SUMMARY: Milton Police have launched a reward program to encourage positive behavior among children by handing out “Golden Tickets” redeemable for free ice cream cones. Chief Jen Frank explains this initiative aims to create positive interactions between youth and law enforcement, countering the usual negative first encounters. Originally started in Vermont, the program helped reduce violent crime calls by 50%. Chief Frank hopes it motivates kids to continue good behavior, citing an example of students repeatedly cleaning a park after receiving ice cream rewards. The program runs through August 29 at The Sweet Greek in Milton.

The Milton Police Department has begun handing out free ice cream cones to kids in the community who show positive behaviors, …

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SUMMARY: Marcus Farrell is transforming mental health support for men through his campaign, “Men Deserve Roses,” which challenges traditional stigmas around male vulnerability. By delivering roses—typically seen as a gift for women—to men in male-dominated spaces like car dealerships, Farrell aims to show appreciation and encourage emotional openness. Since launching last September, the rose drops have been met with powerful reactions, including surprise and gratitude, highlighting the need for men to feel noticed and valued. Farrell’s foundation, Good Mindset, is hosting an event on Sunday at TCL Campground in Brownsboro, featuring activities like a car show and discussions to foster community and mentorship among men and their families.

One man is using the rose’s meaning as a baseline for his latest mental health campaign.

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by Jacob Fischler, Alabama Reflector
July 22, 2025

Republicans on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to rename the Opera House at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for first lady Melania Trump.

The panel adopted, 33-25, a package of amendments to the bill funding the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and related agencies for fiscal 2026 that included a provision to designate the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The vote was mostly party line, with Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington joining all Republicans present in voting in favor.

The ranking Democrat on the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Chellie Pingree of Maine, said she was “surprised” by the provision.

“Republicans snuck in something that I think is slightly divisive, which is renaming one section of the Kennedy Center after a family member of this administration,” Pingree said during the full committee markup, a meeting when a bill is debated, amended and voted on.

Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican, responded that the name change was “an excellent way to recognize (the first lady’s) support and commitment to promoting the arts.”

“Yes, we renamed the Opera House at the Kennedy Center for the first lady, who is the honorary chairman of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center,” Simpson said.

The Kennedy Center is considered one of the nation’s premier performing arts venues.

President Donald Trump removed several members of the Kennedy Center board in February, replacing them with loyalists who elected him board chair. He also fired the cultural center’s president, Deborah Rutter, and replaced her on an interim basis with Richard Grenell, who has held several roles over Trump’s two presidencies.

Interior-Environment bill

The House Interior-Environment spending bill proposes nearly $38 billion for departments and agencies covered by the measure, an overall spending cut of 6% compared to current levels that mainly comes from chopping 23% of the EPA’s budget.

The Interior Department would see a cut of less than one-half of 1% of its current funding, according to a summary provided by committee Republicans.

Arts and culture funding would also see major cuts in the bill.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities would each see 35% cuts, bringing each agency’s funding to $135 million. The Smithsonian Institution would receive $961.3 million, representing a 12% cut. And the Kennedy Center itself would see a 17.2% cut, to $37.2 million.

The full House Appropriations Committee approved the bill, with the amendment, 33-28.

Appropriations bills must win 60 votes in the Senate to become law, which generally makes it difficult for overly partisan provisions to be included in the final text.

The corresponding Senate subcommittee has not released its version of the bill, but is scheduled to consider it Thursday.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

The post US House spending panel votes to rename Kennedy Center Opera House for Melania Trump appeared first on alabamareflector.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This article reports on a partisan vote by House Republicans to rename the Kennedy Center’s Opera House after Melania Trump, highlighting the partisan divide and including critical remarks from Democrats. The framing is factual but includes language emphasizing Republican actions as “sneaking in” a “slightly divisive” provision and noting significant budget cuts to arts funding championed by Republicans. The inclusion of opposition voices and the mention of cuts to cultural institutions reflect scrutiny of the Republican approach. Overall, the tone leans moderately toward a Center-Right perspective, acknowledging Republican initiatives while pointing out controversy and Democratic criticism.