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TEXARKANA, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS) – A Texarkana businessman is hoping to unseat incumbent Arkansas-side Mayor Allen Brown in the upcoming November primary election.
Texarkana native and Dapper Restaurant owner Tederal Jefferson, 51, announced last week that his first ever run for public office will be a bid to unseat Mayor Brown.
“It’s time for the people of Texarkana, Arkansas, to get their power back, and it’s time for us to make changes in the city,” Jefferson told KTAL. “The reason I’m running for mayor is to bring unification and education. I cannot do it by myself it’s going to take you the people of Texarkana, Arkansas. In order to bring the change, we’re going to have to come together as one we got to be united,” said Jefferson.
Brown, a former credit union CEO, is seeking a second term in office.
Early voting begins Oct. 24 and Election Day is Nov. 8.
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/texarkana-news/texarkana-businessman-seeks-to-unseat-mayor-brown/
| 2022-09-21T13:06:35Z
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(The Hill) — The revelation that former President Donald Trump had some of the nation’s most closely guarded forms of intelligence at his Florida home is renewing questions over the potentially grave risks to U.S. national security.
The affidavit used to secure a search warrant for Trump’s home released Friday reveals why the government was so alarmed: Among an initial batch of 184 classified documents retrieved from Mar-a-Lago in January were secrets gained from “clandestine human sources,” information prohibited from being shared with foreign governments and information obtained by monitoring “foreign communications signals.”
Finding 25 sets of highly classified materials was enough to spur the Justice Department — after months of failed negotiations and a subpoena to Trump — to seek a search warrant, securing another 11 sets of documents that included more highly sensitive materials.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) alerted lawmakers over the weekend that it would begin work on a damage assessment to evaluate the fallout from what the Justice Department in June told Trump’s legal team were documents not “handled in an appropriate manner or stored in an appropriate location.”
Former intelligence officials describe a painstaking process that will involve officials evaluating whether the classified documents were compromised and by whom in order to take steps to prevent further damage.
“They will proceed from the worst-case assumption: that any/all of the classified material could have been exposed to a sophisticated adversary intelligence service, and look at the documents from the standpoint of what can be gleaned about what the US knows (or doesn’t know) about a given topic,” James Clapper, who served as director of national intelligence under the Obama administration, wrote in an email to The Hill.
Clapper also said the intelligence community will need to examine the “chain of custody” of the documents, which will involve evaluating how they were handled since they were in the White House and by whom as well as who had access to the documents and whether they were photographed or copied.
The federal government has strict rules governing classified information, and the Justice Department has prosecuted individuals for unauthorized disclosures of the nation’s secrets.
A search warrant unsealed earlier this month suggested that the Mar-a-Lago search is linked to an investigation of possible violations of the Espionage Act, in addition to other laws.
In an interview, former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who served under Trump, recalled instructions he received when he entered government about not being able to publicly release classified documents without proper certification and the prohibition against moving classified information outside government buildings or taking it with you when you leave service.
“You don’t want to breach that requirement,” he said. “It can be dangerous if some of that is not handled the way it’s supposed to be handled.”
“Everybody knows that coming in. I’m sure the president was reminded of that by his legal team,” Coats said.
There is little known about the documents themselves, but experts say the classification markings disclosed in the unsealed documents suggest the information could present a severe danger were it to fall into the wrong hands.
“That tells me that, by legal definition of top secret, somebody in a position of authority and knowledge classified that material because they thought its disclosure of such information could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security — that is the definition in the Executive Order of Top Secret material,” said Steven Cash, a lawyer at Day Pitney specializing in national security who served at the CIA.
A letter from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to the chairs of the House’s Oversight and Reform Committee and Intelligence Committee indicates the agency that oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies will begin a “classification review” of the documents, including an “assessment of the potential risk to national security that would result from the disclosure of the relevant documents.”
It’s a remarkable effort made all the more extraordinary by the unusual circumstances.
Such assessments usually follow the known leak of information. But in this case, it’s not clear who may have accessed the documents.
Mar-a-Lago may have an exclusive membership list, but it’s hardly the restricted area the intelligence community seeks for cordoning off classified materials, with members of the public on-site to play golf.
Reporting from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently noted a woman under FBI investigation after posing as a wealthy socialite was spotted on the grounds at Mar-a-Lago, taking a photo with Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on the course.
The Justice Department subpoenaed security footage from Mar-a-Lago in June. But the footage goes back only about 60 days, according to reporting from The New York Times, and it’s not apparent how extensive the footage is and whether it includes video of the room or rooms where the documents were stored.
Experts warn the intelligence community may not be able to perform a full-fledged damage assessment, which usually requires producing a report detailing what information leaked, steps to mitigate the damage, and how to stop something similar from happening again.
“The utility of conducting a damage assessment here is overstated for two reasons. One is they’re not going to have good clarity on who accessed the documents, which is critical to assessing damage. And then, two, most assessments look at ‘lessons learned’: How did this happen? And how can we prevent it from happening again? There’s no good answer to that question here. You can’t just say we won’t share sensitive intelligence with the president in the future if he’s someone like Trump. That’s not viable in our system of government,” said Brian Greer, a former CIA attorney.
But even if ODNI undertakes a less formal review, it still has questions to answer, mainly in an effort to protect numerous sources of information — including informants — that are now likely at risk.
“Separate from a formal damage assessment, the IC [intelligence community] will also consider near-term risk mitigation measures. Do they need to undertake some sort of immediate damage control effort? For instance, if there was information in the documents that could identify a human source, do we need to pull the source? Do we need to exfiltrate them? Or do we just need to at least give them a warning so they can stand down on meeting with their handlers for a little while? Do we need to go cover our tracks?” Greer said.
“And then the same thing with a surveillance platform. Do we need to consider taking it down so that an adversary can’t discover it?” he added.
The intelligence community has had access to some of the tranche of documents stored at Trump’s home since May.
But the recovery earlier this month adds another batch of documents to the 184 already shared by the Justice Department.
Greer warns, however, that the damage is already done.
“They’re going to err on the side of caution. In the absence of concrete information about who accessed the documents, they’re going to have no choice but to assume a compromise and take proactive measures to protect our sources and collection capabilities,” he said.
“That step alone will harm national security,” he added.
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/trumps-possession-of-intelligence-documents-raises-fears-for-national-security/
| 2022-09-21T13:06:42Z
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two earthquakes with magnitude 5.3 and 4.7 rocked the eastern Aegean Sea island of Samos on Wednesday but no injuries to people or damage to structures were reported, Greek authorities said.
The larger quake struck at 1:10 p.m., about 14 minutes after the first, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. Both had their epicenters in the sea 22 kilometers (14 miles) southwest of Samos.
The Fire Service and local authorities on Samos said they received no reports of injuries or damage.
In 2020, a stronger quake struck Samos and the nearby Turkish coast, killing two high school students on the island and at least 75 people in Turkey, where more than 1,000 were injured.
Greece lies in a highly seismically active area and earthquakes are common, although severe damage and deaths are not. In 1999, a quake near the capital, Athens, killed 143 people..
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-2-earthquakes-hit-eastern-greek-island-no-damage-injuries/
| 2022-09-21T13:06:50Z
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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Yet another mother searching for her disappeared son has been killed in northern Mexico, becoming the third volunteer search activist killed in Mexico since 2021.
Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of the northern state of Sinaloa, identified the dead woman Wednesday as Rosario Rodríguez Barraza.
“I deeply regret the killing of Rosario Rodríguez Barraza, a tireless fighter, like many other women in Sinaloa who are looking for their loved ones,” Rocha Moya wrote in his social media accounts.
Rep. Paloma Sánchez, a congresswoman from Sinaloa, said Rodríguez Barraza was abducted near her home and killed Tuesday, the International Day of the Disappeared, which was marked in Mexico by marches and protests.
The motive in the killings remained unclear, because most searchers say publicly they aren’t looking for evidence to convict killers.
The volunteer search teams, usually made up of mothers of Mexico’s over 100,000 missing people, say they only want to find the bodies of their loved ones, to mourn and properly bury them.
In a video posted by “Hasta Encontrarles,” another search group, Rodríguez Barraza is heard saying the classic phrase, “I’m looking for my son, I’m not looking for the culprits.”
Her son, Fernando Ramírez Rodríguez, hasn’t been seen since he was abducted in the town of La Cruz, Sinaloa, in October 2019. La Cruz is located on the Pacific coast between the port of Mazatlan and the state capital Culiacan.
Sinaloa is home to the drug cartel of the same name.
Rodríguez Barraza said armed men in a white car snatched her son, then 20. Since then — despite conducting her own investigation and offering prosecutors the evidence — she has not heard anything.
“I took them videos, I brought them witnesses, and up to now, they have not done anything for me,” she said of prosecutors.
That is a common tale in Mexico. Faced with official inaction or incompetence, many mothers are forced to do their own investigations, or join search teams which, often acting on tips, cross gullies and fields, sinking iron rods into the ground to detect the tell-tale stench of decomposing bodies.
Most of the victims are thought to have been killed by drug cartels, their bodies dumped into shallow graves, dissolved or burned. Drug and kidnapping gangs often use the same locations over and over again, creating grisly killing fields.
The searchers, and the police who sometimes accompany them, focus on finding graves and identifying remains — not collecting evidence of how they died or who killed them. Search groups sometimes even get anonymous tips about where bodies are buried, knowledge probably available only to the killers or their accomplices.
But the mainly female volunteers often recount getting threats and being watched — presumably by the same people who murdered their sons, brothers and husbands.
In 2021, in the neighboring state of Sonora, searcher Aranza Ramos was found dead a day after her search group found a still-smoking body disposal pit. Earlier that year, volunteer search activist Javier Barajas Piña was gunned down in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico’s most violent.
The cartels may be angered simply by the inconvenience: after searchers turn up bodies, they are forced to find new body disposal sites.
Among the search groups, known as “collectives” in Mexico, human remains aren’t referred to as corpses or bodies. The searchers call them “treasures,” because to grieving families they are precious.
Searchers usually call law enforcement when they think they’ve found a burial, mostly because authorities often refuse to conduct the slow but critical DNA testing unless the remains are professionally exhumed.
A group of search collectives issued a statement Wednesday demanding protection for searching mothers.
“No mother should be killed for searching for her children,” the coalition wrote. “On the contrary, the government is obligated to ensure their safety in continuing their searches, as long as thousands of cases of disappeared people continue to pile up.”
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-3rd-volunteer-grave-search-activist-killed-in-mexico/
| 2022-09-21T13:06:58Z
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LONDON (AP) — It was a warm Saturday evening and a group of journalists had gathered at a Paris restaurant to enjoy the last weekend of summer. At sometime past midnight, phones around the table began to ring — seemingly all at once — as news desks contacted reporters and photographers to alert them that Princess Diana’s car had crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.
Here’s how the news of Diana’s death unfolded in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997, and the days that followed as told by journalists who covered the story for The Associated Press.
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Jocelyn Noveck, then Associated Press news editor in Paris:
“We were paying the bill and all of a sudden there was this cacophony of mobile phones going off. The first one that went off was a British reporter’s, a British cameraman, and he just got up and started running. And the rest of us called out, `What happened?’ And he just said, `The Princess of Wales! Crash!’ And then kept running.”
“The first thought there was oh, maybe one of the boats that go up and down the Seine, the Bateaux Mouches, maybe one of them is called the Princess of Wales and it crashed into the banks of the river. That sounded like a digestible story to imagine. But, of course, soon we realized that Diana had been in a car, in a limousine … the Mercedes had crashed.”
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Stuart McAlister, former Associated Press cameraman in Paris:
“I got down to the tunnel and it was chaos, absolute chaos. There were late-night revelers and tourists who, of course, were walking at that time of night to go back to their hotels. They were on top of the Pont de l’Alma looking down. They couldn’t see anything because they were on the top of the bridge. … The police were doing what they could to keep people back. Of course, having a press pass, I just jumped into the road, ran into the center of the road … I could very clearly see emergency vehicles and the Mercedes down in the tunnel. So I stood on this intersection and started filming what I could.”
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Jerome Delay, AP photographer:
“I parked my motorcycle, and as I parked it, I saw a police van pull out and with windows you could see through. And I saw some colleagues in that police van. My first thought was, ‘Well, if there is a picture to be made, they were there before — they have it. I’m just going to be here to pick up the pieces.’ Well, it turned out they made some pictures, that the rest of their film had been seized and everything. And I started to shoot from afar what was pretty much a car accident, of all things. … I don’t like to call it luck because this was not a very pleasant situation. People got hurt. People died. But they brought a tow truck and a crane to remove the vehicle, at which point I just moved. It was very easy. I mean, there was no real police blockade or anything like that stopping me from doing my work. I guess I was very discreet because I was not carrying 20 cameras around my neck and screaming to the world, ‘Let me go through, I’m a journalist, I have rights, blah, blah, blah.’ I was just making my way slowly to where I was supposed to be to be able to see. And I shot some pictures from the overhead as the car was pulled out of the tunnel on that flatbed truck. And it turns out, I think, over my 30 years at The Associated Press, that might be the worst picture I ever shot, but also the most published picture I ever shot, because, I guess, its historical value.”
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Chris Burns, former AP reporter:
“I went to the hospital, Salpetriere, where Diana was taken. And there we were watching as the flowers and the mourners were gathering outside and were waiting for news, waiting to hear something from the hospital, and it seemed like hours and it was hours. And finally they called a press conference before sunrise. And there the anesthesiologist was describing all the medical procedures that they went through to try to revive her. It was sort of painstaking. It took a while. We thought, ‘OK, well, well, is she alive? Is she dead?’ And then finally, after this long description, he said, ‘We were unable to revive her. We declared her deceased at …’ I think it was 4 a.m. And there was this moment of silence, this sort of pause. The way I felt was: Princesses don’t die this way anyway, do they? … And then everybody was scrambling for their phones. But that sort of moment of denial was quite moving, actually. Moving.”
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Yves Dam Van, former AP cameraman in Paris:
“My first memory is that it felt like the sky had fallen on us. As a journalist, you kind of think of all the events that could happen. Diana was not on the list because she was an icon for everybody, and icons don’t die. When the phone rang after midnight and I was told the news, I remained bewildered. I thought: ‘It’s not possible, it cannot happen. It’s impossible, someone is playing a joke on me.’”
__
After Diana’s death, the story shifted to London, where members of the public gathered outside her home to mourn the loss of a young woman they had watched grow from a shy teenager into a glamorous princess who championed causes ranging from AIDS treatment to land mine removal.
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Ted Anthony, AP reporter who traveled from New York to help cover the story:
“I remember walking through Kensington Gardens and seeing all these flowers and drawings. I remember one vividly from Moomina from the Maldives that stuck out to me, and they were all just talking about how important Diana was in their life and in the way that they saw the world in her work on AIDS, her work with charities, and simply her status as a woman who had persevered and endured. … The thing I remember the most was that people who wouldn’t normally have been affected by this type of thing told me that they were deeply affected. And the whole people’s princess notion and (former Prime Minister) Tony Blair speaking about her and all of that, it all came together to form this — the word surreal is overused — but I think that it was a surreal few days where you felt like you were sort of caught up in something and carried along on a wave. And your job was to watch and chronicle and try to understand. But you knew that it was bigger than any one person around you.”
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Maureen Johnson, former AP London reporter:
“I do remember being out on the streets around Westminster and a bit further away and just the sheer numbers of people that had come. There seemed to be very little traffic and just people of all colors and backgrounds … and carrying these heaps and heaps of flowers. And it was almost unreal. There was a sort of silence in the center of London. And it went on for a number of days.”
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Myron Belkind, former London bureau chief
“It just shows you the impact that one person could have and she did it from 1981 until 1997. Hard to imagine she died at age 36. And I think also going back to Westminster Abbey, how could we ever forget Elton John playing and singing “Goodbye, English Rose”? It was a moment that I think united the country and the world. Here I am at age 82. I think it’s hard to imagine that could have happened with anyone else (other) than Princess Diana … It’s a lesson for us to watch in the future. There are others who will come to the fore of the public and it will have impact, but hard to imagine it will rise to the level of the life of Princess Diana.”
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-a-moment-in-time-ap-journalists-remember-dianas-death/
| 2022-09-21T13:07:05Z
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A once obscure Michigan elections panel is back in the spotlight after rejecting a ballot initiative asking voters whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the state’s constitution and another to expand voting in the state.
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on party lines on both initiatives Wednesday.
Abortion rights supporters have already said they will ask the state Supreme Court to intervene to place the measure on the November ballot. The organization backing the voting measure is expected do the same.
The board last came under national scrutiny in November 2020 when then-President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to convince Republican members not to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the state. One GOP member abstained, but the other joined Democrats in voting to certify.
It highlighted the possibility that the panel — charged with largely clerical duties, not investigating elections — could become another hyperpartisan battleground.
The stakes of the abortion rights proposal are particularly high. Its backers are aiming to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother.
Michigan’s 1931 law — which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June — remains blocked after months of court battles.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS?
Michigan’s state constitution of 1850 created the board to handle administrative duties before and after an election. The board’s structure has changed over time.
Current law provides for four members — two from each political party that earned the most votes in the latest secretary of state election. Michigan’s 1908 Constitution was the first to mandate that a majority of the board could not be made up of members of the same political party. There’s no process to break a 2-2 deadlock; typically that leads to a court challenge.
Election experts say similar structures arose elsewhere during the Progressive Era as reformers hoped a system of “mutual policing” would cut down on the influence of party machines on election outcomes.
Since then, federal courts have gained more legal authority to examine evidence and question witnesses, and to address claims related to state-level elections, said Kevin Johnson, executive director of the Election Reformers Network. The nonpartisan group advocates for ranked choice voting and independent redistricting among other election reforms.
“Mutual policing is a system that becomes risky in a hyperpartisan environment, so it needs some new thinking,” Johnson said.
WHAT DOES THE BOARD DO?
Michigan courts have repeatedly described the board’s responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigan’s elected secretary of state is the chief election official.
But the board’s potential to dramatically influence elections has come to the fore in recent years.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin have a board or a commission that fully oversees elections. Most of those states require a certain numbers of members from each major political party, according to NCSL research.
Key responsibilities of the Michigan board include: canvassing and certifying statewide elections, judicial elections and legislative elections that cross county lines; conducting statewide office recounts; and approving electronic voting systems.
The board meets after elections to determine official results based on reports from local clerks. The board members do not audit election results or investigate accusations of fraud.
The board also has a significant role in statewide ballot proposals. Aided by state elections staff, it reviews petitions seeking to put a proposal on ballots and approves the exact language that voters will see on those ballots.
Christopher Thomas, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections for 36 years until retiring in 2017, said that process became more heated during his career as attorneys representing battling groups sought to win board members over, largely playing to their political alliances.
“It’s unfortunate,” Thomas said. “I’ve heard board members say they’re there to represent their party, and I found that so antithetical to their purpose.”
Still, prior to 2020, the dynamic rarely captured wide public attention.
WHAT CHANGED?
Following the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and his allies targeted Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers as part of a broad and futile attempt to challenge his loss in several states. Trump and his backers, despite no evidence of fraud, demanded that the board refuse to certify the results.
But ultimately, one Republican board member joined two Democrats in certifying Joe Biden’s 154,000 vote victory in Michigan. The other Republican board member abstained from voting.
Election experts worry the unsuccessful attempt has fueled efforts to further politicize Michigan’s canvassing system, pointing to people with a history of backing Trump’s unproven claims of fraud getting appointed to county-level canvassing slots.
That heightens the chance of local canvassing boards deadlocking or members refusing to vote, undercutting voters’ confidence in the system and even risking “agitation or spillover into the streets,” said Johnson, with the Election Reformers Network.
WHO’S ON THE BOARD NOW?
State parties provide a list of potential candidates to Michigan’s governor, who selects a member from those options. Four-year terms are staggered.
Both Republicans who held the party’s seats in 2020 are gone. Aaron Van Langevelde, who voted to certify the results despite pressure from Trump supporters, was not nominated again by the state GOP when his term ended that winter. The board member who abstained from a vote in 2020, Norman Shinkle, resigned in June to run for a state legislative seat.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer selected Tony Daunt from three nominees submitted by the GOP to replace Van Langevelde. Daunt, a longtime party activist, was an outspoken critic of Trump’s bid to challenge the 2020 results.
Whitmer appointed Richard Houskamp, another longtime activist, to replace Shinkle. Houskamp told the Detroit Free Press in July that he hadn’t seen any evidence of fraud in the 2020 election and that continuing to make those claims “is not healthy for the country.”
One of the two Democrats who voted to certify the 2020 election results is still on the board: Jeannette Bradshaw, an electrician and elected leader within Detroit’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The other, Julie Matuzak, resigned in December 2020 after 10 years on the board. Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney who represented Michigan Democrats before the board in 2020, was appointed to replace her.
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https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-abortion-vote-returns-spotlight-to-obscure-michigan-board/
| 2022-09-21T13:07:13Z
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MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — Africa’s nations must develop strategies to address climate change which poses an existential threat to the continent’s megacities, Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Adimba said at the third Africa Climate Week conference.
African officials and experts should sharpen the positions they will present at the 27th annual United Nations climate conference to be held in Egypt in November, said Bongo.
The third African climate meeting is bringing together more than 1,000 government officials and stakeholders in Gabon’s capital Libreville. They are working to form strong African regional climate responses.
“Climate change is a profound challenge in Africa and a great challenge of our time, amplifying existing social, political and economic inequalities,” Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth group of former British colonies, said to the meeting.
The African climate week comes as the continent reels by several extreme weather events such as drought in East Africa and the Horn of Africa, sandstorms and extreme heat in West Africa’s Sahel region, and destructive flash floods, storm surges including cyclones in central, western and southern Africa.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who will host the upcoming U.N. conference, lamented that promises made to African countries to help them fight climate change have not been fulfilled.
“The international community is lagging behind in mitigation, adaptation and finance. Several pledges on mitigation and adaptation finance celebrated in Glasgow are yet to be delivered,” said Shoukry.
He said the “backtracking on commitments by many developed countries is a matter of concern” for many African countries. “The delayed delivery of climate finance continues to affect Africa’s efforts to contribute to the global effort against climate change,” he said.
The African climate week conference will discuss other critical concerns of the continent including food security, carbon markets, climate migrants, and coastal resilience. Climate early warning systems, integrated water management to address scarcity and international cooperation to boost climate action are also issues to be examined.
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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| 2022-09-21T13:07:20Z
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CASTAIC, Calif. (AP) — California wildfires erupted Wednesday in rural areas, racing through bone-dry brush and prompting evacuations as the state sweltered under a heat wave that could last through Labor Day.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency with temperatures expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above normal, and urged people to help reduce demand for electricity by turning their thermostats up to 85 degrees (29 Celsius) if they won’t be at home over the holiday weekend.
The Route Fire in Castaic in northwestern Los Angeles County raged through about 4,625 acres (1,872 hectares) of hills containing scattered houses. Interstate 5, a major north-south route, was closed by a blaze that burned several hundred acres in only a few hours.
Media reports showed a wall of flames advancing uphill and smoke billowing thousands of feet into the air while planes dumped water from nearby Castaic Lake. There were no immediate reports of damage to buildings but a mobile home park with 94 residences was evacuated.
An elementary school also was evacuated. Temperatures in the area hit 107 degrees (42 Celsius) and winds gusted to 17 mph (27 kph), forecasters said.
Eight firefighters were treated for heat-related problems, including six who were sent to hospitals, but all were in good condition, Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Ewald said.
More injuries were expected as crews cope with extreme heat that was expected to stretch into next week, Ewald said during a news conference Wednesday night.
“Wearing heavy firefighting gear, carrying packs, dragging hose, swinging tools, the folks out there are just taking a beating,” he said.
Aircraft would continue to drop water and fire retardant on the blaze overnight and winds could shift to the north through the night, causing the fire to burn back on itself, Ewald said.
Ewald also said there could be other fires in LA County as the searing heat continues. Bulldozers to cut firebreaks will be staffed around the county Thursday as a precaution, he said.
“This is the fire that’s burning right now. But we have 4,000 square miles (10,360 square kilometers) of LA County that we have to consider for tomorrow,” he said.
Another fire burned at least four buildings, including a home, and prompted evacuations in the Dulzura area in eastern San Diego County near the Mexican border. It swiftly grew to more than 1,600 acres (647.5 hectares) acres and prompted evacuation orders for at least 400 homes, authorities said.
State Route 94 was closed. The Mountain Empire Unified School District will be closed Thursday, officials said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that the Tecate port of entry with Mexico closed three hours early on Wednesday night because of the fire and wouldn’t reopen until conditions improved to ensure “the safety of the traveling public.” Travelers could continue to use the 24-hour Otay Mesa crossing.
No injuries were immediately reported, but there were “multiple close calls” as residents rushed to flee, said Capt. Thomas Shoots with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“We had multiple 911 calls from folks unable to evacuate” because their homes were surrounded by the fire, Shoots told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The National Weather Service said many valleys, foothills, mountains and desert areas of the state remained under an elevated fire risk because of low humidity and high temperatures, which set several records for the day. The hottest days were expected to be Sunday and Monday.
Wildfires have sprung up this summer throughout the Western states. The largest and deadliest blaze in California this year erupted in late July in Siskyou County, near the Oregon state line. It killed four people and destroyed much of the small community of Klamath River.
Scientists have said climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Across the American West, a 22-year megadrought deepened so much in 2021 that the region is now in the driest spell in at least 1,200 years.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It’s been quiet — too quiet — this Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists and residents of storm-prone areas whisper almost as if not to tempt fate.
A record-tying inactive August is drawing to a close and no storms have formed, even though it is peak hurricane season and all experts’ pre-season forecasts warned of an above normal season. Nearly all the factors that meteorologists look for in a busy season are there.
Warm ocean water for fuel? Check.
Not a lot of wind shear that decapitates storms? Check.
La Nina, the natural cooling of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide and increases Atlantic storm activity? Check.
Yet zero storms formed. Surprised experts point to unusual persistent dry air and a few other factors. But each time they and computer simulations think something is brewing, nothing comes of it.
“It has been surprisingly and freakishly quiet in the Atlantic,” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said, pointing out that weak Tropical Storm Colin fizzled out on July 2 and there’s been nothing since.
It’ll be the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said. Since 1950, only 1997 and 1961 had no named storms in August and 1961 then went hyperactive in September, including deadly Carla, he said.
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, one of the more weather-battered cities in the past decade, residents have noticed how quiet the hurricane season is so far and it’s almost “testing fate” to bring it up, Mayor Nic Hunter said. From August 2020 to August 2021, the city was hammered by two hurricanes — Laura and Delta — only six weeks apart, a deep freeze and spring flooding. Residents still have blue tarps on their roofs.
“I think there’s a lot of knocking on wood. There’s a lot of prayers,” Hunter said. “Until the season is over, I don’t think anybody’s going to have any sighs of relief.”
Certainly not 74-year-old Shirley Verdin, who lives about 200 miles (320 kilometers) away in Bayou Point-Au-Chien, where Hurricane Ida ripped through on Aug. 29 last year. She now lives in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer next to her gutted home that will be demolished down to the pilings this weekend so it can be rebuilt.
There are wisps of potential storm systems swirling in the Atlantic that meteorologists are following and so is Verdin. Closely.
“I know there’s something out there right now,” she said.
The National Hurricane Center is watching three thunderstorm systems in the Atlantic and gives them all at least a 50% chance of becoming a named tropical storm, with one of them a likely sounding 80%. But Colorado State’s Klotzbach has seen this before this year and isn’t counting on them.
Just late last week, the computer forecast models predicted three maybe four storms forming, including one becoming a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph (177 km/h), Klotzbach said.
Then nothing.
For the past month and a half, thunderstorms that could be seeds of hurricanes power off Africa looking strong enough “but then they encounter a lot of dry air that’s just sitting over the Atlantic,” University of Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero said. “The dry air has really been the main thing that’s been stopping storms from really getting going.”
Relative humidity is about 15% below normal and there’s been Saharan dust in there making it drier, McNoldy and Klotzbach said.
The dry air does a couple things, Corbosiero said. Those thunderstorms become more potent and get their energy as warm moist air rises off the ocean. The ocean is warm enough, but the dry air causes that water to evaporate, cool and go down, not up, she said.
That dry air also helps create cross winds about 2 miles up (3 to 4 kilometers) “that can really do damage to a storm trying to form,” Corbosiero said.
Matthew Rosencrans, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s lead hurricane outlook forecaster, said he sees signs that the dry air is ending and normal moisture will be returning, which could mean more storms. Rosencrans also says crosswinds at other heights, especially in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico also were a factor in dampening storm activity until now.
Other factors include a patch of sinking air over the Atlantic, a poorly located high pressure system also connected to the European heat wave and dust, the scientists said.
It’s been weird in the tropics, too, but in a different way, Klotzbach said. Before this year, the north Indian Ocean has had only one named storm in August; this year there are two, he said. And in the Pacific, Supertyphoon Hinnamnor is not only the most powerful storm on Earth this year, but it’s moving southwest when these type storms usually move west to east, Klotzbach said.
“There’s some odd stuff going on,” Klotzbach said.
But in the Atlantic nothing’s really going on and victims of past years’ storms don’t want to jinx it.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful?” Louisiana resident Thomas Halko asked about whether the so-far quiet hurricane season will continue. Halko lives in southeastern Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, in an area hammered by Hurricane Ida last year. A house on his property shifted clear off its foundation and had to be demolished.
“We made it through the week and it looks like we’re in relatively good shape for the next five days or so,” he said of the upcoming weather report.
But it’s hard to appreciate the quiet when he feels a “nervous anticipation of doom” thinking about the ongoing hurricane season.
“There is this foreboding that really won’t go away,” he said.
Hurricane season peaks around Sept. 10 and stretches through Nov. 30.
“It is important to remember the lessons of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida and Louisiana in an otherwise quiet year,” National Hurricane Center acting Director Jamie Rhome said in an email. “It only takes one landfalling hurricane to make it a bad season for you, and we still have many months to go in the hurricane season.”
___
Borenstein reported from Washington.
Follow Santana on Twitter at @ruskygal and Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.
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ARDMORE, Pa., Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accel Real Estate Commission Advance, a subsidiary of Balanced Bridge Funding, is able to provide funding to real estate agents and brokers on their pending fees from transactions related to Bank of America's (BOFA) new Community Affordable Loan Solution program. It was recently created by the bank to increase homeowner ownership in primarily Black and Latino communities. Generally, Accel works with realtors facing delayed payment of their fees from real estate transactions. "Once Bank of America made the announcement of their program, we wanted to make sure the real estate professionals in those designated cities know about our commission advance product and our ability to help them" says Joseph Genovesi, CEO of Balanced Bridge Funding.
The unexpected announcement of the program caused news around the country. Among the reported benefits to approved applicants of the program include no deposit for mortgages, no mortgage insurance and no minimum credit score. BOFA will also look at other factors to determine credit worthiness like rental payments, utility payments and much more. The U.S. housing market has been a seller's market for a long time now. Many home buyers have been priced out. While rising interest rates are expected to cool the red-hot housing market in some areas all cash buyers and sellers are still at an advantage. While the Community Affordable Loan Solution program isn't restricted too only Black and Latino applicants, the goal of the program is to help increase ownership in these communities. According to articles about the program, applicants will have to complete BOFA and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved courses before they are able to take advantage of the benefits.
Advances based on real estate commissions can help realtors bridge financial gaps if payment is delayed. They can also be used as a tool to help grow their business without using their own funds. As a company specifically designed to help real estate agents and brokers overcome payment delays, Accel wants the real estate community in the cities where the program is active to know about the benefits and convenience of using real estate commission advances. Currently, the program is only available in Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, Charlotte, and Dallas. According to news stories about the program, if it is successful BOFA may expand it to other cities.
Real estate agents and brokers interested in learning more about commission advance funding on their pending or delayed fees can visit our website, read our FAQ on real estate commission advances, contact us 267-769-0747 and speak to one of our specialists or email aredcloud@acceladvance.com. Real estate agents and brokers can apply for real estate commission advance funding by completing an application today.
Media Contact:
Amy Redcloud,
267-769-0747,
aredcloud@acceladvance.com
View original content:
SOURCE Accel Real Estate Commission Advance
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GENEVA (AP) — China’s discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity, the U.N. human rights office said in a long-awaited report Wednesday, which cited “serious” rights violations and patterns of torture in recent years.
The report seeks “urgent attention” from the U.N. and the world community to rights violations in Beijing’s campaign to root out terrorism.
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, facing pressure on both sides, brushed aside multiple Chinese calls for her office to withhold the report, which follows her own, much-criticized trip to Xinjiang in May. Beijing contends the report is part of a Western campaign to smear China’s reputation.
The report has fanned a tug-of-war for diplomatic influence with the West over the rights of the region’s native Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.
The report, which Western diplomats and U.N. officials said had been all but ready for months, was published with just minutes to go in Bachelet’s four-year term. It was unexpected to break significant new ground beyond sweeping findings from researchers, advocacy groups and journalists who have documented concerns about human rights in Xinjiang for several years.
But the 48-page report comes with the imprimatur of the United Nations and its member countries — notably including rising superpower China itself. The report largely corroborates earlier reporting by advocacy groups and others and injects U.N heft behind the outrage that victims and their families have expressed about China’s policies in Xinjiang.
“Beijing’s repeated denial of the human rights crisis in Xinjiang rings ever-more hollow with this further recognition of the evidence of ongoing crimes against humanity and other human rights violation in the region,” Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, said in a statement.
The run-up to the report’s release fueled a debate over China’s influence at the world body and epitomized the on-and-off diplomatic chill between Beijing and the West over human rights, among other sore spots.
China shot back, saying the U.N. rights office ignored human rights “achievements” made together by “people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.”
“Based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces and out of presumption of guilt, the so-called ‘assessment’ distorts China’s laws, wantonly smears and slanders China, and interferes in China’s internal affairs,” read a letter from China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva issued in response to the U.N. report.
China released a 122-page report titled “Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism in Xinjiang: Truth and Facts” that defended its record and was distributed by the U.N. with its assessment.
The U.N. report says “serious human rights violations” have been committed in Xinjiang under China’s policies to fight terrorism and extremism, which singled out Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities, between 2017 and 2019.
The report cites “patterns of torture” inside what Beijing called vocational training centers, which were part of its reputed plan to boost economic development in region, and it points to “credible” allegations of torture or ill-treatment, including cases of sexual violence.
Above all, perhaps, the report warns that the “arbitrary and discriminatory detention” of such groups in Xinjiang, through moves that stripped them of “fundamental rights … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”
The report called on China to release all individuals arbitrarily detained and to clarify the whereabouts of individuals who have disappeared and whose families are seeking information about them.
The report was drawn in part from interviews with former detainees and others familiar with conditions at eight detention centers. Its authors suggest China was not always forthcoming with information, saying requests for some specific sets of information “did not receive formal response.”
The rights office said it could not confirm estimates of how many people were detained in the internment camps in Xinjiang, but added it was “reasonable to conclude that a pattern of large-scale arbitrary detention occurred” at least between 2017 and 2019.
According to investigations by researchers and journalists, the Chinese government’s mass detention campaign in Xinjiang swept an estimated million or more Uyghurs and other ethnic groups into a network of prisons and camps over the past five years.
Beijing has closed many of the camps, but hundreds of thousands continue to languish in prison on vague, secret charges.
The report said that reports of sharp increases in arrests and lengthy prison sentences in the region strongly suggested a shift toward formal incarceration as the principal means for large-scale imprisonment and deprivation of liberty — instead of the use of the “vocational training centers” once touted by Beijing.
“This is of particular concern given the vague and capacious definitions of terrorism, ‘extremism’ and public security related offenses under domestic criminal law,” the report said, saying it could lead to lengthy sentences, “including for minor offenses or for engaging in conduct protected by international human rights law.”
Some countries, including the United States, have accused Beijing of committing genocide in Xinjiang. The U.N. report made no mention of genocide.
In Tokyo, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno welcomed the publication of the report and said, “We will continue asking China to explain with transparency as well as requesting them to make a clear positive move.”
Bachelet said in recent months that she received pressure from both sides to publish — or not publish — the report and resisted it all, treading a fine line while noting her experience with political squeeze during her two terms as president of Chile.
In June, Bachelet said she would not seek a new term as rights chief and promised the report would be released by her departure date on Aug. 31. That led to a swell in back-channel campaigns — including letters from civil society, civilians and governments on both sides of the issue. She hinted last week her office might miss her deadline, saying it was “trying” to release it before her exit.
Bachelet had set her sights on Xinjiang on taking office in September 2018, but Western diplomats voiced concern in private that over her term, she did not challenge China enough when other rights monitors had cited abuses against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang.
In a statement from her office early Thursday, Bachelet said she had wanted to take “the greatest care” to deal with responses and input received from the Chinese government last week. Such reports are typically shared with the concerned country before final publication, but generally to check facts — not to allow vetting or influence of the final report.
“I said that I would publish it before my mandate ended and I have,” she said after the report was published.
Critics had said a failure to publish the report would have been a glaring black mark on her tenure, and the pressure from some countries made her job harder.
“To be perfectly honest, the politicization of these serious human rights issues by some states did not help,” said Bachelet, who early on staked out a desire to cooperate with governments.
“I appeal to the international community not to instrumentalize real, serious human rights issues for political ends, but rather to work to support efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights,” she added.
Her trip to the region in May was widely criticized by human rights groups, the U.S. administration and other governments as a public relations exercise for China.
Hours before the publication, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the U.N. chief had “no involvement” in how the report was drafted or handled, citing his commitment to Bachelet’s independence.
Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said Bachelet’s “damning findings explain why the Chinese government fought tooth and nail to prevent the publication of her Xinjiang report, which lays bare China’s sweeping rights abuses.”
Richardson urged the 47-member Human Rights Council, whose next session is in September, to investigate the allegations and hold those responsible to account.
___
Lederer reported from the United Nations. Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The death toll from a truck crash in the Netherlands rose to seven Wednesday as local authorities said an unborn child was also killed when the vehicle drove off a dike and slammed into a neighborhood barbecue over the weekend..
“The loss is immeasurable and the grief immense,” local mayor Charlie Aptroot said in a statement. “So far, we have talked of six deaths, including 1 heavily pregnant woman. In consultation with the relatives, we have decided from now on to talk about seven deaths, including one unborn child.”
Police initially said that three men and three women were killed, ranging in age from 28 to 75 in the crash. A further seven people were hospitalized, one of them in critical condition.
The driver of the truck, a 46-year-old Spanish man, was taken into custody by police on suspicion of causing the crash that happened Saturday evening in the village of Nieuw-Beijerland, just south of the port city of Rotterdam. His identity wasn’t released, in line with Dutch privacy laws.
His truck careered down the side of a dike and into the midst of a barbecue attended by dozens of people from the close-knit local community. Police are investigating the exact cause of the crash.
Aptroot said the community was in deep mourning and he opened a condolence book at two local town halls and online.
“Let’s hold each other and be there for each other,” he said.
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PRAGUE (AP) — European Union countries agreed Wednesday to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the 27-nation bloc, but they failed to find a consensus on imposing an outright tourist ban in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
At talks in the Czech Republic, EU foreign ministers were desperate to put on a show of unity and further punish President Vladimir Putin for launching the war over six months ago. Still, they couldn’t bridge differences over whether Russian citizens, some of them possibly opposed to the invasion, should also pay a price.
The plan now is to make it more time-consuming and costly for Russian citizens to obtain short-term visas to enter Europe’s passport-free travel zone — a 26-country area made up of most of the EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland known as the Schengen area.
The move will be done by freezing a 2007 agreement to ease travel between Russia and Europe. The EU already tightened visa restrictions on Russian officials and businesspeople under the accord in May.
Speaking after chairing the meeting in the Czech capital Prague, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that an increasing number of Russians have been arriving in Europe since mid-July, some “for leisure and shopping as if no war is raging in Ukraine.”
This, he said, “has become a security risk” for European countries bordering Russia.
Borrell said said he believed the additional delays will result in fewer visas being issued.
Students, journalists and those who fear for their safety in Russia would still be able to acquire visas. The move would have no immediate impact on the estimated 12 million visas already issued to Russian citizens, but EU officials will look into what could be done to freeze them.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the move as “a half measure.” He said that visas should only be issued to Russians on humanitarian grounds or to help those who clearly oppose Putin’s war.
“The age of peace in Europe is over, and so is the age of half measures. Half measures is exactly what led to the large-scale invasion,” he said after the meeting. “If I have to choose between half measure and no measure, I will prefer a no measure and continue a discussion until a strong solution is found.”
Calls have mounted from Poland and the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — but also Denmark for a broader ban on Russian tourists. The foreign ministers of Estonia and Latvia said that they may push ahead with further visa restrictions, citing national security concerns.
“We need to immediately ramp up the price to Putin’s regime,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told reporters. “The loss of time is paid by the blood of Ukrainians.”
Uniform rules are supposed to apply across the 26 countries that make up Europe’s passport free travel area, but Reinsalu said that “it’s our national competence, under the principle of national security, to decide the issues of entry to our soil.”
Over the years, several countries have reintroduced border controls for security reasons in the Schengen area, in which Europeans and visitors can travel freely without identification checks.
The foreign minister of Finland, which shares the EU’s longest border with Russia, underlined that his country would, as of Thursday, slash the number of visas being delivered to Russian citizens to 10% of normal. They’ll only be able to apply for the travel pass in four Russian cities.
“It’s important that we show that at the same time when Ukrainians are suffering, normal tourism shouldn’t continue business as usual,” Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said. “Finland has already made our decision to limit the amount of tourist visas. We hope that the whole European Union will do similar decisions.”
Before Wednesday’s talks, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod had expressed hope that a common EU position could be found, pointing to the fact that most Ukrainian men don’t have the luxury to choose whether they can leave their war-torn country.
“It has to have consequences on all fronts,” Kofod said. “We want to limit visas for Russian tourists, send a clear signal to Putin, to Russia, (that) what he is doing in Ukraine is totally unacceptable.”
But European countries further from Russia and Ukraine’s borders are reluctant to go too far.
Belgium Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said it is important to avoid creating a patchwork system “where Russians could do a kind of visa shopping among the countries of the European Union.”
“It’s very important to target the right people. That is, those who support this unjust war against Ukraine and also those who try to evade the sanctions that we have imposed,” she said.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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MILAN (AP) — The SOS Mediterranee charity is urgently seeking a port to safely unload 460 people rescued from the sea in 10 different operations last week who are now packed onto its Ocean Viking rescue ship.
A nurse on board, identified only as Rebecca, said the four-person medical team is overwhelmed with serious issues, including skin infections and chronic diseases. Six people have been evacuated by the Italian Coast Guard, including two pregnant women in their ninth month along with a 3-week-old infant girl.
“There is an overwhelming number of medical cases, including exhaustion, dehydration, generalized body pain, untreated infections,” the charity said Wednesday.
The European charity has requested ports of safety in Malta and Italy, but still has not received a response. The migrants were rescued from Thursday to Saturday last week. Laurence Bondard, an SOS Mediterranee spokesperson, stressed that the ship can only be “a temporary shelter. It is extremely difficult for the survivors to stay on deck, under stifling heat.”
“All of these survivors need to be disembarked so they can have further health care away from the heat and sun, which is compromising their health even further,’’ the nurse identified as Rebecca said in a video statement.
Those rescued are mostly from Bangladesh and Egypt, and include 20 women and 80 minors, most of whom are unaccompanied, the charity said.
All but one of their smugglers’ boats departed from Libya, and survivors said they had spent up to three days at sea before being rescued, Bondard said.
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Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
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LONDON (AP) — Fans of the late Princess Diana placed tributes outside the gates of her Kensington Palace home on Wednesday, marking the 25th anniversary of her death in a Paris car accident.
An arrangement of white chrysanthemums spelling out “Princess Diana” sat among dozens of photos and messages left by admirers, some of whom said they make annual pilgrimages to the spot to remember the tragedy.
“We just come here, do the memorial and, you know, we just chat about things that she used to do, you know, to … let people know that we will never forget the princess, we will never forget what she’s done,’’ said Julie Cain, 59, who traveled 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Newcastle in northern England. “We just want her legacy kept, like, going as long as possible.”
Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997, at the age of 36, stunning people around the world who felt they knew the princess after seeing her successes and struggles play out on TV screens and newspaper front pages for 17 years. The tributes left outside Kensington Palace on Wednesday were a small reminder of the mountains of flowers piled there in the days after Diana’s death.
Diana was the focus of constant media attention from the moment she was engaged to marry Prince Charles until the night she died. Her fairytale wedding, ugly divorce and efforts to build a new life all made headlines.
The public watched as she blossomed from a shy teenager into an international style icon who befriended AIDS patients, charmed Nelson Mandela and walked through a minefield to promote the drive to eradicate landmines. Along the way, she showed the royal family, particularly her sons William and Harry, how to connect with people and be relevant in the 21st century.
On Wednesday morning, Cain and her friend Maria Scott, 51, paid their respects to Diana as dawn broke over the palace, just as they do every year.
“There was just something about that girl that really stood out. And of course, I watched the wedding, the fairy-tale princess,’’ Scott said. “And, you know, you see, she was like part of your life because you were seeing that every day on the television. She was in newspapers, magazines. She was all over. And you felt like she was part of your life.”
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PARIS (AP) — France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne warned that a worst-case scenario this winter could lead to rolling two-hour power cuts in French homes, amid a broad energy crisis aggravated by the war in Ukraine.
Borne’s comments to the TMC television channel Tuesday night came ahead of a special government meeting Wednesday focusing on energy and climate-related issues.
Borne told TMC that the situation is partly due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and also to the planned shutdown of about half of France’s 56 nuclear reactors for maintenance notably to repair corrosion problems. France relies on nuclear energy for about 67% of its electricity — more than any other country — and on gas for about 7%.
“It means that we’re producing less electricity, and there may be moments, if it’s very cold, where we can have a problem to supply electricity,” Borne said. “In such case … we’d cut off, via rotations, neighborhood by neighborhood, for no more than two hours,” she said.
However, Borne ensure that gas wouldn’t be cut off in French homes, as people use it mostly for heating.
Gas could potentially be rationed for businesses which are the largest consumers, she said.
She explained such decision would be prompted by a combination of bad circumstances, including Russia cutting off its gas supplies, restrictions of liquified natural gas imports and a very cold winter.
Russia’s state-controlled energy company Gazprom said it would suspend all gas deliveries to the French company Engie, starting from Thursday, over a financial dispute. Engie said it has already secured enough gas to meet its commitments to customers.
French minister for energy transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, said Tuesday the country’s strategic energy reserves were 90% full. France rolled out an “energy sobriety” plan in June, targeting a 10% reduction in energy use by 2024.
In addition, Gazprom stopped the flow of natural gas through a major pipeline from Russia to Europe early Wednesday, a temporary move to it announced in advance. Gazprom had planned to cut the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline until Saturday for what it says is a three-day pause for routine maintenance at a compressor station.
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MIAMI, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Be A 10™, the award-winning cosmetics brand from Beauty Mogul & Founder of It's A 10 Haircare, Carolyn Aronson, is excited to announce their partnership with Deanna Paley – celebrity makeup artist to musical sensations including SZA, Becky G and Saweetie.
Deanna Paley describes herself as a "makeup architect" and is known for the glamorous beauty looks she creates on her clients and herself providing her audience with simple step-by-step tips to recreate these covetable looks at home. Together, Deanna Paley and Be A 10 will partner to unveil a variety of glam-on-the-go looks which spotlight Be A 10's high-quality ingredients, color-rich pigments, and long-lasting textures to help individuals discover confidence in themselves every day.
"I'm thrilled to be working with Be A 10 Cosmetics as their new brand ambassador and can't wait to show you all the amazing looks I'll be creating with the line," said Deanna. "It's been such an honor to meet Carolyn Aronson and hear her self-made entrepreneurial story firsthand. She's truly an inspiration and has created a beautiful line of trusted, quality formulations."
Be A 10 is dedicated to providing the everyday individual in pursuit of easy-to-use, professional-quality makeup with the best experience possible. From priming products, pigment packed eye shadows, foundation, mascara and everything in between, this fully-female-owned makeup brand aims to be the one-stop-shop that declutters your makeup bag and provides simple beauty solutions in 10-minutes-or less.
"Deanna Paley is a talented makeup artist and does a fantastic job of breaking down her makeup looks in an approachable way," said Carolyn Aronson. "We're excited to have her as Be A 10's brand ambassador and are thrilled to unveil the unique makeup tutorials she will be creating, to really showcase how these easy-to-use products can create a wide-range of looks."
When creating the brand, as a seasoned expert, Carolyn looked to her target-market and realized they were overwhelmed by the amount of choices available to them. She aimed to simplify their routines (as she did with her successful haircare line renowned for each product's ability to solve 10 problems all-in-one bottle) and free up the fussy amount of steps and time our usual routines require. So became a range of products, all of which are multi-use, and can fit in one makeup bag.
In addition to being a Be A 10 brand ambassador, Deanna will also be creating content for It's A 10 Haircare and Ex10sions, giving a nod to Deanna's love and affinity for Carolyn's full portfolio of legacy brands.
Be A 10™ Cosmetics is available for purchase at bea10.com.
About Be A 10™ Cosmetics:
Be A 10™ Cosmetics is a high-quality makeup line offering exceptional, multi-purpose products that offer simple beauty solutions. This fully-female-owned makeup brand is dedicated to providing customers with the best makeup experience possible. From priming products, eye shadows, foundation, mascara and everything in Between, Be A 10™ Cosmetics aims to be the one-stop-shop that declutters your makeup bag and create professional-quality beauty looks in 10-minutes-or less.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Be A 10 Cosmetics
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STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — A biracial man who says he was fending off a racist attack on a Georgia highway when he fired a gun into a pickup truck was convicted Wednesday of involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting a 17-year-old girl in the truck’s back seat.
The trial jury spared 23-year-old Marc Wilson from a potential life prison sentence by acquitting him of felony murder, the charge prosecutors argued he deserved for killing Haley Hutcheson of Reidsville.
Defense attorneys for Wilson of Sharpsburg had insisted during the weeklong trial in Bulloch County Superior Court that he should be acquitted on all charges. They said Wilson was justified to shoot in self-defense when the pickup truck’s driver tried to run Wilson’s car off the road.
District Attorney Daphne Totten said the verdict, while not as harsh as prosecutors had sought, showed the jury rejected Wilson’s self-defense claims.
“The truth of this case is that what Marc Wilson did that night on the bypass was a crime,” Totten said. “And this family that we stand here with right now, they’ve waited a long time for justice.”
Georgia law says involuntary manslaughter can be either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances. Wilson’s lead attorney, Francys Johnson, said his client was convicted of a felony — punishable by one to 10 years in prison — because the judge chose not to instruct the jury on the the misdemeanor option.
“If that option had been included as we asked and insisted, this jury would have found Marc guilty of the misdemeanor version of manslaughter and Marc would be coming home,” Johnson told reporters outside the courthouse.
Instead, Superior Court Judge Ronnie Thompson ordered Wilson to be held in jail until his sentencing hearing Sept. 20. Wilson had been staying at his father’s house under house arrest before his trial.
The jury began deliberating Tuesday afternoon and spent a total of roughly seven hours weighing the case before returning a verdict.
Defense attorneys acknowledged that Wilson fired the shot that killed Hutcheson on a bypass circling the southeast Georgia city of Statesboro the night of June 24, 2020. Investigators testified that three shell casings found at the scene matched the handgun Wilson surrendered to police when he turned himself in three days after the shooting.
Prosecutor Barclay Black told the jury Wilson had no legal justification for firing a handgun in traffic and could have escaped if he was being harassed by another driver. One of the bullets he fired pierced the truck’s rear window and struck Hutcheson in the head. She died after her friends rushed her to a hospital.
Prosecutors had charged Wilson with felony murder, arguing he caused Hutcheson’s death while committing another felony, aggravated assault, by firing his gun at the truck. The jury acquitted Wilson of both those charges and opted to convict him of involuntary manslaughter.
Wilson, the son of a Black father and white mother, and his white girlfriend had just picked up food from a Taco Bell about 12:30 a.m. when the pickup truck pulled alongside Wilson’s much smaller Ford Focus. Wilson told police the pickup truck tried to run his car off the road as white teenagers inside yelled racist slurs.
“Me and my girlfriend were very scared that night,” Wilson told police in a recorded interview played for the trial jury. He said that when the truck kept swerving toward his car, ”I didn’t know what else to do, so I grabbed my, uh, my piece and I shot under the vehicle.”
The driver of the pickup and two passengers who took the witness stand denied threatening or otherwise provoking Wilson. They also acknowledged that they had been drinking that night, though they denied being drunk.
One of the truck’s passengers, Luke Conley, declined to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against giving self-incriminating testimony. He has been charged with misdemeanor obstruction after police said he gave investigators conflicting information about the shooting.
Emma Rigdon, Wilson’s girlfriend at the time, testified that she didn’t hear any racial slurs before the shooting. But she recalled being frightened when the pickup truck “started swerving into our lane” and forced Wilson’s car onto the shoulder of the highway.
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HOTALING & CO. TO DONATE 10% OF EVERY BOTTLE IMPORTED OF CONVITE UNA' TO MEXICAN BREAST CANCER CHARITY FUNDACIÓN DE CÁNCER DE MAMA
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Convite®, the best-selling mezcal in Oaxaca, today announced the special release of Una' – a pink-hued mezcal created to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. As the majority stakeholder and importer of this specially created wild agave spirit, Hotaling & Co. will donate 10 percent of every bottle of Una' imported into the U.S. to Mexican breast cancer charity Fundación de Cáncer de Mama (www.fucam.org). FUCAM is the first and only private non-profit institution in Mexico and Latin America that offers comprehensive treatment and specialized follow-up of breast cancer.
"Breast cancer is a disease that has a profound impact on women and families across Mexico. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the team at Hotaling & Co. is honored to launch Convite Una' and support the important work of early detection and treatment provided by FUCAM," said Brian Radics, Chief Marketing Officer, Hotaling & Co.
In Zapotec, Una' literally translates to 'woman' – a fitting tribute as Convite rolls out this beautifully-aged, high-quality artisan mezcal. Convite Una' is a true labor of love from start to finish, as Convite's mezcaleros infuse decades of Mexican distilling tradition into every bottle – while the Una' bottle itself pays homage to the feminine spirit.
Naturally tinted with Cochineal, which has been used for centuries and is native to Oaxaca, Convite Una' is an 80 proof Espadín mezcal using meticulously cultivated agaves harvested between seven and eight years hailing from the Zapotec mountains. The precise distillation method, along with selection and purity of natural ingredients, give Convite mezcals a distinctive taste – warm, rich and inviting.
The idea for Una' derived from the desire to give back to indigenous communities where Convite makes its mezcal. With Convite Una', the goal is to create awareness among women around the importance of periodic breast cancer examinations. These communities are often unaware of preventative breast cancer care or are afraid to approach the health care system – making the work that organizations like FUCAM does mission critical.
Convite is distilled by sixth-generation master distillers and brothers Daniel & Tucho (aka Cosme) Hernández, who produce mezcal according to artisanal traditions. Prioritizing community and sustainability from the start, the team works hard to preserve the wild agaves that give its expressions their complex flavors and ensure that its community benefits from mezcal's growing popularity.
Available nationally at bars, restaurants, and retail locations across the U.S, Convite Mezcal Una' has an SRP of $54.99 for a 750 ml bottle.
To honor the women in your life, cheers her with a delicious and refreshing Sicarú – which means 'beautiful' in Zapotec.
How to Prepare the Sicarú:
1 ounce Convite Una' Mezcal
¾ ounce Chartreuse
½ ounce Absinthe
½ ounce Grenadine
¾ ounce Lemon Juice
Put all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a glass with ice through a strainer. To finish, decorate with a sliced cucumber, giving it the shape of a flower. Unite the "petals" with a stick and put on top of the glass.
Follow us on Instagram @MezcalConvite.
Media images can be found HERE
Convite is the leading mezcal in Oaxaca, a one-of-a-kind, premium, and artisanal mezcal that embodies authenticity and tradition. Convite's name can be translated to an invitation to a party, and in true Oaxacan spirit, Convite is a call to gather in greatness, celebration, and community. Convite's expressions - Espadín Esencial, Espadín-Madrecuishe, Tepextate, Coyote, and Jabalí – are distilled by multi-generation master distillers using traditional methods.
Hotaling & Co., the leading San Francisco distiller & importer, creates, curates, and builds artisanal brands of unmatched character and quality. Hotaling & Co., originally named Anchor Distilling Company, was established in 1993 and is credited with releasing America's first craft whiskey (Old Potrero) and American craft gin (Junipero Gin) after Prohibition. In 2010, Anchor Distilling Company was sold to a business partnership that included Tony Foglio and London's oldest wine and spirit merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd and began expanding to incorporate a collection of super-premium artisanal spirits imported from around the world. In 2017, Anchor Distilling became Hotaling & Co. The new name is a nod to one of Anchor Distilling's most beloved small batch whiskies (Old Potrero Hotaling's Whiskey) and to the San Francisco legend A.P. Hotaling, who came out West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country. Today, Hotaling & Co. celebrates exciting growth and achievements; marking its 29th year of distilling and its 12th year of commercially uniting likeminded distillers from around the world to share the passion and raise the bar.
Hotaling & Co.'s portfolio includes Luxardo Liqueurs & Cherries, Nikka Whisky, Junipero Gin, HINE Cognac, Convite Mezcal, Kavalan Whisky, Denizen Rum, HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys, Writers' Tears Whiskey, Old Pulteney Whisky, Speyburn Whisky, Balblair Whisky, Arran Whisky, Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, and more. Visit www.HotalingandCo.com for a full list of brands.
Media Contacts:
Karla Orduña, Access Brand Communications
karlao@accesstheagency.com, 614.707.8282
Jordan Parker, Hotaling & Co.
jparker@hotalingandco.com, 415.747.4787
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Hotaling
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Officials in Pakistan raised concern Wednesday over the spread of waterborne diseases among thousands of flood victims as waters from powerful monsoon rains began to recede in many parts of the country.
Some doctors said initially they were seeing mostly patients traumatized by the flooding, but are now treating people suffering from diarrhea, skin infections and other waterborne ailments in the country’s flood-hit areas. Many pregnant women living in flood-affected areas were also exposed to risks.
The development has forced the government to deploy additional medical teams, dispatch medicine and provide clean drinking water to survivors, many of whom are living in tents and makeshift homes.
The warning came a day after record-breaking floods prompted the United Nations to formally issue an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to the impoverished Islamic nation, where about a million homes have been damaged or destroyed.
According to the U.N. Population Fund, about 650,000 pregnant women in flood-affected areas require maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth.
“Up to 73,000 women expected to deliver next month will need skilled birth attendants, newborn care, and support,” it said in a statement.
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, health minister in the country’s worst-affected province of Sindh, said officials have set up 4,210 medical camps in the province’s flood-hit areas to treat victims now suffering from skin and waterborne diseases, which are common during floods.
The World Health Organization began aiding Pakistani authorities in their efforts to treat people injured in the rains and flooding. The agency said in a statement it was working to increase surveillance for acute diarrhea, cholera and other communicable diseases to avoid their spreading further, and is also providing medicine and medical supplies to health facilities.
“WHO is working with health authorities to respond quickly and effectively on the ground,” said Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the WHO representative in Pakistan. “Our key priorities now are to ensure rapid access to essential health services to the flood-affected population, (to) strengthen and expand disease surveillance, outbreak prevention and control, and ensure robust health cluster coordination.”
Authorities said waterborne diseases among flood victims are now common across the country.
“Initially we received injured people, but now diarrhea is common,” said Farhad Khan, a physician in charge of a medical camp set up in the northwestern town of Charsadda. It is one of the worst flood-hit districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, where floods killed 257 people since mid-June.
Pakistani authorities backed by the military, rescuers and volunteers, have struggled to evacuate marooned people to safer places. On Wednesday, military helicopters continued evacuating flood victims and delivering food to remote regions, according to a statement released by the military. It said it has deployed at least 6,500 troops to assist in rescue and relief operations.
Rescuers were also using boats to evacuate stranded people in southern Sindh province and in remote villages in eastern Punjab province. Floods in the past 24 hours damaged about 70,000 more homes in the country’s northwest and southern Sindh province, according to National Disaster Management Authority.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a visit to the flood-hit Swat Valley promised the rehabilitation of every person displaced by the flood. In his televised comments, Shahbaz thanked U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for responding to Pakistan’s request and issuing an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help flood victims. Guterres on Tuesday urged the world: “Let’s stop sleepwalking toward the destruction of our planet by climate change.”
Sharif’s visit comes days after a raging Swat River destroyed the iconic New Honeymoon Hotel in the northwestern tourist resort of Kalam. There were no casualties as tourists and staff left the hotel following government evacuation instructions, and residents in Kalam said many streets there were still flooded.
Pakistan says it has received aid from some countries and others were dispatching aid, too. According to initial government estimates, the devastation caused $10 billion in damage to the economy.
Kamran Bangash, a government spokesman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said with evacuations wrapping up, officials are now focused on providing food and clean drinking water to flood victims.
“We fear the outbreak of the waterborne disease in flood-hit areas,” he told The Associated Press. He said hundreds of people have contracted such illnesses in various parts of the province.
“In recent weeks floodwater badly affected hundreds of thousands of people. We don’t want them to again suffer; this time due to non-availability of clean water and it can be avoided,” Bangash said.
Although the rains stopped three days ago, large swaths of the country remain under water, and the main rivers, the Indus and the Swat, are still swollen. The National Disaster Management Authority has warned emergency services to be on maximum alert, saying flood waters over the next 24 hours could cause further damage.
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BEIRUT (AP) — Internet shutdowns rippled through cash-strapped Lebanon on Tuesday after employees of the country’s state-owned telecom company went on strike, demanding higher wages.
It was the latest reflection of one of the world’s worst economic disasters, which has pulled three quarters of Lebanon’s 6 million people into poverty. The Lebanese pound in three years has lost over 90 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar.
Employees of Ogero and other public sector institutions have not had their wages adjusted to accommodate the pound’s depreciation and skyrocketing inflation.
“Unfortunately at my level there is very little to do,” Ogero Chairman Imad Kreidieh told The Associated Press. “Ogero does not have the funds to deal with the matter.”
Kreidieh added that the issue is Lebanon’s parliament and caretaker government’s to resolve.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, internet shutdowns have hit several towns across the country, including in several neighborhoods of Beirut.
Caretaker Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm did not immediately respond to the AP when asked if government is working to resolve the internet shutdowns.
Legislator Paula Yacoubian told the AP that Parliament’s telecommunications committee will meet Monday next week to discuss the issue.
Parliament meanwhile has yet to pass a 2022 state budget, as the country scrambles to reform its corrupt and unproductive economy.
Thousands of public sector workers have already been on strike for almost two months, demanding higher wages and transportation stipends.
The Lebanese government in May approved raising internet and telephone subscription prices, saying the hikes are crucial for the survival of the country’s ailing telecom sector, which is struggling to maintain its infrastructure and afford diesel fuel for its generators.
Lebanon’s already frail infrastructure further deteriorated after the massive Beirut port blast on Aug. 4, 2020, that killed over 200 people, wounded thousands, and destroyed several neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital.
Lebanon’s economic crisis continues to pulverize public life. The cash-strapped country already struggles with soaring gasoline, electricity, and food prices, as well as rampant power cuts and water shortages. Residents rely almost entirely on expensive private diesel generator subscriptions, as the country’s indebted and bloated state electricity company provides no more than about two hours of power daily.
Ogero over the past two years has struggled with upkeeping its infrastructure, affording fuel for its generators, and to prevent theft of copper and metal wires. In January, about 26,000 subscribers in Beirut went offline due to diesel fuel shortages, including the Internal Security Forces’ operations room.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bulova, a New York City based watch brand with over 147 years of uninterrupted history, and iconic singer, songwriter and actor, Marc Anthony, announce an exclusive relationship celebrating their iconic Bold at Heart spirits.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9091251-bulova-marc-anthony-partnership/
Among many accolades and recognitions, the world's all-time greatest salsa artist and ambassador of Latin culture, Marc Anthony, is a multiple Grammy Award, Latin Grammy Award winner and a record-breaking superstar who fills arenas in the US, Latin America, and around the globe. With over 50 Billboard chart #1's hits and over 7.1 Billion views on YouTube, Anthony is a Renaissance man who has made the art of creation part of his daily life. Two icons in their respective arts now come together to appreciate the richness of a treasured relationship, time spent mastering craft, and a cross-generational love of music.
"I love and will always love music, but I have also been immersed for many years in the world of design, painting, and the arts in general. The opportunity to work with a historic and innovative brand like Bulova allows me to create timepieces which has been a dream of mine since I appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of a timepiece," says Marc Anthony. "I am enjoying the whole experience, from my early sketches to the final product, and I am really excited to create signature pieces that are really meaningful to me. I feel like a kid playing in a sandbox, but with the utmost seriousness, curiosity and detail."
Following your passion is the very definition of being bold and those who embody this essence are the many artists that decide to pursue a career in the ever-changing music industry. Bulova shares this same value founded by the brand's visionary leader who also instilled a deep-rooted history in music appreciation. A partnership with Marc Anthony adds to the expanding roster of music partnerships that Bulova has created over the past few years, including the Grammys, Latin Grammys, Frank Sinatra Enterprise and The Apollo Theater.
"There are very few living artists that have the power to move and stir emotions like Marc Anthony," says Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch America. "He is the perfect embodiment of Bulova's Bold at Heart spirit and like the brand, his music is evergreen and passed down for generations."
Just like Bulova, love for innovation and ingenuity will come to life through a dedicated four-year partnership where Marc's creativity and Bulova's artisanship will come together for a series of timepiece and jewelry collections (special edition, limited edition and unlimited). The Marc Anthony collections will feature the direct involvement of the artist in the design process and will be named after some of his most iconic songs. Poised to launch in November 2022, the collections will include elements of Anthony's artistic and personal universe. Bulova will also support the work of Anthony's charitable efforts with his Maestro Cares Foundation that builds orphanages across Latin America.
To learn more about Bulova's support of music please visit, https://www.bulova.com/us/en/collection/explore/.
To learn more about Marc Anthony please visit, www.marcanthonyonline.com.
About Bulova
Founded by Joseph Bulova in 1875, Bulova remains an iconic brand at the forefront of today's timepiece industry - forever pursuing a profound history of firsts.
Headquartered in New York City, with eight international offices and distribution in 65 markets, Bulova's distinguished portfolio includes Bulova, Caravelle, Wittnauer watches, Frank Lloyd Wright® Collection watches and clocks, and Bulova Clocks. Today, Bulova is driven by the same principles of craftsmanship, innovation and technology that inspired their founder more than 140 years ago. Committed to advancing the art of watchmaking with extraordinary design, exclusive high-performance technology and enduring quality that upholds a tradition of excellence and meets the needs of today's global consumer. For more information, visit www.bulova.com.
As the Official Timepiece Partner of the Recording Academy® and Latin Recording Academy®, Bulova honors all first-time GRAMMY winners, as well as "Best New Artist" nominees for the Latin GRAMMYs, for their tenacious work and bold choices that have earned them these prestigious awards. Another partnership with American entertainment and culture icon, Frank Sinatra, the epitome of "bold," comes to life in a special timepiece collection bearing the names of some of the most famous Sinatra songs. To further celebrate Sinatra's legacy, Bulova also supports the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and its students, who have made a bold decision in pursuing their dreams of an arts education.
About Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is one of the most influential artists of his time and a true ambassador of Latin music and culture. He has received countless gold and platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has been credited with over 50 Billboard chart #1's hits and over 7.1 Billion views on YouTube. On May 10, 2019 Marc Anthony released OPUS, his first new studio album in six years on Magnus Media / Sony Latin Music. OPUS is his eighth salsa album in the 26 years since Otra Nota (1993) established him. In addition to winning the 2020 Grammy Best Tropical Album, OPUS has earned Marc Anthony a #1 at Billboard's Tropical Airplay list with "Parecen Viernes", 4 nominations to Latin American Music Awards for: Favorite Album (OPUS), Favorite Artist Tropical, Favorite Song (Parecen Viernes), and Favorite Tour. He was a finalist in 4 categories for the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards (Tropical Album of the Year – OPUS, Tropical Song of the Year – "Parecen Viernes" Tropical Artist of the Year – Solo, and Tour of the Year – OPUS TOUR).
His previous album, Marc Anthony 3.0, released July 23, 2013, received an American Music Award; a GRAMMY® Award nomination; five Premios Lo Nuestro; two Premios Juventud; ten Billboard Latin Music Awards; three Billboard Awards; and special recognitions from the Univision and Telemundo networks.
Anthony has also established a highly credible acting résumé. Besides his music and acting accomplishments, in 2012, the six – time GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Award winner launched the Maestro Cares Foundation, hosting a series of fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the non-profit organization and build orphanages in Latin America. He also has his own clothing and accessories line for Kohl's, and he is a minority owner of The Miami Dolphins. His entertainment and sports venture Magnus Media, is the leading Latin artist and athlete representation company in the nation, and focuses on developing new ventures that bridge content creation and commerce.
On November 16, 2016, Anthony received the prestigious "Person of the Year" honors from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In September of 2017, Marc Anthony and Magnus created the alliance of artists and athletes Somos Una Voz, to help provide humanitarian relief to areas affected by natural disasters throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other affected areas in the Caribbean. His tours "Vivir Mi Vida", "Cambio de Piel", "Full Circle", "Legacy" and "The OPUS Tour", have been included in the Global Top Grossing Concert Tours Lists. His OPUS Tour kicked-off in the United States and other international markets in 2019. Recently, Marc became the first artist of his genre to receive a "6-time Diamond RIIA Certification '' for his album 3.0 and was recognized with his third Guinness Records. In March 2022, Marc Anthony released his new album "Pa'lla Voy". His "Pa'lla Tour" played to sold out audiences all over the United States, Europe and he recently embarked on a new tour titled "Viviendo". In June 2022 Marc Anthony was selected for the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2023.
Publicity Contacts:
For Bulova – Kaitlin Derkach kaitlin@thepromofact.com
For Marc Anthony – Blanca Lassalle blanca@creativelinkny.com
View original content:
SOURCE Bulova
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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 20 companies and individuals operating across the Middle East that it says are involved in financing the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The sanctions are directed against what the Defense Ministry described as an international network operating “under the guise of legitimate companies” in Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. announced sanctions against many of the same entities in May. Israel and the U.S. say they are part of a Hamas-run financial network with hundreds of millions of dollars in assets.
The Islamic militant group has carried out scores of deadly attacks against Israelis over the years, and it seized control of Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority 15 years ago. Israel and Western countries consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
“We will continue to thwart Hamas’ attempts to funnel funds intended for the terrorist organization’s force buildup,” Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement.
Israel and Egypt have maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since the Hamas takeover, which Israel says is needed to prevent Hamas from re-arming. But the group has continued to improve its military capabilities — including the reach of its rockets — through four devastating wars with Israel.
The Palestinians and human rights groups view the blockade as a form of collective punishment of Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinian residents.
Even as it tries to sanction Hamas, Israel has also taken steps to ease the Gaza blockade over the past year in return for calm. Those understandings with Hamas appear to have figured into the group’s decision to stay out of three days of heavy fighting between Israel and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group earlier this month.
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| 2022-09-21T13:08:58Z
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The water pressure at James Brown’s home in Jackson was so low the faucets barely dripped. He couldn’t cook. He couldn’t bathe. But he still had to work.
The 73-year-old tree-cutter hauled bags of ice into his truck at a gas station on his way to a job Wednesday after several days without water.
“What can I do? I’m just a pawn in a chess game,” he said during one of multiple trips to and from the store. “All I’ve got to do is just try and live.”
People waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets Wednesday in Mississippi’s capital. The city water system partially failed early this week after Pearl River flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.
President Joe Biden late Tuesday approved an emergency declaration for the state of Mississippi. On Wednesday, he called Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba to discuss response efforts, including support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The mayor also said he had a separate telephone conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, Biden said he wants to provide federal support for the long-term effort to rebuild Jackson’s aging water infrastructure, which has been unreliable for years.
Lumumba said Jackson’s water system is troubled by short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance.” He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.
A city news release said the main water-treatment plant had “challenges with water chemistry” Wednesday, which led to a drop in output of water. That caused depletion of water tanks and a sharp decrease in water pressure.
Even before the service disruption, Jackson’s 150,000 residents had been boiling their drinking water for the past month because officials said it could cause digestive problems.
Brown said Wednesday that he’d stopped at the grocery store to buy four cases of water before picking up the ice. A lifelong Jackson resident, he said people there have been living without access to consistent water for years — even when there is pressure, residents often have to boil it to drink and cook.
A cold snap in 2021 left tens of thousands of people without running water after pipes froze. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale.
“It will get right one day,” Brown said. “When, I have no idea.”
Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can’t afford to fix. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased — the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that began after public schools integrated in 1970. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty.
Lumumba said Tuesday that fixing Jackson’s water system could run to “quite possibly the billions of dollars.” Mississippi is receiving $75 million to address water problems as part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Jackson is receiving about $31 million through the EPA’s revolving loan funds for treatment and distribution system improvements.
During a Wednesday news conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the EPA is deploying personnel to Jackson for an emergency assessment of the treatment plants and to streamline the delivery of repair equipment. FEMA has personnel at the state emergency operations center and is coordinating with the state emergency management team to identify needs, she said.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system Tuesday. The state will try to help resolve problems by hiring contractors to work at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant — the facility at the root of Jackson’s water woes. The plant was operating at diminished capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps failed “some time ago,” Reeves said.
In a video posted to Twitter, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said an emergency rental pump had been installed Wednesday at the O.B. Curtis. Broken pumps at the plant resulted in decreased water pressure and some outages.
In a news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said city officials expected water pressure to start increasing later in the evening.
Bobbie Fairley, who has lived in Jackson her entire life, owns Magic Hands Hair design in south Jackson. The 59-year-old said she had to cancel five appointments Wednesday because she needs high water pressure to wash chemicals out of hair during treatments.
She has had to purchase water to shampoo hair to try fit in whatever appointments she can. When clients aren’t coming in, she’s losing money.
“That’s a big burden,” she said. “I can’t afford that. I can’t afford that at all.”
Jackson State University had to bring in temporary restrooms for students and was waiting on the delivery of portable showers Wednesday, President Thomas Hudson said.
Hudson said the city’s water issues have been an ongoing challenge for the historically Black university as it has worked to attract students.
“It does make it difficult in terms of what we’re trying to do, our core mission, which is education,” Hudson said.
He said the university is starting work on a plan for a standalone water supply system using some of the federal funding made available to historically Black colleges and universities.
Shannon Wilson, whose daughter just started her sophomore year at Jackson State, said her daughter’s dorm regained some pressure, but the water coming out is brown. Her daughter left to stay with a friend off campus. But Wilson, who lives in St. Louis, can’t help but worry about her.
“We are feeling helpless,” Wilson said. “Being over 500 miles away from Jackson, there is nothing I can do but worry.”
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Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.
___
AP White House correspondent Josh Boak contributed to this report.
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Additional financing strengthens Ceribell's shareholder base and provides capital to support commercial expansion and further development of the company's first-of-its kind Ceribell Rapid Response EEG System
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceribell, Inc. announced today it has closed a $50 million financing round led by new investor Ally Bridge Group, with participation from existing shareholders. The financing was structured as an extension of the company's previously announced Series C financing.
The Ceribell® technology platform is designed to address the need for easier and faster diagnosis in patients with suspicion of seizure. The company will use the financing proceeds to support ongoing commercial expansion across emergency departments and intensive care units. In addition, Ceribell will continue to leverage the power of machine learning and easy EEG accessibility to address other neurological conditions beyond seizure. The company announced receipt of Breakthrough Device Designation for its delirium indication from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this month.
"We are excited to partner with Ally Bridge and appreciate the continued support from our existing shareholders," said Jane Chao, Ph.D., Ceribell's co-founder and CEO. "Based on our progress to date, it is clear that the Ceribell Rapid EEG system is improving the quality of care seizure patients receive in the hospital. We look forward to continuing to bring this novel technology to more ICUs and Emergency Departments, as well as developing diagnostic and monitoring solutions for additional neurological indications impacting the lives of critically ill patients."
"We are pleased to support Ceribell," said Charles Chon, Ally Bridge Group Partner. "We have been impressed by the company's novel technology and commercial traction and are excited to partner with the company on its journey to develop a much needed device and data analytics platform for point of care brain monitoring."
Ceribell, Inc. (www.ceribell.com), is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. Ceribell deploys a cloud-linked, portable electroencephalogram (EEG) device to assess brain waves in minutes to identify the occurrence of seizures and other conditions in emergency rooms and intensive care units. The Ceribell system can be quickly and easily applied to a patient by any healthcare provider and delivers brain monitoring results within minutes. Ceribell is focused on making EEG widely available, more efficient, and more cost-effective to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions for patients at risk for seizures. The Ceribell EEG System first received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2017 and is commercially available in the United States.
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SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — A judge rejected a plea agreement that would have meant no prison time for the operator of a limousine company involved in a crash that killed 20 people in upstate New York. Wednesday’s turnabout drew applause and tears from victims’ relatives and plunged limo company boss Nauman Hussain into legal uncertainty.
State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch, who was not presiding over the case when the deal was reached a year ago in Hussain’s case, called the agreement “fundamentally flawed.”
It would have spared Hussain prison time, angering the families of the people killed when brake failure sent a stretch limo full of birthday revelers hurtling down a hill in 2018.
The judge’s rejection caught lawyers and relatives off-guard. Family members who, moments earlier, were testifying about their grief and anger over no one being accountable for the deadly crash clapped and dabbed their eyes after the judge’s announcement.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel. Totally unexpected. Thank God,” said Jill Richardson-Perez, the mother of limo crash victim Matthew Coons, while leaving court. “I’m in a better place now.”
Kevin Cushing, who lost his son Patrick in the crash, said the families “have a hope for a bit of justice to be served in the future, where we didn’t have any justice served in the past.”
Defense attorney Chad Seigel said they were “shocked” and that the judge’s move was “unheard of.”
Hussain, who operated Prestige Limousine, had been charged with 20 counts each of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in what was the deadliest U.S. transportation disaster in a decade.
The agreement had called for Hussain to plead guilty only to the homicide counts, resulting five years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service. Lawyers for both sides said last year the plea agreement assured a resolution in a case that would have faced an uncertain outcome if presented to a jury.
Lynch noted that a state Department of Transportation out-of-service sticker had been placed on the limousine a month before the crash. State police recovered the sticker from Hussain’s personal car after his arrest. Prosecutors have argued that Hussain took the sticker off the limo’s windshield so that he could use it for more jobs.
To the judge, Hussain’s actions showed he knew the risk of putting the limousine on the road the day of the crash, and a guilty plea to only criminally negligent homicide does not reflect that. Second-degree manslaughter charges are filed when a defendant is accused of being aware of the risk of death and disregarding it. Lynch called the deal “completely disingenuous and unacceptable to this court.”
Lynch gave Hussain’s lawyers the choice of accepting a sentence of 1 1/3 to four years in prison or withdrawing his guilty plea. They chose the latter.
Seigel said afterward that the DOT sticker had “absolutely nothing to do with defective brakes.”
“Collectively, we made a decision that it would be in the best of all all involved — not only our client, but the members of the community — to put this matter behind them. A little monkey wrench was thrown in that,” Seigel said. “So the judge forced our hand and we’re ready for trial.”
District Attorney Susan Mallery left court without commenting.
Hussain, who sat with his head lowered for much of the proceeding, declined comment afterward.
While the National Transportation Safety Board concluded the crash was likely caused by Prestige Limousine’s “egregious disregard for safety” that resulted in brake failure, the board said ineffective state oversight contributed.
Attorneys for Hussain say he tried to maintain the limousine and relied on what he was told by state officials and a repair shop that inspected it.
Axel Steenburg rented the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine for wife Amy’s 30th birthday on Oct. 6, 2018. The party group, ranging in age from 24 to 34, included Axel’s brother, Amy’s three sisters and two of their husbands, and close friends.
En route to a brewery, the limo’s brakes failed on a downhill stretch of road in Schoharie, west of Albany. The vehicle blew through a stop sign at over 100 mph (160 kph) and crashed into a small ravine.
The crash killed the limo driver, 17 passengers, and two bystanders outside the store.
Mallery’s office has said Hussain allowed passengers to ride in the limo despite having received “multiple notices of violations” from the state and having been told repairs were inadequate. State police said the vehicle should have been taken out of service because of brake problems identified in an inspection a month before the crash.
The next court date has been set for Sept. 14. Hussain, who had completed a year of interim probation, was allowed to leave the court, but the judge ordered he be subject to GPS monitoring.
Lynch revealed his decision only after several relatives spoke about their enduring pain and sense of loss. Sheila McGarvey told the court that her 30-year-old son Shane McGowan was just beginning his life with new wife, Erin McGowan, who was also riding in the limo.
“I call out my son Shane’s name all the time,” McGarvey said, “but no one answers.”
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LA PORTE, Texas (AP) — It’s the only surviving battleship that served in both world wars, having fought Nazis and the Japanese Army during World War II. But the greatest challenge in recent years for the USS Texas has been a leaky, rusty hull that at times forced workers to pump out about 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) of water per minute from the 110-year-old ship.
To ensure the historic vessel doesn’t sink and can continue hosting visitors, the foundation in charge of its care is towing the ship Wednesday from its longtime home along the Houston Ship Channel to a shipyard in Galveston for much needed repairs.
Tony Gregory, the president of the Battleship Texas Foundation, said Wednesday the pulling of the ship by tugboats and getting it on its way was perfect. He said any problems would have happened in the first 15 minutes of pulling the ship but there were no issues.
“It went smoother than we thought and quicker than we thought … and she’s gone, down the channel,” he said.
Gregory said he expects the ship to arrive in Galveston by 4 p.m.
The journey from its longtime berth at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in the Houston suburb of La Porte is part of a $35 million project to repair the hull and ultimately restore the ship to its former glory.
The ship’s repairs are part of the foundation’s plans to eventually resettle it in a new location in Texas, possibly in one of three nearby cities, including Galveston, in order to attract more visitors and increase revenue.
Moving the ship for repairs is “the major step in getting the ship back to tip top shape,” Gregory said Tuesday as he stood on the vessel while workers made final preparations.
The battleship will be pulled by four tugboats at a pace of about 5 knots per hour. The 40-mile (64 kilometer) journey to Galveston was expected to take about nine hours and won’t be without risk as the ship’s hull could leak enough to sink it.
“Once we get going, I anticipate it being pretty smooth… We feel like we’re prepared,” Gregory said.
Since 1948, the USS Texas has been located at the state historic site where the decisive battle in the Texas Revolution was fought. There, it’s served as a museum and tourist attraction. The battleship was previously taken to the same shipyard in Galveston for repairs in 1988.
For the last three years, the ship has been closed to the public as the foundation has been preparing for the repairs. In 2019, the Texas Legislature approved the $35 million to fix the hull. The foundation is planning to make other fixes which it’s paying for. All the repairs are expected to take up to a year to complete.
The foundation expected many people to gather along the ship channel to watch the ship go by.
Tricia Thomas, 50, who was one of the people invited to watch as the ship was unmoored, said she became emotional and teared up as she saw the ship move and heard its whistle sound as it began its journey. As the ship began moving, Thomas said, people clapped and cheered.
“It’s amazing to see a ship that’s 100 years old out on the water again, moving like she did for so many years. It was exciting,” said Thomas, who lives in the Houston suburb of Kingwood.
Thomas said she believes it’s important to preserve the ship so future generations can learn its history and it can remind people how they can come together for a common cause that’s greater than them.
“I think that’s probably the biggest story she can tell,” Thomas said.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
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| 2022-09-21T13:09:21Z
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LIMA, Peru (AP) — LGBTQ rights activists rallied outside the prosecutor’s office Wednesday to demand an autopsy be performed on a Peruvian transgender man who died earlier this month after being detained on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali.
Rodrigo Ventocilla, a 32-year-old graduate student at Harvard University, died Aug. 11 at a Bali hospital. He had been detained Aug. 6 after arriving at the island’s airport. His Peruvian husband, Sebastián Marallano, was also detained when he tried to help Ventocilla.
The couple, who married in Chile, went to Bali on their honeymoon.
Ventocilla’s body has been taken from Indonesia and is expected to arrive in Lima soon, and his relatives want officials in Peru to determine the cause of death, saying they suspect Indonesian authorities abused Ventocilla. Indonesian officials deny that.
“He was detained because of his gender identity. His identity document did not match his appearance. That made him a suspect for the Indonesian police. He was extorted, tortured and has died,” Luzmo Henríquez, a representative of the family of the deceased, told The Associated Press.
Indonesian authorities deny any act of violence and discrimination. “Everything went according to standard operation,” Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto, a Bali police spokesman, said Monday.
Officials in Indonesia said customs officers found a package of brownies with Ventocilla that they suspected might contain cannabis and turned him over to police. Officials said Ventocilla was taken to the hospital the morning of Aug. 9 after showing symptoms of depression and complaining of stomach pains. He died in the hospital Aug. 11.
LGBTQ activists protested in front of the Peruvian Foreign Ministry last week, complaining that Peruvian authorities did not independently investigate Ventocilla’s death and welcomed the Indonesian authorities’ version without any questions.
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Reaffirms commitment to agent empowerment for retention and growth in the contact center
ST. LOUIS, Miss., Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Balto, the leader in uniting contact center agents with AI for better conversations, is excited to announce the release of a suite of features for its market-leading real-time guidance platform dedicated to improving the agent experience in the contact center.
The new features bolster Balto's commitment to empowering agents to confidently navigate every call conversation, creating a happier, more engaged contact center workforce — a philosophy that translates to happier customers, increased revenue, and higher employee satisfaction, according to research by Glassdoor.
The robust feature-set slated for release in October will include:
Top agents know what works best to drive call outcomes. Agent-sourced content empowers top agents to achieve success by offering greater flexibility in the content they see. Selected agents can add their voice to the playbook, test new checklist items, and snooze or minimize prompts. This provides opportunity for senior agents to contribute best practices that will benefit new agents, so they can ramp faster and more effectively.
Gamification drives agents to want to achieve through the spirit of competition. Challenges, leaderboards, and badges increase agent engagement and make their job more satisfying, while providing a framework to be recognized by leadership with monetary rewards.
Agents can set up Balto with their own spin. Themes, personalized win animations, and accessibility options bring new ways for agents to be delighted with their Balto experience. Enabling agents to customize their work space will result in improved agent productivity and overall job satisfaction.
"Balto champions a fun, flexible, and engaging agent experience that creates moments of delight and rewards the wins — big or small." said Chris Kontes, Balto COO and Co-founder. "These incremental capabilities will help contact centers achieve high levels of customer growth, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce average handle times, while retaining agents who will be more satisfied with their jobs. Because if your agents are satisfied, so are your customers."
This month, Balto became the first conversational AI technology platform to surpass 150 million calls guided in real time. A key contributor to this exponential growth has been market endorsement of Real-Time Guidance as more than a tool to simply "assist" agents live on calls to one of true agent empowerment.
"Agent assistant tools really put the onus on the agent to figure out what to do with the information presented and are more of an enforcement tool. That's the last place we want to be," continues Kontes. "Instead, we focus on giving agents the confidence to improve their conversations by providing the support they need in the moment — making them better, and happier, at their jobs."
One such new agent empowerment feature is the ability for top performing agents to source their own content, offering greater flexibility in the content they see. Earlier this year, Balto conducted a survey of over 500 agents across industries and found that two out of three wanted to change their script — particularly tenured agents who have the most familiarity with the talk tracks. From them they have developed their own personalized approach. Getting content input from them invests them in the script-writing process and its results. On the manager's side, it helps them continuously iterate on playbooks with little-to-no interaction and allows them to draw from an untapped well of knowledge — their agents — for improved call outcomes.
In addition to agent-sourced content, the new personalization and gamification features keep agents delighted and engaged. In fact, according to a recent TalemLMS survey, employee respondents said gamification makes employees feel more productive (89%) and happier at work (88%). "When the agent experience is improved, the customer experience inevitably follows. And our customers are seeing the results," adds Kontes.
The recent release comes on the heels of several other major agent-focused announcements in 2022 to date. First, Balto launched Real-Time Guidance in Spanish for Spanish-speaking agents and customers. Balto is also now embeddable in Genesys, NICE in Contact, Salesforce, and other major softphone and CMS platforms for a "single pane of glass" experience that streamlines agent workflows.
The new agent experience features will be rolled out in October after a thorough pilot program.
Balto unites agents with AI to enable better conversations that deliver results. Top-performing contact centers trust Balto's real-time guidance enterprise solution to prevent missed sales opportunities, costly compliance mistakes, and negative customer experiences. Today, Balto has guided over 150 million calls, provided over 185 million real-time recommendations, and driven millions in increased revenue. Balto.ai
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian first lady Rosmah Mansor was ordered to serve 10 years in prison after being found guilty on Thursday of soliciting and receiving bribes during her husband’s corruption-tainted administration, a week after he was imprisoned over the massive looting of the 1MDB state fund.
Rosmah was convicted on a charge of soliciting 187.5 million ringgit ($42 million) and two charges of receiving 6.5 million ringgit ($1.5 million) between 2016 and 2017 to help a company secure a project to provide solar energy panels to schools on Borneo island.
The court sentenced her to 10 years in prison on each charge, to be served concurrently, and a total fine of 970 million ringgit ($217 million). She will be allowed to remain free on bail pending her appeal to higher courts.
High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said prosecutors proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Rosmah corruptly solicited bribes and received money as a reward for herself. He said her defense was a “bare denial, devoid of credible evidence.”
Earlier, Rosmah made an emotional plea from the dock, saying she was saddened and felt she wasn’t given justice. She said she had never solicited any funds or taken a single cent while she was heading charity foundations during her time as the prime minister’s wife.
She also decried as political persecution the events that led to Najib being jailed and her family being made to suffer. “I do not even know the cost of the project. So I am just telling the truth and nothing else but the truth,” she said. “If that’s your conclusion, I surrender to God.”
Defense lawyer Jagjit Singh later told reporters that the amount of the fine was the largest ever in Malaysia’s history. He said Rosmah was shocked and upset, and that they plan to appeal to higher courts. Under the law, each charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of five times the bribes solicited and received.
Her conviction was another blow after Najib began a 12-year prison term last Tuesday after losing his final appeal in one of the five graft cases against him involving the multibillion-dollar pilfering of 1MDB.
Before the verdict, Judge Zaini also rejected Rosmah’s application to disqualify him after an alleged guilty judgment leaked online. Police said the leaked document was work done within the court’s research unit and was not the judgment, but Rosmah’s defense said they lost confidence the judge could be fair.
The judge said he didn’t request the research and that those were not his grounds. He said he didn’t read the documents, had done his own research and wasn’t prejudiced against Rosmah. Malaysia’s top court earlier slammed the action of the website, run by a blogger based in England, as “a deliberate act” to smear the court’s reputation.
Last week, the same website published a document it said was the Federal Court’s guilty verdict against Najib, just before the ruling was read out in court. The court has said that leaked document was a working draft of the ruling. The court has filed complaints with police over both leaks.
Najib and Rosmah have been hit with multiple charges of graft after the shocking ouster of his United Malays National Organization in the 2018 elections, fueled by public anger over the 1MDB scandal. UMNO has since returned to power after defections caused the collapse of the reformist government that won the 2018 polls.
Rosmah’s trial shed light on her alleged sway in the government since her husband took office in 2009. Prosecutors said Rosmah wielded considerable influence due to her “overbearing nature,” even though she held no official position. Witnesses testified that a special department, called First Lady of Malaysia, was set up to handle Rosmah’s affairs.
Her former aide, who was jointly charged with Rosmah but later testified for the prosecution, told the court that many businesspeople lobbied Rosmah for help to secure government projects. The aide testified Rosmah was feared by civil servants and requests from her department were often swiftly carried out.
The court also heard that she spent 100,000 ringgit a month ($22,300) to hire online propagandists to deflect criticism of her lavish lifestyle that led to her being despised by many Malaysians.
After Najib lost power, police raided family residences and seized hundreds of boxes of luxurious Hermes Birkin handbags, 423 watches, 14 tiaras and other jewelry plus cash estimated at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($246 million).
During her trial, 23 prosecution witnesses testified but only two defense witnesses were called, including Rosmah. She told the court she was never involved in government affairs and that her former aide was a corrupt liar who had used her name to solicit bribes and pocketed the money himself.
Rosmah has also been charged with laundering illegal proceeds and tax evasion linked to 1MDB in another trial that hasn’t started.
1MDB was a development fund that Najib set up after taking office. Investigators allege more than $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases that included hotels, a luxury yacht, art works and jewelry.
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(KTLA) – Happy Meals might get a little spooky this October.
McDonald’s is rumored to be resurrecting its Halloween Happy Meal pumpkin pails, which first debuted nationwide in 1986. According to the blog, Nightmare Nostalgia, McDonald’s employees have been sharing the news on social media.
Though McDonald’s has yet to confirm the rumor or respond to a request for more details from Nexstar’s KTLA, employees at multiple franchise locations told us they expect the pails to be available soon.
The buckets, which can adequately hold burgers and fries, and also plenty of Halloween candy, will return on Oct. 18 with the promotion ending on the holiday itself, Oct. 31, the website claims.
The original iteration of the Halloween pails were three orange jack-o-lantern pails named McPunk’n, McBoo, and McGoblin. According to Eat This Not That, the buckets were changed to a white ghost, green witch, and orange pumpkin during the 1990s.
The favorite items continued to transform throughout the years, with some themed for shows like “Scooby-Doo” and “Monster High,” or characters like Mr. Potato Head.
The buckets were last seen in 2016 when McDonald’s designed them based on the Halloween classic film, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
The fast food chain recently brought back its Cheese Danish, another customer-favorite item, to its menu at participating locations.
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| 2022-09-21T13:09:52Z
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Nearly every single Alaskan got a financial windfall amounting to more than $3,000 Tuesday, the day the state began distributing payments from Alaska’s investment fund that has been seeded with money from the state’s oil riches.
The payments, officially called the Permanent Fund Dividend or the PFD locally, amounted to $2,622 — the highest amount ever. Alaska lawmakers added $662 as a one-time benefit to help residents with high energy costs.
A total of $1.6 billion in direct deposits began hitting bank accounts Tuesday, and checks will arrive later for those who opted for them.
Residents use the money in various ways, from buying big-screen TVs, vehicles or other goods, using it for vacations or putting it in savings or college funds. In rural Alaska, the money can help offset the enormous costs of fuel and food, like $14 for a 12-pack of soda, $4 for a celery bunch and $3 for a small container of Greek yogurt.
“We’re experiencing record high inflation that we haven’t seen since the first PFD was paid in 1982,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a video. “Alaskans have been bearing the brunt of this inflation from the gas pump to the grocery store, and this year’s PFD will provide much needed relief as we head into winter.”
The timing of the checks couldn’t have come at a better time for those living on the state’s vast western coast, which was devastated last weekend by the remnants of Typhoon Merbok. Damage to homes and infrastructure was widespread along a 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) of coastline.
Among the communities experiencing the greatest damage was Nome, the largest city on the coast with about 3,500 residents and known for being the end point of the world’s most famous sled dog race.
Howard Farley, now 90, helped secure Nome as the Iditarod’s finish line over 50 years ago. His century-old home was safe from the storm on high ground in Nome, but they did lose about 100 feet (30.48 meters) of frontage and one building at the family’s camp site about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of town.
“The beach is a lot closer,” he said.
He said the payments — which would be more than $16,000 for a family of five — are much needed.
“Even people that didn’t have damage, with the inflation up here, that’s really, really hitting hard,” he said.
Farley said gas is $7 a gallon and will remain that way until the next shipment arrives next spring because barges can’t deliver once the Bering Sea freezes.
“The price won’t go down like it does in Anchorage and other places because you guys can get deliveries almost any time,” he said.
“What it will mean for a lot of families is that they can break even with the high prices we’re paying,” he said.
The oil-wealth check, which some in Alaska see as an entitlement, typically is derived from the earnings of the nest-egg investment account. The diversified fund was established during construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline in the 1970s and now is worth $73.6 billion.
There is a yearly application process and residency requirements to qualify for a dividend. Dividends traditionally have been paid using earnings from the Alaska Permanent Fund. Lawmakers in 2018 began using fund earnings to also help pay for government and sought to limit how much can be withdrawn from earnings for both purposes. The amount going to the dividend this year represents half the authorized draw.
Residents received the first check, $1,000, in 1982. Amounts have varied over the years, and traditionally were calculated on a five-year rolling average to buffer downturns in the economy.
The smallest check ever was $331 in 1983. The largest before this year’s check was $2,072 in 2015. If someone has collected every check since 1982, it would amount to $47,049.
Mildred Jonathan, 74, and her husband, Alfred, 79, live about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of the Canadian border in the interior Alaska village of Tanacross.
There will be no frivolous spending when they receive their paper check in October. Instead, the Jonathans’ major purchase will be firewood.
“The wood I’m hoping to get is $1,600, and it’s a 10-cord load,” she said. “I’ll survive the winter if I buy that.”
Snow was already falling on nearby mountains, and temperatures in the Athabascan village during the winter are typically well below zero. “It’s cold, cold, cold,” she said.
Any money the couple have left over will go to a new hot water system, flooring for their home and Christmas gifts for their grandchildren, who want new phones.
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| 2022-09-21T13:09:58Z
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s governor on Wednesday signed a new executive order that pledges $10 million to build a clinic that would provide abortions and other pregnancy care.
“The goal here is build it and they will come,” Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham said after signing the order during a virtual announcement that included members of the state’s Commission on the Status of Women and several legislators.
The governor noted that New Mexico already has seen an influx of patients following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade as abortions have ceased in neighboring Texas and elsewhere.
Lujan Grisham, who is running for reelection against Republican Mark Ronchetti, signed her first executive order on the matter in late June. It was aimed at ensuring safe harbor to people seeking abortions or providing abortions at health care facilities within the state.
The latest order reiterates her commitments to protecting access in addition to directing state agencies to leverage their resources to expand access to reproductive health care — including abortion — in underserved areas of the state. The order also calls for the state Department of Health to review the feasibility of providing medication abortions at its public health clinics.
Ronchetti on Wednesday said state funds shouldn’t be spent on a clinic where late-term abortions would be available for people who come from out of state. He has proposed limiting abortion to the first 15 weeks, or in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk.
“Using taxpayer dollars to enable and fund abortion up until the point of birth is not only out of line with New Mexican values, it is extreme,” he said in a statement.
The Democratic-led Legislature will hash out the next state budget, including capital investments, when it meets in January.
As for the one-time proposed infusion of $10 million for a new clinic in the Las Cruces area, Lujan Grisham said she envisions a partnership with medical schools and private providers, such as the Mississippi clinic at the center of the Roe court battle that relocated to southern New Mexico in early August.
One of the largest abortion providers in Texas, Austin-based Whole Woman’s Health, also still has plans to move some of its operations to New Mexico and states in the southeastern U.S.
The Commission on the Status of Women in a resolution read Wednesday made clear its focus on protecting access to abortions, protecting health care providers and expanding access to what the panel called a full spectrum of pregnancy care — which includes abortions as well as post-birth care.
Commission Chairwoman Lisa Curtis said there needs to be a special emphasis on underserved areas across the rural state and investment in programs that will develop a pipeline of trained health care providers.
New Mexico lawmakers last year repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, thus ensuring access to abortion following the Supreme Court’s action. Some Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday that they will push for measures during the next legislative session to further enshrine access and protections in state law.
The governor said the work being done by her allies in the Legislature and advocacy groups is saving women’s lives.
“The notion that women cannot have control over their bodies, dignity, respect and autonomy is outrageous,” Lujan Grisham said. “This is a state that is not going to let that be the status quo.”
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| 2022-09-21T13:09:58Z
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BERLIN (AP) — The families of 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian attackers at the 1972 Munich Olympics have reached a deal with Germany over a long-disputed compensation claim, the German government said Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the families had threatened to boycott Monday’s 50-year anniversary ceremony in Munich organized by German authorities because they said the amount they had been offered was too low.
“The German government welcomes the fact that it has now been possible to reach an agreement with the relatives on an overall concept to mark the 50th anniversary,” a spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
“This includes the reappraisal of the events by a commission of German and Israeli historians, the release of files in accordance with the law, the classification and acceptance of political responsibility within the framework of the commemoration ceremony, as well as the provision of further recognition services by the federal government, by the state of Bavaria and by the city of Munich,” spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.
The German news agency dpa and other media reported that Germany increased its offer to the families to around 28 million euros (dollars), up from the initial 10 million euros offer to the families, which would have included the payments already made. Of this, the federal government is to bear 22.5 million euros, the state of Bavaria 5 million euros and the city of Munich 500,000 euros, dpa reported.
The German government has not publicly revealed how much money it has offered.
The German president and his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog welcomed the agreement.
“We are pleased and relieved that an agreement on historical clarification, recognition and compensation has been reached shortly before the 50th anniversary,” Steinmeier said in a joint statement with Herzog, who will visit Germany next week and participate in the ceremony.
“The agreement cannot heal all wounds. But it opens a door to each other,” the statement said. “With this agreement, the German state acknowledges its responsibility and recognizes the terrible suffering of the murdered and their relatives, which we will commemorate next week.”
The negotiations over the amount of the compensation and the release of further historical documents had been a lingering point of friction between the two countries that have built strong ties despite the enduring legacy of the Nazi Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were murdered during World War II.
Members of the Palestinian group Black September broke into the Olympic Village, killed two athletes from Israel’s national team and took nine more hostage on Sept. 5, 1972. The attackers hoped to force the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as well as two left-wing extremists in West German jails.
All nine hostages and a West German police officer died during a rescue attempt by German forces. Relatives of the athletes accuse Germany of failing to secure the Olympic Village, refusing Israeli help and then botching the rescue operation.
Immediately after the attack, Germany made payments to relatives of the victims amounting to about 4.19 million marks (about 2 million euros or dollars), according to the country’s interior ministry. In 2002, the surviving relatives received an additional 3 million euros, Germany’s dpa news agency reported.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:06Z
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JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian detainee held by Israel without charge or trial said Wednesday that he is ending his nearly six-month hunger strike after reaching an agreement that will see him released in October.
Lawyers and physicians had warned that the Khalil Awawdeh, a 40-year-old father of four from the occupied West Bank, was at risk of dying and already suffering neurological damage from the prolonged hunger strike. In recent pictures, he appears extremely gaunt and ill, his skin tightly stretched over a bony frame.
In a video circulated online Wednesday and apparently shot from his hospital bed, Awawdeh confirmed that an agreement had been reached for his release, calling it a “resounding victory” for the Palestinian people.
Awawdeh was protesting being held without charge or trial in what’s known as administrative detention. Israel says the practice is needed to keep dangerous militants off the streets without revealing sensitive intelligence. The Palestinians and rights groups say it denies detainees the basic right of due process.
The Commission of Detainee Affairs, part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Awawdeh had reached an agreement that would see him released on Oct. 2, “after fighting an epic battle for which he sacrificed his flesh and life.”
It said he will remain in an Israeli hospital until he has fully recovered.
The exact details of the agreement were unclear. The Israeli military, the prison service and the Defense Ministry declined to comment. The Shin Bet internal security service did not respond to a request for comment.
Israel accuses Awawdeh of being a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group, an allegation he denies. The group had demanded his release as part of the cease-fire that ended three days of heavy fighting in Gaza earlier this month, without identifying him as a member.
Ahlam Haddad, Awawdeh’s lawyer, said this week that her client weighs 37 kilograms (around 80 pounds) and is suffering from neurological damage. He took vitamins over two weeks in June when he thought his case was being resolved but has otherwise only had water since the strike began in March, his family says.
Israel had officially suspended his arrest, but he remained in custody at an Israeli hospital.
Several Palestinians have gone on prolonged hunger strike in recent years to protest being held in administrative detention. In most cases, Israel has eventually released them after their health significantly deteriorated. None have died in custody, but many have suffered irreparable neurological damage.
Israel is currently holding some 743 administrative detainees, the highest number since 2008, according to the Israeli human rights group HaMoked, which tracks the number using official figures obtained through freedom of information requests.
The number of administrative detainees has shot up in recent months as Israeli forces have carried out nightly raids in the occupied West Bank following a series of deadly attacks against Israelis earlier this year. Nearly all administrative detainees are Palestinian, as the practice is rarely used with Jewish detainees.
“Administrative detention should be a rare, exceptional measure, but it’s standard practice in Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, with hundreds of people held for months at a time, without charge or trial, solely on the basis of secret information,” said Jessica Montell, the director of HaMoked. “All of these detainees should be given a fair trial or released immediately.”
Israel is currently holding some 4,400 Palestinian prisoners, including militants who have carried out deadly attacks, as well as people arrested at protests or for throwing stones. The Palestinians view all of them as political prisoners held for resisting Israel’s 55-year military occupation of territories the Palestinians want for a future state.
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Krauss reported from Ottawa, Ontario. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:13Z
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The 22-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a Dutch soldier and wounding two others in downtown Indianapolis over the weekend told a friend who was with him that morning that he opened fire on the soldiers because he “just spazzed,” according to an arrest affidavit.
The friend told police that he, Shamar Duncan and another man went out in his pickup truck and ended up downtown before the shooting early Saturday, police wrote in the affidavit, the Indianapolis Star reported. Police referred an Associated Press request for the affidavit to the Marion County prosecutor’s office, which said the affidavit was sealed under court order until official charges are filed. It wasn’t immediately clear how the Star obtained it.
According to the affidavit, the pickup truck driver told investigators that someone from another group — presumably the Dutch soldiers, who were in the U.S. for training — brushed up against someone from his group, which led to pushing and shoving. He said someone from his group ended up on the ground and that they ran back to their vehicle.
The man said he was driving when one of his friends said they left their phone behind, so he stopped the pickup, according to the affidavit. He then heard gunshots.
“Shamar was shooting,” the man, who was not identified, told police, according to the affidavit.
Duncan was sitting in the back seat of the pickup, the man stated. Another witness told police that they believed the shots were fired from the truck’s backseat, according to the affidavit.
”(The driver of the pickup) said that he yelled at Shamar because he was mad that he shot,” the affidavit states. “He said Shamar said, ‘I just spazzed.’”
Duncan, 22, was arrested Tuesday and is facing a preliminary charge of murder in the shooting. He remained jailed on Wednesday and wouldn’t be eligible for release while the prosecutor’s office reviews the case, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday if the two men who were allegedly with Duncan that morning will face charges.
Duncan’s arrest didn’t appear in online court records Wednesday and it wasn’t clear if he had an attorney who might speak on his behalf about the case.
A 26-year-old member of the Dutch Commando Corps, identified by U.S. authorities as Simmie Poetsema, died of his injuries “surrounded by family and colleagues,” the Dutch Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday. The two soldiers who were wounded in the attack suffered injuries that aren’t life-threatening, according to the defense ministry.
Investigators used statements from the surviving soldiers, witnesses, video from a bystander and surveillance video to identify Duncan as the shooting suspect, according to the affidavit.
An unnamed witness told police that Duncan and his two friends were “looking for trouble” the morning of the shooting and that the witness saw them cross a street and shove a man in a group of people, who walked away. Duncan’s group then picked a fight with the soldiers, the witness said.
The soldiers, who were in Indianapolis on a night off from training at a military camp in southern Indiana, were walking back to their hotel from a club downtown when Duncan and his friends bumped into them as they walked past, soldiers told investigators. Poetsema and others in the group of soldiers were trying to diffuse the situation, but it eventually turned into a fight that lasted somewhere between 30 seconds and a few minutes, witnesses told police.
The witness watching from across the street told investigators he saw “one of the males who were causing problems” get knocked to the ground, according to the affidavit. One of the men in Duncan’s group then stated “I’m going to go get a strap” — a slang word for gun — the witness told investigators.
According to the witness, Duncan’s group went back to their pickup and the soldiers walked to the front of their hotel. The truck started to drive off before it made a U-turn, accelerated to the front of the hotel and turned on its flashers.
The witness told police he heard gunshots and then saw the pickup speed away.
According to the affidavit, investigators were able to identify Duncan and the two men who were with him through video and witnesses’ descriptions of them. When investigators found the pickup truck, a man who later admitted to being with Duncan the morning of the shooting was removing things from the vehicle. Key identifying features had been removed, according to the affidavit.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren expressed concern Tuesday about gun violence in the United States in the aftermath of the shooting.
“We do many trainings of our servicemen in the United States, and we really don’t expect this to happen. So it’s very, very concerning for us.” Ollongren told The Associated Press at a meeting of European Union defense ministers in Prague.
Ollongren declined to comment on the shooting while investigations continue. She said there is “good contact” between Dutch military police and authorities in Indianapolis, and that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin contacted her Monday “to express his regrets and his condolences.”
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Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:21Z
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BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi paramilitary forces killed in heavy clashes with the supporters of a powerful Shiite cleric were laid to rest on Wednesday as Iraq’s parliament speaker announced three days of mourning.
Normal life crept back in Baghdad after a bloody 24 hours when the supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with Iraqi security forces inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s government.
At least 30 people, both al-Sadr’s loyalists and Iraqi security forces, were killed, and over 400 people were wounded after trading fire for hours this week. Al-Sadr later called on his supporters to withdraw on Tuesday, spurring a de-escalation of hostilities.
The White House said that U.S. President Joe Biden expressed condolences and support to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi during a phone call on Wednesday.
Still, the threat of more clashes loomed as the political rivalry between al-Sadr and his Iran-backed rivals in the Coordination Framework have not been settled. Tensions between the two camps are still palpable and a way out of Iraq’s 10-month political vacuum does not appear within reach.
Both camps disagree over the appropriate mechanism to dissolve parliament and hold early elections, key demands of al-Sadr. His party won the 2021 federal election but was not able to reach the legislative quorum to vote in a government that excluded his Iran-friendly rivals.
Al-Sadr’s representative, who goes by the Twitter moniker Mohammed Saleh al-Iraqi, called on Iran to “rein in her camel” in Iraq — a reference to the Framework — or face the consequences. The strong language was unusual from al-Sadr’s camp, indicating tensions are still simmering.
The statement came in response to an earlier plea from the Framework calling on the parliament to convene, a move al-Sadr’s supporters prevented by storming the legislative assembly in July.
A funeral procession for four members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state-sanctioned umbrella of paramilitaries among which Iran-backed Shiite militias are the most powerful, was held in Baghdad. Key leaders from the Framework attended.
Iraq’s Parliament Speaker Mohammed Halbousi declared three days of mourning for those killed in the clashes, according to a statement from his office.
Shop-owners in the capital’s markets said they were relieved the army lifted the curfew, fearing a drawn-out conflict would have undermined their livelihoods. Many residents said they feared a return to clashes.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:29Z
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BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Interstate-40 East was closed for several hours in Burke County Tuesday following an armed kidnapping and shooting involving an NC State trooper.
The ordeal began around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20. NC State Highway Patrol said they were first alerted to several hit-and-run accidents between McDowell and Burke counties.
Highway Patrol said a report of an ‘armed kidnapping’ on I-40 East came in, where it was said that an armed woman was in the back of someone’s truck on the interstate.
Sergeant Aaron Johnson responded to I-40 East in the area of mile marker 114 and came across the truck on the shoulder of the interstate, with the armed woman in the bed of the truck.
The armed woman fired several shots at Sgt. Johnson, NC State Highway Patrol said, and Johnson returned fire, striking the woman.
Once the crime scene was secured, aid was given to the woman at the scene, and she was taken to an area hospital where she is listed in stable condition, Highway Patrol said.
Sgt. Johnson was not injured during the shooting. NC State Highway Patrol is still working to identify the woman involved in the shooting.
Sgt. Johnson is a 19-year veteran with Troop F, District 1 in Burke County. He has been placed on administrative leave, per protocol.
The SBI has taken over this investigation while State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the woman’s actions. Charges are forthcoming, they said.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:36Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Math and reading scores for America’s 9-year-olds fell dramatically during the first two years of the pandemic, according to a new federal study — offering an early glimpse of the sheer magnitude of the learning setbacks dealt to the nation’s children.
Reading scores saw their largest decrease in 30 years, while math scores had their first decrease in the history of the testing regimen behind the study, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the U.S. Education Department.
The dramatic setbacks, which erased two decades of progress in American test scores, reflect years of upheaval for the country’s education system. Schools shut down for months at a time amid COVID-19 outbreaks. Many children spent a year or more learning from home. Virus outbreaks among staff and students continued the disruption even after kids returned to the classroom.
The declines hit all regions of the country and affected students of most races. But they were most dramatic for the country’s most vulnerable kids. Students of color saw some of the steepest decreases, widening the racial achievement gap.
Much of the nation’s standardized testing didn’t happen during the early days of the pandemic, so the findings released Thursday gave an early look at the impact of pandemic learning disruptions. Broader data is expected to be released later this year as part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card.
“These are some of the largest declines we have observed in a single assessment cycle in 50 years of the NAEP program,” said Daniel McGrath, the acting associate commissioner of NCES. “Students in 2022 are performing at a level last seen two decades ago.”
In math, the average score for 9-year-old students fell 7 percentage points between 2020 and 2022, according to the study. The average reading score fell 5 points.
The pandemic’s upheaval especially hurt students of color. Math scores dropped by 5 percentage points for white students, compared with 13 points for Black students and 8 points for Hispanic students. The divide between Black and white students widened by 8 percentage points during the pandemic.
Decreases were more uniform in reading: Scores dropped 6 points for white, Black and Hispanic students.
For Asian American students, Native American students and students of two or more races, there was little change in reading or math between 2020 and 2022, the study found.
The setbacks, especially among underprivileged kids, raised alarms in the education world. Denise Forte, interim CEO of the Education Trust think tank, called it “deeply disturbing.”
“Due to inequitable and unjust school systems, students who are the most underserved continue to struggle academically both before and during the pandemic,” Forte said. “Decision-makers at all levels have not done nearly enough to address the long-standing resource inequities that prohibit Black, Latino and students from low-income backgrounds from reaching their full academic potential.”
A national association of superintendents said the findings are disappointing but not surprising.
Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, said there’s encouraging evidence that schools are now investing in summer learning, mental health counselors and reading specialist. But experts have questioned whether schools are taking actions that are sweeping enough to address the magnitude of academic losses.
Geographically, all regions saw decreases in math, but declines were slightly worse in the Northeast and Midwest compared with the West and South. Outcomes were similar for reading, except that the West had no measurable difference compared with 2020.
Although it marks a sharp drop since 2020, the average reading score was 7 points higher than it was in 1971, and the average math score was 15 points higher than in 1978, the study found.
Overall, the results paint a “sobering picture” of schooling during the pandemic, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the NCES.
Federal officials say this is the first nationally representative study to compare student achievement before the pandemic and in 2022, when most students had returned to in-person learning. Testing was completed in early 2020, soon before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and in early 2022.
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The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:36Z
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Clearyst° sustainability tech platform becomes signatory and partner to UN PRI to deliver applications to investing firms and the assets they operate
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearyst° Inc., a sustainability technology and ESG platform company, announced today it's now a signatory and partner to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment ("UN PRI" or "PRI"). The UN PRI is the leading global network of investment managers, asset owners and service providers committed to investing responsibly by incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their investment practices and business operations. With this partnership, Clearyst° joins more than 5,000 signatories representing $121 trillion assets under management (AUM), including many of the largest capital allocators in the world.
The Clearyst° platform helps investment firms implement ESG best practices that assist their operating companies in creating greater value for all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and investors. Clearyst° incorporates the UN-supported PRI principles in its investment decisions and business practices and it guides its operating companies to do the same as they assist businesses with their sustainability priorities.
"Clearyst° is on a mission to accelerate business growth and impact through our sustainability solutions, and joining the UN PRI initiative is an important step for us as we expand the breadth of our operations," said Clearyst° Co-Founder and President Chris Robinson. "Through the development of our sustainability tech platform and inorganic growth strategy, our firm is uniquely positioned to help capital allocators make better investment decisions and improve the value of the assets they own."
"We are delighted to welcome Clearyst° as a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment and commend the firm's commitment to incorporating responsible investment practices into their investment strategies," said PRI CEO David Atkin. "As demand for ESG solutions reaches unprecedented levels, we appreciate that innovative organizations like Clearyst° are helping advance sustainability practices across the investment landscape."
Clearyst° business sustainability data indicates sizeable, submerged value ready to be unlocked with new opportunities beneficial to people, profit and the planet. The transition to net-zero marks a $150-$275 trillion market opportunity directly and indirectly, and there's increased demand for ESG innovations and specialized solutions. By partnering with the business community and influential organizations like UN PRI, Clearyst° is even more equipped to drive the implementation of ESG solutions across the market as the demand increases.
About Clearyst°: Clearyst° is a technology platform company of modern sustainability tech and SaaS products and services to help businesses rapidly achieve ESG and sustainability needs and objectives. Clearyst° closely partners with the leadership of the operating subsidiaries to optimize, innovate and scale. Sustainability and ESG technology companies ready to accomplish the next level of growth and impact should visit www.clearyst.com.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 45 years in prison for allegedly damaging the country through her social media activity, according to a court document obtained Wednesday. It was the second such sentence that has drawn scrutiny of the kingdom this month.
Little is known about Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani, who hails from one of the biggest tribes in Saudi Arabia and has no apparent history of activism. An official charge sheet seen by The Associated Press and human rights groups describes her case as involving her social media use, though Saudi officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The sentence follows international outcry over a similar 34-year prison sentence handed down to Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi doctoral student at Leeds University in England.
Earlier this month, a specialized criminal court in Riyadh delivered the 45-year sentence under the kingdom’s broad counterterrorism and cybercrime laws. That court, which normally handles political and national security cases, gave the sentence during al-Qahtani’s appeal of her earlier conviction.
Judges accused al-Qahtani of “disrupting the cohesion of society” and “destabilizing the social fabric,” according to the charge sheet, citing her activity on social media. They alleged al-Qahtani “offended the public order through the information network.”
It remains unclear what al-Qahtani posted online or where her hearing was held. She was taken into custody on July 4, 2021, according to the Washington-based human rights watchdog Democracy for the Arab World Now, which is critical of the kingdom.
“This seems like the beginning of a new wave of sentences and convictions by new judges who have been placed in the specialized criminal court,” said Abdullah Alaoudh, DAWN’s regional director.
The Freedom Initiative, another Washington-based human rights group, also denounced al-Qahtani’s “outrageously long” prison sentence.
“It’s very hard to ignore the fact that we are seeing these sentences as (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) has received increased legitimacy in the international realm,” said Allison McManus, the group’s research director.
The social media sentences have renewed attention on Prince Mohammed’s crackdown on dissent, even as the ultraconservative Islamic nation has granted women new freedoms like the right to drive.
President Joe Biden traveled to the oil-rich kingdom in July for a meeting with Prince Mohammed, in which he said he confronted him about human rights. Biden came to office vowing to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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Follow Isabel DeBre on Twitter at www.twitter.com/isabeldebre.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:51Z
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MOSCOW (AP) — Call it a slice of life. The television commercial that Mikhail Gorbachev did for Pizza Hut 25 years ago might be seen as a 60-second gloss of his career, both cheerful and glum.
In the 1997 advertisement, Gorbachev is portrayed as eating at one of the chain’s outlets in Moscow, where he’s spotted by diners at another table who then argue about his accomplishments as the Soviet Union’s last leader.
He brought us freedom and opportunity, one says; he brought us economic troubles and political instability, another shouts.
A woman says: “Because of him we have many things, like Pizza Hut.” The Gorbachev detractor at the table then stands and toasts him.
Through a rose-colored filter, it is a story of Russia’s advances and increasing consumer comforts even amid troubles. More darkly, it shows a once-towering world figure and Nobel Peace Laureate reduced to shilling for a Western interloper.
Pizza Hut opened in Moscow in 1990, one of the first in a wave of Western businesses taking advantage of the joint-venture arrangements that were one of Gorbachev’s signature reforms. It wasn’t Russians’ first chance to get pizza, but as with the opening of McDonald’s a few months earlier, the presence of a major Western brand was heartening to those who wanted the Soviet Union to be more integrated into the world.
That wasn’t a universal view. Even today, some Russians complain that the rush of Western businesses into the country water down its culture and exploit consumers.
Gorbachev died Tuesday at age 91, and Pizza Hut’s time in Russia is growing short — the corporation that owns the Pizza Hut brand has announced it has transferred its franchise assets to a Russian operator that will rebrand as part of its efforts to exit Russia altogether in the wake of Russia sending troops into Ukraine.
By the time Gorbachev made the commercial to raise money for his charitable foundation, he was a marginal figure at home. In presidential elections the previous year, he notched only 1% of the vote. Even some people once on his side regarded the Pizza Hut ad with disdain.
“In the ad, he should take a pizza, divide it into 15 slices like he divided up our country, and then show how to put it back together again,” quipped Anatoly Lukyanov, a one-time Gorbachev supporter.
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| 2022-09-21T13:10:59Z
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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — In the Latvian capital of Riga, an obelisk that soared high above a park to commemorate the Soviet Army’s capture of that nation in 1944 was toppled last week. It crashed into a pond to the cheers of those watching.
Days earlier in Estonia, a replica of a Soviet tank with the communist red star was removed by cranes and trucked away to a museum — one of up to 400 destined for removal. And in Poland, Lithuania and Czechia, monuments to the Red Army have been coming down for months, a belated purge of what many see as symbols of past oppression.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has given a renewed push to topple the last remaining Soviet monuments in nations that regained their sovereignty from Moscow more than three decades ago. These countries now belong to NATO and the European Union and are staunch supporters of Ukraine.
At the end of the communist era, when Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia regained their independence from the Soviet Union and Poland and its neighbors rejected Moscow-backed communism, those nations began renaming streets and purging the most hated symbols, including statues of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin and other communist bosses. Many of these relics are now housed in museums.
In Warsaw, authorities in 1989 quickly toppled a monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky, a Polish aristocrat who organized the Soviet secret police after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. Under his rule, the Cheka, the forerunner of the KGB, was responsible for a wave of terror.
Such changes followed the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, who died in a Moscow hospital on Tuesday at the age of 91.
But memorials to Soviet soldiers or their role in defeating Nazi Germany remained in many places, met with indifference or respect for the ordinary soldiers who died fighting Adolf Hitler’s brutal regime.
The war in Ukraine, however, has triggered memories of how some of those soldiers also raped local women and carried out other war crimes.
Krista Sarv, the research director for the Estonian History Museum, said after statues of Lenin and other leading communists were toppled in the 1990s, people could largely ignore the other memorials. But views changed suddenly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, and now the memorials “scream loudly about occupation and annexation.”
Karol Nawrocki, the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance which is overseeing the removal of the monuments, says “before our eyes, history has become a living experience.”
“Dressed in the uniforms of the Russian Federation, with Lenin and Stalin in their heads and hearts, Russian soldiers ‘liberate’ Ukraine by murdering women, children and killing soldiers,” Nawrocki said.
“Let it be clear: There is no place in the Polish public space for any commemoration of the totalitarian communist regime and its people,” he added.
A 2016 decommunization law had already called for a purge of communist symbols and names, but some municipalities did not have the money for that, so the institute has stepped in to help. Since February, the Polish institute has identified 60 monuments for removal — and has toppled more than 20.
In Lithuania, a number of remaining Soviet memorials have been removed since the spring to little protest. But in Latvia and Estonia, which have sizeable Russian minorities, the removals have stirred greater emotions, with local Russians — and the Russian government — seeing it as an offense against their war heroes.
Dmitry Prokopenko, a Russian-speaking Latvian who opposed removing the Riga obelisk, said his grandparents fought and a great-grandfather died in the fight “for freedom against the Nazis.” To him, the memorial honored their sacrifice.
“Latvia is a land where Latvians and Russians live together,” he said. “I think that one part of the state, one part of the country, should respect also the rights of the other part.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday released a lengthy statement denouncing the demolition of Soviet monuments in the Baltic countries as “barbaric” and threatening Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with retaliatory measures.
In apparent slap against Poland, Belarus last week reportedly leveled a memorial containing the graves of Polish wartime soldiers.
Polish officials declared that action barbaric, given that Poland has a policy of not disturbing the graves of Soviet soldiers. Rafal Leskiewicz, a historian with the Polish remembrance institute, explained “as Christians, we treat graves as holy ground. It doesn’t matter who is in the graves.”
In some cases locals support keeping Red Army memorials because of its role in defeating Nazi Germany. Some fear the erasure of historical memory, or see an affront to their own ancestors who fought alongside the Soviets.
In Poland’s northern city of Gdansk, there’s been a heated debate about a Soviet T-34 tank on Victory Avenue, and the city has decided not to remove it. The tank commander was a Polish lieutenant, and Polish soldiers played a key role in freeing the former German city of Danzig from the Nazis.
In an open letter, two descendants of wartime Polish soldiers expressed their indignation at the removal of monuments.
They recalled that Polish soldiers died fighting with the Soviets to free Poland from the Nazis and that the Soviet victory resulted in Poland receiving a swath of defeated Germany’s territory and cities including Gdansk and Wroclaw. They also noted it was the Red Army that liberated Auschwitz, Majdanek and many other Nazi death camps.
“Had it not been for the victory of Polish and Soviet soldiers in May 1945, Poland might not have existed at all,” said the letter by magazine editor Pawel Dybicz and historian August Grabski.
But many other Poles note that World War II broke out after Soviet Union and Nazi Germany agreed secretly in 1939 to carve up Poland and the Baltic states. Only after Germany betrayed and invaded the Soviet Union did the Red Army begin to fight the Germans.
Even before Russia’s war in Ukraine, the monuments have been a source of tensions.
In 2007, the relocation of a World War II monument of a Red Army soldier in Tallinn, Estonia, sparked days of rioting.
In 2013, an artist put up a statue depicting a Soviet soldier raping a pregnant woman next to the Gdansk tank. The unauthorized sculpture was quickly removed. After Russia invaded Ukraine, a different artist covered the tank with a large hand-sewn Ukrainian flag to protest what he called the “tyranny” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In March, as Poland was figuring out a timetable for taking down Soviet monuments, a resident of the northern city of Koszalin took matters into his own hands. He drove an excavator onto a cemetery and toppled the statue of a Soviet soldier being hugged by a girl.
Nawrocki says the official removal of Soviet monuments in Poland is progressing at “a very fast pace, but it is a matter that should have been settled long ago.”
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Follow all AP stories on the impact of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:06Z
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Israel launched a missile attack on Wednesday targeting the airport in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Syrian state media said, citing a military source.
The Syrian government did not report any casualties.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, said in a statement that Israel fired four missiles targeting a runway at the Aleppo International Airport and warehouses surrounding it. The group claimed that the warehouses likely contained a shipment of Iranian rockets.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported air defense systems in Damascus firing at what it said were Israeli missiles targeting positions south of the Syrian capital. The opposition war monitor says the Israeli airstrikes targeted military positions. No casualties were reported.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria over recent past years, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. The Israeli military declined to comment on the airstrike targeting Aleppo’s airport.
Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.
On Sunday, Israel launched an airstrike targeting a military facility in western Syrian. Satellite imagery showed widespread destruction in the depot which the opposition war-monitor said stored hundreds of middle-range missiles for Iran-backed fighters.
In June, Israeli airstrikes temporarily put Damascus International Airport out of commission.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:14Z
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Taiwan’s military fired warning shots at drones from China flying over its outposts just off the Chinese coastline, underscoring heightened tensions and the self-ruled island’s resolve to respond to new provocations.
Taiwan’s forces said in a statement that troops took the action on Tuesday after drones were found hovering over the Kinmen island group. Dadan, one of the islands where a drone was spotted, lies roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the Chinese coast.
The statement Wednesday referred to the unmanned aerial vehicles as being of “civilian use,” but gave no other details. It said the drones returned to the nearby Chinese city of Xiamen after the shots were fired. Taiwan previously fired only flares as warnings.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions after China fired missiles into the sea and sent planes and ships across the dividing line in the Taiwan Strait earlier this month. It followed angry rhetoric from Beijing over a trip to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. dignitary to visit the island in 25 years.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and its recent actions have been viewed as a rehearsal of a possible blockade or invasion. China’s drills brought strong condemnation from Taiwan’s chief ally, the U.S., along with fellow regional democracies such as Australia and Japan. Some of China’s missiles early in August fell into nearby Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
Taiwan maintains control over a range of islands in the Kinmen and Matsu groups in the Taiwan Strait, a relic of the effort by Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists to maintain a foothold on the mainland after being driven out by Mao Zedong’s Communists amid civil war in 1949.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said China’s actions failed to intimidate the island’s 23 million people, saying they had only hardened support for the armed forces and the status quo of de-facto independence.
Officials said anti-drone defenses were being strengthened, part of a 12.9% increase in the Defense Ministry’s annual budget next year. The government is planning to spend an additional 47.5 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.6 billion), for a total of 415.1 billion NTD ($13.8 billion) for the year.
The U.S. is also reportedly preparing to approve a $1.1 billion defense package for Taiwan that would include anti-ship and air-to-air missiles to be used to repel potential Chinese invasion attempt.
Following the Chinese drills, the U.S. sailed two warships through the Taiwan Strait, which China has sought to designate as its sovereign waters. Foreign delegations from the U.S., Japan and European nations have continued to arrive to lend Taipei diplomatic and economic support.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is currently visiting Taiwan to discuss production of semiconductors, the critical chips that are used in everyday electronics and have become a battleground in the technology competition between the U.S. and China.
Ducey is seeking to woo suppliers for the new $12 billion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC) plant being built in his state.
The governor is also visiting tech powerhouse South Korea, and in a statement on his official website said his aim was to take these relationships to the next level – to strengthen them, expand them and ensure they remain mutually beneficial.”
Last week, the Indiana governor visited Taiwan on a similar mission.
Taiwanese Air Force pilots have also trained at Luke Air Force Base outside Phoenix for more than 25 years, an indication of continuing U.S. support for Taiwan’s defense despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan produces more than half the global supply of high-end processor chips. China’s firing of missiles during its exercises disrupted shipping and air traffic, and highlighted the possibility that chip exports might be interrupted.
Reacting to Ducey’s visit, China on Wednesday reaffirmed its opposition to any official contacts between the U.S. and Taiwan. That was a further reminder of the Communist Party’s refusal to acknowledge the separation of powers within the U.S. government and the right of American local officials to operate independently of the administration.
“We urge the relevant parties in the U.S. to … stop any forms of official contacts with Taiwan, and refrain from sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence forces,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing.
“China will take strong measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhao said.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:21Z
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The Department for Work and Pensions is currently in the process of making a series of cost of living payments to millions of households in a bid to help them through the financial crisis. Some of the first sums of money went into people's accounts this summer and more payments have been going in this month.
As reported by Birmingham Live, the first instalment of a £650 cost of living payment went to millions of low-income households from July 14 to 31, if they had received a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit during the qualifying period of April 26 to May 25. Just over seven million people received £326 in July, though some may have had to wait a little longer if they were involved in a benefits appeal and won entitlement to an eligible benefit later on.
Those on tax credits, a benefit administered by HMRC, had to wait a little longer, with their £326 sum going in between September 2 and 7. So which payments are coming next? Here are the dates and how much is being sent into accounts.
Read next:DWP: Ten money changes struggling families can expect this month amid cost of living crisis
£326 tax credits payment deadline
September 16
Around 1.1million people have received their first instalment of the £650 sum if they are in receipt of Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. A sum of £326 should have gone into accounts between September 2 and 7. The payment reference will be CL followed by the customer's National Insurance number (of two letters, six numbers, one letter), followed by 0001AX - for example, if the National Insurance number is AB123456C , the payment reference would appear as CLAB123456C0001AX.
HMRC says that if people believe they are eligible but have not received a payment yet, they should wait until September 16 before getting in touch. This is to allow time for their bank, building society, or credit union to process the payment. After that critical date, you can report a missing payment.
£150 disability cost of living payment
September 20
Six million people on health and disability benefits are to get a one-off payment of £150. The qualifying benefits are:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
The DWP says the money will go into accounts automatically from Tuesday, September 20, with "the vast majority of those eligible expected to receive their one-off payment by the beginning of October."
£150 council tax rebate deadline
September 18 and September 30
Millions of people living in properties in bands A to D have already received £150 through the council tax database since this scheme started back in April. Those with direct debits set up with their billing authority had the money deposited in the bank accounts where they normally pay their council tax from.
Others have had to register online to get £150 coupons sent out that can be redeemed at the post office. In many cases, including those residents under Birmingham City Council and Walsall Council, the closing date for registering was August 31. Those who didn't apply before that date may still be sent coupons or the money could instead be taken off their council tax bill.
Birmingham City Council said: "Post Office vouchers have been sent in the post to all remaining eligible households where an application has not been made. After receiving your Post Office Voucher letter, please take it to any Post Office branch before September 18, 2022, to collect your cash payment. Any vouchers not cashed by September 18, 2022, will be cancelled and credited against your council tax bill instead. We will continue to process applications made before August 31, 2022, for payments to be made to your bank account.
"When the payment is made, your bank statement will show a credit of £150 and display 'B'ham City Council' as the payee. Please do not contact us to chase payment, as you will be contacted if additional information is required."
Local authorities have been instructed by the Government to deal with all council tax rebate payments by September 30. So if you've not heard anything by then, the amount is likely to appear as a reduction on your council tax bill.
£324 means-tested benefits cost of living payment
By October 31
Low-income families on five means-tested benefits - Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support and Pension Credit - had the £326 first instalment of the £650 cost of living payment during July, in most cases.
The second instalment is coming in October. An exact date when it will start to arrive has not yet been announced but DWP guidance says it will be in accounts no later than October 31.
£400 energy rebate
From October
Under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, suppliers are giving households £400 in several instalments. The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for six months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:
- £66 in October and November
- £67 in December, January, February and March
You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card. Traditional prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers that you will need to redeem.
If you have not received your first instalment by the end of October 2022, you need to contact your supplier.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:27Z
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday pushed back on calls by Uvalde families for new gun control measures in Texas, saying that raising the minimum age to purchase weapons like the one used in the Robb Elementary School massacre would be “unconstitutional.”
The 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two children in a fourth-grade classroom on May 24 had legally purchased the AR-15 style rifle that investigators say fired more than 140 rounds inside the school. In the wake of the tragedy, some Uvalde parents are pressuring lawmakers to raise the minimum age in Texas to purchase similar weapons to 21 years old.
Abbott, who is up for reelection in November and has expanded gun access after previous mass shootings in Texas, said court decisions in recent months tie the hands of any effort to raise age restrictions for firearms.
“It is clear that the gun control law that they are seeking in Uvalde, as much as they may want it, it has already been ruled to be unconstitutional,” Abbott told reporters at a campaign event near Dallas.
One law scholar challenged Abbott’s assertion, saying the issue is not yet settled. And the group March for Our Lives criticized Abbott’s comments as “patently untrue.” A handful of states — including Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and Washington — require buyers to be at least 21 instead of 18 to purchase some types of long guns.
Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is running against Abbott and has made stronger gun control measures a centerpiece of his underdog campaign, responded by reiterating a pledge to raise the age to 21 if elected.
“Thanks to the leadership of the families in Uvalde, we are going to do it,” O’Rourke tweeted.
Last week, a federal judge in Texas struck down one of Texas’ few remaining firearm restrictions, finding a law that barred adults under the age of 21 from carrying a handgun was unconstitutional. The law had been defended in court by the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which has not filed an appeal since the ruling came down.
In May, a federal appeals court in California ruled that a state ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21 was unconstitutional. The ruling encouraged gun rights groups that other age-based gun bans would be overturned in courts.
Sanford Levison, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, said Abbott spoke with too much certainty about lower age limits being unconstitutional.
“There is no good reason to say that with confidence,” he said. “All you can say is some people think it is, some people think it isn’t. But the Supreme Court has certainly not addressed the issue.”
School resumes in Uvalde on Tuesday for the first time since the attack. Kimberly Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter Lexi was killed in the shooting, said she and her husband met with Abbott in early August and were told by the governor that he was not going to address raising the age to purchase firearms because it was unlikely to pass. She said he preferred to instead focus on mental health.
“We just got up and left,” Rubio said of the meeting.
Last weekend, several Uvalde families rallied with gun rights groups in front of the Texas Capitol, calling for stricter gun measures and bringing lawmakers back to pass new restrictions.
“Nothing is going to bring back my sister or the other lives lost,” said Jazmin Cazares, whose 9-year-old sister was killed in the attack. “But we can keep fighting to prevent another tragedy like the one in Uvalde.”
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Associated Press writer Acacia Coronado contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:29Z
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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Enormous progress has been achieved in the last 50 years for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the United States but unfortunately “equality is not yet within reach and in many cases not within sight” for LGBT communities, the independent U.N. expert on sexual orientation and gender identity said Tuesday.
Victor Madrigal-Borloz told a U.N. press conference after a 10-day visit to the United States that he applauds President Joe Biden for “very powerful” executive actions during his first days in office seeking to eradicate discrimination and violence against the LGBT community. But he said he is “extremely concerned” about a concerted series of actions at the state and local level based “on prejudice and stigma, to attack and to rollback the rights of LGBT persons.”
Madrigal-Borloz said that in access to health, employment, education and housing, the LGBT community suffers.
Among young adults aged 18 to 25, for example, LGBT people have a 2.2 times greater risk of homelessness, 23% of LGBT adults of color have no health coverage, and in a recent study 43% of lesbian, gay and bisexual participants reported having suffered at least one act of discrimination or harassment, he said.
Madrigal-Borloz, a Costa Rican lawyer and human rights advocate, also expressed serious concern at the disproportionate impact of violence against the LGBT community.
He cited the National Crime Victimization Survey that found that 20.3% of hate crimes were related to sexual orientation or gender identity bias, significantly disproportionate to the LGBT population in the U.S., which he said is usually estimated at between 5% and 8%. He also cited a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found that bisexual women encountered intimate partner violence at higher rates than other populations, with 46% reporting having been raped and 74.9% reporting being victims of sexual violence other than rape, which he called “extremely worrying.”
Madrigal-Borloz, who was appointed by the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council, wrapped up visits to Washington, Birmingham, Alabama, Miami and San Diego at the invitation of the U.S. government. He said he met with over 70 federal, state and local representatives, more than 100 civil society representatives, and people with “lived experience” in the LGBT community.
He stressed that his comments Tuesday reflected his preliminary observations, and his final report with recommendations will be presented to the Human Rights Council in June 2023.
“The conclusion of my visit in this preliminary moment is that there are significant efforts being deployed by the current administration to dismantle systems of social exclusion,” Madrigal-Borloz said. But there is also “a significant risk that LGBT persons will be caught in what I have described as a riptide created by all of these actions at local level.”
He said NGOs and human rights defenders have found at least 280 current legislative attempts at the local level that would lead to a regression of LGBT rights, “and which also create a terribly polarizing narrative that exacerbates already high and worrisome risks of violence and discrimination.”
As examples, Madrigal-Borloz cited legislation in Alabama making it a felony to provide gender-affirming medical treatment to transgender youth and legislation in Florida nicknamed “don’t say gay” by opponents that bans teachers from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity through the third grade. He also cited limits on comprehensive sexual and gender education, and on participation in sports for transgender people.
He stressed that typically there is no evidence “that any of these measures need to be considered reasonably under a democratic society.”
Madrigal-Borloz, who is also a researcher at Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program, said the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade and a woman’s right to abortion is also “a devastating action” for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. That’s “because it is members of these communities that actually suffer also disproportionately from unwanted teen pregnancies,” he said.
“They also require statistically more abortions,” he said, “and LGBT persons in general actually benefit enormously from the services concerning sexual and reproductive health provided by abortion providers in different states, and the closure of these centers will affect disproportionately these persons.”
Madrigal-Borloz said suggestions that following the Roe vs. Wade ruling, other precedents could be overturned could have a huge impact on the LGBT community, especially if gay marriage was outlawed and homosexuality became a criminal act, as it currently is in more than 65 countries.
He also pointed to early statistics showing that 98% of monkeypox cases are in men who have sex with men, which he said “concerns me greatly because it creates a risk of furthering, and retrenchment of, stigma and discrimination against this population.”
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced that Lucian Boldea, 51, has been named to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer for Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) segment, effective October 3, 2022. Boldea will succeed Vimal Kapur, who was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Honeywell in July 2022. Boldea and Kapur will work together closely on the transition over the next several weeks.
Boldea joins Honeywell from Eastman Chemical where he was the Executive Vice President of Additives & Functional products and Chemical Intermediates. Since joining Eastman in 1997, Boldea held a variety of leadership roles within the company, including Technology Director for Performance Chemicals and Intermediates, Director of Corporate Growth platforms, and Vice President and General Manager of Specialty Plastics.
"We are excited to have Lucian join Honeywell to lead the continued growth and innovation of our PMT business," said Kapur. "His extensive experience in the chemical industry and proven track record will be an asset to the organization as we continue to develop and launch new technologies and further expand our sustainability offerings."
Honeywell's PMT business develops process technologies, automation solutions, advanced materials, and industrial software. The PMT business currently has 20,000 employees and operates in more than 100 countries globally.
Boldea holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of West Florida, a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Florida and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A team of U.N. inspectors made its way toward Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant Wednesday on a perilous, long-sought mission to safeguard the site and prevent a catastrophe from the fighting raging around it.
Underscoring the danger, Kyiv and Moscow again accused each other of shelling the area around the complex overnight. Zaporizhzhia is the biggest nuclear plant in Europe.
Fighting in early March caused a brief fire at its training complex, and in recent days, the plant was temporarily knocked offline because of damage, heightening fears of a radiation leak or a reactor meltdown. Officials have begun distributing anti-radiation iodine tablets to nearby residents.
The complex has been occupied by Russian forces but run by Ukrainian engineers since the early days of the 6-month-old war. Ukraine alleges Russia is using the plant as a shield, storing weapons there and launching attacks from around it, while Moscow accuses Ukraine of recklessly firing on the place.
For months, as the fighting has played out, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has sought access to the plant for an unprecedented wartime mission, and world leaders have demanded that the U.N. watchdog be allowed to inspect it.
The U.N. convoy of vans and SUVs finally set out from Kyiv early Wednesday and arrived in the afternoon in the city of Zaporizhzhia, still some 120 kilometers (70 miles) by road from the plant. Ukrainian authorities said the team would stay in the city overnight and attempt to enter the plant on Thursday.
IAEA chief and mission leader Rafael Grossi said the “real work” will start on Thursday. He underscored the challenges ahead.
“It’s a mission that seeks to prevent a nuclear accident and to preserve this important — the largest, the biggest — nuclear power plant in Europe,” he said.
He said an initial tour will take a few days, after which “we will have a pretty good idea of what’s going on.” Grossi said he had received “explicit guarantees” from Russia that the 14 experts would be able to do their work.
Grossi said he is hoping the IAEA will be able to establish a “continued presence” at the plant to safeguard it against an accident.
The world watched the mission’s progress with anxiety. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell renewed a call to Russia to fully demilitarize the area around the plant.
“They are playing games. They are gambling with the nuclear security,” Borrell said. “We cannot play war games in the neighborhood of a site like this.”
While the inspectors were on their way, Russia-backed local authorities accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly shelling the plant grounds and city where it is situated, Enerhodar. They said drone strikes hit the plant’s administrative building and training center.
Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the administration in the Ukrainian-held city of Nikopol, across the Dnieper River from the plant, charged that the attacks were carried out by the Russians in a bid to make Ukraine look like the culprit.
Kyiv is seeking international assistance in taking back control of the area.
“We think that the mission should be a very important step to return (the plant) to Ukrainian government control by the end of the year,” Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.
In other developments:
— Russia’s Gazprom stopped the flow of natural gas through a major pipeline to Western Europe early Wednesday for what it said would be a three-day shutdown for routine maintenance. German authorities cast doubt on that explanation.
— EU countries agreed to make it more time-consuming and costly for Russian citizens to get visas to enter the 27-nation bloc. They failed to reach a consensus on an outright tourist ban in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
— Ukrainian officials said automatic weapons fire was heard on the streets of southern Kherson and claimed Russian soldiers were searching homes for anti-Russian partisans. A surge in fighting in the region this week stirred speculation early that Ukraine was beginning a counteroffensive to retake territory.
Russian forces heavily shelled military and civilian sites in over a dozen towns and villages in Kherson and the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, according to Yaroslav Yanushevych, the Ukrainian governor of the Kherson region.
— Four people were killed and two wounded in Russian rocket attacks in the past day in the Donetsk region in the east, Ukrainian authorities said.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:43Z
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LOS PATIOS, Colombia (AP) — Arbelys Briceño fixed her eyes on the chicken soup in the plastic container set before her, the first warm meal she’d had in days. She began eating slowly, almost hesitantly, but then picked up the pace — and snagged another serving when soup kitchen workers offered seconds.
It was her eighth day on a journey from her Venezuelan hometown to Peru, a country the 14-year-old couldn’t place on a map but that her older brother had set as their destination. Mosquitoes had marked her legs. The sun had baked her face.
“It is as if it were a vacation but with lots of walking,” Arbelys said with an outlook far more upbeat than that of most Venezuelan migrants trying to escape poverty in their once-prosperous country.
About 6.8 million Venezuelans have left their homeland since an economic crisis took hold in earnest in 2014 for the country of some 28 million people. Most have gone to nearby nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 2.4 million are in Colombia, where Arbelys and her brother had paused on their trek.
That huge migration slowed as the pandemic cut economic opportunities and complicated travel across the region and as Venezuela’s socialist government adopted reforms that slowed the country’s economic free-fall and gave some appearance of revival.
About 150,000 Venezuelans returned to their homeland at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, according to United Nations’ estimates, and some host countries reported a decline in the overall count of Venezuelan immigrants for the first time in years.
But the outward march is on the rise again.
At least 753,000 Venezuelans have left their country for another in Latin America or the Caribbean since November, according to data from receiving countries, even as the government of President Nicolas Maduro continues to tout economic growth. Colombia, which had not reported updated figures since November, posted a jump of roughly 635,000 between that month and August.
By the time Arbelys, her sister and their brother reached Colombia, they had walked about 370 miles (600 kilometers). She had been unable to sleep one night — they had stayed on a sidewalk and she was startled by noises. She slipped and fell twice as they walked along a muddy back road to cross the border.
Her brother, on the journey for a second time, knew better than to allow the harsh sun to crisp his skin and slathered his face with sunscreen, which had formed streaks on his forehead.
Outside the soup kitchen in Los Patios, about 4.5 miles (7.5 kilometers) inside Colombia, migrants quickly cram around an outdoor table once the chain link fence door opens.
Some learned from friends or other migrants about the operation, whose cooks prepare upward of 40 gallons of soup for each meal at two sites.
Jhon Alvarez, coordinator of the Fundación Nueva Ilusión — roughly New Hope Foundation in English — said he is increasingly seeing familiar faces at the soup kitchen.
“People are returning from the other countries — Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia — again to Venezuela, but after 15 days or a month they can’t stand it, and they come back,” Alvarez said.
He said they tell him, “’Look, I had to come back because the situation is still the same (or) it’s worse. They raised the minimum wage, yes they did, but there’s no work.’”
Nowadays, 48% of migrants surveyed by a network of assistance agencies cited lack of employment and low salaries as their main reason to leave Venezuela, while 40% mentioned difficulties obtaining food and basic services, according to the Venezuelan office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Maduro has taken steps to halt the country’s economic decline, chief among them ending strict foreign currency controls, leading to a de facto switch from the Venezuelan bolivar to the U.S. dollar. That broke a years-long cycle of hyperinflation and helped ease chronic shortages.
Rrestaurants, imported goods stores, exercise studios and other businesses have opened in the capital, Caracas. Maduro recently said the country’s economy grew 17.4% during the first three months of 2022.
But Venezuela still has one of the world’s highest inflation rates and about three quarters of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day, an international standard for extreme poverty. Many lack access to clean, running water and electricity.
“Hope is the last thing to be lost, but at the moment, there is none,” Frank Fernandez said as he tried to contact his family from the soup kitchen to let them know he had reached Colombia with his brother. They were headed to Chile, where Fernandez had worked for four years before testing his luck again in Venezuela.
The 19-year-old used to earn about $43 a day working construction in Chile. At home, he could only find work cleaning windshields at a gas station. He and his brother walked up to 25 miles (40 kilometers) a day until they entered Colombia along one of the hundreds of dirt roads across the border.
Data compiled by the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants, which involves about 200 humanitarian organizations, show governments have recorded the arrival of 753,000 Venezuelan migrants, refugees and asylum seekers since November in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The platform’s data also show the overall population of such Venezuelans in those countries had declined slightly for a time last year, from 4,620,185 in January to 4,598,355 in July.
The platform’s figures don’t include all migrants as some countries don’t count those who are illegally present and they don’t include figures for other countries, such as the United States.
Pandemic lockdowns and border closures also have pushed migrants to riskier paths. Mexico recently imposed a visa requirement for Venezuelans, so instead of flying to a country bordering the U.S., Venezuelan migrants now often trek northward across Central America after crossing the Darien Gap, a roadless jungle straddling the Colombia-Panama border where thieves, swollen rivers, rough terrain and wild animals are common.
Panama’s government said 45,000 Venezuelans had entered its territory that way so far this year, up from only 3,000 last year.
Arbelys, the 13th of 14 siblings, said she did not know if she would get to enroll at school once she gets to Peru. She was not even sure where in Peru she would live.
An aid worker at a shelter near the border had warned her of the dangers she could face during the rest of the journey.
“My brothers tell me that nothing is going to happen to me,” said Arbelys, whose parents stayed behind. “Along the journey, I feel scared sometimes because (the aid worker) also told me about human trafficking and how they try to trick you. I’m very trusting, so that scares me a little.”
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NEW YORK (NEXSTAR) — Bed Bath & Beyond said Wednesday that it will shutter stores and lay off workers in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business.
Sue Grove, director and interim CEO, called the move a “back to basics” philosophy that would allow the company to focus on better serving customers and driving growth.
The home goods retailer based in Union, New Jersey, said it will close about 150 of its namesakes stores and slash its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company’s current fiscal year. It also said it is considering selling more of its stock to shore up its finances and had lined up more than $500 million of new financing. When asked which locations would be closing, a Bed Bath & Beyond spokesperson told Nexstar it would share the information “when available.”
But it will keep its buybuy Baby chain, which earlier this year it considered selling.
“We have taken a thorough look at our business, and today, we are announcing immediate actions aimed to increase customer engagement, drive traffic, and recapture market share,” Grove said. “This includes changing our merchandising and inventory strategy, which will be rooted in National Brands. Additionally, we are focused on driving digital and foot traffic, as well as optimizing our store fleet. We believe these changes will have a widespread positive impact across customer experience, inventory assortment, supply chain execution and cost structure.”
Bed Bath & Beyond’s stock fell more than 21% Wednesday and is down 65% in the last 12 months.
In late June, a report from Bank of America analysts claimed that, among other concerning trends, the company allegedly turned off air conditioning in stores to save money. A spokesperson told Nexstar at the time that “no Bed Bath & Beyond stores were directed to adjust their air conditioning and there have been no corporate policy changes in regard to utilities usage.”
Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced Wednesday that it will revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels. That reverses a strategy embraced by its former CEO Mark Tritton, who was ousted in June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so.
“There’s still an incredible degree of love for Bed Bath & Beyond,” Mara Sirhal, the newly named brand president of Bed Bath & Beyond, told industry analysts Wednesday. “We must get back to our rightful place as the home-category destination, and our goal is to achieve this by leading with the products and brands our customers want.”
As of May, the retailer operated a total of 955 stores, including 769 Bed Bath & Beyond stores, 135 buybuy Baby stores and 51 stores under the names Harmon, Harmon Face Values or Face Values. As of February, it had roughly 32,000 employees.
Time is of the essence for the company heading into the critical holiday shopping season. It said it expects a 26% decline in comparable sales for its fiscal second quarter, which ended Saturday. It burned through $325 million of cash in the quarter.
Sirhal said the retailer wants to get back to being a place where shoppers find innovative items. For example, Bed Bath & Beyond was the first to bring items like the air fryer and the single-serve coffee maker to its customers, she said.
Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, said he applauds the strategic shift. But he said that task is “easier said than done” and will require much closer relationships with suppliers to secure unique offerings.
“If Bed Bath & Beyond simply stocks the same sort of things as can be found at Target, Walmart, or Amazon, then it will struggle to differentiate and will find margins compressed as it needs to match on price, ” he said.
Bed Bath & Beyond has been facing lots of turbulence recently. Its shares made a monstrous run from $5.77 to $23.08 in a little more than two weeks in August, in trading reminiscent of last year’s meme-stock craze, when out-of-favor companies suddenly became darlings of smaller-pocketed investors.
But the shares fell back to earth after a deep-pocketed investor, activist Ryan Cohen, the billionaire co-founder of online pet-products retailer Chewy Inc., sold his entire stake in the company. In March, Cohen had purchased a nearly 10% stake in Bed Bath & Beyond, giving investors hope he could turn around the company’s finances.
The stock ended Wednesday down $2.58 at $9.53.
The company said that it is still searching for a permanent CEO. Board member Sue Gove took over as interim CEO, replacing Tritton. Chief Operating Office John Hartmann is leaving the company, and it’s eliminating that position.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:11:58Z
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(KTLA) – Police in California are asking for help in finding the driver of a van who was caught on video running over a man who had fallen off a scooter.
It happened around 8:55 p.m. Saturday when Luis Lopez was riding an electrical scooter in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Lopez lost his balance, fell to the asphalt and was knocked unconscious, surveillance video released by police on Tuesday showed.
Lopez, 40, remained still on the ground when a white Ford Econoline van ran over him, dragging him about 25 feet before he was dislodged.
The driver of the van is then seen taking off without stopping to check on Lopez.
“It appears that the driver did stop because the brake lights were illuminated, enough for him to see what he ran over,” Detective Juan Campos said. “I need that driver to come forward and talk to me and turn himself in and tell me the other side of the story.”
Firefighters responded to the scene and transported Lopez to a hospital with severe injuries. He was in stable condition and expected to recover.
In a video recorded by the LAPD, Lopez pleaded for the driver to turn himself or herself in.
“Please,” he said in Spanish while lying in a hospital bed with braces on both his legs, bandages on his arms and cuts on his face. “Look how you left me.”
Lopez’s wife, Fatima Lopez, said her husband’s injuries include a fractured skull and ribs and internal bleeding.
She said the couple’s 7-year-old daughter has been inconsolable after the crash, which has turned the family’s life upside down.
“She cries every day for him. That’s the hardest part,” she said.
A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information leading to the driver’s identity, apprehension and conviction.
Anyone with additional information about the crash or the driver is asked to contact Campos at 213-833-3713 or 31480@lapd.online or contact the Central Traffic Division watch commander at 213-833-3746.
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| 2022-09-21T13:12:05Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Tuesday that classified documents were “likely concealed and removed” from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as part of an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into the discovery of the government records.
The FBI also seized 33 boxes containing more than 100 classified records during its Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and found classified documents stashed in Trump’s office, according to a filing that lays out the most detailed chronology to date of months of strained interactions between Justice Department officials and Trump representatives over the discovery of government secrets.
The filing offers yet another indication of the sheer volume of classified records retrieved from Mar-a-Lago. It shows how investigators conducting a criminal probe have focused not just on why the records were improperly stored there, but also on the question of whether the Trump team intentionally misled them about the continued, and unlawful, presence of the top secret documents.
The timeline laid out by the Justice Department made clear that the extraordinary search of Mar-a-Lago came only after other efforts to retrieve the records had failed, and that it resulted from law enforcement suspicion that additional documents remained inside the property despite assurances by Trump representatives that a “diligent search” had accounted for all of the material.
It also included a picture of some of the seized documents bearing clear classification markings, perhaps as a way to rebut suggestions that whoever packed them or was handling them could have easily failed to appreciate their sensitive nature.
The photo shows the cover pages of a smattering of paperclip-bound classified documents — some marked as “TOP SECRET//SCI” with bright yellow borders, and one marked as “SECRET//SCI” with a rust-colored border — along with whited-out pages, splayed out on a carpet at Mar-a-Lago. Beside them sits a cardboard box filled with gold-framed pictures, including a Time magazine cover.
Though it contains significant new details on the investigation, the Justice Department filing does not resolve a core question that has driven public fascination with the investigation — why Trump held onto the documents after he left the White House and why he and his team resisted repeated efforts to give them back. In fact, it suggests officials may not have received an answer.
During a June 3 visit to Mar-a-Lago by FBI and Justice Department officials, the document states, “Counsel for the former President offered no explanation as to why boxes of government records, including 38 documents with classification markings, remained at the Premises nearly five months after the production of the Fifteen Boxes and nearly one-and-a-half years after the end of the Administration.”
That visit to Mar-a-Lago, which came weeks after the Justice Department issued a subpoena for the records, receives substantial attention in the document and appears to be a key investigative focus.
Though Trump has said he had declassified all of the documents at Mar-a-Lago, his lawyers did not suggest that during the visit and instead “handled them in a manner that suggested counsel believed that the documents were classified,” according to the document.
FBI agents who went there to receive additional materials were given “a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the documents,” the filing states.
That envelope, according to the FBI, contained 38 unique documents with classification markings, including five documents marked confidential, 16 marked secret and 17 marked top secret.
During that visit, the document says, Trump’s lawyers told investigators that all the records that had come from the White House were stored in one location — a Mar-a-Lago storage room — and that “there were no other records stored in any private office space or other location at the Premises and that all available boxes were searched.”
After that, though, the Justice Department, which had subpoenaed video footage for the property, “developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.” The filing does not identify the individuals who may have relocated the boxes.
In their August search, agents found classified documents both in the storage room as well as in the former president’s office — including three classified documents found not in boxes, but in office desks.
“That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the ‘diligent search’ that the former President’s counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the June 3 certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter,” the document states.
It says, “In some instances, even the FBI counterintelligence personnel and DOJ attorneys conducting the review required additional clearances before they were permitted to review certain documents.”
The investigation began from a referral from the National Archives and Records Administration, which recovered 15 boxes from Mar-a-Lago in January that were found to contain 184 documents with classified markings, including top secret information.
The purpose of the Tuesday night filing was to oppose a request from the Trump legal team for a special master to review the documents seized during this month’s search and set aside those protected by claims of legal privilege. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is set to hear arguments on the matter on Thursday.
Cannon on Saturday said it was her “preliminary intent” to appoint such a person but also gave the Justice Department an opportunity to respond.
On Monday, the department said it had already completed its review of potentially privileged documents and identified a “limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information.” It said Tuesday that a special master was therefore “unnecessary.”
In a separate development, the Trump legal team has grown with the addition of another attorney. Chris Kise, Florida’s former solicitor general, has joined the team of lawyers representing Trump, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss the move by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Kise did not return messages seeking comment.
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| 2022-09-21T13:12:13Z
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(The Hill) — Federal agents searched former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate after developing evidence that government records were “likely concealed and removed” in defiance of a grand jury subpoena, according to Department of Justice (DOJ) court documents filed late Tuesday evening.
The filing details the chronology of federal officials’ monthslong attempt to recover presidential records and classified documents from Trump’s Florida home, casting doubt on the former president’s team’s claims that a “diligent search” was conducted and all documents requested by the subpoena were returned.
Trump has claimed the search warrant of Mar-a-Lago was unnecessary since he was cooperating with the National Archives and federal officials. But the new filing is the most detailed account from DOJ yet contesting Trump’s claims of cooperation.
“The government also developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the storage room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation,” DOJ wrote in its filing.
Trump’s representative on June 3 certified that the former president’s team had returned all responsive documents to the subpoena asking for classified documents still in his possession, the court filing states.
But DOJ said the FBI seized 33 boxes containing more than 100 classified records when it searched Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, including classified documents found in desks in Trump’s office. Trump’s team had said all presidential records taken from the White House were stored in the storage room.
DOJ also included in its a filing a photo that shows some of the seized documents, including markings on some that indicate the documents were top secret/sensitive compartmentalized information.
Some FBI counterintelligence personnel and DOJ attorneys that reviewed the seized documents had to receive additional clearances to view the materials, according to the filing.
“That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the ‘diligent search’ that the former President’s counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the June 3 certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter,” DOJ wrote.
The filing marks DOJ’s response to Trump’s request that the court appoint a special master to review documents seized by federal agents in the search. Trump has claimed the documents are covered by attorney-client and executive privileges.
DOJ said it opposed such a move, arguing Trump has not asserted executive privilege, and even if he did, he could not lawfully do so.
A filter team at the department has already reviewed the seized materials and separated out those protected by attorney-client privilege, and investigators have already reviewed all the remaining documents Trump would potentially assert executive privilege over, according to the filing.
“It would do little or nothing to protect any legitimate interests that plaintiff may have while impeding the government’s ongoing criminal investigation, as well as the Intelligence Community’s review of potential risks to national security that may have resulted from the improper storage of the seized materials,” DOJ said of Trump’s request.
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Believe probable standalone long-term returns far outweigh offer price
Full details of The Framtiden Partnerships' position available at www.oursmokefreefuture.com
CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Framtiden Management Company LLC, together with its affiliates ("Framtiden" or "The Framtiden Partnerships"), today announced its opposition to the proposed takeover of Swedish Match AB (STO: SWMA) ("Swedish Match" or the "Company") by Philip Morris International, Inc. (NYSE:PM) ("Philip Morris").
As a long-term Swedish Match shareholder since 2003, Framtiden believes that the acquisition offer of SEK 106 per share deeply undervalues the Company. Specifically, the offer:
- Does not adequately value Swedish Match's leading position in the rapidly growing non-tobacco nicotine pouch segment in the U.S. with their ZYN product, and the latent and massive market potential in both the U.S. and other countries;
- Underappreciates the uniqueness of a fast-growing established global consumer staples business;
- Forces the realization of capital gains that would otherwise be deferred for long-term investors who want to participate in the Company's continued growth; and
- Is significantly below Swedish Match's intrinsic value per share, which Framtiden estimates at close to SEK 200 per share.
Accordingly, Framtiden informed the Board that it would not support the proposed transaction. The Framtiden Partnerships own over 14.5 million shares representing about 1% of outstanding shares.
Dan Juran, Managing Member of The Framtiden Partnerships, said, "My partner Chris Anderson and I believe that this deal does not make sense for long-term shareholders. I have closely followed Swedish Match's development for nearly two decades, built relationships with its managers, and currently serve as the Chairman of the Company's Nominating Committee. I was dismayed to see the Board recommend the sale of this Swedish jewel at a bargain price in the early stage of probably the greatest chapter in its long history."
Juran continued, "Investors may be tempted by the short-term premium, especially during a period of market declines, but I believe that Swedish Match in 2022 may be in the rarified air of Coca-Cola in the 1980's or Philip Morris itself in the 1950's. Those companies compounded earnings at a superior rate for many years, and shareholders who stuck with them were rewarded mightily. We believe sticking with Swedish Match is likely to prove far more remunerative to shareholders over time than cashing out. We hope other shareholders see the merits of our position, further detailed in our white paper."
Full text of Framtiden's white paper on Swedish Match and Philip Morris' tender offer can be found at:
Contact
info@framtidenholdings.com
This press release has been prepared by The Framtiden Partnerships in their capacity as shareholders in Swedish Match and shall not be regarded as investment advice. Framtiden Management Company LLC ("FMC") is a relying adviser under Rings Capital Management LLC ("Rings"). Rings is the investment adviser to Framtiden LP and First Framtiden LP; FMC is the investment adviser to Framtiden Holdings LP. The purpose of this press release is solely to provide information to Swedish Match shareholders regarding Framtiden's view on the current public takeover offer for all shares in Swedish Match by Philip Morris, which shall be evaluated independently by Swedish Match shareholders. Framtiden has no intentions to directly or indirectly, alone or together with someone else, exert any kind of control over Swedish Match or its operations.
The information contained in this press release has not been independently verified and is subject to change without notice. Neither Framtiden, nor its representatives and affiliates or any other party, is under any obligation to update or keep current the information contained herein. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of Framtiden or any other party (or any of their respective members, directors, officers, employees or any other person) as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this press release, and any reliance you place on such information or opinions will be at your sole risk. Neither Framtiden nor any other party (or any of their respective members, directors, officers, employees or any other person) accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this press release or its contents or otherwise arising directly or indirectly in connection therewith. By reading the press release, you acknowledge that you will be solely responsible for your own assessment of the market and market position of Swedish Match and that you will conduct your own analysis and be solely responsible for forming your own view of the potential future performance of Swedish Match and its business.
This press release contains forward-looking information based on the current expectations of Framtiden. Although Framtiden deems that the expectations presented by such forward-looking information are reasonable, no guarantee can be given that these expectations will prove correct. Accordingly, the actual future outcome could vary considerably compared to that stated in the forward-looking information, due to such factors as changed market conditions for Swedish Match's products and more general factors such as business cycles, markets and competition, unforeseen commercial or operational implications attributable to Covid-19, changes in legal requirements or other political measures, and fluctuations in exchange rates. Framtiden undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. This press release contains market data and industry forecasts, including information related to the sizes of the markets in which Swedish Match and its subsidiaries participates. The information has been extracted from a number of sources. Unless a specific is source is referenced, all market share information/data is based on Framtiden's estimates. Although Framtiden regards these sources as reliable, the information contained in them has not been independently verified and therefore no assurance can be given that this information is accurate and complete. In addition to the above, certain data in the press release is also derived from estimates made by Framtiden. The information and opinions contained in this press release are provided as at the date of this press release and are subject to change without notice.
View original content:
SOURCE Framtiden Management Company LLC
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FAIRPORT HARBOR, Ohio (WJW) — The Ohio Division of Wildlife is reminding pet fish owners not to release their aquarium fish into state waters, since they can harm native fish species.
Technicians found what appears to be a foot-long goldfish during a fish survey this month on Lake Erie in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, the division posted Monday to its Facebook page.
Though flushing “Goldie” down the toilet or setting it free in a creek may seem an expedient option for an unwanted aquarium pet, it just means they’ll end up in streams and lakes, where they can turn into an ecological pest, according to The Ohio State University.
Goldfish are a non-native and invasive fish species — meaning they’re not supposed to be here, and they can take food away from other native fish, the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences reported in 2017.
They’re actually from Asia.
“These invasive goldfish can grow to massive sizes by taking food resources from native species of fish,” the college reported. “They have also been found to eat the eggs of other native fish species even further so hurting their future populations. Goldfish also occupy habitats that native fish use for reproduction as well as shelter and are even able to reproduce with the common carp to produce larger, hybrid species that are equally as detrimental to native populations.”
Improper disposal of dead goldfish can also introduce parasites and other diseases to native fish, according to the college.
We’ve heard these warnings before. Last summer, officials in Minnesota reported finding more giant goldfish in waterways, prompting a plea to citizens to stop illegally dumping their unwanted fish into ponds and lakes.
Goldfish can grow to the size of a football and are able to survive in frozen lakes and those with very poor water quality because they can live without oxygen for long periods.
The Ohio State University, citing NPR fish biologist Ben Swigle, recommends freezing dead goldfish overnight before disposing of them in the trash. For live fish, you might consider taking them back to the pet store, or giving them a new home (in an aquarium, that is).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation) — A nearly 30-year-old cold case has finally been solved thanks in part to a tiny smudge of DNA found on a napkin.
Jerry Westrom, 56, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder for the killing of 35-year-old Jeanne “Jeanie” Childs.
“My condolences go out to the victim and her family. They have had to live without justice for her brutal murder for nearly three decades. I hope this brings some closure to them,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a press release.
Childs, who was a known sex worker, was found stabbed to death in her Minneapolis apartment back in June 1993. The crime scene was covered in DNA evidence, but technology could not trace it back to anyone at the time.
For 27 years, the case stayed stagnant, with no luck in proving Childs’ killer.
Then in 2018, investigators checked to see if DNA found at the scene matched any on a “commercial genealogy site,” similar to methods used in the Golden State killer case.
Westrom came back as a match.
A self-claimed Minneapolis farmer, officials said Westrom had several run-ins with the law, including instances involving prostitutes, around the time of Childs’ murder.
Investigators began tailing Westrom in 2019. While he was attending a hockey game with his daughter, he threw out napkins he used to clean his face after eating a hot dog.
Investigators dug the napkins out of the trash and were able to match DNA samples to the ones from the murder scene decades earlier.
Once the connection was made, Westrom was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, which holds a maximum sentence of 40 years if found guilty.
Westrom was later indicted in June 2020 for first-degree murder, which, if found guilty of, carries a mandatory life sentence under Minnesota law.
After just two hours of jury deliberation on Thursday, Westrom was found guilty and convicted of both charges in the killing of Childs.
Westrom now faces an automatic life sentence, without the possibility of parole. However, an official sentencing date has not been released.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — Nothing Bundt Cakes is inviting customers to celebrate a major milestone with free cake.
On Thursday, September 1, the company is giving out free mini bundt cakes to the first 250 customers at locations across North America to celebrate its 25th birthday. Each of those recipients will receive an individually packaged Confetti “Bundtlet,” the bakery chain said.
There will also be an online contest offering a grand prize of a $25,000 birthday party. Twenty-five runners-up will receive a $100 Nothing Bundt Cakes gift card.
Fans can enter from Sept. 1–25 by submitting a photo from a past birthday celebration and sharing what winning would mean to them.
Winners will be announced in October.
Nothing Bundt Cakes has nearly 450 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The bakeries offer four cake sizes in nine flavors, including Red Velvet, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Lemon, and Confetti.
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(NEXSTAR) – It has been over a month since a Mega Millions ticket worth $1.337 billion – the third-largest lottery prize in the country – was sold in Illinois, and the winner has yet to come forward.
The winner still has over 330 days yet to collect their prize under Illinois state law, but what if they never do? Who then collects the jackpot?
Don’t expect a refund if you bought a ticket (or maybe more than one). A re-drawing won’t happen either.
Instead, if the Mega Millions jackpot drawn on July 29, 2022, goes unclaimed, the 45 states (as well as Washington, D.C.) that participated in the Mega Millions game will get back the funds their state contributed to the pot, according to the game’s website.
From there, each state can use its prize funds for its own purposes.
Illinois, for example, would transfer its part of the jackpot to the Illinois Common School Fund, which supports K-12 education in the state, a spokesperson tells Nexstar. Most states make similar contributions, like Vermont, where most of the unclaimed prize money is used for the Vermont Education Fund.
The California, Missouri, and South Carolina lotteries also give unclaimed lottery funds to support their public schools while Kentucky’s unclaimed funds help support the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship.
In addition to transferring funds to support education in the state, the Georgia Lottery contributes $200,000 to the state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for education and treatment programs for problem gambling.
New York’s lottery will either return unclaimed prize money to the prize pool, use it to subsidize other games or promotions, or to support education in the state. In Tennessee, unclaimed prizes are split between after-school programs and to offset expenses related to future prizes.
Pennsylvania uses its funds “to support programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.” In Oregon, unclaimed prizes are used to “fund the voter-approved beneficiaries.” Texas funds are used for state programs authorized by the legislature.
Colorado Lottery uses unclaimed prize money for its distribution fund, which benefits the Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust Fund, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Unclaimed funds in Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C., are contributed to general funds. In Wisconsin, unclaimed prizes are credited to the Lottery’s property tax relief fund.
Some states, like Connecticut, use their unclaimed funds as additional revenue for the state, promotions of other lottery drawings, or additions to the jackpot. Kansas law requires funds remain in the prize fund, meaning it can be added in subsequent games. With the exception of jackpot winnings, unclaimed prizes are used for future games in Iowa. Louisiana follows a similar practice.
It will be nearly a year before your state has the chance to collect their portion back though. The winner of July’s Mega Millions jackpot still has 11 months to come forward with their ticket (winning numbers were 13-36-45-57-67, Mega Ball: 14). Illinois Lottery officials say the ticket was purchased at a Speedway gas station in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines.
When they collect their prize, the winner would have the option of remaining anonymous, with the ability to have both their name and the municipality of residence withheld, under Illinois law.
The lucky winner could be preparing themselves financially before coming forward. They can either accept the $1.337 billion prize with the annuity option, meaning it’s paid annually over 29 years, or as the cash option, which would be around $780.5 million for this jackpot. It’s also possible the ticket was bought by a group of people.
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man who died in a plane crash Sunday in Minnesota was scattering his father’s ashes, according to law enforcement.
Lee Cemensky, 58, was a Las Vegas resident until he sold his business, Brakes Plus, in February to return to Fifty Lakes, Minnesota.
Cemensky was a passenger in an aircraft flown by Douglas A. Johnson, who operated an amphibious aircraft known as “the swan” that catered to tourists and sightseeing in the community of Emily, Minnesota.
Authorities were called to a rural part outside Emily, roughly 150 miles north of Minneapolis Sunday evening when the plane didn’t arrive at its destination. Roughly two hours later, emergency crews found the plane in a wooded area.
Both Cemensky and Johnson, 61, were found dead.
Lt. Craig Katzenberger of the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office said deputies who responded to the scene on Sunday night learned that Cemensky had been scattering his father’s ashes.
The aircraft Cemensky and Johnson had been in was described as “homemade.” Katzenberger said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
He added that the sheriff’s office investigation is still active.
Cemensky’s father, Leo John Cemensky, died at his home in Fifty Lakes on Aug. 7, according to an online obituary from Koop Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife Vikki; a son and daughter, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Attempts to reach the family for comment have been unsuccessful.
Joseph Hunter, manager of Brakes Plus, said he bought the business from Lee Cemensky on Feb. 28. He said he met him as the business was changing hands, and said he was a “good guy … good to all his customers.”
Cemensky owned the shop for 20 to 25 years, Hunter said.
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| 2022-09-21T13:12:57Z
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A 20-year-old is dead after he was shot and killed early Tuesday by a Columbus police officer attempting to serve an arrest warrant on him. Body camera footage shows that the man, who was Black, was unarmed and sitting in bed next to what may have been a vape pen.
The footage was publicly revealed Tuesday afternoon, hours after the shooting, in a media briefing attended by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. The victim was identified as Donovan Lewis, and court records show officers were serving a warrant for improperly handling a firearm, assault, and domestic violence.
“A mother has lost her son today in the city of Columbus,” Ginther said.
Below is an edited and redacted version of the body camera footage. Some may find its contents disturbing.
Officers went to an apartment building in the 3200 block of Sullivant Avenue to serve the warrant. The footage shows them knock on an apartment door for eight to 10 minutes before a man answers and was taken into custody. Officers saw another man inside the entrance of the apartment and detained him as well.
They asked both occupants if anyone else was inside, and neither would say. Police then yelled to warn anyone inside they were releasing a K-9, with no response.
The video shows the dog move to the kitchen and start barking at a back bedroom door. The dog’s handler, Officer Ricky Anderson, moved to hold the dog back and open the door, while another officer followed him. Both had their guns drawn and pointed in the direction of the door.
Within one second of opening the door, Anderson shot Lewis as he sat up in a bed against the back corner of the room. Police said Anderson shot Lewis while he was wrangling the K-9.
Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the force, was placed on leave pending an investigation of the shooting.
Chief Elaine Bryant said Anderson fired his gun when Lewis appeared to raise a hand with something in it. Moving frame-by-frame through the video showed the man raising his right hand toward officers, while he put his left hand back toward a pillow.
“There was, like, a vape pen that was found on the bed right next to him,” Bryant said.
After the shooting, the footage shows officers putting Lewis in handcuffs while he was on the bed and then carrying him out of the apartment. Police haven’t specified where on his body he was shot, but video recorded outside the apartment shows police appear to try to treat the left side of his chest and also pull his pants off.
After trying to treat his gunshot wound at the scene, medics took him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at 3:19 a.m.
“Donovan Lewis lost his life,” Bryant said. “As a parent, I sympathize and grieve with his mother. As a community, I grieve with our community, but we’re going to allow this investigation to take place.”
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation said it is leading the investigation, as it does on any shooting involving Columbus police based on an agreement between the agencies.
“Every day, officers are put in compromising potentially life-threatening situations in which we are required to make split-second decisions,” Bryant said. “As the chief, it is my job to hold my officers accountable, but it’s also my job to offer them support.”
“When our officers have done the right thing, we’re going to stand with them,” Ginther said. “And when they do the wrong thing, we’re going to hold them accountable. We can’t do either of those things right now until this investigation is complete.”
The shooting comes less than two years after a Columbus police officer shot a Black man who turned out to be unarmed. In that case, Officer Adam Coy apparently mistook Andre Hill’s phone for a possible gun. Hill was 47 when Coy responded to a nonemergency call and found Hill in a neighboring driveway.
Following that shooting, Ginther moved to bring in an outsider to run Columbus’ police department, selecting Bryant as chief in June 2021. Coy also lost his job.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating a fatal building collapse at the Martin’s Potato Roll Company near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
Pennsylvania State Police confirmed Wednesday morning that one person died in the accident. During construction work on the property, multiple concrete walls collapsed. The remains of a 30-year-old contractor who was declared missing after the collapse were found Tuesday night.
OSHA is now investigating the employers, High Company LLC and High Structural Erectors, which both have no prior OSHA inspection history.
Julie Martin, one of the company’s owners, said the collapse happened in a new area not connected to their production building.
She said no Martin’s employees were injured and heavy rain in the area caused issues at the scene.
State Police said Wednesday that an investigation into what caused the collapse was ongoing.
Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. is a family-owned and operated company headquartered in Chambersburg that produces bread shipped across the country. Their most recognizable products are their potato bread and rolls.
The Chambersburg location includes a bakery, corporate headquarters, and Golden Roll Visitor center, according to the Martin’s website.
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:12Z
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MOLOKAI (KHON) – Have you ever heard of a wasp that eats meat?
It’s not something you see every day – a yellow jacket feasting on a deer carcass.
Molokai resident, Gregory Solatorio, captured video of the carnivorous pest while hunting on a friend’s property above Kaunakakai on Molokai in mid-August.
“I was cleaning a deer with a friend and the bee landed on top of the deer I was cutting up and started just going crazy on top of the meat,” Solatorio said.
The insect is not actually a bee, it’s called Vespula pensylvanica, or a western yellowjacket.
You can see a photo of the wasp feasting on a deer carcass in the slideshow below.
According to Cynthia King, an entomologist from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the wasps have been in Hawaii for over a century.
“But they became more common in the 1970s when they were introduced with a lot more frequency from refrigerated shipments of Christmas trees from the Pacific Northwest,” King explained.
They thrive in higher elevations and in cooler areas like Haleakala National Park on Maui and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The species is native to western North America, especially states west of the Rocky Mountains and into southern Canada.
King said both have been dealing with fluctuations in the western yellowjacket population for decades, with numbers usually peaking in September and October.
She said it’s important for people to be aware since yellow jacket season is coming up.
The wasps are known to nest underground and are attracted to sugars and sweets.
“That’s one reason that they bother people,” King said.
Unlike honey bees, they can sting you multiple times, which can be very painful and deadly for anyone allergic to stings.
But, she said, it’s their carnivorous, predatory appetite that poses the greatest threat. Western yellowjackets have even been known to prey on bird nestlings, according to the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International.
“They just take down our native biodiversity, the native moths and spiders and bees and flies, so they can have really sort of cascading influences in our native ecosystems,” explained King.
King said they are threatening native forests and Hawaii’s watershed.
The United States Geological Survey and other agencies have used insecticidal dust and baits to kill the wasps and the Department of Agriculture works tirelessly every fall to ensure none of the pests hitchhike into the state on Christmas trees.
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SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A missing Florida teenager was found in a rural Virginia county, having traveled up the coast via tractor-trailer rides after her family reported her missing several days earlier, according to Virginia State Police.
Virginia State Police (VSP) said the 17-year-old girl ran away from her Florida home on Thursday, Aug. 25. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida called VSP three days later, on Sunday, Aug. 28, to let them know the girl’s social media was being used to track her location, and she was believed to be traveling in a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 northbound in North Carolina, about to enter Virginia.
State police were able to issue a “be on the lookout,” and the tractor-trailer the girl was suspected to be traveling in was identified on I-95 at the Emporia City exit before 11 p.m.
According to VSP, state police and the Emporia Police Department were able to work together to conduct a felony traffic stop on I-95 in Sussex County, where the driver was told to exit the vehicle and was detained without incident. When troopers began walking up to the truck, a juvenile girl got out of the back of the cab and was positively identified as the missing 17-year-old.
The girl told officers that she had left her Florida home, and traveled up the East Coast by catching rides from several tractor-trailer drivers, with the intended final destination of Tennessee. VSP said she also told officers she had lied to the driver she was found with about her name and age.
After a police investigation and questioning of the girl and the tractor-trailer driver, the driver was let go and was not charged.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and told that the girl would be placed into child protective services until her parent/guardian was able to travel to Virginia and take custody of her.
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:27Z
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized an American sea drone in the Persian Gulf and tried to tow it away, only releasing the unmanned vessel when a U.S. Navy warship and helicopter approached, officials said Tuesday.
It was the first time Iran targeted the Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet’s new drone task force.
While the interception ended without incident, tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran as negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers hang in the balance.
The Guard’s Shahid Baziar warship attached a line to the Saildrone Explorer in the center of the Persian Gulf in international waters late Monday night, said Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a 5th Fleet spokesman. The vessel then began towing the Saildrone Explorer, which carries cameras, radars and sensors for remotely monitoring the sea, Hawkins said.
The USS Thunderbolt, a Navy coastal patrol boat, as well as an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, moved to shadow the Guard’s ship. The Navy called the Shahid Baziar by radio to identify the drone as American, Hawkins said.
“Our response was one that as such made clear that this was U.S. government property and was operating in international waters and that we had every intention to take action if necessary,” the commander told The Associated Press.
Hawkins said the incident ended peacefully after some four hours as the Iranians unhooked the tow line to the drone and left the area as the American forces were nearby. Videos released by the Navy showed the Iranian vessel towing the drone with the Thunderbolt in pursuit.
U.S. Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, who leads the military’s Central Command, praised the Thunderbolt’s crew for its response.
“This incident once again demonstrates Iran’s continued destabilizing, illegal and unprofessional activity in the Middle East,” he said in a statement.
Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the Guard, alleged without providing evidence early Wednesday that the drone posed a danger to international shipping. Tasnim acknowledged the Guard released the vessel but tried to described the American account as “a Hollywood narrative and contrary to the truth.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.
The 5th Fleet launched its unmanned Task Force 59 last year. The 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility includes the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes.
It also stretches as far as the Red Sea reaches near the Suez Canal, the waterway in Egypt linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen.
It also represents a region that has seen a series of at-sea attacks in recent years. Off Yemen, bomb-laden drone boats and mines set adrift by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have damaged vessels amid that country’s yearslong war. Near the United Arab Emirates and the Strait of Hormuz, oil tankers have been seized by Iranian forces. Others have been attacked in incidents the Navy blames on Iran.
Those attacks followed about a year after then-President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal, which saw sanctions on Tehran lifted in exchange for its drastically limiting its enrichment of uranium.
Iran now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels as officials openly suggest Tehran could build a nuclear bomb if it chose. Iran has maintained its program is peaceful, though Western nations and international inspectors say Tehran has a military nuclear program up until 2003.
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:35Z
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TULUM, Mexico (AP) — Scraping the smelly sargassum seaweed off some beaches on Mexico’s resort-studded Caribbean coast has become not only a nightmare, but possibly a health threat, for the workers doing it — with the quantities washing ashore this year seemingly mountains not mounds.
Decomposing sargassum, which is actually algae, generates hydrogen sulfide gas. In small amounts in open areas, it’s not much more than an annoying odor: sulfurous, like rotting eggs.
But in the quantities seen in once-paradisical beach towns like Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Xcalak, scientists say it can be dangerous to workers with respiratory problems as they rake up the seaweed maskless in the scorching heat. This year appears on track to be worse than even the peak sargassum year of 2018.
Ezequiel Martínez Lara is one of thousands of laborers who work six to eight hours per day heaving mounds of sargassum into wheelbarrows with pitchforks and then wheeling them off the beach to a growing pile on a neighboring street.
Martínez Lara used to earn as much as $50 per day guiding sports fishermen on catch-and-release outings, but now makes less than half that for collecting around 40 wheelbarrows of sargassum every day.
It is a Sisyphean task at a beach north of Tulum, where huge mats of seaweed float just offshore.
“If we clean it all off today, tomorrow more will have washed in,” said another worker, Austin Valle.
But workers like Martínez and Valle are exposing themselves to more than just the burning sun, says Rosa Rodríguez Martínez, a biologist in the beachside town of Puerto Morelos who studies reefs and coastal ecosystems for Mexico’s National Autonomous University.
“At the university we have started to measure the quantity of gases that sargassum produces when it is scraped up,” Rodríguez Martínez said. “At one spot (in a decomposed pile of seaweed) it reached 56 parts per million. That’s very high. Above two, that can be dangerous for people with respiratory problems.”
“I took off running” from the spot, she said.
Martínez Lara doesn’t have the luxury of avoiding the hydrogen sulfide gas. Like almost every other sargassum worker on the coast, he has no mask, gas sensor or medical care. He works at a day rate for the person who owns the house in front of the beach.
“When sargassum rots, it gives off a very strong odor like acid, and it is very bothersome when you breath it; it hurts a lot,” Martínez Lara said. He said he takes more simple precautions.
“We try to clean it off (the beach) as quickly as possible … to get it off when it is as fresh as possible,” he says.
A 2019 article in the Journal of Travel Medicine includes the disturbing warning, “More chronic exposure to these gasses can lead to conjunctival and neurocognitive symptoms such as memory loss and impaired balance, as well as non-specific symptoms such as headache, nausea and fatigue.”
The Florida Health Department, on the other hand, says “hydrogen sulfide levels in an area like the beach, where large amounts of air flow can dilute levels, is not expected to harm health.”
The sargassum problem isn’t as bad for tourists as for workers. But neither is it pleasant.
Ligia Collado-Vides, a marine botanist at Florida International University who specializes in studying macroalgae like sargassum, said, “If you’re swimming for a little bit, it shouldn’t be a danger at all,” but added that tiny jellyfish cousins known as hydrozoa often inhabit sargassum mats.
“If you’re going to be there for a long time playing in the sargassum, you can get like many, many, many stings from hydrozoans and those are toxic,” she noted, adding that long sleeves — something almost nobody wears at the beach — might help.
Sarah Callaway, a tourist from Denver, Colorado, was pretty much confined to playing with her kids in the pool in front of their rented beach house.
“The property is beautiful, but we were automatically struck … by the smell,” Callaway said. “The smell is really pungent and very strong. And then, yeah, we were disappointed with how much seaweed sargasso there is here.”
“The kids have tried to get in the ocean, but then they get kind of overwhelmed by it. So we really haven’t gotten to do the beach part of it, which is why we came,” she said.
It will also impact locals who depend on the tourist trade. Hundreds of thousands of people migrated to the coast in recent years for better paying jobs, but some may now be considering leaving.
Valle, the seaweed cleaner, said one of his friends in Tulum has been thinking of giving up her snack stand business because sales have dipped so much.
It’s hard to measure the impact on tourism. The Caribbean coast suffered a drop in visits during the coronavirus pandemic, but because Mexico never declared travel restrictions, testing requirements or mandatory mask rules, Americans have continued to come.
International tourism to the country as a whole surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2022, with 10.26 million visitors from January to June, 1.5% higher than the 10.11 million tourists who arrived in Mexico in the first half of 2019.
Mexico’s strongest showing was with U.S. tourists. The number of Americans arriving by air in the first six months of 2022 was 6.66 million; that is 19.1% higher than in the same period of 2019.
But that boom may be slowing. Grupo Financiero Base noted in a research report that international tourist arrivals in June 2022 were down 13.8% from levels in June 2019. It’s unclear what — sargassum, inflation, or the war in Ukraine — may have caused that dip.
And overall tourist spending remains below pre-pandemic levels.
The picture is mixed because some of the most-heavily developed resorts like Cancun have not suffered as much from sargassum as lower-key resorts further south, like Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Ocean currents and islands like Isla Mujeres shield Cancun from much of the floating sargassum. Given the large number of big hotels in Cancun with huge cleaning staffs and money to deploy floating booms, what sargassum does arrive is cleaned up more quickly.
The jury is still out on the floating booms, meant to trap sargassum mats at sea before they reach the beach.
“When the sea is calm, all types of booms work,” Rodríguez Martínez said. “When there are waves, none of them work.”
Some tourists like the area so much they’ll keep coming back.
“I will absolutely be back. We love it here,” said Jeff Chambers, a tourist from Palm Desert, California, who was strolling down the main seaside street in Tulum. “We like things a little slower.”
Some locals like Victor Reyes, who works in real estate in Tulum, are more sanguine about the seaweed, noting that it’s not so bad in the winter months.
“In the winter it’s better. In November, when the tourists want to come, the sargassum is gone,” Reyes says.
As bad as sargassum is for people — and Collado-Vides stresses that much more study is needed — it’s far worse for seagrass, fish and other marine life suffocated by seaweed that drops to the bottom, decomposes and creates oxygen-depleted or anoxic layers similar to dead zones.
“Sargassum stays there and goes down into the water column so nobody sees it, but on the bottom it is creating anoxic conditions,” she said.
Recounting one recent monitoring expedition, Collado-Vides said: “It’s really terrible … the amount of vertebrates, the amount of crabs, the amount of fish dead in just a 1-square meter quadrant.”
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:42Z
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(NEXSTAR) – Don’t make him turn this plane around.
A pilot with Southwest Airlines was heard scolding a traveler who allegedly AirDropped unsolicited “naked pictures” to other passengers ahead of a recent flight from Houston to Cabo San Lucas.
He also threatened to return the plane to the gate if the nudes didn’t stop.
“So here’s the deal, if this continues while we’re on the ground, I’m going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody’s going to have to get off, we’re going to have to get security involved and it’s … vacation is going to be ruined,” the pilot can be heard saying in a video shared to TikTok by passenger Teighlor Marsalis last week.
“So you folks, whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures and let’s get yourself to Cabo,” the pilot added.
The video has since been 2.6 million times.
Marsalis told Nexstar that the plane was preparing to leave on Aug. 24 when the male passenger “AirDropped a nude photo of himself” to everyone else on the plane.
One of the travelers told a flight attendant, who subsequently informed the pilot, Marsalis said. She added that there were no more unsolicited AirDrops for the remainder of the trip.
“The flight made it happily to Cabo with no more nudes!” Marsalis said.
Southwest Airlines provided a statement to Nexstar in response to Marsalis’ viral clip, but declined to share further details or confirm whether any of the passengers were barred from future flights.
“The safety, security and wellbeing of Customers and Employees is the Southwest Team’s highest priority at all times,” the airline wrote. “When made aware of a potential problem, our Employees address issues to support the comfort of those traveling with us.”
Apple’s AirDrop feature, available on iOS devices, allows users to share photos, videos or files with other Apple devices that are “within Bluetooth and WiFi range.” The sender does not need specific contact information for recipients, though users can choose to restrict unsolicited AirDrops from unknown senders.
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:49Z
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(NEXSTAR) – Richard Roat, a prolific character actor with over 135 TV and film credits to his name on IMDb, has died at the age of 89.
Roat passed on Aug. 5, according to an obituary published this week in the Los Angeles Times. He had appeared on dozens of popular shows and sitcoms over the past six decades, starting with a role in “Car 54, Where Are You?” in 1962. Since then, Roat has appeared on “Hawaii Five-O,” “Columbo,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Happy Days,” “Dallas” and “Friends,” as well as recurring roles on soap operas including “The Doctors,” “Generations” and “Days of Our Lives.”
Viewers might also recognize Roat from a 1996 episode of “Seinfeld” titled “The Package,” in which he played a doctor who found Elaine Benes to be a difficult patient.
In addition to his work in television and film, Roat appeared on Broadway and in other theatrical productions in NYC, L.A. and Pasadena, according to his obituary.
When not acting, Roat “had a successful practice as an entertainment tax preparer for over 50 years,” the obit read.
Roat’s cause of death was not disclosed, though the obituary noted his passing was sudden.
“He will be thought of often, with warm memories and a quiet chuckle for all the good times he brought to our lives,” the obituary read.
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| 2022-09-21T13:13:57Z
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NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round Wednesday night to ensure that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play at least one more singles match at what she’s hinted will be the last tournament of her illustrious career.
The 40-year-old Williams was again buoyed by a loud crowd at a full Arthur Ashe Stadium, just as she was in the first round two days earlier.
She hit serves at up to 119 mph, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance when it was needed most.
After pulling out a tight first set, then faltering a bit in the second, Williams headed to the locker room for a bit of a break before the third.
Something had to give, someone had to blink.
When they resumed, it was Williams who lifted her level and emerged as the better player.
Just as she’s done, so many times on so many stages, with so much at stake.
The six-time champion at Flushing Meadows will play Friday for a spot in the fourth round. Her opponent will be Ajla Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old Australian.
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:04Z
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The interactive, light festival returns to Chicago and expands to New York City to create a larger than life shining spectacle for all
NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Artistic Holiday Designs, a unique and interactive commercial holiday decoration design firm, is proud to illuminate this holiday season with its all-immersive storybook experience, Amaze Light Festival. The exclusive US distributor for leading light design and decor manufacturer, LeBlanc Illuminations, is brightening this one-of-a-kind, inclusive display this holiday season. A new family tradition and holiday destination, Amaze Light Festival is an unforgettable spectacle for guests of all ages.
Patrons are captivated by the mesmerizing festive decor and interactive holiday-themed worlds throughout the immersive experience. Amaze Light Festival immerses visitors in an illuminous holiday adventure where storybook characters Zing and Sparky take them on a sweet adventure.
Festival goers enjoy outdoor holiday activities at this unique experience with five thematic displays to explore. Visitors can expect photo opportunities around every corner as they journey through a custom interactive oasis including the North Pole, Land of Sweets, and a Whimsical Forest with the option to take a ride down Zing's Thrill Hill with glittering willow trees and reindeers lighting the way. Attendees will enjoy a blend of live, high energy performances every two-hours and the country's largest animated light display with a mega light show every 30-minutes.
Additional highlights include the candy-fueled Sparky's Sweet Spot and Zing's Toyporium, a larger than life toy store complete with a charity-focused interactive toy machine and a holiday market highlighting local small businesses and unique gifts. No Holiday spectacle is complete without food. Guests have an array of delectables to graze and enjoy: baked goods, hot cocoa, savory plates, sweet dishes, and custom cocktails. The cozy atmosphere is a sprawling fest with German-styled cottages housing goodies and collectables in the Amaze Market.
"Our vision is bringing guests into a fully-immersive world. Once visitors step inside, that indescribable magic of the Holiday soaks in. Every corner of Amaze Light Festival is intentionally created to keep our guests in that spirit throughout their exploration. It truly is magic come to light." says Sarah Basch, Artistic Holiday Designs, Creative Director
This winter, the magic of the Amaze Light Festival is back by popular demand at its new home in Tinley Park, the Chicago Area's largest and most complete family entertainment destination. Three times larger than its debut venue in Rosemont, Chicago, the new 400,000 square-foot venue is expecting to see over 300,000 guests.
In New York, the holiday spectacle will take place at the home of the New York Mets where roughly 400,000 holiday enthusiasts are anticipated at the iconic venue at Citi Field. Collaborating with Mets Events, the non-game day event arm that specializes in all types of non-baseball events, the Amaze Light Festival will transform the historic venue into a winter wonderland.
"Our hope is that guests allow Amaze to earn the right to be a part of their Holiday traditions. Amaze Light Festival is a spectacle like no other. It's a storybook come to life with the actual characters, Zing and Sparky, sharing the experience with our patrons. Guests walk through each world, and as they do, they become part of the storybook." says Derek Norwood, CEO/Founder, Artistic Holiday Designs
The Amaze Light Festival will run simultaneously in each respective city but visitors at either location can expect a few exclusive seasonal surprises. Certain to delight holiday enthusiasts, attendees in New York City will be able to take festive rides on the Arctic Express Train and enjoy the smell of fresh pine in the enchanted Tree Farm. They will also be able to stroll through the royal castle, stop by to meet the princess and make a wish at the magical fountain. In Chicago, highlights include an animated Deck The Halls themed gift box tunnel filled to the brim with sparkles, ornaments and ribbons, and the opportunity to travel through a winter wonderland on The World Arctic Express Train. Certain to spread holiday cheer, the Amaze Light Festival is bringing unique moments of joy to each of its locations.
This year Amaze Light Festival will offer its guests a VIP experience option, which will include exclusive viewpoints, amenities and high-end food and beverage offerings. Amaze Light Festival will offer a customized experience through its Amaze App, allowing guests to use 'Amaze Pay', an integration within the mobile application as a mobile wallet.
Tickets will be available for sale on October 3rd and for more information on ticket pricing and purchase, please visit AmazeLightFestival.com.
Amaze Light Festival is an attraction based celebration centering around immersive illuminated decorations. In 2021, the Artistic Holiday Designs team partnered with Leblanc Illuminations as their exclusive US distributor to create the first ever Amaze Light Festival in Rosemont, Chicago. Since the inception of the Amaze Light Festival, the number one priority has been guest experience. The team is dedicated to creating the best immersive holiday event, providing innovative decorations, reliable products, exceptional service, and a revolutionary team focused on building a magical lighting experience. This year the immersive storybook themed light festival is expanding into two new venues, in Chicago and New York City. For more information please visit AmazeLightFestival.com
Follow Amaze Light Festival social channels here:
Instagram: @AmazeLightFestival
Tik Tok: @AmazeLightFestival
Facebook: Amaze Light Festival
Artistic Holiday Designs began as a design firm seeking to change holiday decor. The company's experience as an installer of holiday lighting led the team to seek out innovative and unique decor options for clients. In March 2015, Artistic Holiday Designs partnered with Leblanc Illuminations as their sole distributor in the United States market. Artistic Holiday Design creativity mixed with Leblanc's mastery of products has allowed them to become a force in the world of holiday decor.
Since 1958, Leblanc Illuminations has been a leading light in the festive and Christmas lighting sector. A pioneer of new trends, Leblanc Illuminations has always been at the heart of innovation, renewing more than 30% of its collections each year and decorating for more than 1,000 cities worldwide
An independent versatile, opportunity-driven producer of concerts, festivals and special events taking place throughout the U.S. Based in Stamford, CT, run by industry professionals; Parachute Concerts' operations are rooted in its passion for delivering high-quality entertainment with attention to the fine points of providing a positive consumer experience.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ashley Goldstein
ashleyg@alabgroup.com
917.980.7940
AshleyOrfus
Ashley@alabgroup.com
917.232.7349
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SOURCE Amaze Light Festival
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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Videos obtained by Nexstar’s KLAS show former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch’s luxury car stuck on a boulder in a crash that led to a parking ticket.
Lynch, 36, was driving in Las Vegas around 4 a.m. on Feb. 22 when his Lamborghini Aventador “collided with landscaping and a fence,” police wrote in a report. Las Vegas Metro Police body camera videos show Lynch’s car sitting in the landscaped area as police try to determine who was driving it.
Officers suspected Lynch was driving at “a high rate of speed” when his car veered off the road, hit a curb, and traveled about 50 feet before stopping on top of the boulder, the report said.
A person at the scene, who told police he was Lynch’s cousin, initially said Lynch was not driving, the report said and the videos reveal. Police had issued a citation to that person, but those violations “were voided due to the fact it was proven [that person] was not the driver at the time of the collision,” police wrote in the report.
“Is this your car?” an officer asks the man.
“My cousin,” he replied.
“And you’re saying you were driving?” the officer responded.
“Yup,” the man said.
“Where’s your cousin?” the officer asked.
“He’s probably at home,” the man said.
Police said witnesses saw Lynch walking away from the crash and then “returned and began attempting to remove the vehicle from the landscape area,” the report said. A van later arrived to aid in that attempt, the police report said. Lynch later left in the van, leaving the man police are talking to in the videos with the car.
“Who got picked up in the van?” an officer asked.
“No, I came in the van,” the man said.
“You came in the van? I thought you said you were driving this thing?” the officer replied, referring to the Lamborghini.
Officers do not believe the man they were talking to was the driver since witnesses saw a second man with a different description walking away from the crash site, they said on the videos.
“It’s hard to keep your story straight when you’re lying to me,” the officer said to the man.
Lynch does not appear in any of the videos. In one clip, officers appear to reference witness video of the driver getting out of the car. They described him as a “big dude” who was no longer at the crash site.
“They were trying to pull it out before anybody got here,” one officer remarked. “That’s the dude that was driving — a big dude — this is the dude that stayed.”
Three days after the crash, police met with Lynch, who owned up to driving, they wrote in the report. Lynch told officers he was new to the neighborhood and that he left the crash site “to avoid being placed on video,” the report said.
Police cited Lynch for the crash and did not arrest him. Officers said he was not impaired.
Court records show Lynch pleaded nolo contendere — accepting violation but denying guilt — to a charge of stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places, which is a misdemeanor. A judge ordered him to pay a $750 fine.
“This is a non-story,” Lynch’s attorneys Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff said in a statement to KLAS about the February incident. “Marshawn addressed this matter many months ago and was found responsible for a parking violation.”
The court told KLAS the plea was negotiated between the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and Lynch’s attorneys.
On Aug. 9, Las Vegas Metro police arrested Lynch on suspicion of DUI after a traffic stop around 7:30 in the morning.
Officers said they found Lynch “asleep behind the wheel with the vehicle in an undrivable condition.” The car, a 2020 Shelby GT500 Coupe, was unregistered, police said.
In that case, Lynch faces charges of DUI liquor and/or drugs, failure or refusal to surrender proof of insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle, and failure to drive in a travel lane.
“Marshawn was not pulled over for a DUI,” Lynch’s attorneys said in a statement regarding Lynch’s August arrest. “Rather, the vehicle was safely parked and not in operation. We are confident that when all evidence is presented, this will not be a DUI under Nevada law. Marshawn appreciates and is thankful for everyone’s concern and support.”
Nevada law states a person sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle is deemed “in physical control” of the vehicle.
Lynch most recently played for the Seattle Seahawks and played for the then-Oakland Raiders for the 2017-2018 season.
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:12Z
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(NEXSTAR) – For the first time in nearly a decade, Sam’s Club will raise its membership fee, joining a slew of other retailers and services that have raised such fees this year.
In a letter addressed to members that was shared with Nexstar Wednesday, Sam’s Club President and CEO Kathryn McLay said the fees for Club members and Plus members will rise on October 17. This comes just weeks after Sam’s Club reduced its Club membership fee for a limited time to $8 for new members.
For Club members, annual fees will increase by $5, from $45 to $50 per year. The Club membership fee has been the same for nine years, according to McLay. For Plus members, who will see their first price change since 1999, the fee will rise from $100 to $110 per year.
“We are mindful of the financial pressure on wallets right now,” McLay wrote. “So, this year’s renewal is on us. We’re giving back $5 in Sam’s Cash to Club members and $10 in Sam’s Cash to Plus members shortly after renewal.”
The Sam’s Cash offset may be limited to one per member if you have multiple memberships. This offer is valid from October 17 until October 16, 2023.
In March, Costco CFO Richard Galanti discussed the possibility of a membership hike in the near future, “especially in light of companies like Amazon and Netflix raising their fees” earlier in the year.
Netflix raised its monthly costs in January, with prices rising by about $1 to $2, depending on the plan. They will also soon add a lower-priced, ad-supported plan soon but an official date hasn’t yet been announced. In February, Amazon Prime’s annual cost jumped – this also impacts streaming through Amazon.
In early August, Disney announced its three streaming services – Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ – will become more expensive. These price hikes come as Disney rolls out an ad-supported Disney+ subscription that it announced earlier this year.
Michael Bartiromo contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:19Z
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DETROIT (AP) — About 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they or someone close to them has had a personal experience with gun violence, according to a recent poll that shows Black and Hispanic adults are especially likely to have had their lives touched by it.
The poll by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 54% of Black Americans and 27% of Hispanic Americans reported that they or a close friend or family member experienced gun violence in the last five years, compared with of 13% of white Americans. Overall, 21% of U.S. adults reported a personal tie to gun violence, such as being threatened by a gun or being a victim of a shooting.
Ebony Brown, a 39-year-old accountant in Atlanta, is among those who has seen gun violence touch those close to her. Her brother was shot to death in 2002 in Jacksonville, Florida, while visiting from college.
“He was at the right place at the wrong time,” said Brown, who is Black.
An acquaintance of a friend pulled a gun during an attempted robbery at a home and shot several people, including Brown’s brother, who she said died instantly. Another person also was slain.
Brown said she doesn’t consider herself a gun lover, but she’s worried enough about becoming a victim of gun violence herself that she’s considering getting a handgun.
“I’m really getting ready to get one. I’ve been to the range,” Brown said. “My dad is a police officer and he wants me to have it.”
The survey was conducted after a stretch of mass shootings across the U.S., from a grocery store in New York, an elementary school in Texas and a Fourth of July parade in Illinois — along with a smattering of incidents of gun violence in cities across the U.S. that don’t always make national news but leave local communities on edge.
Professor Jens Ludwig, who is director of the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab, said the 1 in 5 people with a friend or family member who was a victim of violence was a “strikingly high number.”
It shows that those who experience gun violence “aren’t the only victims,” he said.
Ludwig compared the way gun violence affects entire communities to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the people who died or became very ill from COVID-19 weren’t the only ones affected; kids were kept home from school, businesses closed, and people couldn’t see loved ones.
The same is true with gun violence, Ludwig said. “People are changing the way they live,” he said.
For example, he said, when people who can afford to leave cities where gun violence is a big problem move out in droves, it hurts everyone still there.
He cited Detroit as one example. Gun-related homicides increased from 2016 to 2020, from a rate of 37.6 per 100,000 people to 45.4 per 100,000 people, according to FBI data collected by the pro-gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. Black people were 2.1 times more likely to die by gun homicides than white people, according to the data.
Following a particularly violent summer weekend in Detroit that saw two dozen nonfatal shootings and seven homicides, Police Chief James White denounced the rising gun violence in the city and across the nation.
“We understand these numbers make media headlines, but to us they represent people,” White told reporters. “These represent families. This represents children. This represents husbands, wives, brothers and sisters. Our Detroit families are in pain. Neighbors near the gunfire are shaken and lives have been forever changed.”
While most Americans say they feel gun violence has increased nationwide and in their states, 59% of Black Americans and 45% of Hispanics said that gun violence is on the rise in their communities, compared with 34% of white Americans. Similarly, people living in urban areas are more likely to say gun violence is rising in their communities than those in suburban or rural areas, 51% to 39% to 27%.
That is in line with recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data has shown a spike in gun violence since the pandemic, with gun-related homicides increasing across the country in large and small metro areas and in rural areas. The data found Black people are disproportionately impacted by gun violence and are more likely to be the victims of gun crimes or homicides.
Brittany Samuels, a 31-year-old in Detroit, says she still carries physical scars from being shot at age 14 by her uncle, who she said was bipolar and schizophrenic, and fatally shot her grandmother, one of his coworkers and himself.
She said it has also shaped the way she thinks about gun violence and gun ownership, and she feels it is too easy for guns to get into the wrong hands.
Samuels, who is Black, said gun violence in her community has made her rethink where and when to go places, like skipping Detroit’s downtown entertainment district or certain gas stations as certain times.
“You don’t know if someone is going to rob you at gunpoint or if they are going to have a shootout in the middle of the gas station,” she said. “I don’t go when it’s dark — even if it’s in the morning. And you really won’t catch me at a gas station that’s not lit up.”
Diego Saldana, 30, of Baldwin Park, California, in the Los Angeles metro area, said he found himself facing a 9mm handgun during an attempted robbery six months ago. He feels gun violence is on the rise and believes it’s likely he will be a victim of gun violence again in the next five years.
“I think it’s due to the (poor) economy — people are desperate for easy money,” said Saldana, who is Mexican. “People … are stressing about stuff and expressing it with violence. Everybody is on edge.”
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Price reported from New York. AP Polling Reporter Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and AP writer Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.
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The poll of 1,373 adults was conducted July 28-Aug. 1 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
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Follow AP’s coverage of gun violence at https://apnews.com/hub/gun-violence.
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:27Z
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ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyers for John Eastman, a lead architect of some of Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election, said Wednesday they advised their client to assert attorney-client privilege and invoke his constitutional right to remain silent when testifying before a special grand jury investigating possible illegal election interference in Georgia.
Charles Burnham and Harvey Silverglate confirmed in a statement that Eastman had appeared before the panel in Fulton County, complying with a summons from the district attorney. They declined to comment on the questions or testimony, citing respect for the secrecy of the grand jury process.
Eastman is one of a number of Trump advisers, attorneys and allies whose testimony Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has sought to compel in the case. Former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, who’s been told he may face criminal charges in the investigation, testified in mid-August. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, is fighting his subpoena. Willis filed petitions last week seeking the testimony of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump-allied attorney Sidney Powell, among others. And conservative attorney L. Lin Wood Jr. said this week he’s been told Willis wants him to appear.
Willis’ investigation began early last year, shortly after a recording of a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger became public. In that call, Trump suggested the state’s top election official could “find” the votes needed to overturn his narrow loss in the state. But it has become clear that the scope of the probe has broadened considerably since then.
In their statement Wednesday, Eastman’s attorneys accused Willis of embarking on “an unprecedented path of criminalizing controversial or disfavored legal theories.”
As Trump and his allies began a campaign to spread false claims about the election, Eastman circulated what was essentially an academic proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act that governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress.
The first part of the plan was to put in place a slate of “alternate” electors in seven battleground states to sign certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Democrat Joe Biden, had won their states. Willis has told the 16 Georgia Republicans who joined that effort that they are targets of her investigation.
The second part of the proposal involved convincing then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to count some of the electoral votes won by Biden when presiding over Congress the certification of election results on Jan. 6, 2021. But Pence refused to stray from his ceremonial role that day, even as Trump supporters broke into the Capitol, chanting for him to be hung.
Wood, who sued unsuccessfully to block the certification of Georgia’s election results, said Wednesday that he’s willing to testify before the special grand jury.
Wood said a lawyer who represents him in a separate matter told him late last week that Willis’ office wants to subpoena him to testify. But he said he hadn’t received a formal request and didn’t know when they would want to see him.
“If they want to ask me questions, I’m happy to answer them,” Wood told The Associated Press by phone. “I have nothing to hide.”
Wood has long been known for his representation of high-profile clients — including Richard Jewell, who was wrongly accused in the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta — particularly in defamation cases.
In a document filed last week seeking to compel Powell’s testimony, Willis noted that Wood hosted meetings at his home in South Carolina “for the purpose of exploring options to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.” Powell asked Wood, who’s licensed as a lawyer in Georgia, to help find Georgia residents who would be willing to serve as plaintiffs in lawsuits contesting the election results in the state, the petition says.
Wood said he didn’t know Powell well at the time but that she got in touch and asked if a group could meet at his home in late November 2020. He agreed to reach out to some prominent Georgia Republicans on Powell’s behalf, but said he doesn’t remember exactly who he called and whether they ended up joining any lawsuit filed by Powell.
The lawsuits filed by Powell and Wood were among many that were filed around the country in the wake of the 2020 election, many of them claiming that widespread election fraud had occurred. The lawsuits were ultimately dismissed, and state and federal election officials have consistently said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the election.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
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More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:34Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI investigation into top-secret government information discovered at Mar-a-Lago is zeroing in on the question of whether former President Donald Trump’s team criminally obstructed the probe. A new document alleges that government records had been concealed and removed and that law enforcement officials were misled about what was still there.
The allegation does not necessarily mean that Trump or anyone else will ultimately face charges. But it could pose the most direct legal threat to Trump or those in his orbit, in part because the Justice Department has historically viewed obstruction as an aggravating factor that tilts in favor of bringing charges in investigations involving the mishandling of classified information.
“It goes to the heart of trying to suborn the very integrity of our criminal justice system,” said David Laufman, who once oversaw the same Justice Department counterintelligence section now responsible for the Mar-a-Lago investigation.
The latest Justice Department motion in the case is focused less on the removal last year of classified information from the White House to Mar-a-Lago and more on the events of this past spring. That’s when law enforcement officials tried — unsuccessfully — to get all documents back and were assured, falsely, that everything had been accounted for after a “diligent search.”
The Justice Department issued a grand jury subpoena in May for the records, and officials visited Mar-a-Lago on June 3 to collect them. When they got there, Tuesday’s department document says, they were handed by a Trump lawyer a “single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape” containing documents.
A custodian for the records presented a sworn certification to the officials saying that “any and all responsive documents” to the subpoena had been located and produced. A Trump lawyer said that all records that had come from the White House had been held in one location — a storage room — and that there were none in any private space or other spot at the house.
But the FBI came to doubt the truth of those statements and obtained a search warrant to return on Aug. 8.
Officials had “developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation,” the new Justice Department filing says.
In their August search, agents found classified documents not only in the storage room but also in the former president’s office, including three classified documents in an office desk, according to the Justice Department. In some instances, the agents and attorneys conducting the review of seized documents required additional clearances since the material was so highly classified.
“That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the ‘diligent search’ that the former president’s counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the June 3 certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter,” the document states.
In its own filing Wednesday night, Trump’s lawyers decried the search as having taken place in “the midst of the standard give-and-take” between a former president and the National Archives and Records Administration over presidential records. It said the department had “gratuitously” made public certain information, including a photograph of classified documents taken from the home.
The Justice Department has stated in court filings that, besides investigating crimes related to the mishandling of national defense information and other documents, it is also looking into whether anyone committed obstruction.
It is not clear from Tuesday’s filing how much of that inquiry might center on Trump, who has repeatedly insisted that his team was cooperative with the FBI, as opposed to any of his lawyers or representatives who were directly involved in making the representations to the department. It’s also unclear what role Trump himself had in those representations.
Obstruction matters because it’s one of the factors investigators look for in weighing whether to bring charges. For instance, in his July 2016 announcement that the FBI would not be recommending criminal charges against Hillary Clinton in an investigation involving handling of her emails, FBI Director James Comey cited the absence of obstruction as one of the reasons.
When the Justice Department charged former CIA Director David Petraeus in 2015 with sharing classified information with his biographer, it made a point of including in court documents details about false statements prosecutors said he made during an FBI interview.
It is also not the first time that an obstruction investigation has surfaced in connection with Trump. Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated whether Trump had obstructed an inquiry into whether his 2016 presidential campaign had colluded with Russia, and though Mueller did not recommend charges against the then-sitting president, he also pointedly declined to exonerate him.
In the current case, federal investigators are likely evaluating why Trump representatives provided statements about the status of classified information at Mar-a-Lago that proved easily contradicted by the evidence, as well as which individuals were involved in removing boxes and why.
Sarah Krissoff, a New York lawyer and former federal prosecutor, said the detailed information in this week’s filing tells its own tale.
“Reading between the lines of what they were saying here, it suggests that they had very direct information from a source regarding the location of classified documents within Mar-a-Lago and essentially the concealment of, or lack of cooperation with, the prior efforts to recover those documents,” she said.
The purpose of the Tuesday night filing was to oppose a request from the Trump legal team for a special master to review the documents seized during this month’s search and to return to him certain seized property. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is to hear arguments on the matter Thursday.
Trump’s lawyers responded Wednesday night by saying that a special master was needed for the sake of fairness, asserting that “left unchecked, the DOJ will impugn, leak, and publicize selective aspects of their investigation.”
Cannon on Saturday said it was her “preliminary intent” to appoint such a person but also gave the Justice Department an opportunity to respond.
On Monday, the department said it had already completed its review of potentially privileged documents and identified a “limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information.” It said Tuesday that a special master was therefore unnecessary and that the presidential records that were taken from the home do not belong to Trump.
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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Michael Balsamo in New York contributed to this report.
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More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:42Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Reports of sexual assaults across the U.S. military jumped by 13% last year, driven by significant increases in the Army and the Navy as bases began to move out of pandemic restrictions and public venues reopened, The Associated Press has learned.
Mirroring the increase in those reports is the disclosure that close to 36,000 service members said in a confidential survey that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact — a dramatic increase over the roughly 20,000 who said that in a similar 2018 survey, U.S. defense and military officials said.
The latest numbers are certain to anger lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have been critical of the Pentagon’s efforts to get a handle on sexual crimes and misconduct.
According to officials, the overall increase is largely fueled by a nearly 26% jump in reports involving Army soldiers. It’s the largest increase for that service since 2013, when such reports went up by 51%.
The increase in Navy reports was about 9%, the Air Force was a bit more than 2% and the Marine Corps was less than 2%, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the reporting has not yet been made public.
The big increase is especially troublesome for the Army, which is struggling to meet its recruiting goals and is expected to miss the target by at least 10,000 — or by anywhere from 18% to 25% — at the end of September. Army leaders have acknowledged that it is important for parents and others who influence recruits to feel comfortable that their son or daughter is safe and will be taken care of in the service.
Army officials said the numbers are alarming and that they certainly could have an impact on recruting, if parents believe their youth are at risk of assaults. They said Army leaders saw the growing numbers last year and began trying to implement new programs. Already, they said, some programs are working and the sexual harassment and assault numbers have been coming down this year.
COVID-19 and the pandemic restrictions make year-to-year comparisons complicated. Officials said they do not have enough data to determine if — or how much — the pandemic played a role in the higher reporting and survey numbers.
The Pentagon and the military services have long struggled to come up with programs to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage reporting. While the military has made inroads in making it easier and safer for service members to come forward, it has had far less success reducing the assaults, which have increased nearly every year since 2006.
Army leaders said they’ve seen some results with a training program that soldiers get when they report to their first duty station. It is rolled out right away, and has soldiers acting out dangerous situations and emphasizes training on how to respond. They also said they are improving evaluation programs that grade unit leaders, including randomly picking peers and others to do the assessments.
The double-digit overall increase comes after two years of relatively small increases in reports filed by or involving service members. In the budget year ending September 2020, reports of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact edged up by 1%, as much of the world largely shut down due to the pandemic. The previous year, reports went up by about 3% — a substantial improvement over 2018, which also saw a 13% increase.
The widespread restrictions on travel and movement for the military continued during fall 2020 and the early part of 2021, and many businesses, restaurants and bars were shut down or had limited service. Things began to open up as more people were vaccinated in the summer and fall, but it’s also not clear whether that greater freedom contributed to the increase in assault reports.
The Pentagon releases a report every year on the number of sexual assaults reported by or about troops. But because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department began to do a confidential survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem. The 2018 survey found that more than 20,000 service members said they experienced some type of sexual assault, but only one-third of them filed a formal report.
The latest report, expected to be publicly released Thursday, estimates that about 35,800 service members experienced some type of sexual assault in the previous year, based on the confidential survey. That means that only about one in every five service members reported an incident that happened in the previous year.
Every year as many as 10% of the assaults that service members reported happened before they joined the military.
Officials familiar with the findings said survey respondents also reported increases in hostility in the workplace, as well as more sexual harassment, which can sometimes lead to other sexual assaults or misconduct. They said the survey revealed that about 8% of all women and 1.5% of men in the service said they had experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact.
Officials said the survey suggested that, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a woman’s chance of being sexually assaulted in the military was about the same as a woman in the general population. But for men, the risk for those in the military is much lower than in U.S. society.
Defense officials have argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people are reluctant to report it, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system and greater comfort with the support for victims.
It’s unclear, however, whether the increased reports last year actually represent a growing problem or whether those who say they were assaulted were just more willing to come forward.
The Pentagon has been under persistent pressure from Congress to improve prevention and prosecutions. Lawmakers acted late last year to take some prosecution authority out of the hands of commanders and instead use independent prosecutors.
Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don’t trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. They also worry that commanders may not press ahead with some cases if they know the accused. Members of Congress argued that using independent prosecutors would make the process more fair, and make victims more comfortable coming forward.
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:49Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — At first, Republicans were highly critical of the FBI search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, but as new details emerge about the more than 100 classified documents the former president haphazardly stashed at his private club Republicans have grown notably silent.
The deepening investigation into Trump’s handling of sensitive government information has disclosed damaging and unsettling new details. With every court filing there is new information about the cache of documents the former president took with him from the White House and the potential national security concerns. While the unprecedented search has galvanized many Republicans to Trump’s defense, others in the party are unwilling to speak up, often wary of crossing him.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to respond Wednesday when asked about the latest developments in the Justice Department’s probe.
“I don’t have any observations about that,” McConnell told reporters in Kentucky.
The silence speaks volumes for a party whose president won the White House after rousing voters in rally chants of “Lock Her Up!” Trump pilloried Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for using a personal email account and server during her time as Secretary of State. She quickly complied with investigators and was not charged.
The investigation also is posing a new test of Republican loyalty to Trump from lawmakers who are relying on him for their political livelihoods, particularly ahead of the midterm elections.
Battle lines among Republicans infighting over Trump quickly emerged Wednesday after the latest court filing, in which Justice Department said that the FBI’s Aug. 8 search had produced more than 100 documents with “classified markings” at Mar-a-Lago — twice as many as Trump’s team had turned over earlier this summer.
In Tuesday’s late filing, the Justice Department laid out in stark detail how it had developed evidence “that government records were likely concealed and removed” from a storage room at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.
The filing described the lengthy process of trying to retrieve government documents taken when Trump left the White House in early 2021. The Justice Department explained how Trump’s legal team had said documents were only been kept in the storage room, but the search also found documents in the former president’s office. It said some of the newly found documents were so sensitive that even Justice Department attorneys and FBI counterintelligence personnel required additional clearances before they could review the material.
The Justice Department said “efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.” It produced a photograph of some of the classified documents found, as evidence. The filing said flatly that the government believes “obstructive conduct” has occurred.
Republican Rep. Liz Cheney — one of the former president’s fiercest critics, who recently lost her own primary for reelection — tweeted the photo: “Yet more indefensible conduct by Donald Trump revealed this morning.”
But Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, once a rival to Trump for the White House, has saved his criticizing for federal law enforcement as he defended the former president.
“The FBI’s raid was a horrific ‘abuse of power,’” Cruz tweeted just before the Tuesday filing. He said “there needs to be ‘a complete housecleaning’ at FBI.”
He was among several Republican lawmakers and congressional candidates who were fundraising this week off their complaints about the Justice Department. Cruz’s office did not respond to a request for fresh comments Wednesday.
The Texas senator is not alone in turning his criticism away from Trump and onto the federal authorities conducting the investigation and search. The Republican Party that once stood for law and order has been cleaved by Trump’s actions, some in the starkest, most alarming tones.
In the immediate aftermath of the search, Republicans largely rallied around Trump and demanded more information from the Justice Department. House and Senate Republicans, and some Democrats, sought hearings and briefings.
But as new information emerges, including the court’s release last week of the federal affidavit supporting the search and Tuesday’s Justice Department filing, it may make it more difficult for Trump’s allies to defend the former president and his team’s actions.
Some Republican supporters of Trump focused on the photograph of classified documents included as evidence in the Justice Department filing. Though the documents were shielded, the critics suggested if the information was so secret it should not have been publicly released. “You people are so bad at this,” tweeted Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., directing her criticism as much at Democrats and those sharing the image.
The risks of the heated rhetoric against the nation’s law enforcement have been been clear. A police shooting of a man who tried to breach the FBI’s Cincinnati field office showed the danger. FBI Director Christopher Wray criticized those attacking the agency and urged agents to be cautious in public.
Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump’s ability to dominate the political stage is welcomed by House Republicans who are relying on his presence to bolster voter enthusiasm and turnout as they try to win back majority control. Some have encouraged him to swiftly announce his own campaign to run again for the White House.
Senate Republicans, however, are growing concerned that Trump is stealing the focus away from what they would prefer to be an election referendum on President Joe Biden’s performance in the White House.
As Biden steps up his own efforts to help his party retain control of Congress, he is focusing on Trump-styled candidates in the Republican ranks, with a more aggressive tone and an emphasis on the risks to democracy that have become a motivating issue for Democrats.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, a former federal prosecutor, said the latest court filing was “devastating” for Trump.
“What is most striking are the facts outlining how the former president and his team knowingly put our national security at risk,” Schiff wrote on Twitter.
The congressman, who led Trump’s first impeachment, urged the Justice Department to continue its probe and “follow the facts.”
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Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
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More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
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| 2022-09-21T13:14:57Z
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Democrat Mary Peltola won the special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she was once governor.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. She will serve the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March.
“I don’t think there will be another birthday like today,” Peltola said.
“Really I’m just so grateful to Alaskans and all the Alaskans who put their faith in me to fill out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” she said in an interview. “My desire is to follow in Congressman Young’s legacy of representing all Alaskans, and I’m just looking forward to getting to work.”
Peltola’s victory, in Alaska’s first statewide ranked choice voting election, is a boon for Democrats, particularly coming off better-than-expected performances in special elections around the country this year following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking reelection in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later declared dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat.
Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican opponents — Palin and Begich’s grandson, also named Nick Begich — at times went after each other. Palin also railed against the ranked voting system, which was instituted by Alaska voters.
All three – Peltola, Palin and Begich – are candidates in the November general election, seeking a two-year term that would start in January.
The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, in line with the deadline for state elections officials to receive absentee ballots mailed from outside the U.S. Ranked choice tabulations took place Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first choice votes, with state elections officials livestreaming the event. Peltola was in the lead heading into the tabulations, followed by Palin and then Begich.
State elections officials plan to certify the election by Friday.
Alaska Democratic Party leaders cheered Peltola’s win.
“Alaskans have made clear they want a rational, steadfast, honest and caring voice speaking for them in Washington D.C., not opportunists and extremists associated with the Alaska Republican Party,” state Democratic party chair Michael Wenstrup said in a statement.
Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was looking to make a political comeback 14 years after she was vaulted onto the national stage when John McCain selected her to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. In her run for the House seat, she had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
After Peltola’s victory was announced, Palin called the ranked voting system “crazy, convoluted, confusing.”
“Though we’re disappointed in this outcome, Alaskans know I’m the last one who’ll ever retreat,” Palin said in a statement.
Begich in a statement congratulated Peltola while looking forward to the November election.
During the campaign, critics questioned Palin’s commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, partway through her term. Palin went on to become a conservative commentator on TV and appeared in reality television programs, among other pursuits.
Palin has insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she had “signed up for the long haul.”
Peltola, a former state lawmaker who most recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources on the Kuskokwim River, cast herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” she said.
Peltola has said she was hopeful that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected.
During the campaign, she emphasized her support of abortion rights and said she wanted to elevate issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she got a boost after the June special primary when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents who had been in the race. She said she believed her positive messaging also resonated with voters.
“It’s been very attractive to a lot of people to have a message of working together and positivity and holding each other up and unity and as Americans none of us are each other’s enemy,” she said. “That is just a message that people really need to hear right now.”
Alaska voters in 2020 approved an elections process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked voting is used in general elections.
Under ranked voting, ballots are counted in rounds. A candidate can win outright with more than 50% of the vote in the first round. If no one hits that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose that candidate as their top pick have their votes count for their next choice. Rounds continue until two candidates remain, and whoever has the most votes wins.
In Alaska, voters last backed a Democrat for president in 1964. The number of registered voters who are unaffiliated with a party is greater than the number of registered Republicans or Democrats combined, according to statistics from the Division of Elections.
The last Democratic member of Alaska’s congressional delegation was Mark Begich, Nick Begich’s uncle, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and lost his 2014 reelection bid.
Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, congratulated Peltola.
Murkowski said Peltola “has a long track record of public service to our great state.” Murkowski and Peltola were in the state Legislature together.
___
Follow AP coverage of 2022 Midterm Elections: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:04Z
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Stoked by the largest surplus in state history, Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature devised a $500 million plan to send one-time tax refunds to millions of households. In a shock to some, GOP Gov. Mike Parson vetoed it.
Parson’s objection: He wanted a bigger, longer-lasting tax cut.
“Now is the time for the largest income tax cut in our state’s history,” Parson declared as he called lawmakers back for a September special session to consider a $700 million permanent tax reduction.
Upon its likely approval, Missouri will join at least 32 states that already have enacted some type of tax cut or rebate this year — an astounding outpouring of billions of tax dollars back to the people. Idaho lawmakers are convening Thursday to consider more tax breaks, and Montana lawmakers also are weighing a special session for tax relief.
Flush with federal pandemic aid and their own surging tax revenue, states have cut income tax rates for individuals and businesses, expanded tax deductions for families and retirees, pared back property taxes, waived sales taxes on groceries and suspended motor fuel taxes to offset inflationary price spikes. Many also have provided immediate tax rebates.
Republicans and Democrats alike have joined the tax-cutting trend during a midterm election year.
Yet divisions have emerged about how far to go. While Democrats generally have favored targeted tax breaks and one-time rebates, some Republicans have pressed for permanent income tax rate reductions that could lower tax bills — and state revenue — for years to come. Parson describes it as “real, lasting relief.”
Some budget analysts warn that permanent tax cuts could strain states during a future recession. The U.S. economy has shrunk for two straight quarters this year, meeting one informal sign of a recession.
“Quite simply, relying on the current surplus to fund permanent tax changes isn’t fiscally sustainable, or responsible, and will ultimately require cuts to state services,” said Amy Blouin, president and CEO of the Missouri Budget Project, a nonprofit that analyzes fiscal policies.
For some states, the current surpluses are unlike anything they’ve previously seen.
The 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30 for most states, marked the second straight year of large growth in tax collections after economic shutdowns triggered declines early in the coronavirus pandemic. Many states reported their largest-ever surpluses, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.
“I don’t think there’s been a time in history where states are better equipped to ride out a potential recession,” said Timothy Vermeer, senior state tax policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “A majority, if not all, of the rainy day funds are in a really healthy position.”
Income tax rate cuts have passed in 13 states this year, already equaling last year’s historic total, according to the Tax Foundation. Republicans control the legislatures in all of those states except New York, where Democrats who wield power accelerated the timetable for a previously approved tax rate reduction.
Republican-led Arkansas was the most recent to take action during an August special session. A new law will speed up a gradual income tax rate reduction enacted last year and provide a one-time inflationary tax credit. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson described the $500 million package as “a transfer of wealth from the government to the taxpayer” that “could not have come at a more important time.”
Nationwide, inflation is at a 40-year-high, raising prices on most good and services and squeezing incomes.
At least 15 states have approved one-time rebates from their surpluses, including 10 led by Democratic governors and legislatures, four by Republicans and one — Virginia — with split partisan control.
Democratic-led California, which posted a record $97 billion surplus, is sending rebates of between $200 and $1,050 to individuals earning less than $250,000 annually and households earning less than $500,000.
All four GOP-controlled states providing rebates — Georgia, Indiana, Idaho and South Carolina — also made permanent income tax rate cuts.
Though often popular, tax rebates do little to fight inflation and “may actually be counterproductive” by enabling additional consumer spending on items in scarce supply and thus contributing to higher prices, said Hernan Moscoso Boedo, an economist at the University of Cincinnati.
Still, big surpluses coupled with inflation make rebates a tempting option for politicians, especially during an election year.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican facing a re-election challenge from Democrat Stacey Abrams, has been among the most aggressive tax-cutters. He signed legislation gradually reducing the income tax rate from 5.75% to 4.99%. He also signed a measure providing a $1.1 billion tax rebate, with up to $250 for individuals and $500 for couples. He has proposed an additional $2 billion in income and property tax rebates. And after a law temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax expired in May, Kemp extended the gas tax break through mid-September.
“We’re trying to help Georgians fight through this tough time,” Kemp said.
In Colorado, legislative staff estimate it will cost $2.7 million to carry out legislation expediting an income tax refund of $750 for individuals and $1,500 for couples. The constitutionally mandated refund of surplus revenue was originally due to be paid next year but is being distributed now — along with a letter from Democratic Gov. Jared Polis touting it as inflation relief.
Polis, who is up for re-election in November, had been a previous critic of the automatic refund provision. His Republican challenger, Heidi Ganahl, is accusing him of “hypocrisy.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, has called the Legislature back for a special session starting Thursday to consider more tax breaks.
He’s proposing to use part of the state’s projected $2 billion budget surplus for a $500 million income tax rebate this year. He also wants to cut more than $150 million annually by creating a flat 5.8% income tax rate starting next year. That comes after the state reduced the top tax rate each of the last two years.
“Folks, this is conservative governing in action,” Little said while asserting the tax cuts still would leave enough money to boost education funding by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Montana lawmakers are weighing whether to convene a special session later in September to provide tax breaks from a budget surplus. A proposal calls for giving $1,000 rebates to homeowners who paid property taxes during the past two years. It also would provide income tax rebates of $1,250 for individuals and $2,500 for couples.
Montana’s Republican House and Senate majority leaders said in a joint statement that the rebates would offer help “as soon as possible with expenses such as gas, groceries, school supplies and so much more.” But some lawmakers, including term-limited GOP Rep. Frank Garner, have expressed reluctance.
“My first concern is if this proposal is driven by an imminent emergency or by those wanting to write checks to voters because their emergency is merely an imminent election,” Garner wrote in an opinion column.
___
Associated Press writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Jim Anderson and Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark.; Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Mont.; and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:12Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly two years after he defeated Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has some unfinished business he’s aiming to settle with the restive forces of Trumpism.
The president is set to use a primetime address Thursday to frame the upcoming midterm elections as part of an ongoing battle for the “soul of the nation” — a reprise of his 2020 campaign theme that he’s now using to cast the current stakes in as dire terms as those that sent him to the Oval Office two years ago.
Biden, who largely avoided even referring to “the former guy” by name during his first year in office, has grown increasingly vocal in calling out Trump personally, which White House officials say reflects the urgency with which he views the threat of Trump and his devotees.
His speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, less than 10 weeks before the midterms, comes as Biden is feeling emboldened by a series of legislative wins. He is sharpening his attacks on Republicans as the “ultra-MAGA” party — a reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan — that opposes his agenda, embraces conservative ideological proposals and spreads Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election.
“What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,” Biden told Democrats at a Maryland fundraiser last week. “It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism.”
In his Thursday address, White House officials said, Biden will hark back to the 2017 white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, which he says brought him out of political retirement to challenge Trump. He’ll argue that the country faces a similar crossroads in the coming months.
“The president thinks that there is an extremist threat to our democracy,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday. “It’s not stopping. It’s continuing.”
Biden allies stressed that while the president was set to condemn “ultra-MAGA” Republicans, he was not rejecting the entirety of the GOP and would use his remarks to call on traditional Republicans to join him in condemning Trump and his adherents. Still, he faces a balancing act, as more than 74 million Americans voted for Trump in 2020.
“I respect conservative Republicans,” Biden said last week. “I don’t respect these MAGA Republicans.”
Larry Diamond, an expert on democracy and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, said Biden faces a difficult situation as he confronts Trump. Calling him out for attacks on democracy “can be manipulated or framed as being partisan. And if you don’t call it out, you are shrinking from an important challenge in the defense of democracy.”
“Wishing it away, or shrinking away from the challenge out of fear of appearing partisan will do no good in my view,” he said. “The threats are too grave and too imminent.”
Even this week, Trump was posting on his beleaguered social media platform about overturning the 2020 election results and holding a new presidential election, which would violate the Constitution.
Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University, said it’s not unusual for there to be tension between a president and his successor, but it’s “unprecedented for a former president to be actively trying to undermine the U.S. Constitution.”
“The challenge that President Biden faces is to get on with his agenda while still doing what he needs to uphold the Constitution,” Naftali said. “That’s not easy.”
The White House has assiduously tried to keep the president removed from the legal and political maelstrom surrounding the Department of Justice’s discovery of classified documents in Trump’s Florida home. Biden has taken advantage of some Republicans’ reflexive condemnation of federal law enforcement.
“You can’t be pro-law enforcement and pro-insurrection,” Biden said Tuesday in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. “I’m opposed to defunding the police,” he added. “I’m also opposed to defunding the FBI.”
Biden’s appearance is being billed as an official, taxpayer-funded event, a mark of how the president views defeating the Trump agenda as much as a policy aim as a political one. The major broadcast television networks are not expected to carry the address live.
Jean-Pierre said Biden was holding the event in prime time because he believes “we need to save the core values of our of our country.”
“They just don’t respect the rule of law,” she said of “MAGA Republicans.” “And they are pursuing an agenda that takes away people’s rights.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced he would speak in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday afternoon on “Biden’s assault on the soul of America,” accusing the president of planning to “continue to disparage hard-working Americans.”
” Joe Biden is the divider-in-chief and epitomizes the current state of the Democrat Party: one of divisiveness, disgust, and hostility towards half the country,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
Biden’s trip to Philadelphia will be one of three presidential visits to the state within a week, a sign of its importance in the midterms, with competitive Senate and governor’s races. Trump will have a rally there this weekend.
The White House hopes to use the Philadelphia speech to unite familiar themes of Biden’s presidency under one banner: holding out bipartisan legislative wins on guns and infrastructure as evidence that democracies “can deliver,” pushing back on “extreme” GOP policies on guns and abortion that are out of step with most people’s views, and rejecting efforts to undermine confidence in the nation’s election or diminish its standing abroad.
“The contrast is clear, While the MAGA wing has really focused on weakening the guardrails of our democracy to undermine the will of the people, the president is fighting to defend our democracy, while also delivering real results for working families,” said Danielle Melfi, executive director of Building Back Together, which coordinates messaging among Democratic groups on behalf of the White House.
Biden, she said, was expected to “lay out how that contrast ripples across every issue top of mind for voters” from abortion to guns to ensuring American elections remain free and fair.
The challenges to democracy have only multiplied since the tumult surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
Lies surrounding the 2020 election have triggered a wave of harassment and death threats against state and local election officials and new restrictions on mail voting in Republican-dominated states. County election officials have faced pressure to ban the use of voting equipment, efforts generated by conspiracy theories that voting machines were somehow manipulated to steal the election.
Candidates who dispute Trump’s loss have been inspired to run for state and local election posts, promising to restore integrity to a system that has been undermined by false claims and conspiracy theories. Some have claimed widespread fraud and supported efforts to decertify Biden’s win.
There is no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines. Judges, including ones appointed by Trump, dismissed dozens of lawsuits filed after the election and Trump’s own attorney general has called the claims bogus. Yet AP-NORC polling has shown about two-thirds of Republicans say they do not think Biden was legitimately elected president in 2020.
Heading into the November midterms, election officials face not only the threat of foreign interference but also ransomware, politically motivated hackers and insider threats. Over the last year, security breaches have been reported at a small number of local election offices in which authorities are investigating whether office staff improperly accessed or provided improper access to sensitive voting technology.
___
AP writer Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:20Z
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Behind a closed chapel office door inside a federal women’s prison in California, a chaplain forced inmates seeking his spiritual guidance to have sex with him, exploiting their faith and their powerlessness behind bars for his own gratification, prosecutors said.
James Theodore Highhouse was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison — more than double the recommended punishment in federal sentencing guidelines. U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. said the guidelines, which call for a sentence of less than three years, “seriously underestimate the seriousness” of Highhouse’s conduct.
“It’s hard to come up with the right words to describe how egregious an abuse of these victims this was,” Gilliam said.
Highhouse is among five workers charged in the last 14 months with sexually abusing inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, and the first to reach the sentencing phase of his case.
Highhouse, wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, spoke briefly in federal court in Oakland and apologized to the women he harmed. Gilliam ordered him to begin his prison sentence on Nov. 2, allowing him to remain free on bail until then. Highhouse must register as a sex offender once he’s released from prison, Gilliam said.
Highhouse, who was arrested in January and pleaded guilty in February, would tell women he abused at the Bay Area lockup, that everyone in the Bible had sex and that God wanted them to be together, prosecutors said.
An Army veteran, he pressured one inmate into intercourse on Veterans Day by telling her she needed to serve her country and on Thanksgiving by telling her she needed to show her gratitude for him, prosecutors said.
While Highhouse, 49, was charged only with abusing one inmate and lying to authorities, prosecutors say he engaged in predatory conduct with at least six women from 2014 to 2019 — including one he counseled at a veterans hospital where he worked before joining the federal Bureau of Prisons, where allegations were routinely ignored.
“Highhouse ruined my life — he truly did,” one inmate said in a victim impact statement. “I don’t even go to Church anymore because of him. I have no trust in the Church and really, I don’t trust anyone because of what he did.”
Highhouse, enabled by a toxic culture of abuse and coverups at the prison, warned victims not to report him, telling one of them “no one will believe you because you’re an inmate, and I’m a chaplain,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
At the same time, prosecutors wrote, a prison counselor would rail about inmates “snitching” on employees, suggesting they instead “tell Trump about it,” referring to then-President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison sentence. His lawyers asked for two years, the low end of the federal guidelines, which called for a sentence of 24 to 30 months. Gilliam’s seven-year sentence matched the recommendation of probation officers who conducted Highhouse’s pre-sentence investigation.
“Within our corrections system, chaplains are supposed to provide hope and spiritual guidance,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. “Instead, this chaplain abused his authority and betrayed the public trust.”
In their sentencing memorandum, Highhouse’s lawyers noted that he served as an Army chaplain in Iraq and Afghanistan, is seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and cares for his elderly mother after his father’s death this year. He has no prior criminal history, they wrote.
All sexual activity between a prison worker and an inmate is illegal. Correctional employees enjoy substantial power over inmates, controlling every aspect of their lives from mealtime to lights out, and there is no scenario in which an inmate can give consent.
Earlier this year, an Associated Press investigation revealed years of sexual misconduct at FCI Dublin, including allegations against the prison’s former warden. The AP also detailed steps that were taken to keep abuse secret, such as ignoring allegations, retaliating against whistleblowers and sending prisoners to solitary confinement or other prisons for reporting abuse.
After the AP’s reporting, a task force of senior federal prison officials descended on Dublin, meeting with staff and inmates and pledging to fix problems and change the culture. On Wednesday, Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters visited Dublin for an update.
The four other charged Dublin employees are at various stages of their cases.
The former warden, Ray J. Garcia, was arraigned Wednesday on a superseding indictment charging him with abusing two additional inmates, for a total of seven counts involving three victims. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in November.
Enrique Chavez, a food service foreman, is expected to plead guilty on Sept. 14. Ross Klinger, a recycling technician, pleaded guilty in February but has yet to be sentenced. John Russell Bellhouse, a prison safety administrator, is scheduled to stand trial next June.
Highhouse pleaded guilty on Feb. 23 to two counts of sexual abuse of a ward, two counts of abusive sexual contact and one count of making false statements to federal agents.
All of the charges stem from allegations Highhouse repeatedly abused a female prisoner over a nine-month span in 2018 and 2019.
That woman said in a victim impact statement that she cried herself to sleep after testifying before a grand jury about Highhouse’s abuse.
“I felt so lost, hopeless, worthless, and betrayal and truly do not know what to do or who to talk to about my problems,” the woman wrote.
The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission.
Other allegations against Highhouse, previously kept quiet by Dublin officials, came to light during the investigation, prosecutors said.
Two inmates said Highhouse claimed to them that he was a sex therapist, asked graphic questions about their sex lives and offered to let them have sex in his office, prosecutors said. One of them said Highhouse leered at her when she got out of the shower and had a reputation as a “predator.”
Another inmate told investigators that she avoided Highhouse after he made suggestive remarks during a counseling session, such as suggesting that the commissary sell sex toys.
In May, an inmate now incarcerated at another federal prison facility reported that Highhouse raped her multiple times in his chapel office after she sought him out for counseling, prosecutors said.
“He took my ability to sleep at night and he took my ability to trust in the Church,” the inmate wrote in a victim impact statement. “I would never go back to Church. I’m constantly on alert. He played on my vulnerability and took advantage of me — I have nightmares.”
The inmate said that she attempted to report the abuse but that when she did, a prison officer shrugged and reminded her that she would soon be transferring out of Dublin.
“To me the BOP is an epic fail in terms of the way they handle PREA,” the inmate wrote, referring to the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act. “The system is flawed and broken.” ___
On Twitter, follow Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:28Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia is suffering “severe manpower shortages” in its 6-month-old war with Ukraine and has become more desperate in its efforts to find new troops to send to the front lines, according to a new American intelligence finding disclosed Wednesday.
Russia is looking to address the shortage of troops in part by compelling soldiers wounded earlier in the war to return to combat, recruiting personnel from private security companies and even recruiting from prisons, according to a U.S. official who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss the downgraded intelligence finding.
The official added that the intelligence community has determined that one step that Russia’s Defense Ministry is expected to take soon is recruiting convicted criminals to enlist “in exchange for pardons and financial compensation.”
The U.S. government highlighted its finding as Russian President Vladimir Putin last week ordered the Russian military to increase the number of troops by 137,000 to a total of 1.15 million.
Putin’s decree, which takes effect on Jan. 1, didn’t specify whether the military would beef up its ranks by drafting a bigger number of conscripts, increasing the number of volunteer soldiers or using a combination of both. But some Russian military analysts predicted it would rely heavily on volunteers, a cautious stand reflecting the Kremlin’s concerns about possible fallout from an attempt to increase the draft.
The presidential decree aims to boost the overall number of Russian military personnel to 2,039,758, including 1,150,628 troops. A previous order put the military’s numbers at 1,902,758 and 1,013,628, respectively, at the start of 2018.
Colin Kahl, the U.S. Defense Department undersecretary for policy, told reporters earlier in August that the U.S. estimates Russia took heavy casualties in the first months of the war.
“There’s a lot of fog in war, but I think it’s safe to suggest that the Russians have probably taken 70 or 80,000 casualties in the less than six months,” Kahl said. “Now, that is a combination of killed in action and wounded in action and that number might be a little lower, a little higher, but I think that’s kind of in the ballpark.”
The U.S. has frequently downgraded and unveiled intelligence findings over the course of the grinding war to highlight plans for Russian misinformation operations or to throw attention on Moscow’s difficulties in prosecuting its war against Ukraine, whose smaller military has put up a stiff resistance against the militarily superior Russian forces.
The Biden administration unveiled findings earlier this week that Russia has faced technical problems with Iranian-made drones acquired from Tehran this month for use in its war with Ukraine.
Russia picked up Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles over several days this month as part what the Biden administration says is likely part of a Russian plan to acquire hundreds of Iranian UAVs for use in Ukraine.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that Russia has been having “some difficulties” and experiencing “the limits on some of the capabilities” of the Iranian drones since receiving them.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:35Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to make getting a COVID-19 booster as routine as going in for the yearly flu shot.
That’s at the heart of its campaign to sell the newly authorized shot to an American public that has widely rejected COVID-19 boosters since they first became available last fall.
Shots of the updated boosters, specifically designed by Pfizer and Moderna to respond to the omicron strain, could begin within days. U.S. health advisers recommended today that most Americans get the modified doses and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to adopt those recommendations. The U.S. government has already begun shipping some of the 170 million shots it purchased and is emphasizing that everyone will have free access to the booster.
White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said this latest round of shots will offer protection during the busy cold and flu season, with the hope of transitioning people to get the vaccine yearly. Typically, at least half of U.S. adults get a flu shot.
“We expect them to provide more durable protection over time,” Jha said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “The goal very much is to get to a point where people get their COVID shot on a regular basis, the way they do their flu shot.”
Community health workers in North Carolina, home to the country’s lowest COVID-19 booster rate, like the strategy, especially because of confusion among some people about vaccine schedules.
“I believe in keeping things simple,” said Marty Stamey, an outreach coordinator for the Mountain Area Health Education Center in western North Carolina. “I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘I think I’ll just wait and try to do it like the flu shots.’”
The White House plan also relies in part on local health departments, providers and community groups to reach out and encourage people to get the updated booster. Pharmacies, health providers and state or local health departments are preparing to send text messages to millions of people that will encourage them to get a booster this fall, White House officials said.
Jha said he recommends most Americans get the booster by the end of October.
Still, this latest vaccination campaign faces several challenges.
A majority of Americans got their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine when it was released last year but they’ve been more reluctant to get a booster jab, with less than half getting their first booster since it became available late last year.
Congress also has not moved forward on President Joe Biden’s $22.5 billion request earlier this year for the COVID-19 response. Republicans criticized the request, pointing to the $1.9 trillion already spent on responding to the pandemic. Running short on funds, the government announced it would stop shipping COVID-19 tests to people’s homes after Friday.
And COVID-19 funding is drying up for many of the community groups that received millions of federal tax dollars to hire workers who spent months reaching deep into neighborhoods with door knocks, mobile vaccine clinics and posters encouraging people to inoculate against COVID-19.
White House officials say those local leaders deserve a lot of credit for stamping out misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and convincing many around the country that the shot will protect them.
“Those are the really critical messengers,” Jha said.
That on-the-ground work has been crucial to getting people vaccinated in the rural, Spanish- and Haitian-speaking communities that the Migrant Clinicians Network has reached throughout Texas, California and Maryland with its $8.5 million federal grant.
“Simply having the vaccines available is one thing, but getting the shots in the arms is another,” said Amy Liebman, a chief program officer for the nonprofit group.
Some of those local health organizations, too, are now stretched as they work to get low vaccination rates among children under 12 up. Only a third of 5- to 11-year-olds received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since becoming eligible late last year. Meanwhile, just 7% of children under 5 have gotten a first dose since it was made available this summer.
Dr. Niharika Khanna at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has just started making progress on convincing new mothers that the vaccine is safe and effective for their babies.
Her program, which has hired more than 269 health workers and administered more than 12,000 vaccinations and boosters across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, isn’t quite ready to transition back to pushing COVID-19 boosters.
“All of these people, all of these relationships we’ve carefully cultivated are at risk for falling apart,” Khanna said. “Today if you were to say to me switch to booster, I’d say no. I need another two to three weeks to really get these people going.”
___
AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:43Z
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Republican secretary of state hopeful wants lawmakers to hand the office control over elections, but she won’t say how much authority she wants or whether her duties should include unilaterally certifying presidential winners in the key battleground state.
Amy Loudenbeck, a state representative from south-central Wisconsin, wants to unseat long-time Democratic incumbent Doug La Follette in November. The Legislature has spent the last few decades stripping La Follette of almost all his responsibilities. Loudenbeck wants to restore some of them, including taking over election oversight from a bipartisan commission.
Republicans who control Wisconsin’s Legislature passed bills this year making it more difficult to vote absentee and imposing restrictions on election administration, only to have Democratic Gov. Tony Evers veto them. In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Loudenbeck repeatedly declined to explain how much control over elections she wants or how she thinks elections should be administered, saying Republicans who control the Legislature would decide what responsibilities to give her.
“This isn’t a power grab,” Loudenbeck said. “The Legislature should explore a wide range of policy options to utilize this constitutional office that is directly accountable to voters and look at what other states are doing and talk about restoring some traditional responsibilities, including election oversight, if appropriate, to the office.”
La Follette, the secretary of state since 1983, said Loudenbeck is “trying to be cleverly vague.”
“I’d call it very politically motivated as to what she’d really do,” he said. “She’s trying to avoid facing her true positions on issues. I’m worried what they really are.”
La Follette does not support giving control over elections to the secretary of state and is campaigning on keeping his office’s responsibilities unchanged. All he does is issue travel documents and serve on a timber board.
The secretary of state is the chief elections official in 38 states, according to the National Association of State Election Directors. Elections oversight in Wisconsin falls to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a panel of three Democrats and three Republicans created by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2016.
The commission frequently deadlocks and has taken intense criticism from Republicans who want to replace it, including GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels.
Former President Donald Trump has turned his eye toward secretary of state offices as he considers a 2024 presidential run. Trump called Georgia’s GOP secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, in 2020 asking him to “find” enough votes to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in that state. Raffensperger refused. He withstood a Trump-backed challenger in his primary this year, but Trump-endorsed secretary of state candidates won primaries in the key swing states of Arizona and Michigan.
Trump narrowly lost Wisconsin to Biden by about 21,000 votes in 2020. Trump continues to call for decertifying his loss, falsely claiming that election fraud cost him the state even though multiple reviews and recounts have confirmed Biden’s victory. Republican legislative leaders have refused to attempt to decertify his loss, a move that several attorneys and legal experts have dismissed as unconstitutional and impossible.
Loudenbeck has been vague about whether she believes Biden is the legitimate president, saying only that the U.S. Senate certified the election results and Biden was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 2021. She also has been vague about her views on election fraud, telling AP that questions about the election must be answered and that the government has an obligation to ensure the elections system is secure. She conceded that decertifying Biden’s victory “is not an option.”
Democrats fear that if Loudenbeck becomes secretary of state in Wisconsin she would certify that Trump or another Republican candidate has won the state in 2024, regardless of the actual result. She told the AP she would reject a call from Trump or any other Republican candidate asking her to tip the scales in the GOP’s favor.
“If clerks and all the poll workers are following the law, there shouldn’t be any question at the end,” she said. “If people think that individuals were illegally casting ballots, then they should go to their sheriff or their (district attorney) or their clerk and figure that out. You can’t just find more ballots.”
A lot would have to happen before Loudenbeck would find herself in position to affect the outcome of an election.
She would have to defeat La Follette, who crushed his Democratic primary opponent despite spending almost no money on the race and taking an African safari in the middle of the campaign.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos would have to allow GOP lawmakers to shift considerable election duties to Loudenbeck. Vos has said he supports the commission and opposes giving the secretary of state election powers.
And Michels would have to defeat Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, putting himself in position to sign oversight legislation into law. Michels has said he wants to revamp the elections commission with members from the state’s eight congressional districts.
Loudenbeck said she would try to persuade Vos to give the office election responsibilities — even though she wouldn’t say what they should be — by convincing him that the election commission is a “failed experiment” and an elected official accountable to the people should run the polls.
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Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1
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VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Rx Networks, the dedicated North American distribution team for Unicore Communications, is pleased to announce the release of the next generation High-precision GNSS modules from Unicore. Based on the new NebulasIVTM SoC the UM960/980/982 and UT986 products offer all-constellation multi-frequency high-precision RTK positioning and/or heading capabilities.
Available in a small footprint with low-power consumption, these affordable modules are ideally suited for use in reference stations, survey/mapping, precision agriculture, heading applications, machine control, drones and robotics, vehicle navigation, precision timing, and more.
Rx Networks is a key supplier of high accuracy services and assistance data to a growing list of GNSS hardware manufacturers. As high precision GNSS becomes ubiquitous, those seeking precise positioning solutions can now have Unicore GNSS Hardware enlightened with Rx Networks data services.
Cameron Baird, Head of Business Development, GNSS Hardware, says "We are pleased to be bringing this new leading GNSS Technology into the Americas. With further product miniaturization coupled with added performance, features and functionality, Unicore GNSS technology is well suited for all precision GNSS applications. Please visit us at ION-GNSS+ (Denver, USA) from Sept 21-22 booth 108 or at Intergeo (Essen, Germany) from Oct. 18-20 booth F2.033."
Contact us at unicore@rxnetworks.com for more details on how Rx Networks can assist with your precision GNSS hardware needs.
Rx Networks provides reliable, timely, and relevant location information that strengthens the connection between people, devices, and businesses by improving the GNSS experience and creating enhanced opportunities for next-generation products and services.
Leading semiconductor vendors, device manufacturers and network operators have relied on Rx Networks for their GNSS correction needs since 2006. Today, billions of devices access Rx Networks' GNSS data services to establish smart and reliable positioning, every day.
Location. Enlightened.™
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Rx Networks Inc.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday warned that a failure to place a price cap on Russian oil would hurt the global economy.
“Without a price cap, we face the threat of a global energy price spike if the majority of Russian energy production gets shut in,” Yellen said at the start of a meeting with her British counterpart, Nadhim Zahawi.
The European Union has decided to ban nearly all oil from Russia by the end of the year. It also will ban insuring and financing the maritime transport of Russian oil to other countries. Unless a price cap is implemented, prices will almost certainly spike.
The U.K. and other Group of Seven countries tentatively agreed in June to pursue a ceiling on the price of Russian oil. Getting as many other nations as possible to agree to join a buyers’ cartel has been one of Treasury’s main objectives as it seeks to curb Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine.
Yellen said there has been “substantial progress” toward making the price cap a reality and she was optimistic it would happen.
Zawahi, who became chancellor of the Exchequer on July 5, said Britain intends to “influence key nations” to join the plan.
The Kremlin’s main pillar of financial revenue — oil — has kept the Russian economy afloat despite export bans, sanctions and the freezing of central bank assets.
Limiting the price would reduce the Kremlin’s income from oil, and a cap would encourage the country to continue producing, Treasury officials have said. World leaders fear that Russia could, however, constrict its energy supply in retaliation, causing prices to spike.
Yellen said a price cap also would limit the impact of higher oil prices on inflation in consuming countries, with the cost of gasoline and diesel still squeezing consumers and businesses hard, especially in Europe.
To be effective, participating countries would have to collectively agree to purchase the oil at a lower-than-market price.
China and India, two countries that have largely resisted signing onto efforts to punish the Kremlin and have maintained business relationships with Russia during the war, will need to get on board.
Zawahi said “there is obviously some more to be done and we’re ready to work in particular to persuade more countries to support the measure,” citing India, Turkey, South Africa and others as possible participants.
Treasury leaders have been visiting allies and neutral parties in the war to call for their participation, even if informally.
Yellen traveled to the Indo-Pacific in July and Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo met with government ministers and business leaders in India in mid-August, in part to push for the price cap.
The Biden administration is keeping a close eye on the progress of the talks.
“We believe it’s not only an idea worth exploring, it’s an idea worth implementing,” John Kirby, a national security spokesman, told reporters Wednesday. “And we look forward to hearing what the finance ministers say at the end of the week.”
__
Associated Press reporter Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
__
Follow AP’s coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine at
https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
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| 2022-09-21T13:15:58Z
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Low-income and minority neighborhoods often bear the worst impacts of climate change and pollution, but lawmakers are aiming to address those issues through funding in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, “there are communities that are suffering from pollution disproportionately.” This is because polluting industries often border low-income and minority neighborhoods.
Regan says the Inflation Reduction Act dedicates about $60 billion to climate justice projects to address the problem.
“We will deploy those resources to communities on the ground that are grappling currently with the impacts of climate change,” Regan said.
The money will be split up into three major categories: Fighting pollution, access to affordable clean energy and building resiliency to climate change.
Block grants will be available for communities to fight pollution and the government will do more to monitor and address emissions from places like airports, railyards and ports.
“We need to make sure those investments are prioritized in communities that have been overburdened by energy costs and fossil fuel pollution,” said David Smedick, with non-profit RMI which focuses on clean energy and sustainability.
A greenhouse gas reduction fund will be used to accelerate production of green energy — largely in disadvantaged communities.
The environmental justice plan will also improve quality of life and resiliency by restoring coastal habitats, and forests, along with creating new green spaces in urban areas.
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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Several live lizards were wrongly delivered to a residence in a village north of New York City.
“Needless to say the addressee was quite startled when they opened the box,” Port Chester police wrote on Facebook.
Police received the call about the reptiles just after noon on Saturday. They posted a picture on Sunday of three dark-colored lizards held in a large white container. It was not immediately clear whether there were more reptiles not pictured.
“If you lost your lizards and iguanas we have them at the police department,” police wrote.
They said they held the animals until a local animal sanctuary could pick them up for safekeeping.
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Thrissur: An ayurvedic doctor, who is also a Youtuber, vlogger and singer is going to be the next head priest or 'melshanti' of Kerala's famous Guruvayur temple here.
Thirty-four-year-old Dr Kiran Anand Kakkad, hailing from a long line of priests and who was practising ayurvedic medicine in a Russian Ayurveda clinic in Moscow for six years, was selected as the next melshanti of Guruvayur temple last week by a draw of lots.
He will assume charge from next month onwards for a period of six months after which a new melshanti would replace him.
"It is by God's grace, His blessings, that I have had this fortune," Kiran said.
However, before he could even apply for the position he had to first undergo several 'pariharas' and pujas "to nullify the bad or evil effects on our body while we are abroad", he said.
According to customs, those going to foreign lands are not permitted to be part of the temple rituals or activities in the belief that their bodies would have suffered some evil effects since it would be difficult to perform 'nityakarmas' while abroad, he said.
'Nityakarmas' are rituals that Hindus have to perform every day.
"The solution to that is to perform some rituals or 'pariharas' to nullify the evil effects on your return.
"I was performing pujas even while in Russia, but I underwent the 'parihara' pujas on my return to India," he said.
On being asked why he left a successful six-year-long career in Russia, Anand said that it was as per his father's wishes.
"I am a hereditary priest. My father is a priest too. We are one of the four othikkan families in Guruvayur temple.
"So as my father was getting old, he asked me to return, to take over the othikkan duties. So I came back," he said.
Othikkans are a category of priests who perform daily rituals, like 'abhisheka' or pantheeradi puja, in the temple, he said.
Besides taking over from his father, he also had plans to open an ayurvedic clinic.
With him being appointed as melshanti, his clinic plans have been shelved for now as during his six-month-long tenure, he will be inside the temple all the time.
"I cannot even go home," he said and added that after the new melshanti takes over he can go back to his daily routines and ayurvedic practice.
Anand, who was taught the various prayers, rituals and Vedas from a very young age, is also trained in Carnatic music and the 'mridangam' - a percussion instrument.
"I received training in music from four gurus," he said.
On why he opted for ayurvedic medicine, he has an interesting story to tell. "I think it is my destiny. My parents underwent a specific ayurvedic treatment regime called Pumsavana for having a male child. "My maternal uncle had knowledge of medicines and treatment which could make that happen. As I was born subsequent to such an ayurvedic treatment, I wanted to make it my profession," he said.
At the same time, he did not give up on his passion for music and incorporated it too into his profession.
Therefore, besides being a panchkarma specialist, he is also a music therapist, he said. Apart from music therapy, he has sung in music albums, cover songs and also manages a YouTube channel along with his wife, also an ayurvedic doctor.
On his YouTube channel, you can find songs sung by the couple, their travel video logs, their experiences in Russia, and health-related tips.
Anand, who went to Russia right after his marriage and took his wife along a year after that, said that initially, it was tough adjusting to the severe cold climate there which persisted for more than half of the year.
"But there was an unexploited and pristine beauty there and I soon got accustomed to the weather," he said.
As there were Indians, especially Malayalis, at the Russian ayurvedic clinic and a cafe which served vegetable fare, "it all had a homely feel to it".
"However, finding vegetables was not easy and we had to go to the big markets to get it," Anand said.
Now that he is back home and a melshanti, his family is overjoyed, he said.
"Once the six months are over, I will be a othikkan again. I can go about my daily routines, go home, run my clinic and perform the daily rituals and pujas," Anand said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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What’s the best laptop hard-shell case?
A laptop isn’t just a convenience. For many, it’s their primary way of doing business, staying in contact with friends and family, and watching streaming content. It’s a portable lifeline to the outside world.
That makes it a valuable asset that must be protected against damage. If you don’t want to carry it around in a bulky laptop backpack, there are other options for keeping it safe.
A laptop sleeve is a good choice, but it only prevents damage when the gadget is inside. A better alternative is a hard-shell case, such as the B Belk Hard-Shell Case for MacBook Air 13-Inch.
What to know before you buy a laptop hard- shell case
The protection you require
Hard-shell cases use one of two systems. Consider the protection level you require, depending on how you handle your laptop and where you use it most.
- Most common: These hard-shell cases comprise two solid plastic parts that clip onto the laptop’s lid and underside. There is a less protective version of this case, where a plastic frame clips onto the corners, exposing a portion of the surface.
- More rugged: These resemble a laptop sleeve. However, when the zipper is fully opened, the laptop opens with it. It’s often held in place through elastic straps and provides great protection against drops and bumps.
It could block ventilation
Laptops, just like any computer, generate a lot of heat. As the fans spin to cool the components, they push out the hot air through slits on the sides and underneath. The laptop can overheat if the case blocks any ventilation slots. The case might have a universal design, so check where the slits on your laptop are and that they match up with the case.
Made for your model
Several companies make Windows-based laptops, and it’s rare to find two models that are the size dimensions. Depending on the screen size, keyboard layout and overall thickness, a hard-shell case should be specific to your computer. (This is less a problem for MacBook users, as models often are the same size across several years.)
So even if the case seems to fit, you must ensure that the clips are in the right position. If you get the wrong case, it could prevent the lid from opening completely, or it might not fit at all.
What to look for in a quality laptop hard-shell case
Access to all the ports
Preventing damage is excellent, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of functionality. A good-quality hard-shell laptop case exposes all the USB and HDMI ports so you can carry on with your business. You don’t want to struggle plugging in a thumb drive or need to unclip the case halfway.
Solid materials
The primary objective is to keep your laptop in the best possible condition. That means your protection must be able to take a beating without compromising the computer. A good-quality hard-shell case is made from robust materials that won’t shatter upon the slightest impact. Ideally, you want the case to crack instead. This transfers the impact’s shock across the surface of the case, not down into the laptop.
A good-quality case is like an airbag. It’s both of their jobs to take on the stress, even if that means getting destroyed.
Additional protection
Get more bang for your buck with a case that includes a screen protector or a keyboard cover.
- Screen protector: The thin film goes over your laptop’s display to reduce the appearance of fingerprints and helps to prevent tiny cracks.
- Keyboard cover: It’s typically made from soft rubber or fabric and protects the keys from dust and debris.
How much you can expect to spend on a laptop hard-shell case
Basic ones made from plastic cost $10-$20, depending on which laptop they are made for. A case with more protection, made from rugged materials, runs $30-$40.
Laptop hard-shell case FAQ
How do you clean a hard-shell case?
A. The cases are easy to clean. Just wipe them down with a lukewarm cloth after you’ve removed the laptop.
Are they difficult to put on?
A. Typically, they are easy to put on, but that depends on the model. However, most are held in place through several clips.
What’s the best laptop hard-shell case to buy?
Top laptop hard-shell case
B Belk Hard-Shell Case for MacBook Air 13-Inch
What you need to know: This case is compatible with the 2018-2020 13-inch MacBook Air with Touch ID and retina display.
What you’ll love: In addition to the elegant matte black, several other colors can transform your MacBook’s look. The case is a two-piece system that clips onto the display and the underside. There are enough slits for sufficient ventilation, and it comes with two keyboard covers and a screen protector.
What you should consider: Although they are roughly the same size, this cover isn’t compatible with the MacBook Air that uses the MagSafe charging cable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top laptop hard-shell case for the money
mCover iPearl Hard-Shell Case for Dell 15.6-Inch XPS 15
What you need to know: To ensure your laptop doesn’t overheat, this case has two fold-out legs that prop it up on a surface.
What you’ll love: You can choose from several colors to give your grey laptop a pop of color. The shell is made from high-quality polycarbonate plastic and has reinforced corners for maximum drop protection.
What you should consider: It only fits on the Dell XPS 15 9550 series laptop and isn’t compatible with any other XPS models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
MaxCases Extreme Shell Case for Microsoft Surface Pro
What you need to know: This is an excellent choice if you need the most rugged protection for your Microsoft Surface.
What you’ll love: Compatible with Microsoft Surface Pro models 5, 6 and 7, this case has a dual-layer system with a translucent polycarbonate shell on the outside. It also has shock-absorbing corners and exposes all the ports for easy access.
What you should consider: Due to the protection and how it’s made, this case can be challenging to put on.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Kochi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra which is currently passing through Kerala hit the wrong note on Wednesday as it reached Aluva in Ernakulam district as a portrait of right-wing ideologue Veer Savarkar was found adorning a banner among several other figures from India's Freedom Movement.
The banner at Aluva put up by Congress workers ahead of Rahul Gandhi's arrival here has an image of Savarkar between Govind Ballabh Pant and Chandra Shekhar Azad (mistakenly written in the banner as Chander).
The Savarkar photo quickly made rounds on social media much to the delight of BJP trolls. When notified of the goof-up, Congress workers rushed to the spot to pin Mahatma Gandhi's poster over Savarkar's portrait. However, the damage was already done.
Suresh, the Indian National Trade Union Congress's president of the Chengamanad constituency, was suspended from the party for the bungle.
The official explanation from the Congress is that the banner was put up by a local activist and that neither the party nor the Yatra team had anything to do with it.
Apparently, the activist had directed the local printer to adorn the banner with portraits of freedom fighters but failed to instruct to use only images of Congress leaders.
Savarkar is touted to be the pioneering proponent of Hindutva, i.e., the Hindu nationalist political ideology that fuels India's right-wing organisations that are hostile to the Congress.
It was also found that Savarkar's portrait also adorned a campaign board set up at Athani junction where Rahul Gandhi was slated to halt during the Yatra on Thursday.
Amid criticism from rivals, including Kerala's ruling party CPM, senior Congress leaders took to social media to offer a counterpunch.
Among them were All-India Congress Committee general secretary Jairam Ramesh who reminded the CPM that it was in fact the latter who joined ranks with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to prop up VP Singh's coalition government at the Centre in the late 1980s.
Ramesh further added that the banner row is unlikely to disrupt the Yatra or taint its agenda.
Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is seen by many as an attempt to revitalise the party and unite it for a full-fledged attack against the BJP ahead of the 2024 polls.
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Which slipper chair is best?
Are you trying to decide what seating to go with for your home? Slipper chairs are accent chairs that are versatile, fun and often convenient for smaller spaces. They’re armless, low to the ground and upholstered for comfort. With short legs and a high back, they’re typically medium-sized chairs that tend to be less bulky than sofa chairs. For the best of both fashion and comfort, check out the Lark Manor Burchfield Wide Tufted Linen Slipper Chair.
What to know before you buy a slipper chair
Dimensions
Similar to many dining chairs, slipper chairs are high-backed and armless. The most important dimensions are how high they are off the ground and how wide they are. Slipper chairs don’t tend to be very big, but these measurements can make the difference between the chair fitting under a table or being big enough to be a stand-alone chair.
Materials
Popular materials for the main body of slipper chairs include:
- Leather: Upholstered leather is timeless, handsome and classic. It’s also durable and more expensive than fabric or linen.
- Linen: Clean-looking, fresh and simple, linen may be hard to keep clean.
- Velvet: A velvet finish on a slipper chair gives a glamorous, old Hollywood look to the piece.
- Polyester: Synthetic materials, such as polyester, are less expensive and generally easy to clean.
For the frame, wood and metal are top choices, since they’re both visually appealing and sturdy.
Comfort
Slipper chairs are generally comfortable, but added down filling, well-made upholstery and luxurious materials like velvet make for extra snug seating.
Design
Contemporary designs with stark rectangular bodies, metal support and tufted backs are popular choices. Designs with a vintage flair may channel art deco or even Victorian design influences.
What to look for in a quality slipper chair
Color
Since they are accent chairs, it’s easy to find slipper chairs not only in neutral colors, such as gray, beige or white, but also in brightly saturated patterns and bold solid shades. You’ll almost certainly find the pop of color you’re looking for as an option.
Pattern
Aside from single-tone color options, patterns are common for slipper chairs. Choosing a slipper chair with a fun, unique print can bring a whole visual twist to whatever room you’re decorating. Geometrical, floral and cheetah print patterns are popular options for slipper chairs.
Stain-resistant
Slipper chairs are just the right height and comfort level for sitting down for a cup of coffee, painting your nails or relaxing with a glass of wine. Because of that, you sometimes might make the occasional mess on your chair. Stain-resistant slipper chairs take the worry out of eating, drinking and other such activities while you’re sitting.
How much you can expect to spend on a slipper chair
A slipper chair costs $150-$500, depending on the type and quality of the material, the dimensions, the upholstery and the design. Leather, wood and linen cost more than polyester, metal or other options.
Slipper chair FAQ
Where is the best place for a slipper chair?
A. Slipper chairs are remarkably versatile. They can be great stand-alone seating, and historically, you’re most likely to find them in a bedroom, changing room or large bathroom. However, feel free to get creative. A comfortable slipper chair can be utilized for dining room table seating, paired with a vanity counter or used as a cozier alternative for an office chair at your desk. Pairing two slipper chairs in the corner of a large room can make for a stylish seating area as well.
Why is it called a slipper chair?
A. The slipper chair as we know it today made its debut in the early 18th century, and its original purpose was seating within bedrooms. Specifically, it was most commonly found in women’s bedrooms. Ladies and their maids would use these low chairs to put on their slippers, hence the name. Even though it may sound antiquated, the name stuck.
What’s the best slipper chair to buy?
Top slipper chair
Lark Manor Burchfield Wide Tufted Linen Slipper Chair
What you need to know: Timeless, fresh linen with solid pine wood legs and frame and a curved lower back make for the perfect combination of comfort and a classic visual pop.
What you’ll love: The linen is stain resistant, so you can rest easy eating or drinking while sitting. The high-rolled, tufted back provides lumbar support.
What you should consider: It’s only available in ivory or dark gray, so you won’t be able to use it as a pop of saturated color in your room.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top slipper chair for the money
Andover Mills Choudhury Wide Linen Slipper Chair
What you need to know: You can get the most bang for your buck with this subtle but handsome linen and wood accent chair.
What you’ll love: You can buy it in green, orange or blue linen, any of which would make for a nice pop of color in your home. Customers love its minimalist design, 100% linen upholstery and foam-filled spring cushion back.
What you should consider: It may not be as wide as some other slipper chairs, and you cannot use strong liquid cleaners to treat the linen.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
OSP Home Furnishings Amity Metallic Finish Tufted Accent Chair
What you need to know: A contemporary style with a metallic flourish, this slipper chair steals the spotlight of any room.
What you’ll love: The frame is made of wood and chrome, guaranteed for sturdy and comfortable seating. The modern design and unique finish give this chair a glamorous look. It has foam filling, which lends it comfortable back support.
What you should consider: There is some assembly required when you purchase this chair.
Where to buy: Sold by Kohl’s
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Micayla Mead writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for RMED, FREY, PBF, COTY, and SYRS.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- RMED: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=RMED&prnumber=092120221
- FREY: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=FREY&prnumber=092120221
- PBF: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=PBF&prnumber=092120221
- COTY: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=COTY&prnumber=092120221
- SYRS: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=SYRS&prnumber=092120221
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InvestorsObserver
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| 2022-09-21T13:16:46Z
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The best sweatpants for women
Sweatpants are a must-have for any wardrobe. They are the go-to for traveling, long study sessions, romping around the house or simply a comfortable alternative to jeans or pants. If you’re looking for new sweatpants, you’ll need to consider a few things before choosing a pair, such as the activity you need them for and how you would like them to fit.
What to consider before buying a pair of sweatpants
Activity
Ask yourself what will you primarily use these sweatpants for. If you’re an athlete looking for a pair of sweatpants to use after or before games or during training, you may want pants that wick moisture or are jogger-style. If you’re looking for a pair to just throw on in a flash and wear for total comfort, a pair with soft lining and loose-fitting style may suit you more.
Style
Are you wearing your sweatpants to achieve a certain style or just for the sake of lounging? The athletic-leisure — or “athleisure” — look is popular, and you may want sweatpants that are tailored and could pass for traditional pants. Or a loose-fitting pair of sweatpants could give you a relaxed, casual streetwear look.
Maintenance
The care your sweatpants need to prolong their life depends on their material. Basic cotton-blend sweatpants are low-maintenance and probably only have to be washed with like colors in cold water, but sweatpants with special technology for moisture control may need to be hand-washed or line dried. Consider this when shopping and determine the time and resources you have to care for them properly.
Sweatpants FAQ
Should I size up for sweatpants?
A. This is up to you. If you prefer your sweatpants to hug certain features, keep the size you normally would wear. To have extreme comfort and range of motion, you can size up. Ultimately, brands’ size charts vary and you’ll have to assess your numerical measurements to make the decision.
How should sweatpants normally fit?
A. The traditional pair of sweatpants should fit based on the way the pockets lay. They should be relaxed and drape against your leg, not poking out and laying high on your hip.
The best sweatpants to buy
Top sweatpants for working out
Under Armour Women’s Rival Fleece Joggers
With athletes in mind, these sweatpants joggers have fitted, ribbed ankle cuffs to prevent tripping on fabric during exercises. They offer coziness while you work out by using a mid-weight cotton-blend fleece with elastane to ensure flexibility and softness. Their interior is lined for warmth and the waistband falls at the hips, with a drawstring cord to adjust the fit. Sold by Amazon
The Gym People Women’s Jogger Pants with Pockets
Available in 12 colors, these sweatpants are designed for active people, and their low-friction material keeps you from chafing and irritation. Tailored with a slim fit for performing high-intensity workouts, they are high-waisted with a wide elastic waistband to smooth your shape and grip your torso. Sold by Amazon
Libin Women’s Athletic Sweatpants
Made with comfort in mind, these joggers are stretchy and lightweight to simulate a second skin. The drawstring makes for an adjustable waist and the waistband is foldable for extra support. It features two deep side pockets for convenience on the go. Sold by Amazon
Top sweatpants for lounging
Amazon Essentials Women’s Relaxed Fit Fleece Jogger Sweatpants
In 31 colors, these are tapered at the ankle that offers a more fitted appearance. The French terry material is a soft and cozy blend with a drawstring closure at the waist. The sizes range from XS to 6XL. Sold by Amazon
Amazon Essentials Women’s Lightweight Lounge Terry Jogger Pajama Pant
Available in 23 colors, these basic sweatpants are made of French terry cotton. Spandex in the blend offers a bit of flexibility. Sold by Amazon
Women’s Cinch Bottom High Waist Jogger
With an elasticized waistband, these cotton sweatpants have a baggy fit. They’re high-waisted for a comfortable above-the-hip fit. Sold by Amazon
Top sweatpants for yoga
Dibaolong Women’s Yoga Sweatpants
In 24 colors, these offer an easy slip-on waistband with no drawstring or closure necessary. The waist is fitted with extra-soft material that conforms to your shape, keeping your pants from slipping and dropping down. They are high-waisted to smooth your shape and are a polyester/spandex blend, making them lightweight and flexible. Sold by Amazon
Sarin Matthews Women’s Yoga Sweatpants
With a wide-leg fit, these give you freedom to practice yoga without any constricting material around your ankles. Available in 43 designs and patterns, these sweatpants have a drawstring to adjust the fit and are not too tight, with a no-pinch design. Sold by Amazon
Built for yoga practice, these wide-leg sweatpants use buttery material to ensure comfort while performing. Made with large side pockets, they have a straight-leg fit and do not constrict any movement from the waist down. The material is not transparent — it prevents any lines from being seen. Sold by Amazon
Top cropped sweatpants
With wide-leg openings, these pants fall in the middle of the calf, achieving a cropped look. They can be styled for everyday use and are made from a lush, soft fabric. Sold by Amazon
Special Magic Women’s Sweatpants Cropped Jogger
These are highlighted by a tailored elastic hem around the middle of the calf. They are tight enough to perform during workouts but loose enough to prevent constriction and discomfort. Sold by Amazon
Leggings Depot Women’s Cropped Capri Sweatpants
With a thin, flexible waistband, these cropped joggers use material that stretches and bends without discomfort and offers a full range of motion. The hem is fitted with an elastic cuff to narrow the shape of the pants. Opaque so they don’t show undergarment lines or skin, they come in dozens of colors and designs and have a mid-rise fit at the waist. Sold by Amazon
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Isabella Acitelli writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-09-21T13:16:48Z
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Which Halloween inflatables are best?
Inflatables have been used in parades and as roadside advertising for many years. Their big advantage is that they weigh so little, they can be made in sizes that would be too heavy and expensive if they were made of solid materials.
Inflatable outdoor displays for Halloween are meant to be scary. Ghosts, skeletons, bats and black cats all make your home and yard spooky. Blow-up Halloween decorations 10 and 20 feet tall are sure to thrill the trick-or-treaters — the bigger, the better.
How do inflatables work?
Inflatables rely on air pressure to fill what is essentially a large party balloon. Just as it does in a balloon, the air pumped into inflatable yard displays causes the ”balloon” to slowly grow to its full size. The air pressure is maintained at a constant level, just enough to keep your display properly inflated.
How do I set up my Halloween inflatable?
- Find a flat space on your lawn and make sure you clear it of all debris, especially sticks and stones that may puncture your inflatable display.
- Attach your fan, connect it and turn it on.
- Pay careful attention as your Halloween decoration unfolds, watching to see it goes smoothly and helping it if it gets stuck. Make sure it does not come into contact with tree limbs or overhead wires.
- Continue until the air in your inflatable is at the pressure specified by the manufacturer.
- Drive stakes into the ground around your display.
- Attach one rope to the inflatable and pull it snugly against the stake. Continue all the way around, attaching one end of the ropes to the display and the other to the stakes.
- Go all the way around again, this time adjusting the ropes so the tension is balanced in all directions.
- Have fun scaring the neighborhood!
Will a Halloween inflatable blow away?
The downside of inflatables is that they are so light, they’re easily blown around by the wind. To fix this problem, tie down your lawn displays and never inflate them in high winds.
Stakes
Not just any stake will do.
- Material: Plastic stakes have the least tie-down strength and metal stakes have the most.
- Length: The longer the stake, the better it will anchor your inflatable.
- Setup: Drive the stakes into the ground at a 45-degree angle for the greatest security.
Tie-down ropes
Ropes should be sturdy and easy to coil and uncoil. They should be attached to the stakes with enough tension to hold your inflatable upright and steady. Ropes with ratchet attachments make it easy to adjust the tension of all your tie-down ropes to get the exact setup you want.
Weights
Weights are sometimes enough to hold down small inflatables, but are better used in conjunction with stakes and tie-down ropes. Sandbags are the best, but you can also use weights from workout equipment.
Static or moving displays?
- Static: Basic Halloween inflatables are blow-up versions of scary creatures.
- Moving: Tube dancers are inflatables in motion. Also called air dancers and tube men, they are built to move about as air is strategically released through special vents.
Best Halloween inflatables
Under $100
ZMHQLPDZ 9-Foot Blow-up Dead Tree with Ghosts and Pumpkins
This clever design is an old dead tree with its leafless branches holding two ghosts, two pumpkins and a black owl, all lit from inside just as the tree is.
Sold by Amazon
BZB 7-Foot Inflatable Skeleton on Ghost Train
This old-time steam engine is made in the traditional black and orange Halloween colors. The skeleton engineer tows a flatcar carrying pumpkins and a ghost riding a tombstone with “R.I.P.” on the front.
Sold by Amazon
Goosh 8-Foot Inflatable Grim Reaper
The Grim Reaper is dressed in black and carries his scythe on his shoulder. The LEDs inside light his wicked red eyes and give a shimmering effect to the flames licking at his robe.
Sold by Amazon
Mortime Inflatable Giant Halloween Black Cat
This black cat with yellow claws stands 6.4 feet tall with its purple witch’s hat. Its yellow eyes are lit from inside by LEDs and it’s got a heavy-duty base for stability.
Sold by Amazon
For $100-$200
Gemmy Animated Spooky Outhouse with Monster and Air-Blown Door
Air provides the power for the animated monster to open and close the door of this 6-foot-tall inflatable outhouse.
Sold by Amazon
Kitbonis 10-Foot Lighted Inflatable Happy Halloween Pumpkin
This huge pumpkin ties down with six ropes and ground plugs. The built-in LED lights flash brilliantly in the dark, revealing the giant spider lurking above.
Sold by Amazon
Mis 1950s Halloween Inflatable Remote Control Giant Eyeball
Use the remote control to make this 2-foot-wide bloodshot eyeball light up, fast flash and gradually change through 13 colors. It even floats in your pool.
Sold by Amazon
Look Our Way 20-Foot Air Dancer
The inflatable tube man is a skeleton in this Halloween version of the ubiquitous air dancer and is compatible with all 18-inch Velcro mount air blowers.
Sold by Amazon
Over $200
BZB Jumbo Halloween Party Decorations Bundle
You get a 7-foot-tall inflatable pirate ship with a skeleton ghost crew and an 11.5-foot-long Grim Reaper pumpkin carriage blowup with lights. These two large decorations include an air blower, stakes and tethers.
Sold by Amazon
BZB Halloween Party Decorations Bundle
This 8.5-foot-tall inflated haunted house is a castle with skeletons, ghosts and a black cat. The separate 8-by-10-foot inflatable black archway to doom surrounds your front entrance with a giant spider crawling overhead and three scary ghosts floating around.
Sold by Amazon
Lvaostt 20-foot Inflatable Pumpkin with Spider
This giant pumpkin fills in about three minutes and the low-noise blower keeps it inflated while the built-in LED lights the pumpkin from inside, as well as illuminating the spider’s spooky eyes.
Sold by Amazon
BZB 20-Foot Inflatable Animated Black Cat
This black cat is 20 feet tall and 20 feet long, too. Lights on the inside glow brightly while the cat swings its head from side to side, black and orange tail stuck straight up in the air.
Sold by Amazon
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David Allan Van writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-09-21T13:16:56Z
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What makes a car seat unsafe?
When you use a car seat, you trust that product to save your child’s life in an accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when compared with seat belt use alone, a car seat can reduce the risk of injury in a crash by up to 82% for children. That is why you take extra precautions when shopping for a new car seat. You want to make sure you’re buying a car seat that meets federal safety standards, isn’t counterfeit, hasn’t suffered damage due to shipping or stocking and hasn’t been involved in a recall.
But even a car seat you have used for years without incident and initially satisfied all safety requirements when purchased might not be suitable for your younger child. This is because car seats do not last forever.
In this article: Britax Grow with You Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat, Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base and Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Seat
How long does a child need to use a car seat?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child should be in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Once they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they should move to a forward-facing car seat. This is usually around age three, but height and weight actually determine when it is time to switch, not age.
Similarly, your child should stay in a forward-facing car seat (with harness and tether) until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. This will be roughly around age 7. Your child should then use a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly with the lap belt across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest. This may be as late as age 12.
Why do car seats expire?
When a car seat is manufactured, it is not designed to restrain a child older than 12 years. For this reason, adequate testing isn’t performed to determine if a car seat is safe after 10 to 12 years. Typically, this only becomes a problem when you have multiple children using the same car seat throughout the years. It is safer to buy a new car seat for each child. Additionally, car seats may become unusable due to wear and tear, updated regulations and recalls.
How long do car seats last?
If there is no visible damage and the car seat has not been involved in a moderate or severe accident, it should last around six to seven years. However, you should be aware that misuse and lack of care can shorten the lifespan of a car seat. It is important to understand that the seven years start when the car seat was manufactured, not when you purchased it. For this reason, most car seat manufacturers place an expiration date on the car seats they sell. This way, you know for certain when your car seat will expire.
Where can I find a car seat’s expiration date?
Car seat manufacturers want to be sure you know when your car seat expires. While each company may do this slightly differently, the two most popular places to look for an expiration date are on the bottom of the car seat or in the owner’s manual. Some companies merely provide the date when the car seat was manufactured (and you must do the math), while others will actually put an expiration date on the car seat.
How do I dispose of an expired car seat?
When you get rid of a car seat, you have a responsibility to make sure no one comes along and uses that car seat after it has expired. If someone is tight on finances and sees a car seat out with the trash, they may take it just to have one and unknowingly put their child’s life at risk.
Before throwing out or recycling your expired car seat, cut through the straps so they cannot be used and write “Do not use – expired” in large letters on the seat in permanent marker. Another option is to ask a local big box store if they have a car seat recycling program.
Best car seats to buy
Britax Grow with You Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat
This two-in-one car seat grows with your child from forward-facing harness mode to a belt-positioning booster. The comfort pads keep your child’s neck from rubbing against the harness.
Britax Allegiance 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat
The Britax Allegiance is a rear-facing and forward-facing car seat with a quick-adjust 10-position harness. The push-button latch connectors and built-in lock-offs facilitate installation. This model has a steel frame with side-impact protection for added safety.
Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Kohl’s
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base
This rear-facing car seat features two bubble-level indicators and spring-loaded leveling foot to ensure fast yet proper and secure installation every time. It is compatible with Chicco strollers and has an adjustable canopy for protection from the sun.
Sold by Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Graco Tranzitions Three-In-One Harness Booster Seat
Graco Tranzitions is a three-in-one car seat that takes your child from a forward-facing harness to a highback booster to a backless booster. The no-rethread harness system adjusts the headrest and harness in one motion for convenience.
Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Kohl’s
Chicco KidFit Two-In-One Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat
This forward-facing car seat has 10 positions to accommodate your growing child. The two cup holders fold away when not in use, and the double-foam padding and contoured seat provide additional support and comfort.
Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-09-21T13:17:03Z
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Kozhikode: A complaint has been lodged against a police officer for allegedly abusing a transgender at Nadakkavu Police Station in Kozhikode.
The aggrieved, Deepa Rani, has alleged that Nadakkavu Circle Inspector Jijeesh labelled her as a sex worker and refused to take up her complaint.
She had arrived at the police station on Tuesday night to file a complaint about an annoying phone call she had received from an unknown number.
According to Deepa, the officer said that whoever calling was likely another of her customer. Furthermore, he refused to file a case on what sex workers said.
Speaking to Manorama News, Deepa said that "this attitude was in line with the harassment that transgenders have to endure every day."
She said she did not expect even the police officers to respond in such an insulting manner.
"If someone approaches the station with the complaint - no matter if it is a man, a woman, a transgender, a child - it is the duty of the officers to heed what they have to say, rather than target their identity," Deepa said.
She has filed a complaint against the officer with the City Police Commissioner.
The Nadakkavu police has come out with an explanation that this was a bogus complaint.
They said transgenders usually approach the station with complaints of annoying phone calls. All of them have been treated fairly.
However, in the case of Deepa, when more details were sought (some of them on delicate matters), they allege that the woman went on the defensive and took everything as an offence.
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Which Indie Lee skin care products are best?
After Indie Lee survived being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009, she decided to launch a skin care line. Its goal was to help users avoid the kinds of environmental factors her doctors attributed to causing her tumor. Indie Lee skin care is distinguished by carefully sourced ingredients, scientific development, attractive recyclable packaging and effective formulas for both face and body. Explore the Indie Lee brand and discover some new favorites to add to your routine.
What’s in Indie Lee products
Ingredient transparency
Indie Lee products include well-known skin care ingredients, such as jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid, along with lesser-known ingredients, such as mountain ash berry extract (a source of vitamin C) and caviar lime (used in masks and peels). On Indie Lee’s website, users can look up any ingredient to learn more about its purpose and how it’s sourced.
Ingredients Indie Lee avoids
Indie Lee products are formulated above and beyond EU cosmetics standards, which means they omit more than 1,300 potentially harmful or irritating ingredients, such as synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde and petroleum-derived products like mineral oil.
Indie Lee’s clean beauty philosophy
Along with its thoughtful ingredients and formulations, Indie Lee seeks to educate consumers on what they’re putting on their skin. The company describes what its ingredients are meant to do and offers guides for how to layer skin care, what shopping for organic skin care really means and more.
The company is also Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free, meaning it performs no animal testing. It also uses no animal-derived ingredients with the exception of humanely sourced beeswax in two of its products.
Indie Lee is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact by using glass wherever possible as well as offering a recycling program and using post-consumer recycled materials in its packaging. Refillable packaging will be offered in the near future.
Indie Lee product range
Indie Lee offers a full skin care routine, including cleansers, exfoliating peels, serums, face oils, moisturizers and more. Indie Lee also makes a tinted lip balm for fans of subtle color, and it recently introduced a mineral sunscreen.
For the body, Indie Lee offers a variety of pampering products like body oils, bath soaks, scrubs and body wash. The company even makes a natural deodorant in collaboration with Taos Aer, a clean beauty company that specializes in sustainable, naturally-sourced deodorant.
How to store Indie Lee products
Since Indie Lee products use natural ingredients without standard preservatives, Indie Lee recommends using products within 18 months of purchase and within six months of opening. Store them at room temperature, and keep them away from sunlight.
Best Indie Lee products
Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
This best-selling jelly cleanser contains vitamin-rich, exfoliating lycopene and antioxidants for firmer, glowing skin. Coconut and sunflower oils help the cleanser wash away makeup and impurities.
Sold by Credo Beauty, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Violet Grey, Macy’s and Dermstore
Oat kernel oil and chamomile make this milky cleanser soothing and hydrating for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Like the Brightening Cleanser, it can remove makeup. The glycerin helps soften skin and give skin a plump appearance, while the Damask rose extract helps soothe and minimize redness.
Sold by Ulta Beauty, Violet Grey and Macy’s
A talc-free alternative to classic acne spot treatments, this product uses colloidal sulfur, salicylic acid, camphor, zinc oxide and more to target and dry out blemishes overnight. Don’t shake the bottle; just dip a cotton swab into the pink sediment, then dab it on your blemish.
Sold by Violet Grey, Credo Beauty, Macy’s, Dermstore and Ulta Beauty
This toner’s hero ingredient is the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, or CoQ-10. It can protect skin from sun damage, improve skin tone and help skin cells replenish and recover. The alcohol-free formula also contains hyaluronic acid to help your skin stay hydrated.
Sold by Macy’s, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Violet Grey and Credo Beauty
Exfoliating peels may sound intimidating, but this one is gentle enough for daily use on all skin types. The salicylic acid gives it mild exfoliation properties, while the alpha and beta hydroxy acids clarify the skin.
Sold by Dermstore
If you have oily skin, this noncomedogenic oil can help skin retain moisture without clogging pores, thanks to the 100% olive-derived squalane oil. It absorbs easily, and you can blend it with a serum, moisturizer or foundation.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Dermstore
Indie Lee Daily Vitamin Infusion
This oil-based serum is a great pick for dry, sensitive skin. The moisturizing ceramides hydrate and smooth skin along with the rose hip, avocado and sugarcane-derived squalane oils. Additionally, the rosemary leaf extract and vitamins A, C and E improve texture and tone.
Sold by Violet Grey, Ulta Beauty, Credo Beauty, Dermstore and Macy’s
Indie Lee Active Oil-Free Moisturizer
Keep oily skin hydrated without worrying about breakouts with this lightweight gel-cream moisturizer. It contains plenty of botanical extracts that help brighten, soothe, balance and condition skin. It also utilizes antioxidants to protect the skin from pollution and environmental stressors.
Sold by Credo Beauty
Indie Lee Daily Skin Nutrition
This rich yet fast-absorbing moisturizer contains botanical oils, such as avocado, rose hip and olive oil, to help your skin retain moisture. Vitamins and botanical extracts protect skin from environmental stressors while improving tone and brightness. It’s formulated for all skin types, but it’s especially good for sensitive or dry skin.
Sold by Ulta Beauty, Credo Beauty and Macy’s
With hyaluronic acid, algae extract and more, this deeply hydrating eye serum softens and brightens the under-eye area. The serum is lightweight and sinks into the skin, so it’s easy to layer eye cream or makeup over it.
Sold by Credo Beauty, Macy’s and Ulta Beauty
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12 detox masks for facial skin rejuvenation
If you’ve been considering elevating your skin care routine, a face mask is a great place to start. They are normally used to target issues such as dry skin, overproduction of oil or brightening dull areas of your face. Masks can also detoxify your skin, drawing out impurities and cleansing your skin beyond what a cleanser or toner could. Applying face masks is a relaxing way to indulge in self care, whether you’re lounging at home alone or recreating the pleasures of a spa with friends or your partner.
What is a detox mask?
Your pores can become clogged with sweat, dirt and dead skin cells, causing bacteria and blemishes to fester. Detox face masks purify your skin using ingredients such as exfoliants, clay and acids, normally in the form of a cream or thick paste. Using detox masks also lets your other skin care products, such as acne treatment, lotion or cleansers, penetrate your pores to unclog them effectively.
How often should I use a detox mask?
As with any facial product that uses powerful ingredients, you should only use detox masks once or twice a week. Detox masks strip the skin, making the process harsh on your skin for everyday use. However, incorporating these masks a couple of times a week offers several benefits to your skin, including restoring firmness and elasticity.
Do I need to wash my face after a detox mask?
This is usually indicated on the label, but it’s important to wash your face before applying a detox mask, even though you may end up rinsing your face after using it. If you have makeup or other products on your skin when applying the mask, it won’t reach your skin as it should.
Top detox masks for acne-prone skin
Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Detoxifying Face Mask
Made without fragrances for sensitive skin, this clay mask has a whipped paste texture with exfoliating charcoal beads to breach clogged pores. Salicylic acid digs deep into your skin to brighten, clarify and neutralize oil production.
Teami Blends Green Tea Blend Detox Mask
Specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, this mask uses green tea and botanical essence to calm and soothe your face. The clay draws out oil and dries out blackheads and blemishes. This formula has no artificial fragrances, coloring or preservatives to ensure a clean product.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Tata Harper Purifying Mask Cleansing Detox Treatment
Meant for absorbing oil from pores, this mask combats pollution and heals your damaged skin using star aster and papaya extract. The packaging and formula are both sustainably crafted with clean ingredients and recyclable components.
Sold by Sephora
Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
This mask uses non-drying ingredients while still reducing oil and cleansing pores. Its volcanic ash gently heats up skin to open and extract dirt from pores, all while melting away layers of dead skin and buildup. It shifts from green to red to indicate activation, and results in closed, clean pores and moisturized skin.
Top detox masks for dry skin
Tula Detox in a Jar Exfoliating Treatment Mask
This mask features probiotics to enrich skin during and after pore cleansing. Clay and volcanic sand work together to pull impurities while shea butter and rice extract, soothe and hydrate rough skin. This formula focuses on restoring radiance to your skin.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Loli Beauty Matcha Coconut Paste Detox and Purifying Chlorophyll Mask
Water-activated and made from organic superfoods, this mask is loaded with hydrating ingredients for dry skin. Coconut milk, a key element, offers fatty acids to soothe your skin. This product includes collagen boosters to encourage healthy skin development after use.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
While the clay absorbs the oil and grime, ingredients such as shea butter, argan oil and sodium hyaluronate work to restore hydration to your skin. This mask smooths out uneven texture in addition to its detoxing components.
Sold by Ulta Beauty
Follain Dual Detox Mask: Purify and Resurface
This targets dullness and dryness using root and fruit extracts high in vitamin C and antioxidants. It features lactic, glycolic and salicylic acids to reduce oil shine and draw out a natural glow while exfoliating your skin.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Top detox masks for quick results
Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Instant Detox Mask
If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, this mask can provide results in 10 minutes or sooner using clay, caffeine and antioxidants. This formula exfoliates, purifies and illuminates dull skin, offering a natural glow upon rinsing while shrinking your pores.
Burt’s Bees Detoxifying Charcoal Sheet Mask
This mask uses charcoal and honey to create a dual-action formula that both purifies and softens your skin in only two minutes.
Sold by Amazon
Yes To Tomatoes Charcoal Peel Off Mask
Using tomato extract as a key ingredient, this mask removes dead skin and oil in combination with charcoal to deliver a natural glow. It’s applied and dries as a peeling formula, can be removed in under 10 minutes and is free of parabens and silicone.
Sold by Amazon
Aveeno Oat Mask with Moringa Seed Extract
With hydration in mind, this mask cleanses pores, but focuses closely on restoring a buttery, soft texture to your skin and improving overall skin health. Leave on for as few as five minutes and rinse for quick application.
Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Isabella Acitelli writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.ktalnews.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/skin-treatments-br/12-best-facial-detox-masks/
| 2022-09-21T13:17:18Z
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