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From jail to a new life: Mass. Recovery Court graduates look ahead to sobriety [Video]

WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. MIKE MARIA OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE DECLINING IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THE CRISIS IS STILL IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. RECOVERY COURT, ALSO KNOWN AS DRUG COURT, IS A LIFELINE FOR SOME, AS WE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND AT CHARLESTOWN RECOVERY COURT THIS WEEK. ITS GRADUATION DAY AT CHARLESTOWN RECOVERY COURT. DEREK AGASSI COMPLETED THE 18 MONTH PROGRAM. THATS AN ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL FOR PEOPLE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDERS. NO, IM NOT ARGUING. MY MOTHER. I DIDNT WANT TO DO DRUG COURT. ITS AN EMOTIONAL DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR DEREKS MOM. A FEW YEARS BACK, I ALL OF A SUDDEN SAID TO ME, WE NEED TO START PREPARING TO BURY HIM. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I CANT DO THAT. WE FIRST MET DEREK LAST YEAR WHEN HE CHECKED IN WITH JUDGE LISA GRANT. YOU ARE AT THE CHELSEA SOBER HOUSE AND THATS GOOD. YEAH, I LIKE IT A LOT. TWICE A MONTH HE SHOWED UP IN COURT FOR THESE CHECK INS AND TO BE DRUG TESTED PARTICIPANTS AGREED TO A SIX MONTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND A YEAR OF INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT IF THEY RELAPSE, GET ARRESTED OR LEAVE THE PROGRAM. THEIR ORIGINAL SENTENCE IS IMPOSED AND THEY GO TO JAIL. I LOVE YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS HELPED ME A LOT. THANK YOU. AND I CANT FORGET JUDGE GRANT. JUDGE GRANTS THE BEST. THE MORE YOU INCARCERATE SOMEBODY DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR RECOVERY, THE LESS LIKELY THAT RECOVERY IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. JUDGE GRANT HAS BEEN ON THE BENCH AT CHARLESTOWN RECOVERY COURT FOR FOUR YEARS. IM SO PROUD OF EACH OF THEM AND HOW MUCH WORK THEYVE DONE AND HOW FAR THEYVE COME, AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEYVE MADE IN THEIR LIVES. THIS IS ONE OF NEARLY 60 SPECIALTY COURTS AROUND THE STATE. OTHERS FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, VETERANS AND HOMELESSNESS. ONLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM ARE ARRESTED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR. COMPARE THAT TO PEOPLE WHO DONT GO THROUGH A PROGRAM WHERE RECIDIVISM RATES CAN BE AS HIGH AS 50% FOR WOMEN AND 69% FOR MEN. SO THINGS GOING THERE? GOOD, GOOD GOOD GOING PRETTY GOOD. THAT WAS JOEL SYLVIA A YEAR AGO. NOW HES ALSO GRADUATING. BASICALLY. YOU THINK OF IM LOOKING AT IT AS A AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRAIGHTEN MY LIFE OUT. BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES WHEN WE VISITED LAST YEAR, THERE WERE EIGHT PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE RECOVERY COURT, THREE ARE STILL IN THE PROGRAM AND THREE HAVE GRADUATED, INCLUDING JOEL AND DEREK. THE OTHER TWO ARE BACK IN JAIL. I GREW FROM A BOY TO A MAN. ITS A COMPLETELY NEW LIFE. I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE BURYING THEM, BUT I DIDNT WANT TO GIVE UP. I COULD JUST A MOTHER AND NOW IM SO PROUD OF THEM. SO IM GOING TO ASK DEREK. AGASSI TELLS US HE OVERDOSED 15 TIMES. 15 TIMES, HE SAYS HE HAD TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. HIS MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS YOURE WORTH IT. THERE IS A WAY OUT. REACH OUT AND GET SOME HELP. WE DO HAVE SOME

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Local SEO Strategies: Boost Your Business Locally [Video]

Implementing local SEO strategies can significantly improve your business’s online presence and attract more local customers. Call Top Marketing Agency today!

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Where to watch Arkansas high school football championships 2024 [Video]

PLAYOFFS IN LITTLE ROCK. SPORTS DIRECTOR MERIDITH MULKEY HAS YOUR FRIDAY FRENZY RECAP. THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF FRIDAY FRENZY DEFINITELY LIVED UP TO IT’S NAME AS A HANDFUL OF LOCAL TEAMS WERE VYING FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT DOWN IN LITTLE ROCK… THE BENTONVILLE TIGERS BEING ONE OF THEM….THEY GOT TO STAY IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME STADIUM FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK PLAYING HOST TO CONWAY IN THE 7-A SEMIFINALS… OPENING DRIVE….TIGERS GO MARCHING DOWN THE FIELD… WELL INTO WAMPUS CAT TERRITORY…TREVOR GRANT FINDS A WIDE OPEN BLAIR IRVIN THE THIRD HE SQUEEZES HIS WAY INTO THE ENDZONE FOR THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME…. CONWAY HAS A REPLY THOUGH….GRAYSON WILSON THE QUARTERBACK KEEPER… A SHORT RUN FOR THE TYING SCORE… THEN IT BECOMES AN ALL OUT DEFENSIVE BATTLE FOR A BIT. THIS ONE WOULD BE A FIGHT TO THE FINISH…. AS THE TIGERS CLAW THEIR WAY PAST THE CATS AND INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 36-34 VICTORY. MOVING OVER TO CLASS 6- A….SHILOH CHRISTIAN HIT THE ROAD TO BENTON…. PANTHERS PUT UP THE FIRST POINTS…. BUT HERE COMES THE SAINTS…. COLE CREIGHTON LAUNCHES ONE 40 YARDS OVER THE MIDDLE TO GRIFFON MASON TO KNOT IT ALL UP AT SIX…. THE SHILOH DEFENSE GOING TO WORK NOW… THEY WOULD FORCE FIVE FIRST HALF TURNOVERS…. IT’S 20-20 AT THE BREAK….BUT THE SAINTS TAKE OVER IN THE SECOND HALF AND WILL GO MARCHING STRAIGHT INTO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP… WITH A 45-32 WIN OVER BENTON. THERE’S WAS STILL ONE LOCAL TEAM ALIVE IN CLASS 5-A…. THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS OF THE WEST….FARMINGTON… THIS MEETING WITH LAKESIDE MARKED THE FIRST EVER SEMIFINAL GAME IN THE CARDINAL’S NEST… A BIG MOMENT FOR THIS TEAM…AND THEY MADE THE MOST OF IT….DOWN 18 TO START THE FOURTH…. THE CARDINALS GOES TO WORK…LUKE ELSICK FORCES HIS WAY INTO THE ENDZONE AND JUST GETS IT…MAKE IT 48-37 LAKESIDE…. AND THEY’LL KEEP CHIPPING AWAY… AYDEN LESTER CONNECTS WITH DAWSON KEATON THIS TIME HE’S IN THE CLEAR AND THAT’S GOOD FOR ANOTHER FARMINGTON T-D….THESE TWO GO BACK AND FORTH AND IT’S A WILD FINISH….AS FARMINGTON PULLS OFF THE SECOND HALF COME BACK AND PUNCHES IT’S TICKET TO THE STATE TITLE GAME….59-55 THE FINAL OVER LAKESIDE. THE MIGHTY ELKS STILL GOING STRONG IN CLASS 4A…. THEY WELCOMED MALVERN TO TOWN FOR SOME QUARTERFINALS PLAY… HOME TEAM STRIKES FIRST….BEN NAPIER GOES OVER THE TOP TO JAQUAE WALDEN HERE NO ONE AROUND TO STOP HIM…TOUCHDOWN ELKINS…. NOW BACK IN SCORING POSITION….HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ONE FROM WALDEN… GETS THE HANDOFF AND WORKS HIS WAY IN FOR SIX MORE…. ELKS GO UP 14-0 BEFORE THE LEOPARDS ARE ABLE TO CUT INTO THE LEAD TO START THE SECOND QUARTER….BUT ELKINS NOT READY FOR THEIR PERFECT SEASON TO COME TO AN END… THEY’RE MOVING ON TO SEMIS WITH A 45-31 WIN. THERE’S ONE OTHER LOCAL TEAM HEADED TO THE ROCK… NO SURPRISE HERE….IT’S THE REIGNING 6-A STATE CHAMPS OF GREENWOOD… BULLDOGS COMPLETE THE SHUTOUT OVER MOUNTAIN HOME AND WILL NOW GET READY TO MEET A FAMILIAR FO

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Victims’ Services Unit served more than 100 families since June [Video]

THURSDAY. ITS COMING UP MICHELLE. THANK YOU. THE GREENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENTS VICTIM SERVICES UNIT IS REFLECTING ON ITS FIRST SIX MONTHS OF FULL STAFF SINCE GETTING A FEDERAL GRANT. OUR SARAH SOWERS CAUGHT UP WITH THAT TEAM TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THEYVE HELPED. ALTHOUGH CRIME IS DOWN IN GREENSBORO, THIS YEAR, THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SAYS THEYVE BEEN BUSIER THAN EVER, HELPING MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS SINCE JUNE. GREENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENTS VICTIM SERVICES UNIT IS COMPRISED OF THREE FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THEY SPEND EACH DAY REACHING OUT TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, INCLUDING MURDERS, SHOOTINGS AND ARMED ROBBERIES. WHEN YOURE A VICTIM AND A SURVIVOR, THERE IS NO SOLVED. IT NEVER GOES AWAY FROM EXPLAINING THE COURT PROCESS TO PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR COUNSELING. VSU DIRECTOR MARY NERO SAYS SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WORK ALONGSIDE DETECTIVES TO ASSIST VICTIMS LONG AFTER CRIME SCENE TAPE COMES DOWN. THE TIMES ARE STILL STANDING. THEYRE LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WHAT DO I DO NEXT? SO WE ARE THERE FOR THE AFTERMATH. NERO SAYS EACH CASE IS EVALUATED AT THE VICTIMS PACE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MONTHS BEFORE THEY ARE READY TO TALK ABOUT THE CRIME AND THEN TO DECIDE WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED, WHETHER ITS THEYRE LOOKING FOR INCOME BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE WHERE THEYRE LIVING AT CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF THE CRIME THAT HAPPENED THERE OR HELPING PAY FOR FUNERALS WITH OUR HOMICIDE VICTIMS. ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO THATS THE ANSWER THAT WE GIVE THEM IS BEING ABLE TO BE THEIR VOICE FOR THEIR RESOURCES. SINCE THE UNIT EXPANDED THIS SUMMER, NERO SAYS THEIR CAPACITY TO SUPPORT VICTIMS HAS GROWN THEIR SUCCESS IN HELPING VICTIMS. THE SPECIALISTS SAY, COMES AS TRUST GROWS. GRIEF IS NOT LINEAR AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEYRE EXHIBITING OR FEELING GRIEF, THERES A LOT OF PLACES YOU DONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN OR WHERE TO START. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A VICTIM OF VIOLENT CRIME AND THAT ALL THAT WE ASK FOR IS THAT OPEN HONESTY, BECAUSE IT HELPS US DO OUR JOB BETTER TO BETTER ASSIST, TO GET THEM THE MOST RESOURCES AND SUPPORT. VSU SAYS THAT IN THE FUTURE THEY HOPE THEY CAN ALSO ASSIST VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF HIT AND RUN FATALITIES AS WELL. REPORTING IN GREENSBOR