hyannis, Massachusetts (Cape Cod) is closed for public safety.
Benjamin’s Beach, Bay Shore, New York, on Long Island has also been shut down.
Beaches along the coast from Crystal River, Florida, to Ogunquit, Maine are under advisories due to risk of waterborne illness.
Mid-Atlantic:
In North Carolina, five beaches have posted warnings following elevated bacteria readings, though no full closures have been confirmed.
South & Gulf Coast:
McFaddin Beach (part of McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge) near Sabine Pass, Texas, remains under a bacteria advisory after testing revealed Enterococcus levels above safe EPA thresholds.
West Coast & Pacific:
Portions of Imperial Beach in the San Diego area have restrictions in place. Other Southern California beaches such as Silver Strand, Coronado, Topanga Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Santa Monica are also under advisories or partial closure.
In Hawaii, Kahaluu Beach Park has reported elevated bacteria levels, prompting a health alert.
Just another summer closure
This isn’t the first time summer has ended on a note of caution.
During the Fourth of July holiday earlier this year, numerous beaches were already shut down amid similar fears of E. coli and enterococci contamination.
Over the past two years, beach closures due to water contamination have been frequent, particularly around major holiday weekends and during periods of heavy rainfall or environmental stress.
How to stay safe during a beach contamination
Health officials advise skipping the surf for at least 72 hours following heavy rainfall, when contaminants are at their most concentrated. It’s also wise to avoid water that looks cloudy, discolored, or has an overly strong odor. Those most at risk include children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Video shows a boy walking on the monorail tracks at Hersheypark before being rescued by an adult.Watch the video in the player above.The video, sent to sister station WGAL, shows a panicked crowd trying to direct the child to a nearby roof, where a man is waiting to grab him.The man then hops up on the monorail from the roof of the nearby building, picks up the boy and carries him to safety. The child was reported missing around 5:05 p.m. Saturday after becoming separated from his parents, according to a statement from a spokesperson for Hersheypark. While employees were searching for the boy, he entered a secured area for the monorail and remained there for almost 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track. The monorail was not in operation, and the ride was chained off as the child walked on the tracks, according to the park. The park said a guest quickly noticed the child walking on the tracks and helped the child off the track to safety.
HERSHEY, Pa. —
Video shows a boy walking on the monorail tracks at Hersheypark before being rescued by an adult.
Watch the video in the player above.
The video, sent to sister station WGAL, shows a panicked crowd trying to direct the child to a nearby roof, where a man is waiting to grab him.
The man then hops up on the monorail from the roof of the nearby building, picks up the boy and carries him to safety.
The child was reported missing around 5:05 p.m. Saturday after becoming separated from his parents, according to a statement from a spokesperson for Hersheypark.
While employees were searching for the boy, he entered a secured area for the monorail and remained there for almost 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track.
The monorail was not in operation, and the ride was chained off as the child walked on the tracks, according to the park.
The park said a guest quickly noticed the child walking on the tracks and helped the child off the track to safety.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Police Bureau is officially back on board with TriMet’s Transit Police Division after a nearly four-year hiatus, marking a renewed partnership city and regional leaders say will enhance rider safety and boost public confidence in the transit system.
TriMet and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office announced the move during a joint news conference on Friday, Aug. 29, alongside Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Police Chief Bob Day.
“As the largest city in TriMet’s service area, renewing our relationship with the City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau is a benefit for TriMet, our riders, and the region,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr.
Under the new agreement, Portland is assigning five officers and one sergeant to the Transit Police Division. This addition brings the total number of law enforcement personnel in the unit to 31, including members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Port of Portland Police, and the Beaverton and Hillsboro police departments.
The City of Portland previously ended its agreement with TriMet in 2020. MCSO took over as the lead agency for Transit Police in 2021 and continues in that role.
“Welcoming the Portland Police Bureau back to Transit Police will increase our collective presence on the transit system, deterring crime, building trust, and reassuring riders,” said Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell. “It also expands our capacity for high-visibility safety missions in areas with elevated public concern.”
The move comes as Portland sees a downward trend in both violent and property crimes.
“Portland has seen a promising decrease in crime, thanks to collaboration and community engagement,” said Mayor Wilson. “Bringing the Portland Police Bureau back into Transit Police builds on this momentum and ensures riders feel safe and supported.”
PPB Chief Bob Day echoed the sentiment, calling the partnership essential as the city continues to grow.
“The Portland Police Bureau is proud to rejoin Transit Police to help ensure the safety and security of our community on and around the transit system,” Day said.
A Collaborative Safety Model
TriMet’s Transit Police Division operates as a task-force model, contracting with local police agencies to assign officers to patrol the transit system. Officers respond to incidents via the regional 911 system, ensuring fast deployment.
At its peak, the division included 65 officers from 15 agencies. But like many departments nationwide, it has faced staffing shortages following the COVID-19 pandemic and the national police recruitment crisis.
TriMet continues to work with local agencies to bolster participation. Recent additions include a lieutenant from MCSO and three new officers from the Port of Portland Police Department.
“The more we’re able to collaborate across agencies, the better we can serve our community, ensure safety, and maintain a consistent presence,” said Beverly Pearman, Director of Public Safety & Security at the Port of Portland.
Safety Investments Pay Off
Since 2021, TriMet has expanded its public safety network beyond sworn officers. Nearly 500 personnel — including Transit Security Officers, Customer Safety Officers, and social service outreach teams — now support TriMet’s safety efforts.
As a result, calls for police services on the system — including crimes and non-criminal incidents like welfare checks — dropped nearly 50% between 2021 and 2024.
“TriMet provides about 1.3 million trips a week,” Desue said. “The vast majority occur without incident thanks to the dedication of the Transit Police staff, their fellow officers, and our safety and security teams.”
As families prepare for the Labor Day holiday and students across New Jersey get ready to return to the classroom, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is reminding motorists to make safety their top priority on the road.
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, a time when travel increases on highways, shore routes, and local roads. Combined with the start of the school year, this creates a unique set of challenges for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
“Whether you’re heading down the shore, driving to work, or bringing your kids to school, safety always has to come first,” said NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor. “We all share the road, and that means staying alert and looking out for one another.”
This call to action supports New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Target Zero initiative, a bold statewide goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040. Every driver who makes the choice to buckle up, slow down, and avoid distractions plays a vital role in achieving that goal.
NJDOT is urging drivers to plan ahead, focus on the road, and be mindful of speed limits – especially in school zones and residential neighborhoods. With more buses on the road and children walking or biking to school, extra caution is critical. The Department is also reminding travelers that law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols over the holiday weekend as part of a statewide effort to reduce crashes.
In 2024, New Jersey saw a troubling rise in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, underscoring the need for increased awareness and vigilance behind the wheel. Safety officials stress that small changes – like putting down your phone and leaving extra travel time – can prevent serious injuries and save lives.
As summer draws to a close, NJDOT encourages all roadway users to make safety a year-round habit. By working together, New Jersey can move closer to its goal of eliminating roadway deaths and serious injuries by 2040.
DENVER – A simple change in strategy for Denver’s Regional Transportation District, appears to be working.
After years of growing complaints about safety and security on public trains and buses, RTD data shows criminal incident reports have been trending downward, at their lowest point in July.
RTD publishes much of their statistics online. The following is data from 2025 so far.
In 2023, Denver7 Investigates went undercover to see the scope of the problem and found people doing drugs in plain sight. Regular riders told us, they saw drug use daily.
In the summer of 2025, riders may now notice a few more people on board light rail trains.
“A lot of security officers and police officers were on more static posts, they were just at a location, but they weren’t getting on our vehicles, they weren’t riding the trains back and forth, they weren’t getting on the busses,” said RTD Transit Police Chief Steven Martingano.
Before he was sworn in as Chief, he served as Acting Chief in 2024. He says he made a big change right away.
“We had asked them to start getting on the vehicles, checking fare,” he said.
Denver7 Investigates
‘It’s scary. It’s unsafe’: Drug use still rampant on RTD property
Ticket checks increased by 500% since 2024, and RTD said safety improved too.
“With the officers being on the trains, they’re highly visible, right? So they can interject if there’s any incidents happening,” he said.
RTD reports security related calls into RTD Police are down about 33% and reports of illegal drug use are down between 50-70% depending on the month compared to last year.
“Since this was so effective, why do you think this wasn’t done before?” asked Denver7 reporter Danielle Kreutter.
“I can’t explain why decisions were made before,” Martingano responded, “I took over as acting police in July. When I met with our teams, our security teams, as well as our police officer teams, I was trying to understand their direction. A lot of that was the static post- not really being on our vehicles. So then that’s when I made the immediate change. You could kind of see the 13 month decline from really last July to this August, every month, we continue to decrease, and I think a lot of that’s just a high visibility.”
The chief acknowledges there’s more work to be done.
“We don’t want to just make one plan and hope that works every single time,” he said.
The department is expected to have another 120-130 officers by the end of the year. Martingano also mentioned the recent completion of the evidence room at the police department which will reduce their reliance on other law enforcement agencies.
The Follow Up
What do you want Denver7 to follow up on? Is there a story, topic or issue you want us to revisit? Let us know with the contact form below.
Those in the market for a new bike helmet have a handy new resource they can refer to in order to pick the safest option, and it’s thanks to the work of a lab based in Virginia.
Those in the market for a new bike helmet have a handy new resource they can refer to in order to pick the safest option, and it’s thanks to the work of a lab based in Virginia.
“We spent a lot of time trying to figure out how we can get these data in the hands of consumers so that they can make informed decisions,” said Steve Rosen, professor of biomedical engineering mechanics at Virginia Tech and director of the Helmet Lab.
“A helmet is a safety product, and it should be held accountable for how safe it is,” he added.
Rosen said the lab has come up with a ranking system that’s now in many sporting goods stores. A five star helmet is the best. Many manufacturers of helmets now have Virginia Tech’s rating on their tags.
“As people are browsing the helmets in the store, you can see what the rating of that helmet is, and it’s really allowed us to expand our reach and educate people on the protective performance of these helmets,” he said.
Rosen said helmet safety has come a long way.
“The best helmet, way back in 2011 when we first released, would be the worst helmet today. So there’s really good improvement in head protection that’s available to people in the field,” he said.
Thanks to the helmet safety rating system developed by the Helmet Lab, consumers now have access to critical data that can guide their purchasing decisions.
“It’s going to help people looking to buy a helmet have an idea of how it’s going to perform because that type of information is not typically available,” he added.
He said choosing the right helmet could be the difference between a minor injury and a life-threatening one.
“Sometimes, those differences could be over 50% in risk reduction,” he said.
The sheriff of Volusia County has a warning for drivers and parents of young e-bike riders: vigilance is needed now more than ever.The rise of e-bike popularity means a slew of children have begun riding them to school, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.Chitwood recently went to visit a 14-year-old named Hunter who was hit by a car while riding an e-bike on the first day of school in Deltona.”We’re lucky that he’s alive,” Chitwood said.Hunter had to be airlifted to a hospital and is now recovering after he was hit while crossing an intersection on Roble Lane and Howland.Chitwood said the young rider had stopped at the intersection as a car was stopped. When he began riding forward, the driver hit the gas and struck him.”I think he’s having a hard time understanding why the person who hit him never got out of the car, never turned the engine off and never responded to his replies,” Chitwood said.Now, he’s reinforcing a message of e-bike safety, and he said Hunter wants to help by creating a personal PSA to riders and drivers.”His father, when they bought him the e-bike, they had made the trek back and forth to school: here’s where the stop signs are. How many parents do that? Before he left for school, they had a little bit of an argument, he said, ‘You’re not taking that e-bike without a helmet,’” said Chitwood.The helmet very likely saved his life, he added.Chitwood said, with the speed of e-bikes, drivers should be hypervigilant of their surroundings.Riders of e-bikes should always wear a helmet and should obey the rules of the road to a tee.”Never assume the driver sees you. Never.””Sooner or later, the government’s going to have to get around to regulating these things,” Chitwood said.
DELTONA, Fla. —
The sheriff of Volusia County has a warning for drivers and parents of young e-bike riders: vigilance is needed now more than ever.
The rise of e-bike popularity means a slew of children have begun riding them to school, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Chitwood recently went to visit a 14-year-old named Hunter who was hit by a car while riding an e-bike on the first day of school in Deltona.
“We’re lucky that he’s alive,” Chitwood said.
Hunter had to be airlifted to a hospital and is now recovering after he was hit while crossing an intersection on Roble Lane and Howland.
Chitwood said the young rider had stopped at the intersection as a car was stopped. When he began riding forward, the driver hit the gas and struck him.
“I think he’s having a hard time understanding why the person who hit him never got out of the car, never turned the engine off and never responded to his replies,” Chitwood said.
Now, he’s reinforcing a message of e-bike safety, and he said Hunter wants to help by creating a personal PSA to riders and drivers.
“His father, when they bought him the e-bike, they had made the trek back and forth to school: here’s where the stop signs are. How many parents do that? Before he left for school, they had a little bit of an argument, he said, ‘You’re not taking that e-bike without a helmet,’” said Chitwood.
The helmet very likely saved his life, he added.
Chitwood said, with the speed of e-bikes, drivers should be hypervigilant of their surroundings.
Riders of e-bikes should always wear a helmet and should obey the rules of the road to a tee.
“Never assume the driver sees you. Never.”
“Sooner or later, the government’s going to have to get around to regulating these things,” Chitwood said.
Each call pulls officers from genuine emergencies, disrupts classrooms, and leaves students and staff shaken. While emergency protocols are essential, when swatting becomes routine, it’s clear that response plans alone won’t solve the problem.
Unpacking the early signals
Swatting rarely emerges out of thin air. It’s often the final act following a series of compounding behaviors, such as:
Online harassment
Peer conflicts
Risky social media challenges
Unaddressed behavioral concerns
These warning signs exist, but are typically scattered across multiple school departments.
Counselors might log escalating incidents. Teachers may notice changes in student behavior, and school resource officers (SROs) might track repeated visits involving the same individuals. Without a unified way to connect these observations, critical warning signs go unnoticed.
Operationalizing early intervention
Districts are reimagining how they capture and coordinate behavioral data. The goal isn’t surveillance or punitive action. It’s about empowering the right people with the right context to align and intervene early.
When schools shift from viewing incidents in isolation to seeing behavior patterns in context, they are better positioned to act before concerns escalate. This can mean initiating mental health referrals, alerting safety teams, or involving families and law enforcement partners at the appropriate moment with comprehensive information.
Technology that enables teams
The process requires tools that support secure, centralized documentation and streamline communication across counselors, administrators, safety staff, and other stakeholders. These systems don’t replace human judgment, but create conditions for clearer decisions and more timely coordination.
Swatting is just one example of how fragmented behavioral data can contribute to high-risk outcomes. Other incidents, such as escalating bullying, persistent mental health concerns, or anonymous threats often follow recognizable patterns that emerge over time. When schools use a centralized system to document and track these behaviors across departments, they can identify those patterns earlier. This kind of structured coordination supports proactive interventions, helping prevent larger issues before they unfold and reinforcing a culture of safety and awareness.
Consider Washington State, whereswatting affected more than 18,000 students last year, costing schools over $270,000 in lost instructional time. These figures illustrate the operational and human costs when coordination breaks down.
Reducing risk, not just reacting to it
Swatting is a symptom of a larger issue. Building safer schools means moving upstream from reactive emergency response to proactive coordination. It requires shared insight across teams, strengthened behavioral threat assessment protocols, and the right supports in place well before crisis calls occur.
Early intervention isn’t about adding complexity. It’s about reducing risk, improving situational clarity, and equipping school communities to act with confidence–not simply responding when harm is imminent.
Amanda Lewis, Versaterm
Amanda Lewis is a product manager at Versaterm.
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IPSWICH — Firefighters rescued a father and son who were trapped inside of a burning home next to a horse barn on Linebrook Road midday Monday.
First responders were called to 383 Linebrook Road at 11:51 a.m. to respond to a structure fire on the property, and learned en route that two people were trapped inside by the flames, the Ipswich Fire Department said in a statement.
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GLOUCESTER — At least one person was taken to the hospital as a blaze ripped through a home at 62 Woodward Ave. on Saturday afternoon.
Fire Chief Eric Smith said the Gloucester Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire at the waterfront property about 2:20 p.m., finding heavy fire and smoke showing from the building.
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SAN FRANCISCO — In recent years, San Francisco’s image as a welcoming place for businesses has taken a hit.
Major tech companies such as Dropbox and Salesforce reduced footprints in the city by subleasing office space, while retailers including Nordstrom and Anthropologie pulled out of downtown. Social media firm X, formerly Twitter, vacated its Mid-Market headquarters for Texas, after owner Elon Musk complained about “dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building.”
While the city remains on the defensive, one bright spot has been a boom in artificial intelligence startups.
San Francisco’s 35.4% vacancy rate in the first quarter — among the highest in the nation — is expected to drop one to three percentage points in the third quarter thanks to AI companies expanding or opening new offices in the city, according to real estate brokerage firm JLL. The last time San Francisco’s vacancy rate dropped was in the fourth quarter, when it declined 0.2% — the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to JLL.
“People wanted to count us out, and I think that was a bad bet,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “We’re seeing all of this because the ecosystem is better here in San Francisco than anywhere else in the world, and it’s really an exciting time.”
Five years ago, AI leases in San Francisco’s commercial real estate market were relatively sparse, with just two leases in 2020, according to JLL. But that’s since soared to 167 leases in the first quarter of 2025. The office footprint for AI companies has also surged, making up 4.8 million square feet in 2024, up from 2.6 million in 2022, JLL said.
“You need the talent base, you need the entrepreneur ecosystem, and you need the VC ecosystem,” said Alexander Quinn, senior director of economic research for JLL’s Northwest region. “So all those three things exist within the greater Bay Area, and that enables us to be the clear leader.”
AI firms are attracted to San Francisco because of the concentration of talent in the city, analysts said. The city is home to AI companies including ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Anthropic, known for the chatbot Claude, which in turn attract businesses that want to collaborate. The Bay Area is also home to universities that attract entrepreneurs and researchers, including UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco and Stanford University.
OpenAI leases about 1 million square feet of space across five different locations in the city and employs roughly 2,000 people in San Francisco. The company earlier this year opened its new headquarters in Mission Bay, leasing the space from Uber.
OpenAI began as a nonprofit research lab in 2015 and the people involved found their way to San Francisco for the same reason why earlier generations of technologists and people pushing the frontier in the United States are drawn to the city, said Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs in an interview.
“It is a place where, when you put out an idea, no matter how crazy it may seem at the time, or how unorthodox it may seem … San Francisco is the city where people don’t say, ‘That’s crazy,’” Lehane said. “They say, ‘That’s a really interesting idea. Let’s see if we can do it.’”
The interior of OpenAI’s new San Francisco headquarters in the Mission Bay neighborhood. (OpenAI)
Databricks, valued at $62 billion, is also expanding in San Francisco. Databricks in March announced it will move to a larger space in the Financial District next year, boosting its office footprint to 150,000 square feet and more than doubling its San Francisco staff in the next two years. It pledged to hold its annual Data + AI Summit in the city for five more years.
The company holds 57,934 square feet at its current San Francisco office near the Embarcadero, according to CoStar, which tracks real estate trends.
“San Francisco is a real talent magnet for AI talent,” said Databricks’ co-founder and vice president of engineering Patrick Wendell. “It’s a beautiful city for people to live and work in and so we really are just following where the employees are.”
Several years ago, Wendell said his company was considering whether to expand in San Francisco. At the time, it was unclear whether people would return to offices after the pandemic, and some businesses raised concerns about safety and cleanliness of San Francisco’s streets. Wendell said his company decided to invest more in the city after getting reassurances from city leaders.
“People are seeing an administration that is focused on public safety, clean streets and creating the conditions that also says that we’re open for business,” said Lurie, who defeated incumbent mayor London Breed last November by campaigning on public safety. “We’ve said from day one, we have to create the conditions for our arts and culture, for our small businesses and for our innovators and our entrepreneurs to thrive here.”
Laurel Arvanitidis, director of business development for San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, said that the city’s policy and tax reforms have helped attract and retain businesses in recent years, including an office tax credit that gives up to a $1-million credit for businesses that are new or relocating to San Francisco.
On Thursday, Lurie announced on social media that cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is opening an office in San Francisco after leaving the city four years ago.
“We are excited to reopen an office in SF,” Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong wrote in response to the mayor’s social media post. “Still lots of work to do to improve the city (it was so badly run for many years) but your excellent work has not gone unnoticed, and we greatly appreciate it.”
Santa Clara-based Nvidia is also looking for San Francisco office space, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be named. The news was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Nvidia, which also has California offices in San Dimas and Sunnyvale, declined to comment.
“It’s because of AI that San Francisco is back,” Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said last month on the Hill & Valley Forum podcast. “Just about everybody evacuated San Francisco. Now it’s thriving again.”
But San Francisco still has challenges ahead, as companies continue to push workers to return to the office. While the street environment has improved, it will be critical for the city to keep up the progress.
Lurie said his administration inherited the largest budget deficit in the city’s history and they have to get that under control. His administration’s task is to make sure streets and public spaces are clean, safe and inviting, he said.
“We have work to do, there’s no question, but we are a city on the rise, that’s for sure,” Lurie said.
Times staff writer Roger Vincent contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Recently, attorneys Bonnie Pierce and Meredith Hinton of Ricci Law Firm Injury Lawyers traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for safer trucking policies on behalf of clients and families affected by devastating truck crashes. They met with Congressman Greg Murphy, MD, Congressman Don Davis, Congressman Richard Hudson, and Office of US Senator Thom Tillis.
Bonnie and Meredith are part of the Women’s Caucus of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. The Women’s Caucus partnered with the Institute for Safer Trucking for a day of Advocacy in Washington, DC. Along with attorneys, clients and victims’ families joined in the efforts to advocate at Congress for safer trucking.
Bonnie has been advocating for safer trucking for over 30 years. Her passion for justice began from personal tragedy. In 1993, her son Terry was killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer just two miles from his coach’s home. That moment changed everything.
“Terry’s death is the reason I do what I do today,” said Bonnie. “If I can help another family get answers – if I can stop even one more preventable death – then Terry’s life continues to matter in a profound way.”
Following years of digging, learning the law, and fighting for accountability, Bonnie became an attorney and has since devoted her legal career to representing victims of truck crashes. She brings lived experience to her advocacy – not just legal expertise, but a mother’s resolve to ensure no one else suffers a tragedy like she has.
Bonnie and Meredith joined forces with victims to have individual meetings with Congressman Greg Murphy, Congressman Richard Hudson, Congressman Don Davis, and Lauren Medlin of Senator Thom Tillis’s office. The meetings were a great opportunity for the victims to share their stories. Also, Bonnie and Meredith were able to discuss potential policy changes, laws, and other ways that Congress can help make America’s roads and highways safer continuing Ricci Law Firm’s commitment to championing change beyond the courtroom.
“North Carolina alone has seen a 50% increase in fatal truck crashes in the last 10 years,” said Meredith. “We see the heartbreaking results with each family we represent and are advocating for safer trucking to prevent these tragedies from continuing to happen.”
Ricci Law Firm Injury Lawyers remains a powerful advocate for victims of catastrophic injury across North Carolina, with a particular focus on trucking, motorcycle, and workplace accidents. Their involvement in community safety and national reform efforts is part of their mission to serve both clients and the greater good.
For more information about Bonnie, Meredith, or Ricci Law Firm’s legal services and community initiatives, visit riccilaw.com.
The popular cliché prevention is better than cure makes sense even in the aspects of safety and security. The ways to prevent undesirous events from happening should be of paramount importance. Some practical implementation tips are to secure access control, set up surveillance systems, upgrade to motion lighting, and much more. ~ Ed.
It’s one thing to stop the effects of a safety mistake from harming anyone. For example, it’s good if falling debris hits a hard hat at just the right angle so as to protect the head and not injure the neck. But it would be best if the debris didn’t fall in the first place.
Business safety should be preventative if it’s to be effective, then. This applies to almost everything, outside of the risks that cannot be avoided, but can be managed and reduced. For example, no elevator is going to be 100% safety proof at all times by its very nature of being a suspended system held and moved by large wires. However, it has so many points of failure built in, and so many safety redundancies in place that far and away before an issue happens, dozens of other fail safes have stopped the problem. This means that even if a number of the cables are cut due to hypothetical sabotage, the carriage will still lock in place.
It’s good to think of safety in this way, especially if you’re trying to protect your staff first (of course) and sensitive systems second. In this post, we’ll discuss how to think through that process, and how to maximize prevention before defense.
6 Ways to Implement Preventative Business Safety
Reinforcing appointment systems, reporting systems, and business communications in addition to other security measures contribute to a robust safety system.
Access Control
Door security needs careful thought if you’re going to do it right, because the normal flow of people can’t be too hard to put in place, but you also need to ensure no one untoward is given access to your building.
Modern key cards and access control system vendors are worthwhile, as they create a record of building traffic, making it easier to understand who goes where throughout the day. Staff members usually appreciate having different clearance levels, because it means they don’t have to worry about securing areas that aren’t part of their daily work. Managing all those permissions takes time, but it’s worth getting right. Most buildings find that splitting access by department or role works well, especially when people need to focus without interruption or work with sensitive information.
Video Surveillance
Camera systems prevent problems far more often than they catch wrongdoing because people naturally behave differently when they know cameras are around. Even if you’re entirely innocent, normal, honest and doing what you’re supposed to, you’ve likely felt you have to act correctly knowing every second was being recorded. It’s just human nature, and luckily it applies to criminals or those considering harmful acts too.
More than security, the footage helps you to easily resolve disputes and conflict quickly if there is some. For example, new employees learn faster when they can watch recordings of experienced staff handling complex situations, like how they refused a problem customer or asked someone to leave. Moreover, camera checks often reveal interesting patterns too, like which entrances people actually use most often, or where delivery drivers prefer to park, or who isn’t locking up correctly. These observations lead to better decisions about pretty much everything a concerned manager would want to improve.
Motion Lighting
Lighting that will turn on and off in line with general movement serves multiple worthwhile functions for a firm. To begin with, empty corridors and parking areas stay dark until needed, putting down electricity costs. So that’s a win.
But then when someone walks through, the space ahead lights up automatically. Staff working unusual hours appreciate this feature, particularly during winter months when it gets dark early. The sudden brightness also tends to discourage people from lingering in places where they shouldn’t be, for instance, those who are walking down the side of a warehouse and are suddenly lit up with cameras covering them.
The initial cost of installation usually pays for itself through lower energy bills and reduced security incidents that way, and of course, you can also show you’re safeguarding staff by keeping areas of the business lit, like your entrance space or the outside bike shed for your cycling scheme.
Reception Reporting Systems
Keeping track of building occupants matters more than many people realize, because during emergencies, having an accurate headcount can potentially save a life, or prevent a firefighter from risking themselves going into a building to find someone who isn’t there.
A well-designed system means considering both security needs with practical considerations, as visitors should feel welcomed rather than interrogated. Many offices now use tablets for sign-ins, which speeds up the process while still collecting necessary information, or a staff door that scans in with a keycard and registers you officially.
Appointment Systems
Now, most businesses, even those closed to the public, will spend time planning who visits to help keep the police safe and to have a good timeline of who and who isn’t welcome. A good scheduling system will generally help you to limit overcrowding and let you know the general flow of people that day.
For the most part, unexpected visitors will always show up, but having clear procedures helps staff handle these situations confidently and to make an appointment for them without letting them into an unprepared space. We’d recommend reviewing this system and your appointment set, because helps spot patterns that might need attention, like certain times when the reception area gets particularly busy, or the departments not registering appointments through the safest channels.
Business Communications
Of course, a building that is regularly used is something of a living thing, it has people coming in and out, it has structural changes (however small), and also circumstances we need to be aware of. So, easy to access and continual updates about building operations help everyone work more safely and efficiently. Staff notice potential problems sooner when they know what to watch for along with this, such as being told to keep an eye on unapproved access or those without identification badges on their lanyards.
You can start pretty easily with simple group messages, as they work well for sharing quick updates about immediate concerns, while longer explanations fit better in regular team meetings or a wider briefing email. Also showcasing how your reporting pathways should take place can help you avoid them becoming problems later on.
Summing Up
Enhance the safety of your employees and business by implementing multiple checks and security systems. These include measures like strengthening access control, increasing video surveillance, adding motion lighting, creating reception reporting systems, using appointment systems, and setting up business communications.
With this advice, we hope you can see how business safety should not only be focused, but preventative too.
Over to you
What types of safety and security measures do you use at your business workplace or organization? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.
Disclaimer: Though the views expressed are of the author’s own, this article has been checked for its authenticity of information and resource links provided for a better and deeper understanding of the subject matter. However, you’re suggested to make your diligent research and consult subject experts to decide what is best for you. If you spot any factual errors, spelling, or grammatical mistakes in the article, please report at [email protected]. Thanks.
The rallying call urges all the Spanish-speaking and corrido-loving sapphics, butchonas, jotas and vaqueeras, to grab their boots and meet up at Little Joy Cocktails for a carne asada-style, family party every fourth Sunday of the month, featuring spins by DJ Lady Soul, DJ French and DJ Killed By Synth.
In Los Angeles, these three disc jockeys have embraced the word buchona, adding the ‘t’ as a play on the word butch.
The free event, now locally known as Butchona, is a safe space for all the Mexican and Spanish music-loving lesbians to gather on the last Sunday of every month.
Buchona is usually a term used in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries to describe a woman who is a boss– someone who exudes dominant energy or marries into a powerful position.
“I didn’t know how well [the idea for Butchona] was going to be received and my favorite part of all that, has been the looks everyone has been bringing,” said Rocio Flores, who goes by DJ Lady Soul.
(Photo Courtesy of Adelyna Tirado) DJ Lady Soul poses outside of Little Joy Cocktails in her butchona outfit.
The event that started only a few months ago, brings in dozens of dressed-up jotas. The ‘looks’ that the crowds bring are reminiscent of how dad’s, tíos, and their friends dressed at Mexican family parties: a tejana, cowboy boots, giant belt buckle and a beer in hand.
Dressing up in these looks is a way to show wealth and status to earn the respect of other males in a male-dominated and -centered culture– that is until now.
This traditionally male, Mexican, cultural identity, is something that has never been embraced or accessible to women or gender non-conforming people. The giant belt buckles that are traditionally custom-made and specific to male identities like head of household, ‘only rooster in the chicken coop’ and lone wolf, are only part of the strictly cis-gendered male clothes that dominate the culture.
The embroidered button-ups, belt buckles and unique cowboy hats –all come together to create the masculine looks that are now being reclaimed by women and gender nonconforming people at the event curated by three queer, Mexican DJs, who once had a little idea that could.
Flores, 37, (she/her), Gemini, says that to her the term butchona describes a woman who is a little ‘chunti,’ a little cheap in the way she dresses– but in a queer way.
“That title also means that you’re a badass,” she said. “I want to look like that señor, I want to look like that dude and now I feel like I could, so why not?”
Flores says that now she feels like she can embrace and reclaim that cultural identity, but it wasn’t always that easy.
At first, her family upheld the traditional cisgender roles that forced her to dress more feminine, but she always wanted to dress like her cousins and her tíos.
“Now, I’m like: ‘Fuck that!’ I’m going to wear the chalecos and the Chalino suits,” she said in Span-glish.
The Chalino suits are traditional, Mexican, suits that were worn and popularized by Chalino Sanchez, known as the King of corridos—a genre of music that is said to have originated on the border region of Texas, Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, Mexico.
“It felt good to break into the DJ scene, but what I always noticed was that the lesbian culture was always lacking,” said DJ Lady Soul. “I would mainly see gay males at parties and a lot of male DJs.”
According to Zippia–a career site that sources their information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the U.S. Census–23.5 percent of disc jockeys are women, 16 percent are LGBTQ+ and only 12.7 percent are Hispanic or Latin American.
What has always been a traditionally machista music genre and scene, is now being embraced by a growing number of queer women and non-male DJs in Los Angeles.
For Fran Fregoso, who goes by DJ French, 33, (they/she), Taurus– embracing their cultural identity came a lot easier because of their late uncle who sort of paved the way for them to come out as queer and be more accepted than he was as the first openly out queer person in their family.
(Photo by Adelyna Tirado)Dj French poses in their vaquero-style outfit.
Their music journey began listening to the 90s grunge, alternative, hip-hop and metal music played by their older siblings at home.
“Then I met Vanessa [DJ Killed By Synth], and she introduced me to the industry,” said DJ French.
DJ French felt the acceptance and support to enter this music space and decided to embrace their cultural roots by playing music that they grew up listening to at family parties. They booked their first gig with Cumbiatón LA, a collective of DJs and organizers who host Latin American parties across Los Angeles, often centering queer DJs and other performers.
“When [Lady Soul and Killed By Synth], brought this idea up to create Butchona, I was like: ‘Oh, I’m in 100 percent’,” they said. “Because I love playing corridos and banda music because that’s a core memory from my childhood and family parties.”
Banda, corridos, cumbias and other traditional music is a big part of Mexican culture, even as gendered and male-centered as it has been, it is embraced by all.
“I know a lot of people in our queer, Latino, community love that music too, but they also want to be in a safe space,” they said. “That’s where we decided to make an environment for our community to dance and be themselves.”
Vanessa Bueno, 40, (she/her), Libra, who goes by DJ Killed By Synth, says her journey started about 20 years ago when she started DJing for backyard parties in East L.A. and across L.A. County.
(Photo by Adelyna Tirado)DJ Killed By Synth playing her set.
Her family is from Guadalajara, so she says that growing up she also had a lot of family parties with corridos and banda blaring in the background of memories with the many cousins she says she lost count of.
“A lot of the music we heard was bachata, banda, cumbia and even some 80s freestyle,” said Bueno.
Even while she had a ‘little punk rocker phase,’ she says she couldn’t escape that Spanish music her family played ritualistically at family get-togethers.
When they began their music journey–back in the AOL, Instant Messenger days, they played a lot more electronic music, hence the name Killed by Synth. At first, it was just a username, but then it became her DJ name.
“Later down the line, comes [the idea for] Butchona came about, and me, Rocio and French collaborated,” she said. “It’s kind of always been my goal to create these safe spaces for women and queer people, and I had been in the scene long enough to where people were willing to answer my calls to work with them to make it happen.”
For Bueno, it was natural for her to build community and embrace this part of their culture later on in her career when she saw a need for queer, Latin American-centered club spaces with family party vibes.
She started hosting Latin American-style parties, blending music, culture, and food and attracting the exact audience she envisioned. With these events, Bueno aimed to reclaim her Mexican identity and foster a sense of family and community at these events.
“We’re here to build a safe space to embrace the music and kind of not think about the machismo that is tied to it and celebrate who we are,” said Bueno.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, California, Texas, New York, Arizona and Washington rank the highest in employment rates for disc jockeys in 2023. There is also a recent trend in more women DJs–the study does not include gender nonconforming DJs–booking twice as many gigs as men in event spaces and concerts that host DJ sets.
“It feels like we’re barely cracking into these safe spaces and expanding our horizons a little bit,” said DJ French. “I hope this inspires other people to also create safe spaces like Butchona.”
The next Butchona event will be on Sunday, Oct. 27 and will feature all three DJs playing corridos, banda, cumbia and all the classics, for a chunti Halloween party.
The scariest things lurking around the corner on Halloween aren’t monsters or ghosts.According to doctors, it’s cars. Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, especially for kids.”There’s a lot of focus on the risks of candy that might be a little misplaced,” said Britney Lombard, an injury prevention manager at Children’s Hospital Colorado. But one thing experts are sure of, she said, is an increase in child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween.”There are a lot of things that they can do to mitigate those risks,” she said.Here are some tips to make sure Halloween is safe and fun for everyone — from cars to costumes.Walk defensivelyAn easy way to keep yourself and your kids out of harm’s way on Halloween is being aware of your surroundings, Lombard said.That goes for drivers and pedestrians.”We see a lot of distracted drivers who are on their phones, and we see a lot of distracted pedestrians who may have headphones in or (are) on their phone,” she said.Kids under the age of 12 generally should be with adults when trick-or-treating. Older kids who are out by themselves should be aware of the rules of the road and practice being responsible pedestrians, she said. That includes staying off phones, making eye contact with drivers before crossing the road and using crosswalks and sidewalks.Lombard also urged people to drive the speed limit, don’t drink and drive and pay close attention to the road — especially at night.”There are going to be a lot of children out when it gets dark, and there is limited visibility,” she said.Backing out of driveways can be particularly dangerous on Halloween with kids running from house to house. Lombard recommends rolling down your window to listen for children, as well as checking for them in all mirrors and reversing slowly.Costume tipsCostumes can be fun and creative, but experts say they should also be safe.Make sure costumes fit well, and avoid tripping hazards like capes or bulky get-ups that aren’t safe for car seats.If your child’s costume includes a mask, make sure it fits well and they can see with it on. When in doubt, Lombard said, opt for face paint.Wearing bright, reflective costumes is a good idea, too — try adding glow sticks or reflective tape.Also consider non-flammable costumes, said Dr. Nicholas Algu, a pediatrician at Louisiana’s Ochsner Health. On the other side, if you decorate outside for Halloween, avoid long cords and open fire — just in case.”A lot of kids are walking around, and there are going to be flames, candles, things like that,” he said. “It’s really easy to have an accident.”Carve pumpkins safelyJack o’ lanterns are practically synonymous with Halloween, but carving them can be dangerous.To avoid accidents, Algu said to make sure the pumpkin is completely dry, use a marker to draw cut-outs beforehand and leave the carving to adults.”You can get the kids to scoop up pumpkin seeds instead,” he said. “That way, they feel like they’re helping and doing a lot of stuff, but it’s safer for them.”You can also forgo the carving entirely and attach things to the gourd to give your pumpkin some personality.Be careful with candy and strangersSure, there are myths about doctored candy hurting people on Halloween.But more importantly, Algu said, parents should consider telling their kids to avoid eating their stash until they get home in the case of any emergencies — like gooey, sticky or chunky candy that could cause young kids to choke.And even though the call for candy might be strong, Halloween isn’t the night to explore new parts of town.Algu recommends avoiding going inside homes, and sticking to houses with their lights on and places you know.Even in familiar neighborhoods, it’s likely you’ll meet strangers — that’s why it’s important to stay with your group, he said, and use common sense to avoid sticky situations.
The scariest things lurking around the corner on Halloween aren’t monsters or ghosts.
According to doctors, it’s cars. Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, especially for kids.
“There’s a lot of focus on the risks of candy that might be a little misplaced,” said Britney Lombard, an injury prevention manager at Children’s Hospital Colorado. But one thing experts are sure of, she said, is an increase in child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween.
“There are a lot of things that they can do to mitigate those risks,” she said.
Here are some tips to make sure Halloween is safe and fun for everyone — from cars to costumes.
Walk defensively
An easy way to keep yourself and your kids out of harm’s way on Halloween is being aware of your surroundings, Lombard said.
That goes for drivers and pedestrians.
“We see a lot of distracted drivers who are on their phones, and we see a lot of distracted pedestrians who may have headphones in or (are) on their phone,” she said.
Kids under the age of 12 generally should be with adults when trick-or-treating. Older kids who are out by themselves should be aware of the rules of the road and practice being responsible pedestrians, she said. That includes staying off phones, making eye contact with drivers before crossing the road and using crosswalks and sidewalks.
Lombard also urged people to drive the speed limit, don’t drink and drive and pay close attention to the road — especially at night.
“There are going to be a lot of children out when it gets dark, and there is limited visibility,” she said.
Backing out of driveways can be particularly dangerous on Halloween with kids running from house to house. Lombard recommends rolling down your window to listen for children, as well as checking for them in all mirrors and reversing slowly.
Costume tips
Costumes can be fun and creative, but experts say they should also be safe.
Make sure costumes fit well, and avoid tripping hazards like capes or bulky get-ups that aren’t safe for car seats.
If your child’s costume includes a mask, make sure it fits well and they can see with it on. When in doubt, Lombard said, opt for face paint.
Wearing bright, reflective costumes is a good idea, too — try adding glow sticks or reflective tape.
Also consider non-flammable costumes, said Dr. Nicholas Algu, a pediatrician at Louisiana’s Ochsner Health. On the other side, if you decorate outside for Halloween, avoid long cords and open fire — just in case.
“A lot of kids are walking around, and there are going to be flames, candles, things like that,” he said. “It’s really easy to have an accident.”
Carve pumpkins safely
Jack o’ lanterns are practically synonymous with Halloween, but carving them can be dangerous.
To avoid accidents, Algu said to make sure the pumpkin is completely dry, use a marker to draw cut-outs beforehand and leave the carving to adults.
“You can get the kids to scoop up pumpkin seeds instead,” he said. “That way, they feel like they’re helping and doing a lot of stuff, but it’s safer for them.”
You can also forgo the carving entirely and attach things to the gourd to give your pumpkin some personality.
Be careful with candy and strangers
Sure, there are myths about doctored candy hurting people on Halloween.
But more importantly, Algu said, parents should consider telling their kids to avoid eating their stash until they get home in the case of any emergencies — like gooey, sticky or chunky candy that could cause young kids to choke.
And even though the call for candy might be strong, Halloween isn’t the night to explore new parts of town.
Algu recommends avoiding going inside homes, and sticking to houses with their lights on and places you know.
Even in familiar neighborhoods, it’s likely you’ll meet strangers — that’s why it’s important to stay with your group, he said, and use common sense to avoid sticky situations.
