Supreme Court to decide if ban on homeless encampments is ‘cruel and unusual’

Helen Cruz, an unhoused Grants Pass native, knows the indignity first hand. Over five years living in city parks before a nearby church took her in, she says she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines. “I was holding down two jobs when I was out here, and it's still not enough to be able to rent a place,” she said. “The terms of low income housing here is $1,000 a month, and that's not workable either.” Still, from Phoenix, to Los Angeles, to Seattle, city leaders and law enforcement groups -- members of both political parties -- have joined Grants [...]

Starla Andreas is heartbroken knowing that vandals defaced her mother-in-law's grave, along with 46 others. "I think the community is just crying. Why? Why would this senseless act take place? Why would you do this to people that you don't even know the families," Andreas asked. Andreas has lived in the rural town of Windom for several years and said that members of the community plan to help clean up the mess left at the cemetery. "I will be out there because not only was my mother's headstone, but we have friends here in this community and their family members," Andreas [...]

Century II has long been the most recognizable landmark in the Wichita skyline. City leaders have spent years debating whether to tear it down, but Thursday was a big win for people who are fighting to keep it standing. "We're celebrating the new roof on Century II. It's gorgeous. It's bright, it's blue, and we're thrilled," said Celeste Racette with Save Century II. Watching this timelapse from our drone, it's obvious the $5 million project was no easy task. You can see six months of work and more than 23,000 working hours from start to finish in just a matter of [...]