Petco Lawsuit Settled

A pet groomer who claimed she was victimized by other employees because she was deaf, has settled a lawsuit with Petco. Nancy Buchner, who worked at a store in Aurora, Colorado, will be paid $145,000. She has worked as a pet groomer for three decades and communicated primarily by sign language, according to the EEOC. Petco did not acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement, but has agreed to give employees training on ADA law.

Reward Offered in Coach's Murder

LA Police are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed a basketball coach in South Los Angeles. Eddy Hernandez, who is deaf, coached a team of deaf students at Fairfax High School and was killed by a single gunshot wound.

If a Tree Falls

If a Tree Falls is a new book written by Jennifer Rosner who's two daughters were born deaf. Rosner has a Ph.D. in philosophy from Stanford. She discovered a hidden ancestry line of deaf women in her family that can be traced all the way to Europe. Rosner’s book also details what some would consider controversial decisions she and her husband had to make about surgeries, sign language, and hearing aids. Two deaf great-great aunts of hers lived in the 1800s.

Racer Takes 2nd

Deaf motocross racer Ashley Fiolek finished 2nd in her race at the Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, South Carolina this past weekend. The Nineteen-year-old is second overall in the 2010 Women’s Motocross standings, 26 points back of leader Jessica Patterson. Fiolek is a two-time Women’s National Motocross champion despite the fact that she turned pro just two years ago.

The Language and Thought Connection

A new study on users of Nicaraguan Sign Language gives insight into newly adapted languages because NSL is only 30 yeras old. Researchers first noticed that older users of Nicaraguan Sign Language had trouble communicating about right and left. They also had difficulty with navigation. The study suggests some groups may have trouble grasping particular ideas because the concepts are not supported by their language. Details of the study are in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more about the study here.

Helen Keller Festival

The Times Daily out of Florence, Alabama reports on the Helen Keller festival in Tuscumbia here.

Teen Crowned

Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen is deaf and will become the first deaf person to compete in the national pageant in Orlando from August 24-28. Wailuku 14-year-old Lena Merrill says her platform would be increasing awareness about the need for quality education for deaf children. When Merrill's name was first announced as the winner of the state contest in Hawaii, her interpreter began crying and waving her hands wildly. It took a moment for Merrill to realize she had won. Among her interests: playing volleyball for her school and dancing with a Tahitian group called Tava Nui.

Descent Into Slavery

A deaf Mexican man is lured into slavery his life is turned around. The The New York Times tells his story here.

Amazing Journey For New Citizen

The San Jose Mercury News tells about a deaf Mexican man who has become a U.S. citizen here.

Arrest in Tornoto

A deaf man in Toronto will go to court today after his arrest yesterday for failing to obey a police commands to stay off the road. Emomotimi Azorbo stepped into the street to cross the road when an officer spotted him and yelled. A friend says the officers kept yelling at him but Azorbo didn't understand what they wanted. They immediately cuffed his hands behind his back, preventing Azorbo from using sign language.

Gift for Michigan Children

Detroit's Carls Foundation is giving $300,000 to the Western Michigan University Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology to help deaf children, especially those with cochlear implants. William Carls was a German immigrant who made his fortune in Detroit's industrial corporations durin the early 20th century.

Woman Found

A missing Louisiana woman has been found safe. Miracle Dawn Plunkett was reported missing in Bossier City but the deaf woman turned up in Nacogdoches, Texas where she had traveled on her own. Concerned family members had contacted the police about her after she was last seen Wednesday night.

Vidio Relay Trial Delayed

The founder of Maryland's Viable video relay won't go on trial until this fall. John Yeh and Joseph Yeh are accused defrauding the government out of millions of dollars through the FCC's video relay service for the deaf and hard of hearing. They have plead not guilty even though nine other people charged in the case have plead guilty. They face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.The Yehs also face a class action lawsuit for failing to pay former employees back wages totaling half a million dollars. The Yehs are asking that the suit be delayed until after resolution of the criminal case.

Woman Missing

Police are looking for deaf woman in Bossier City, Louisiana. Miracle Dawn Plunkett disappeared Wednesday night after she was dropped off at her home by staff of the Deaf Action Center. Police say there's no evidence of foul play.

AG Bell Gathering

The bienneal convention of the AG Bell Association is underway in Orlando. It's the 49th meeting that started in 1890. The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing prootes spoken language among the deaf or hard of hearing.
The convention's keynote speaker is Good Morning America contributor Lee Woodruff who is mother to a child with a significant hearing loss. Woodruff's husband, ABC news anchor Bob Woodruff, suffered a traumatic brain injury while covering the war in Iraq.

Controversial Cali Bill Moves Forward

A proposed law that has upset ASL advocates is out of committee in California's Senate. The Human Services Committee approved the bill yesterday. Sponsored by Democrat Tony Mendoza the bill called AB 2072 covers what information should be given to parents of deaf infants. Critics suggest it will push "oralist" treatments on deaf children. Groups opposing the measure include The California Deaf Newborn Identification & Advocacy Stakeholder Coalition American Society for Deaf Children, and California Association of the Deaf. They say it would discourage teaching ASL early and that supporters are largely for-profit companies with a financial stake in the outcome. A brochure to be distributed to parents is published by manufacturers and vendors of implants. The group also objects to the place given in the bill to audiologists, who would serve as first providers of information to parents of newly identified deaf children. Advocates say the bill simply requires hospitals to discuss all options with parents so they may make an informed decision. A committee report on the bill is posted here.

Golf Tourney

The Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing holds its 11th Annual Golf Tournament tomorrow in Brattleboro, Vermont. Click here for more information.

US World Cup Victory

A recap of the US World Cup game against Algeria is offered in International Sign here.

FCC Warns Video Providers

The FCC has issued a stern reminder to video distributors to make emergency information accessible to the deaf, especially with hurricane season upon us. The warning went to satellite providers, cable systems, and TV stations. These media companies must use closed captioning or a similar method. There also must be a way established by the video provider for viewers to lodge complaints when the information has not been properly provided.

Missing Boy Found

A deaf teenager is safe after disappearing last night. Police near St. Louis say the 17-year-old went missing until being found today in the suburb of Ladue. Authorities are not saying why Clarence Johnson disappeared or his condition. He mother says he was on his way home from baseball practice and the family began receiving threatening text messages from Johnson's phone soon after his disappearance.