iNews Briefs
Freight plane makes emergency landing in Cayman Islands
Incident: DHL Expreso B752 near Grand Cayman on Feb 18th 2015, engine shut down in flight
By Simon Hradecky From The Aviation Herald
A DHL Aero Expreso Boeing 757-200 freighter, registration HP-1910DAE performing freight flight D5-5231 from Miami,FL (USA) to San Jose (Costa Rica) with 3 crew and hazardeous (flammable) cargo, was enroute near the Cayman Islands when the crew needed to shut an engine (PW2037) down due to the loss of oil pressure. The aircraft diverted to Grand Cayman Islands’ Robert Owen Airport for a safe landing.
This is the second emergency land of a freight plane at Owen Roberts Airport in one moth. “Very unusual” was a comment on the website.
For more: http://avherald.com/h?article=482080dc&opt=0
Cayman Islands National Education Conference 2015 starts Tuesday (24)
The Opening Ceremony of the National Education Conference – 2015
Tuesday, 24th February, 2015, 8:30 am – 10:00 am at Mary Miller Hall , Red Bay, Grand Cayman
PARTICIPANTS: Honourable Tara Rivers, JP, Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs
Mr. Winston Connolly, Councillor, Ministry of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs
Mr. Christen Suckoo, Acting Chief Officer, Ministry of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs
Mrs. Shirley Wahler, CEO, Department of Education Services
Dr. Avis Glaze, International Educator
BACKGROUND: This year’s National Education Conference “Engage. Connect. Learn.” focuses on the importance of inclusion. The opening ceremony will be followed by numerous workshops organised in three blocks. Participants will be able to choose which workshops in each block they would like to participate in.
Switzerland rail crash: passenger trains collide 30 miles from Zurich
From NBC
MAINZ, Germany — Two passenger trains collided in Switzerland early Friday, officials said, causing at least five injuries and several cars on one of the trains to derail.
The collision between the commuter train and fast intercity rail service happened near the town of Rafz — around 30 miles from Zurich — at around 6:45 a.m. local time (12:45 a.m. ET), a Zurich police spokesman told NBC News.
Rescue teams were on site and according to preliminary information five people were injured, at least one of them seriously, according to the spokesperson.
The track between the towns of Buelach and Schaffhausen was closed, and the website for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) showed several services between Zurich and the German city of Stuttgart been canceled or rerouted.
I am Company helps Cayman Islands young artists
IAMCO (I am Company) founded in 2003 by Susan A. Olde in Grand Cayman, has supported scholarships for several Caymanian students.
Kerri-Anne Chisholm is the most recent recipient of one of its grants designed to create opportunities for young creative Caymanians to pursue careers in the arts.
Miss Chisholm was awarded the grant to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Westminster in the U.K. Her award fully funds the 12-month master’s degree programme in museums, galleries and contemporary culture that she began last September.
Overall, the numerous grants are part of the Creative Careers program of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.
National Gallery Director Natalie Urquhart said, “It is vital that we support talented individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in art and design, not only for the advancement of these creative students, but for the development of the creative industries as a future economic driver in the Cayman Islands.
“We are committed to supporting the next generation of arts professionals, and see great potential in the individuals who have taken part in the National Gallery’s Creative Careers program.”
Kaitlyn Elphinstone, communications and public engagement manager at the National Gallery, said the grants enable students to concentrate on their studies without having to worry about funding.
Also, she said, “We have career advice, internship programs, scholarship programs at all different levels.”
The grant programmes are:
Deutsche Bank internship
Deutsche Bank for more than a decade has offered an annual paid internship at the National Gallery.
“…Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Ltd. has donated an enormous amount over the last 12 years, and it is good to be able to trace back and see how all the people who have received the awards are doing now,” Ms. Elphinstone said.
National Gallery summer internship, Ed & Barbara Oliver Workshop Scholarship and Sponsor a Scholar programme are other grant programmes.
TESLA: In 6 months we will start producing battery packs that can power a home
By Jay Yarow
On Wednesday evening, Tesla revealed plans to release a new battery that it said could power homes.
“We are going to unveil the Tesla home battery, the consumer battery that would be for use in people’s houses or businesses fairly soon,” CEO Elon Musk said, according to Bloomberg.
On Tesla’s earnings call, CTO JB Straubel said the company would most likely hold an event in the next “month or two” to reveal the battery, according to a Seeking Alpha transcript. The battery would enter production in “about six months or so.”
What is this battery? Straubel didn’t go into deep detail. He just said, “It’s really great. I’m really excited about it.”
This isn’t the first time Tesla discussed a battery for the home. The Verge reports:
On an earnings call last year Musk had laid out his ambition to make something that would live in consumers’ homes, instead of their cars. “We are trying to figure out what would be a cool stationary (battery) pack,” Musk said. “Some will be like the Model S pack: something flat, 5 inches off the wall, wall mounted, with a beautiful cover, an integrated bi-directional inverter, and plug and play.”
“The long-term demand for stationary energy storage is extraordinary,” added JB Straubel, Tesla’s chief technical officer, during that call. “We’ve done a huge amount of effort there and have talked to major utilities and energy service companies.” That plan seems like it’s now much closer to a reality the company can share with the public.
Tesla is getting crushed Thursday after it missed analyst expectations and revealed plans to spend a “staggering” amount on capital expenditures.
For more on this story go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-in-6-months-we-will-start-producing-battery-packs-that-can-power-a-home-2015-2#ixzz3SOsVUv5j
2015 Cayman Islands National Swimming Championship
First medals of the 2015 Championships were awarded to Samantha Bailey – Stingray Swim Club and Audrey Weber – Camana Bay Aquatic Club for the 800m Freestyle event.
Starbucks to scrap CDs in stores worldwide
By Patrick Kulp From Mashable
Sad news for fans of Michael Bublé and Norah Jones: Starbucks will no longer sell CDs in its stores starting next month.
The coffee giant will be pulling CDs from its 21,000 stores worldwide at the end of March, Starbucks spokesperson Maggie Jantzen confirmed on Friday.
Jantzen told Mashable that the chain will continue its focus on music, but wants to move to more “relevant” formats.
Jantzen said she could not go into detail about what types of formats the company is looking into — but presumably we’re talking digital distribution of some kind.
“Music has always been a key component of our coffee house experience and it will continue to be,” Jantzen said. “However, we will continue to evolve the format of our music offerings to ensure we’re offering relevant options for our customers.”
Starbucks has a track record of embracing new technology with initiatives like wireless charging pads, mobile payments and a partnership with Google to provide speedy Wi-Fi.
With CD sales declining year over year as they are supplanted by downloads and streaming services, physical discs are increasingly going the way of the cassette tape.
The company will continue to offer its Pick of the Week program, as well as a partnership with Apple that allows app users free iTunes downloads, Jantzen said.
Starbucks has built much of its brand on its music offerings. The coffee giant released its first CD, a compilation disc called Blue Note Blend, back in 1995. The company ramped up music sales in 1999 when it acquired the record label Hear Music.
In the mid-2000s, the company released a series of exclusive albums from high-profile artists such as Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morissette.
Hilton names Tom Potter new Senior VP for Caribbean and Latin America
Tom PotterHilton Worldwide has announced the appointment of Tom Potter as senior vice president, Caribbean and Latin America. Potter takes the helm of the region’s owned and managed portfolio, while playing a key role in the company’s expansion plans throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
With more than 35 years with Hilton, Potter has had a front row seat to the company’s growth in Latin America. In his new role, he is focused on continuing this effort and being a driving force in the region’s success.
“Expanding our footprint in Latin America is one of our top priorities and I am committed to working closely with our development partners to keep this momentum going strong,” said Potter. “This growth, combined with leading innovations and best in class talent, will help keep Hilton at the forefront of the industry.”
Cruise Planners earns Royal Caribbean International’s President’s Award for Overall Achievement
Royal Caribbean International once again recognizes Cruise Planners as travel franchise leader in the travel agent community
“We are proud of our long-standing and ‘loyal’ relationship with Royal Caribbean International and earning the President’s Award for the second time is icing on the cake,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners.
Coral Springs, Fla. (PRWEB) February 19, 2015
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, the nation’s largest home-based travel franchise business network in the industry, has earned the President’s Award for Overall Achievement from Royal Caribbean International.
“We are honored to recognize Cruise Planners with their 8th consecutive win in our Loyal to Royal awards,” said Vicki Freed Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Royal Caribbean International. “This year’s recognition of President’s Award is very special and incredibly well deserved by Cruise Planners due to their strong year over year growth in 2014 and their unwavering support of Royal Caribbean throughout the years.”
Cruise Planners has being recognized by Loyal to Royal Partners of the Year for eight years and this is the second time for the home-based travel franchise to win the President’s Award for Overall Achievement.
“We are so proud of our long-standing and ‘loyal’ relationship with Royal Caribbean International and earning the President’s Award for the second time is icing on the cake,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “Royal Caribbean understands our “Cruisitude”® brand so the relationship works perfectly.”
Cruise Planners has a revolutionary travel franchise business model with its training and business development support, advanced technology, and award-winning marketing.
“Our network of professional travel advisors embrace Royal Caribbean’s travel agent-friendly and consumer-centric programs, cruise industry innovations and amazingly built ships leading to mutually beneficial success,” Fee said.
Royal Caribbean’s President’s Award for Overall Achievement is part of the cruise line’s Loyal to Royal Partners of the Year recognition for top-performing partners.
Accounts in Review: Royal Caribbean Gets Wanderlust After 7 Years With JWT
By Andrew McMains From Adweek
Incumbent agency will defend, though
Call it the seven-year itch. Royal Caribbean, which spends more than $80 million in media annually, is looking at outside creative agencies after more than seven years with JWT. The incumbent is defending, however, holding out hope—in the face of historically slim odds—that the marriage can be saved.
In the last creative review, JWT beat Saatchi & Saatchi and Draftfcb to succeed Arnold on the account. This time around, sources expect the lineup to be markedly different. Royal Caribbean plans to complete its search in May.
Russian MP proposes supplying arms to Caribbean countries
From RAPSI
MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI) – A Just Russia party lawmaker Oleg Nilov proposed drafting a bill to allow arms deliveries to Caribbean countries in response to the US which is considering whether to provide weapons to Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.
The US House of Representatives introduced new legislation in early February to authorize military and lethal aid worth $1 billion to Ukraine through 2017.
“We should start considering a plan for Russia’s involvement in the settlement of the [Ukrainian] crisis,” Nilov said in the State Duma. “I believe that we should prepare a bill to approve the supply of weapons to the Caribbean countries.”
“This response action would prevent the delivery of weapons to Ukraine,” the MP said.
He also proposed establishing a special public committee to discuss the economic restoration of Donetsk and Luhansk.
“I propose selecting skilled professionals who had to flee Ukraine for a permanent public committee. We would cooperate with it to prepare proposals on the economic restoration of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics. We already have proposals on a number of priority measures,” Nilov said.
For more: http://rapsinews.com/legislation_news/20150220/273206160.html
Simmons to ‘bat’ in court
By Azad Ali From Caribbean Life
West Indies opening One-Day batsman Lendl Simmons is now faced with a legal battle after he was sued for allegedly sharing intimate photographs of a woman with whom he was involved in a brief romantic relationship.
Simmons is in Australia with the West Indies team participating in the International Cricket Council World Cup (ICC).
The accountant executive, Therese Ho is seeking substantial damages from Simmons for breaching the common law principle of confidence after he allegedly shared the intimate photos of her.
According to her witness statement filed in the High Court, Port of Spain, Ho is claiming that she started the relationship when they met at a party in 2013.
After about 18 months, Ho said she broke up with Simmons after she discovered that he was engaged to be married while involved with her.
She then contacted Simmons fiancé at the time, now his current wife, to inform her of the situation.
In response, she claims that Simmons allegedly used several mobile apps, including Viber, to send photos of sexual acts they took while together to her former boyfriend and to several of his friends, including his local and regional team-mates DwayneBravo and Kieron Pollar who are expected to be summoned as witnesses in the trial expected to take place on March 23, 2015.
Besides damaging her reputation, Ho is claiming the release of the images also caused her significant distress.
The 30-year-old cricketer has denied ever being involved with Ho but admitted that the two had a brief singular sexual encounter.
Simmons has played for the West Indies in eight Test matches, 61 One-Day Internationals and 34 Twenty20s. He made his Test debut in 2009.
For more: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2015/2/2015-02-12-azad-cricket-cl_2015_2.html
Nevis Administration signs agreement with Caribbean Helicopters Ltd. for added airlift
NIA CHARLESTOWN Nevis (February 19, 2015) — The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) forged a partnership with Caribbean Helicopters Ltd. (CHL) based in Antigua which will bring added airlift to the Vance W. Amory International Airport.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Administration by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Colin Dore and Director of CHL Neil Dickinson at a brief but significant ceremony at the Nevis Tourism Authority’s (NTA) Visitor Centre on February 13, 2015.
In brief remarks Mr Dore said the island had struggled with the issue of airlift in and out of Nevis via Antigua for too long and the new partnership would set Nevis on a path that would provide a level of convenience not only for Nevisians but also for visitors to and from the island.
He urged Nevisians to utilise the new flight and gave the assurance that the NTA and the NIA would do all the marketing necessary to build awareness of the flight.
Dore stated that the new airlift would bring benefits to Nevis and it was the intention of the NIA to continue to work with all its partners to find ways to continue to expand the airlift into and out of Nevis.
He said the main focus was the traveller’s convenience and as such the Administration and the NTA would do all that they could to provide a greater level of convenience for both local travellers and visitors.
Meantime, Dickinson said CHL was proud to enter into the agreement with the NIA. He explained that CHL was a Caribbean company which had existed for more 20 years, primarily as a tour operator based in Antigua.
According to Dickinson, CHL’s vision was not only to provide an adequate service at present but also to seek to ways to develop the service to bring more people to Nevis.
“We believe there is a lot of synergy between Antigua and Nevis and day tours for existing people staying in Antigua is a very great possibility. We are already exploring quite a lot of success. So we are looking forward to this,” he said.
CHL has a fleet of three Bell 206L long-range helicopters which Dickinson stated visited the islands frequently bringing tourists and doing charters. However their service would be expanded with the addition of two fixed winged airplanes.
“Our two fixed wing airplanes are going to start to do the airlift between Antigua and Nevis very shortly. The plan is that we increase that fleet by a further two aircrafts in the next six months,” he said.
Initially CHL will have two flights a day on Fridays and Sundays with plans to later include two flights on a Wednesday.
Dickinson said the company would be monitoring the demand and if it grows as it is expected to, it would become a daily service between Antigua and Nevis.
Bookings could be made via the CHL website www.caribbeanhelicopters.com through the reservations number provided there.
CDB reports… Guyana debt-to-GDP ratio among Caribbean’s lowest
From Guyana Chronicle
GUYANA’S debt-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the Caribbean, according to a report just released by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).The report indicates that Guyana’s debt ratio amounts to some 58 per cent of GDP, and is bettered only by Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and Haiti. By contrast, Jamaica and Barbados recorded debt-to-GDP ratios of 140 and 115 per cent respectively.
Guyana’s low debt-to-GDP ratio also compares favourably with its historical position, given that this ratio once stood at over 600 per cent prior to 1992.
This favourable finding in relation to Guyana is as a result of the Government’s sustained efforts at prudent management of the economy, and careful incurrence of new debt, along with managing the fiscal operations of Government to ensure containment of the fiscal deficit and sustain growth in the economy.
The CDB report noted that the fiscal performance of five of nine Most Highly Indebted borrowing member states deteriorated in 2014, resulting in increased indebtedness for those countries.
The biggest cases of indebtedness were recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados, which resulted in their being downgraded by credit rating agencies, the report said.
For more on this story go to: http://guyanachronicle.com/cdb-reports-guyana-debt-to-gdp-ratio-among-caribbeans-lowest/
CHTAEF scholarships open for Caribbean students
Caribbean students and industry professionals are encouraged to apply for a scholarship from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) so they can pursue higher education or professional development in the tourism and hospitality field.
Scholarships are awarded with support from CHTAEF sponsors including Virgin Holidays, Interval International, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Johnson & Wales University and Florida International University.
CHTAEF is accepting applications for its scholarship program until March 30, 2015 at 5 pm Eastern Caribbean Time.
Applications are available in English and Spanish via: http://caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/CHTAEFapplication.php or by contacting the local hotel association in the applicant’s country. Applications must be submitted with the approval of the applicant’s local hotel association in order to be considered.
Scholarships are awarded for study at any approved college or university including, but not limited to, the University of West Indies and local community colleges throughout the Caribbean.
Scholarship recipients will be advised of their approval status and, if accepted, the amount of their award, no earlier than May 25, 2015. For more information contact: 571-436-4386 for more information.
US Coast Guard seizes $1.6M worth of pot in the Caribbean
From ABC News
(AP) The U.S. Coast Guard says it has seized more than 1,700 pounds (770 kilograms) of marijuana and detained a Russian man aboard a boat south of the Dominican Republic.
Officials said in a statement Friday that the drugs are worth an estimated $1.6 million.
The Coast Guard said it discovered the drugs after detecting a suspicious 40-foot boat while on a routine patrol last Saturday. The boat was registered in Finland.
No further details were available. A Coast Guard spokesman did not respond to a message asking for comment.
For more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-coast-guard-seizes-16m-worth-pot-caribbean-29114438
Mark Zuckerberg wants to build a kind of 911 service for internet access (FB)
By Sam Colt, provided by Business Insider From SF Gate
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sat down with Bloomberg TV’s Emily Chang on Thursday to discuss Internet.org, Facebook’s attempt to bring bare-bones Internet access to people in developing countries.
Zuckerberg compared Internet.org to 911 in the US, in that both are designed to provide necessary services.
“The model that we consider this to be most similar to is 911 in the U.S,” said Zuckerberg.
“So even if you haven’t paid for a phone plan, you can always dial 911, and if there is a crime or a health emergency or a fire, you get basic help, and we think there should be an equivalent of this for the Internet as well — where even if you haven’t paid for a data plan, you can get access to basic health information or education or job tools or basic communication tools, and it will vary, country by country.”
Zuckerberg said Internet.org will sustain itself by bringing new customers to data providers once people learn how to take advantage of what’s online.
“The people understand why they would want to pay for data, and these operators end up making more money, and it ends up being more profitable, and it ends up taking that money and reinvesting that in better Internet and infrastructure for everyone in their country,” he said.
As for how Facebook can increase internet access, Zuckerberg said the company is looking at drones in the “near future,” along with other technologies like lasers and microwaves.
He also said he was happy that Google was exploring other options like weather balloons to bring the internet to the developing world, a program called Project Loon. “Connecting everyone is going to be something that no single company can do by themselves. So I’m really glad that they and a lot of other companies are working on this,” he said. “I’d love to work with Google.”
Winter’s newest menace: frozen poop
By Jessica Roy From New York Mag
Throughout the winter, drivers must contend with icy roads, blowing snow, low visibility, and subzero temperatures that can keep their cars from starting. Now we have a new menace to tack onto the list: frozen poop.
Yesterday, a tanker truck carrying raw sewage waste accidentally spilled 300 to 400 gallons of poop onto Indiana Highway 9. Owing to the freezing temperatures, the excrement froze to the road, causing the nearby exit ramp to be shut down for several hours while cleanup crews scraped the “toxic poopsicle” from the roadway.
Worst job ever.
Fewer children killed by recalled products, but company aren’t doing enough to notify consumers
By Ashlee Kieler From Consumerist
Each year thousands of manufacturers recalled potentially dangerous and deadly products. While systems in place to notify consumers of these issues have resulted in fewer deaths and injuries in recent years, a new report has found that companies aren’t using their power on social media to protect consumers.
ABC News reports that the latest Kids in Danger report [PDF] found that companies who use social media to promote their products to tens of thousands of “fans” aren’t harvesting that clout to notify consumers of recent recalls.
The consumer watchdog group says that while a majority of companies who have been involved in children’s product recalls have a Facebook page, less than a quarter of those companies actually use the social media site to pass on information about dangerous products.
Officials with the Consumer Product Safety Commission expressed concern for companies’ failure to alert consumers of recalls through social media back in November.
“I think some of them are certainly putting far more effort into sales than they are on the recall side. We definitely see that,” Elliot Kaye, head of the CPSC, told ABC News at the time. “What we see is there’s a quick hit on the recall side, it’s relatively narrow. They don’t use all their resources. They don’t use all their creativity. They don’t use all their social media channels to be able to do this, and that’s what we’re asking for.”
While there is no specific requirement under federal law regarding the effort manufacturers must put into recalls, several groups promote “best practices” that include social media outreach.
Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association said in a statement to ABC News that it urges the 250 companies it represents to engage on social media.
Still, officials with Kids in Danger say that the percentage of faulty products that are properly returned under the current recall system is extremely low.
In fact, the report found that almost 80% of most recalled children’s products remain in consumers’ possession.
“It’s a continuing struggle,” Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids in Danger, told ABC News. “The Internet is a slippery place to try to find people selling things.”
Tesla’s terrible sales in China ignite battery acid attack from Elon Musk
By Brad Reed From BGR
If the reports are true that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is just as difficult to work for as Steve Jobs was, then there are probably a lot of very uncomfortable people at the company right about now. Reuters, via Re/code, brings us word that Tesla’s sales in China were so dismal last month that Musk is about to blow a gasket and start firing people.
All told, Reuters reports that Tesla sold a measly 120 cars in China last month, which is a terrible result any way you slice it. Musk is understandably not pleased with this result and Reuters’ sources say that he’s “prepared to fire overseas executives” for this failure. Musk earlier had envisioned that Tesla sales in China would rival Tesla sales in the U.S. by this time, which makes these new sales figures particularly disappointing.
Earlier this year, Musk acknowledged that China sales were bad, although not to this extent. He expressed confidence that the company could right the ship, however, and said Tesla would “fix the China issue and be in pretty good shape probably in the middle of the year.” It’s a safe bet that fixing the problem will now include some high-profile firings.
For more: http://bgr.com/2015/02/10/tesla-car-sales-elon-musk/
NASCAR suspends Kurt Busch after judge says he likely beat his ex
From Mashable
(AP) DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — NASCAR suspended Kurt Busch indefinitely Friday after a judge said the former champion almost surely choked and beat a former girlfriend last fall and there was a “substantial likelihood” of more domestic violence from him in the future.
In a stunning move two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR said Busch would not be allowed to participate in any series activities until further notice given the “serious nature of the findings and conclusions” made by a Delaware judge involving the driver known as “The Outlaw.”
“Kurt Busch and his Stewart-Haas Racing team are fully aware of our position and why this decision was made,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We will continue to respect the process and timetable of the authorities involved.”
Busch’s attorney Rusty Hardin said the driver will appeal, and NASCAR said it will be expedited.
“We assure everyone, including NASCAR, that this action against Mr. Busch will turn out to be a travesty of justice, apparent to all, as this story continues to unfold,” Hardin said in a statement. “It is important for everyone to remember that the Commissioner’s report has to do with a civil, family law matter and no criminal charges have been filed against Mr. Busch.
“We ask everyone’s patience as this case continues in the court of law and are confident that when the truth is known Mr. Busch will be fully vindicated and back in the driver’s seat.”
Busch becomes the first driver suspended by NASCAR for domestic violence Busch becomes the first driver suspended by NASCAR for domestic violence. Chairman Brian France had maintained the series would let the process play out before ruling on Busch’s eligibility — and the series came down hard in finding that he committed actions detrimental to stock car racing and broke the series’ behavioral rules.
Travis Kvapil, who qualified second for Friday night’s Truck Series race, was arrested and charged with assault of his wife in 2013. NASCAR took no action against Kvapil.
Chevrolet immediately suspended its relationship with Busch. A short time later, on the glass outside of Busch’s garage stall at Daytona, someone had scrawled in black marker “#41 Ray Rice,” a reference to the former Baltimore Ravens running back whose own case of domestic violence dominated much of last year. Busch drives the No. 41 Chevrolet.
In a 25-page opinion explaining why he issued the no-contact order this week, Family Court Commissioner David Jones concluded that it was more likely than not that Busch abused Patricia Driscoll by “manually strangling” her and smashing her head into a wall inside his motorhome at Dover International Speedway last September.
The 36-year-old Busch has denied the alleged assault, which is the subject of a separate criminal investigation, but the judge said Driscoll’s version of the incident was more credible than Busch’s.
