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Federal prosecutors seek July trial for Trump in classified documents case
Federal prosecutors are requesting a July 8 trial for Donald Trump on charges that he illegally retained and concealed classified documents
WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors are requesting a July 8 trial for former President Donald Trump on charges that he illegally retained and concealed classified documents. Defense lawyers say no trial should be conducted this year but proposed August 12 as an alternative possibility.
The dueling proposals were submitted Thursday ahead of a pivotal hearing in Florida at which the judge in the case, Aileen Cannon, is expected to set a trial date. The trial is currently set for May 20, but Cannon indicated months ago that she expected to revisit that date during Friday's hearing.
The trial date in the classified documents prosecution has taken on added significance in light of the uncertainty surrounding a separate federal case in Washington charging Trump with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court said this week that it would hear arguments in late April on whether Trump as a former president is immune from prosecution, leaving it unclear whether that case might reach trial before the November election.
In their motion, defense lawyers made clear to Cannon their strong preference to avoid a trial in the current year while Trump — who faces four separate state and federal prosecutions — is campaigning for the Republican nomination for president.
A key element of the Trump team strategy has been to seek to delay his criminal cases until after the election. If elected president, Trump could order the Justice Department to dismiss the federal cases or could seek to pardon himself.
"As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution, which affords President Trump a Sixth Amendment right to be present and to participate in these proceedings as well as...a First Amendment right that he shares with the American people to engage in campaign speech," defense lawyers wrote.
But they proposed August 12 — weeks after the Republican National Convention — as a possible alternative trial date in the event Cannon seeks to move forward with a trial this year.
Defense lawyers have separately asked Cannon to dismiss the case, citing among other reasons the immunity argument that will soon be considered by the Supreme Court.
Of the four criminal cases that Trump faces, the only one with a trial date that seems poised to hold is a New York state prosecution charging him with falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments to a porn star. That case is set for trial on March 25.
Another case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, charges him with scheming to subvert the presidential election in Georgia in 2020. No trial date has been set.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:de80fe8e-3bb6-4d66-b195-00ec97b9a5fa> | {
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ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — An Arapahoe County man was arrested Thursday on charges of possession and distribution of child abuse sex material, according to a spokesperson with the sheriff's office.
Brett Mellott, 33, was arrested at his home in the 6800 block of S. Ivy Way on Feb. 29.
His arrest came after investigators received a tip that Mellott was sharing images of child sex abuse material and served a search warrant at his home.
He is facing a felony charge of sexual exploitation of children and other possible criminal charges are pending, deputies said. | <urn:uuid:62ec8297-dd59-439f-9993-42b762243ecb> | {
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The Minnesota Vikings will likely have a new starting running back for the third time in three years.
The team informed Alexander Mattison on Thursday they will release him after a single season as their starting running back, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
This article will be updated with more information. | <urn:uuid:16c594b9-abd3-4a09-91a1-9d8fba065079> | {
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Senators warily allow F-16 sale to Turkey as part of NATO expansion agreement. 'A deal's a deal'
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. senators declined on Thursday to block the sale of F-16s to Turkey, despite voicing deep disdain for Turkey's conduct as an ally. They were upholding an unofficial bargain that Turks would get the fighter jets if they stopped blocking Sweden's accession to NATO.
"A deal's a deal," said Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Call it quid pro quo," Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who introduced the resolution to try to block the sale, told fellow senators. "That sounds better than extortion."
The Senate voted 13 to 79 to reject Paul's proposal.
Along with the Democratic committee chairman, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, Risch took the Senate floor before the vote to acknowledge some of the many U.S. objections to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government: its human rights record, its attacks on U.S. allies in Syria, its backing for offensives by Azerbaijan on an ethnic Armenian enclave, and Turkey's ties with Russia on military deals and other matters.
Nevertheless, the Republican and Democratic senior foreign policy leaders argued, adding Sweden to NATO was too important to the overall strategic interests of the Western military alliance and to the U.S. to allow fellow NATO member Turkey to spoil it.
Sweden, and Finland, sought to join NATO in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The United States and the majority of other NATO allies supported the accession, saying the two countries' militaries, industries and locations near or bordering Russia would strengthen the alliance. Finland joined NATO last year, after Erdogan lifted initial objections to that country as well.
Erdogan's objections to Sweden included it offering refuge to Turkish critics in exile. But Erdogan also publicly linked his objections to hopes of overcoming U.S. reluctance to sell him new models of the advanced fighter jet.
"I'm not here to defend Turkey or the other things that they do," Risch said. "What I am here to do is defend the importance of NATO."
Paul argued before the vote that continuing to withhold the advanced fighter jets was the best leverage the U.S. had to try to influence Turkey's behavior as an ally.
"What will Turkey do next time they want something?" he asked.
The State Department notified Congress of its approval of the $23 billion F-16 sale to Turkey in January, along with a companion $8.6 billion sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece.
The State Department agreement came just hours after Turkey deposited its "instrument of ratification" for Sweden's accession to NATO with Washington, which is the repository for alliance documents, and after several key members of Congress lifted their objections. | <urn:uuid:ecbcc6e3-20aa-47b4-8e72-4f8d5ffbe3db> | {
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A former career U.S. diplomat told a federal judge Thursday he will plead guilty to charges of working for decades as a secret agent for communist Cuba, an unexpectedly swift resolution to a case prosecutors called one of the most brazen betrayals in the history of the U.S. foreign service.
Manuel Rocha's stunning fall from grace could culminate in a lengthy prison term after the 73-year-old said he would admit to federal counts of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government.
Prosecutors and Rocha's attorney indicated the plea deal includes an agreed-upon sentence but they did not disclose details in court Thursday. He is due back in court April 12, when he's likely to be sentenced.
"I am in agreement," said Rocha, shackled at the hands and ankles, when asked by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Bloom if he wished to change his plea to guilty. Prosecutors, in exchange, agreed to drop 13 counts including wire fraud and making false statements.
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The brief hearing shed no new light on the question that has proved elusive since Rocha's arrest in December: What exactly did he do to help Cuba while working at the State Department for two decades? That included stints as ambassador to Bolivia and top posts in Argentina, Mexico, the White House and the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.
His post-government career also included time as a special adviser to the commander of the U.S. Southern Command and more recently as a tough-talking Donald Trump supporter and Cuba hardliner, a persona that friends and prosecutors say Rocha adopted to hide his true allegiances.
Peter Lapp, who oversaw FBI counterintelligence against Cuba between 1998 and 2005, said the fast resolution of the case benefits not only the elderly Rocha but also the government, which stands to learn a lot about Cuba's penetration of U.S. foreign policy circles.
Typically in counterintelligence cases, the defendant is charged with espionage. But Rocha was accused of the lesser crimes of acting as a foreign agent, which carry maximum terms of between five and 10 years in prison, making it easier for prosecutors and Rocha to reach an agreement.
"It's a win-win for both sides," said Lapp, who led the investigation into Ana Montes, the highest-level U.S. official ever convicted of spying for Cuba. "He gets a significant payoff and the chance to see his family again, and the U.S. will be able to conduct a full damage assessment that it wouldn't be able to do without his cooperation."
"There are details that can really only come from the defendant," he added.
Rocha was arrested by the FBI at his Miami home on allegations he engaged in "clandestine activity" on Cuba's behalf since at least 1981 — the year he joined the U.S. foreign service — including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to U.S. government officials about his contacts.
Rocha made a series of recorded admissions to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Cuban intelligence operative, praising the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as "Comandante," branding the U.S. the "enemy" and bragging about his service for more than 40 years as a Cuban mole in the heart of U.S. foreign policy circles, prosecutors said in court records.
"What we have done … it's enormous … more than a Grand Slam," he was quoted as saying in one of several secretly recorded conversations.
Federal authorities have said little about what Rocha actually did to aid Cuba, and FBI and State Department investigators have been conducting a confidential damage assessment that could take years.
But a recent Associated Press investigation found there were plenty of missed red flags over the years.
Those included a tip that a longtime CIA operative received in 2006 warning that Rocha was working as a double agent. It was never pursued. And separate intelligence revealed that the CIA had been aware as early as 1987 that Castro had a "super mole" burrowed deep inside the U.S. government, and some officials suspected it could have been Rocha.
Rocha's decision to plead guilty Thursday came just hours after the widow of a prominent Cuban dissident killed in a mysterious car crash filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former diplomat. The lawsuit accuses Rocha of sharing intelligence that emboldened Cuba's communist leaders to assassinate a chief opponent. | <urn:uuid:cefb95d2-d688-4332-8c3d-821918640f55> | {
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Earlier today, Tesla officially opened up its Supercharger network in the United States and Canada for Ford customers. Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning owners will be the first people in the world to get access to the new NACS / J3400 adapter that allows them to charge their electric vehicle on Tesla's Superchargers.
Even better, Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owners will be able to order the company's Fast Charging Adapter, which will be available at no cost to new and existing customers enrolled in the BlueOval Charge Network through June 30, 2024. If you miss that date, the adapter will cost customers $250.
While most Ford customers will have a wait to get their adapter in the mail, Kyle Conner from Out of Spec Reviews was able to get his hands on one of the prototype adapters early through Ford and released a first look at what it's like to charge an F-150 Lightning on a V3 Supercharger.
As shown in the video below, the adapter allows the F-150 Lightning (and the Mustang Mach-E) owner to simply attach the adapter, plug Tesla's NACS connector into it, and plug it into the charging port on the vehicle. There's no need to use an app, swipe a card, or anything else. Just plug in and charge.
That level of integration makes things so much easier, but it doesn't come without some quirks that need to be worked out. In the video, Connor pointed out that while the F-150 Lightning did start charging, it did not display charging speeds. Since the Superchargers don't have their own display, that means that the only place you can check charging speeds (for now) is within the Ford Pass app.
You can check out the experience in full in the video below:
While other EVs have technically been able to grab a charge at a Supercharger for a bit now, it's required that the Supercharger station have Tesla's Magic Dock connector. Now, with the adapter, the number of chargers available to charge is well over 15,000 — a huge jump for anyone who didn't have a Tesla.
The next brands to get access to the network will be Rivian, General Motors, Volvo, and Polestar later this spring. | <urn:uuid:51fffad8-e654-4a02-8ded-4300d15ec6d7> | {
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perez hilton
- Pop CulturePerez Hilton Claps Back At Kanye West Over Pete Davidson QuestionYe isn't letting up on the comedian or anyone else who found Davidson's "SNL" sketch about mental health funny.By Erika Marie
- Pop CultureCHIKA Drags Perez Hilton For Misgendering Her: 'You're Literally Our B*tch"The Grammy-nominated artist is going after the celebrity gossip hound for showing fake love. By Madusa S.
- Pop CultureAzealia Banks Claims She's A Victim Of Racism & Misogyny After Perez Hilton FalloutAzealia Banks revealed on Instagram that she feels she is a victim of racism and misogyny in light of her past beef with Perez Hilton.By Deja Goode | <urn:uuid:efda0f6c-c362-4e8e-bdfe-225bdf538ace> | {
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"url": "https://auto.hindustantimes.com/komaki-bikes/venice/offers-in-kochi"
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Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has died at the age 84, his daughter says in a social media post
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has died at the age 84, his daughter says in a social media post
TORONTO -- Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has died at the age 84, his daughter says in a social media post.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:e3c66d16-a7d3-4169-85b3-4af4fa36a5c4> | {
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INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A police officer and a court employee were shot and killed Thursday in Independence, Missouri.
The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. at a house at 1111 N. Elsea Smith Road, KMBC reported. The court employee was reportedly attempting to serve an eviction notice when the shooting started, The Associated Press reported.
The victims were identified by police as Officer Cody Allen, 35, and Civil Process server Drexel Mack, 35, according to the news outlet.
A second police officer is in critical condition, the Independence Police Department said, according to the AP. The second officer is expected to survive, police said.
"My heart breaks for the Independence Police Department and all the family and friends of their officer who succumbed to injuries from a shooting earlier today," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I am praying for all others impacted today and all of the women and men of law enforcement in the Kansas City area."
"We are devastated that a court employee, who is a public servant, was shot by a member of the public while performing their job," Presiding Judge Jalilah Otto said in a statement obtained by the AP. "Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts are with our employee, our entire Court family, and the Independence Police Department."
A suspect is believed to be in custody, according to KMBC.
Information about what led up to the shooting will not be released immediately, Independence Police Department spokesperson Officer Jack Taylor said, according to the AP.
© 2024 Cox Media Group | <urn:uuid:97371c74-ca1d-42a6-8452-327fd0980d0c> | {
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/12002440Edit ImageSaveSaveEditCropCustom TextDelicious salmon steak, seafood illustrationMoreFreePersonal and Business useID : 12002440View personal and business license JPEGSmall JPEG 1200 x 800 px | 300 dpiLarge JPEG 3500 x 2333 px | 300 dpi Best Quality JPEG 4000 x 2666 px | 300 dpiFree DownloadDelicious salmon steak, seafood illustrationMore | <urn:uuid:cc8ae5aa-27d0-4d34-a0e0-dbc0e36eeb67> | {
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DENVER — Two southeastern Colorado farmers were sentenced Thursday to a combined eight months in prison for allegedly defrauding federal crop insurance programs by tampering with and damaging rain gauges, according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office of Colorado.
One way the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports farmers and ranchers is by providing federal funding for crop insurance programs that pay indemnities when there is less than the usual amount of precipitation, according to a spokesperson with the US Attorney General's Office.
But Patrick Esch and Ed Dean Jagers, of Springfield, Colorado, were accused – and later plead guilty – of concocting a scheme to make it appear that there was less precipitation in their area than there actually was.
Prosecutors said that in order to carry out the scheme, Esch and Jagers tampered and damaged rain gauges in southeast Colorado between July 2016 and June 2017 "to prevent those gauges from accurately measuring rainfall."
In their ruling, prosecutors said some of those rain gauges belonged to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and were operated by the National Weather Service (NWS).
The suspects allegedly covered these gauges with agricultural equipment and filled them with silicone to prevent them from collecting moisture. They also cut wires on the gauges or detached and then tipped over the bucket that collected precipitation, according to the complaint.
"This tampering created false records making it appear that less rain had fallen than was the case," prosecutors said.
Both were ordered to pay $3.5 million to settle civil penalties and were also ordered to pay a combined $3.1 million in restitution.
Esch was sentenced to two months in prison, while Jagers was sentenced to six moths in prison for the crimes.
"Hardworking farmers and ranchers depend on USDA crop insurance programs, and we will not allow these programs to be abused," said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. "This case also shows the full measure of justice that can be achieved when our office uses both civil and criminal tools to protect vital government programs." | <urn:uuid:00c55365-5425-47b0-a8fb-0b76f85fd1db> | {
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Slain pregnant Amish woman had cuts to her head and neck, Pennsylvania police say
SPARTANSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Search warrant filings for the Pennsylvania home where a pregnant Amish woman was killed this week said she appeared to have suffered cutting wounds to her neck and head.
Two identical search warrants were issued at the request of state police regarding the Monday slaying of Rebekah A. Byler, 23. Her body was found in the living room of her home a few miles from Spartansburg.
The warrant applications regarding the home and outbuildings that were submitted by an investigator, Trooper Adam Black, said the victim's husband, Andy Byler, found her body "a short distance inside" the home shortly after noon.
Black wrote that a woman, previously described by police as a family friend, called 911 at 12:36 p.m. to report that she and Andy Byler found Rebekah Byler unresponsive when they arrived.
Trooper Cynthia Schick told The Associated Press on Thursday the investigation and autopsy have given police an idea of what the murder weapon may have been, but they do not have it in their possession.
Two young Byler children at the home were not harmed, Schick has said.
Arriving at the murder scene, state police officers found Rebekah Byler on her back in the living room, Black wrote. The warrants sought knives, blades, cutting instruments and other items.
Police have not said how she was killed. They also said they have not developed any suspects and want the public to contact them with any tips.
The home is located along a dirt road in a very remote farming area. There were no signs of activity Thursday afternoon at the house, where a buggy, a bike and a truck were parked outside. A few miles away, a gift shop displayed a handwritten sign offering prayers for their Amish neighbors.
Lindsey Smith, president of the women's auxiliary of the Spartansburg Volunteer Fire Department, said everyone is "sad and shocked" by the tragedy.
"It's not something that happens around here," she said as she and other volunteers prepared food on Thursday afternoon at the department for its Friday fish fry. "We're worried about our Amish."
Residents said the Amish had a longstanding presence here and mix well with the surrounding community. Amish and non-Amish visit each others' homes, and the Amish work jobs for the non-Amish and attend events like the fish fries, they said. Neighbors have been raising money to help the Byler family.
"They are a big part of our community," Smith said. "They support us a lot."
Katie Rhodes, a waitress at the Dutch Treat Restaurant in Spartansburg's small business district, said people are still absorbing the shock of the news.
"My heart breaks for the family, for the little kids," she said.
The Amish generally follow basic Christian beliefs and practices but are not homogeneous, according to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. They are known for simple clothing and for relying on horses and buggies for transportation. Local congregations maintain a variety of rules and restrictions regarding dress, the use of technology and participation in American society.
The overall Amish population is nearly 400,000 people in hundreds of settlements across 32 states, Canada and Bolivia. Pennsylvania has one of the greatest concentrations of Amish.
___
Scolforo reported from Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. | <urn:uuid:6e63f950-651a-41a4-81e1-42d4fb721fd8> | {
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it is delaying planned rules to curb emissions from existing natural gas plants that release harmful air pollutants and contribute to global warming.
The agency said it is still on track to finalize rules for coal-fired power plants and new gas plants that have not come online, a key step to slow planet-warming pollution from the power sector, the nation's second-largest contributor to climate change.
But in a turnaround from previous plans, the agency said it will review standards for existing gas plants and expand the rules to include more pollutants. The change came after complaints from environmental justice groups, who said the earlier plan allowed too much toxic air pollution which disproportionately harms low-income neighborhoods near power plants, refineries and other industrial sites.
"As EPA works towards final standards to cut climate pollution from existing coal and new gas-fired power plants later this spring, the agency is taking a new, comprehensive approach to cover the entire fleet of natural gas-fired turbines, as well as cover more pollutants,'' EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
He called the new plan a "stronger, more durable approach" that will achieve greater emissions reductions than the current proposal. It also will better protect vulnerable frontline communities suffering from toxic air pollution caused by power plants and other industrial sites, Regan said.
Still, the plan was not universally welcomed by environmentalists, who the said the new approach will likely push rules for existing gas plants past the November presidential election.
"We are extremely disappointed in EPA's decision to delay finalizing carbon pollution standards for existing gas plants, which make up a significant portion of carbon emissions in the power sector,'' said Frank Sturges, a lawyer for the Clean Air Task Force, an environmental group.
"Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants have gone uncontrolled for far too long, and we have no more time to waste," he said.
Other environmental groups hailed the decision, saying the new plan would ultimately deliver better results.
"We have always known that the fight for a clean power sector wouldn't be a quick one.,'' said Charles Harper of Evergreen Action. "EPA's first order of business should be finalizing strong and necessary limits on climate pollution from new gas and existing coal plants as quickly as possible.''
"We are glad that EPA is committed to finishing the job with a new rule that covers every gas plant operating in the U.S.,'' Harper added.
"Tackling dirty coal plants is one of the single most important moves the president and EPA can make to rein in climate pollution,'' said Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice. "As utilities propose new fossil gas plants, we absolutely have to get ahead of a big new pollution problem."
EPA issued a proposed rule in May 2023 that called for drastically curbing greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal and gas-fired plants, as well as future gas plants planned by the power industry. No new coal plant has opened in the U.S. in more than a decade, while dozens of coal-fired plants have closed in recent years in the face of competition from cheaper natural gas. The Biden administration has committed to create a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.
The EPA proposal could force power plants to capture smokestack emissions using a technology that has long been promised but is not used widely in the United States.
If finalized, the proposed regulation would mark the first time the federal government has restricted carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, which generate about 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution, second only to the transportation sector. The rule also would apply to future electric plants and would avoid up to 617 million metric tons of carbon dioxide through 2042, equivalent to annual emissions of 137 million passenger vehicles, the EPA said.
Almost all coal plants — along with large, frequently used gas-fired plants — would have to cut or capture nearly all their carbon dioxide emissions by 2038, the EPA said. Plants that cannot meet the new standards would be forced to shutter.
Much of the EPA plan is expected to be made final this spring and is likely to be challenged by industry groups and Republican-leaning states. They have accused the Democratic administration of overreach on environmental regulations and warn of a pending reliability crisis for the electric grid. The power plant rule is one of at least a half-dozen EPA rules limiting power plant emissions and wastewater treatment.
The National Mining Association warned of "an onslaught" of government regulation "designed to shut down the coal fleet prematurely″ when the EPA proposal was announced last year.
Regan has denied that the power plant rule is aimed at shutting down the coal sector, but acknowledged last year that, " we will see some coal retirements."
Coal provides about 20% of U.S. electricity, down from about 45% in 2010. Natural gas provides about 40% of U.S. electricity. The remainder comes from nuclear energy and renewables such as wind, solar and hydropower.
Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a New York-based group, said she was pleased that the concerns of environmental justice communities will be factored into EPA's rulemaking.
"The power sector is one of the top sources of carbon emissions and pollution,'' she said. "With this pause to take a deeper dive into developing the most comprehensive and thoughtful rulemaking for existing gas plants, we have an opportunity to do this work correctly and effectively to protect the human and environmental health of the most overburdened, neglected and vulnerable people across the country.''
The EPA's revised plan was first reported by Bloomberg News. | <urn:uuid:6fa01935-0d00-43dc-a016-b498a3129726> | {
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U.S. & World | <urn:uuid:c9fefcd9-f8ad-443d-b72b-ee27aeee7567> | {
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"url": "https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/fire-in-bangladesh-leaves-at-least-43-people-dead/3294137/"
} |
Apple is widely rumored to add several AI features to iOS 18 and its upcoming iPhone 16 lineup. While past reports highlighted some of the functions we might expect, TrendForce is now giving us another hint that Cupertino has big AI plans for 2024.
In its most recent note, the research firm talks about AI server expansion this year. While the company expects this market to increase 2.05% YoY with 13.654 million units, it also shows that one of these AI server firms, Supermicro, wants to "aggressively expand its efforts to secure AI orders from clients, including Apple and Meta."
With Apple's CEO Tim Cook teasing AI features coming in the near future, it's safe to assume that Apple will continue to expand its efforts on this matter by expanding its AI servers. Last year, analyst Jeff Pu suggested Apple built hundreds of AI servers in 2023, with more planned for 2024. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said Apple was expected to spend around $4.75 billion on AI servers this year.
That said, it's only a matter of time until Apple shares the latest Artificial Intelligence features with iOS 18 during the WWDC 2024 keynote.
During Apple's annual shareholders meeting yesterday, the company's CEO said Cupertino will "break new ground" in generative AI. "We believe it will unlock transformative opportunities for our users."
Some of these opportunities have been highlighted by previous reports, which include:
- Auto-summarizing and auto-complete features for core apps and productivity software (Pages, Keynote). This was also rumored by leaker yeux1122, which says code on iOS 18 suggests this function.
- Better playlist creation in Apple Music
- Siri (a big overall overhaul with a focus on AI)
- Code completion in a new version of Xcode for developers
- AppleCare tools to assist employees in helping customers with troubleshooting
BGR will let you know once we learn more about Apple's iOS 18 AI features. Check our full guide about this upcoming system below. | <urn:uuid:33d0f4bb-48d8-44f2-85fa-e47581ec33e0> | {
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performance fee
- Pop CultureKanye West Shuts Down Reports That His Performance Fee Is $1M: "Please Change This"Kanye West knows his worth, clearly.By Hayley Hynes
- MusicLil Durk Charges An Astronomical Performance Fee Post-"7220"Lil Durk catches a "W for a trenches" with his performance rate. By Aron A.
- MusicFredo Bang Explains Why He Needs $100k To Perform In His Hometown Baton RougeHe disclosed the added troubles that come with attempting to perform in BR. By Madusa S. | <urn:uuid:f3b327f6-2868-4497-b121-e93b58149e6c> | {
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There are a great many things that Patrick Mahomes is extremely good at. The best quarterback of his generation and one of the greatest of all time, Mahomes' ability to make magic happen on the football field is second to none, as evidenced by the fact that he won his third Super Bowl earlier this month.
Despite this, Mahomes is not especially fast. While he's not Tom Brady or anything, Mahomes ran a 4.80 second 40-yard dash when he attended the NFL Draft Combine back in 2017, which pops up every year when NFL Network wants to compare guys to him for one reason or another. Heading into this year's edition of the event, Mahomes had a simple request for the network: please stop.
As the combine starts this week! All i ask is that @nflnetwork doesn't use my 40 overlay anymore 😂😂😂
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 28, 2024
The 2024 Combine started with the defensive tackles, a position that is not known for being, uh, fast. Unfortunately for Mahomes, his request was immediately ignored, as NFL Network used his 40 as a point of comparison for Braden Fiske (who ran the fastest among his position) and T'Vondre Sweat (who ran the slowest). And to add insult to injury, they quote tweeted him as they did it.
You will not be surprised to learn that Mahomes wasn't especially happy about this.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 29, 2024
Good on Mahomes for having a sense of humor about the entire thing, at least. Anyway, my hunch is that this is going to pop up on NFL Network a few more times in the coming days, and Mahomes will simply have to sit there with his three Lombardi Trophies and not let it ruin his weekend. | <urn:uuid:7a1e7f38-a623-449e-b5b9-b1a29c13e8df> | {
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Biden and Trump were both at the border today, staking out ground on a key 2024 issue
Updated February 29, 2024 at 5:57 PM ET
President Biden squared off against former President Donald Trump on Thursday on one of the issues expected to dominate the 2024 presidential election: immigration.
Both Biden and Trump visited two Texas border communities a few hundred miles apart that have been grappling with large numbers of migrants seeking asylum. Biden went to Brownsville, and Trump to Eagle Pass.
The trip was heavy on symbolism and short on new ideas to tackle the issue. Trump sought to paint a picture of uncontrolled crime and violence, which he blamed on Biden — while Biden sought to show he had agreed to a get-tough bill, blaming Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for blocking it.
It's only the second time during his presidency that Biden has been to the border. The trip comes as Biden goes on the offensive, trying to turn the tables on an issue that has been a liability for him.
Only 29% of respondents in a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist pollsaid they approve of the way Biden is handling immigration.
Biden is trying to flip the script on this issue
Biden met with Border Patrol agents and local leaders in Brownsville as he blamed House Republicans for failing to pass border funding and policy changes that the community has been seeking.
Biden has said Trump saw a political advantage for his party to block bipartisan legislation that would have tightened rules for asylum, expanded detention facilities and provided more money to hire more border agents. Had the legislation passed, it would have helped Biden show he was willing to get tough on the issue.
On Thursday, he urged Republicans to revive the package, and wrapped up his remarks by inviting Trump to work with him — something that is highly unlikely to happen in this election year.
"We can do it together. You know — and I know — it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country has ever seen. So instead of playing politics with the issue, why don't we just get together and get it done?" Biden said.
Trump sees the border as a winning issue for him
Trump — the front-runner in the race to be the Republican nominee in November — announced his trip to the border first. His team said Biden had chased him to the border and said that strategy would backfire.
Trump went to Eagle Pass, a community where the state government has been trying to play a bigger role in enforcement, and highlighted recent crimes committed by migrants in major cities.
Trump blamed Biden for the death of a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia. An undocumented Venezuelan immigrant has been arrested for the crime.
"I spoke to her parents yesterday. They're incredible people. They're devastated beyond belief. But she was beautiful, just so beautiful in so many ways. And brutally assaulted, horrifically beaten," Trump said.
Biden's campaign said Trump was fear mongering and said that violent crime had fallen during Biden's time in office — something the White House highlighted with police chiefs the day before the border visit.
"All he cares about is stirring up hate, stirring up division ... going even further than the extremism that we saw when he last held power," said Michael Tyler, a Biden spokesperson.
The stakes for both leaders are high
Polls show a majority of Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats on securing the border.
A new Monmouth University poll found that 53% of respondents support building a border wall, the first time a majority of Americans have backed the proposal since Trump launched his first presidential campaign.
As he did in his first run for office, Trump has made border security a central theme for 2024. He has promised to launch the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if elected.
Democrats saw an opening in a New York special election
But Democrats see an opportunity to counter a prevailing narrative that they are soft on border security while Republicans are viewed as hawkish.
House Democrat Tom Suozzi won his special election in New York earlier this month by campaigning hard on Republicans spoiling the bipartisan border bill.
Evan Roth Smith, a Democratic pollster for the political strategy group, Blueprint, said that showed it's possible for Democrats to paint Republicans as "unserious about border security."
He said it's not unlike the opportunity Democrats seized to effectively campaign against Republicans after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
"We now have proof-positive in this latest election that Republicans are out over their skis again on immigration. They don't know what to do," Roth Smith said. "And they've handed Democrats something they can run on for months or maybe years."
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:b5de3c7e-0339-4d85-a759-1d27d1f7a49a> | {
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Lawmakers plan new fund to pay for postsecondary training – money to come in 2025
A bill that would have expanded a college scholarship program was changed Thursday to create a separate fund for post-secondary training instead. Lawmakers will decide on the details of this new fund in 2025.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about fundamentally changing the purpose of the 21st Century Scholars program.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka) addressed those concerns with an amendment creating a new fund to pay for post-secondary training.
"We'll create a new fund which would give time during the next budget cycle to fund that fund," he said.
Lawmakers will create this new program next year when they write the state's new two-year budget.
HB 1001 would also expand a scholarship program for students with disabilities to include their siblings, despite concerns from several Democrats.
Join the conversation and sign up for the Indiana Two-Way. Text "Indiana" to 765-275-1120. Your comments and questions in response to our weekly text help us find the answers you need on statewide issues, including our project Civically, Indiana and our 2024 legislative bill tracker.
The Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program provides money to students with disabilities to pay for tutoring, educational programs, therapies and other support.
The bill would make ESA funds available to the siblings of students who have disabilities, even if those siblings do not have disabilities themselves.
Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) asked the committee to hold off on the ESA expansion. He said the program started in 2021 and lawmakers need more time to evaluate how it's working.
Qaddoura also said that if lawmakers expand the program now, there might not be enough money there for the students the accounts were originally created for.
"The dollars are limited," he said. "We will have a future by which folks who are benefiting from the ESA are going to come back and say there's not enough money in that pot."
However, the committee defeated Qaddoura's amendment. The bill now goes to the full Senate. | <urn:uuid:80139217-939b-4873-924c-1e840269a2c3> | {
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Home prices hit a record high in December despite high borrowing costs that continue to put housing out of reach for many Americans, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices report.
Home prices now stand 5.5% above where they were this time last year. The 10-city composite increased by 7% annually, up from a 6.3% increase in the previous month. At the same time, the 20-city composite posted a rise of 6.1%, up from a 5.4% increase in the previous month. The growth in home prices comes even as borrowers struggle with high mortgage rates.
"Looking back at the year, 2023 appears to have exceeded average annual home price gains over the past 35 years," S&P Dow Jones Indices Head of Commodities Brian Luke said. "With trend growth at the national level of 4.7%, a 5.5% return demonstrates solid, steady growth."
"While we are not experiencing the double-digit gains seen in the previous two years, above-trend growth should be well received considering the rising costs of financing home mortgages," Luke continued.
One way to take advantage of your home's equity is using a cash-out refinance to help you pay down debt or fund home improvement projects. Visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.
These cities saw the most significant house price gains
San Diego, Los Angeles and Detroit led the way for the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. San Diego reported the highest year-over-year growth, with an annual increase of 8.8% in December, followed by Los Angeles and Detroit, each with an 8.3% increase.
Portland saw the smallest gain in December, with home prices climbing just 0.3% from the prior year. However, December's report marked the first time in 2023 that all 20 cities reported a year-over-year gain.
Despite the annual gains, home prices nationwide showed some softening on a month-to-month basis, likely in response to high mortgage rates and a lack of housing supply. Home prices decreased by 0.4% in December from the previous month. The 10-city composite declined by 0.2% and the 20-city composite decreased by 0.3% – the indices measure home prices in major metros across the country.
Mortgage rates hit near 8% in November and dropped to the mid-6% range by the end of December. The consensus is that mortgage rates will continue to decline in 2024 as the Federal Reserve begins to dial back interest rates. This is likely to convince more consumers to return to the market to chase a limited housing supply, according to CoreLogic Chief Economist Selma Hepp.
"While S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index continues to show resiliency of home prices against surging borrowing costs, it also highlights continued headwinds for the housing market, namely elevated mortgage rates and severely lacking inventory of existing homes for sale," Hepp said. "And as mortgage rates continue to flirt in the 7% range, it will be difficult to convince existing homeowners to move right now."
"Nevertheless, as the recent surge in mortgage application data has shown following a drop in rates, buyers are anxiously waiting to jump in the market as soon as mortgage rates fall," Hepp continued. "That means that 2024 will show another year of home price highs."
Homebuyers can find the best mortgage rate by shopping around and comparing your options. You can visit an online marketplace like Credible to compare rates, choose your loan term and get preapproved with multiple lenders at once.
Fed in no rush to lower rates
Homebuyers will have to wait longer before seeing a meaningful drop in mortgage rates. Minutes from the most recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting revealed that officials who expressed optimism and caution on inflation are in no rush to cut interest rates. FOMC officials noted that no rate cuts would come "until they had gained greater confidence" that inflation was moving to the 2% target rate.
"Most participants noted the risks of moving too quickly to ease the stance of policy and emphasized the importance of carefully assessing incoming data in judging whether inflation is moving down sustainably to 2%," the minutes said.
The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at a 22-year high of 5.25% to 5.5% but plans to lower rates starting this year. Fed officials have predicted at least three rate cuts this year, with interest rates expected to tick down to 4.6%, according to the central bank's updated economic forecasts in its Summary of Economic Projections (SEP).
If you are looking to take advantage of the current mortgage rates by refinancing your mortgage loan or are ready to shop for the best rate on a new mortgage, consider visiting an online marketplace like Credible to compare rates and get preapproved with multiple lenders at once.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column. | <urn:uuid:184887c5-d452-4a08-a207-b5d32bf2dec0> | {
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Spring is nearly here, and with the season comes a spate of important hotel openings: the Tokyo flagship of a new brand from Aman Resorts; a renovated historic hotel on New York City's Upper East Side; and a castaway-style luxury escape in the Maldives that puts both sustainability and well-being front and center.
1. The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel
Malta-based Corinthia Hotels made a name for itself transforming historic buildings into luxury hotels. The brand's U.S. flagship is scheduled to open mid-2024 in a 1926 Upper East Side residence hotel that once hosted the likes of JFK and Bette Davis. Designer Martin Brudnizki created the interiors, which include 100 guest rooms and suites and 14 residences designed with richly textured fabrics in soothing greens, blues, and muted golds. Miami-based hospitality group Casa Tua will oversee the Italian restaurant, lounge, and private members club.
2. The Regent Santa Monica
Regent first established itself back in the 1970s, but over the past year or so, the luxury hotel brand (now part of IHG Hotels & Resorts) has unveiled such impressive renovations as the Carlton Cannes in the south of France and the Regent Hong Kong. By the time summer rolls around, Regent is expected to arrive stateside in Santa Monica, California, only a short walk from the pier. Expect a laid-back vibe but with a sophisticated twist: Guest rooms will feature beachy wainscoting on the walls, juxtaposed by sleek gray headboards and ceramic lamps. A pool deck will face the beach, and the hotel will offer butler service for Regent guests on the beach.
3. Emory Hotel London
Maybourne Hotel Group's Claridge's, Connaught, and Berkeley hotels in London are among the city's finest and most beloved luxury hotels, and that's why everyone's abuzz about the Emory Hotel, Maybourne's first new London hotel in 50 years, opening in April 2024. The vibe of this 61-room all-suite hotel will lean residential, and guest rooms will feature the work of a different interior designer on each of the nine floors (Alexandra Champalimaud, André Fu, Pierre-Yves Rochon, and Patricia Urquiola among them). The rooftop bar, with its 360-degree city views, will be for guests only. A four-floor subterranean wellness center includes a 22-meter pool. Hotelier Knut Wylde, recently the general manager of the Berkeley, will bring Maybourne's world-class hospitality to life at the Emory, which will offer private airport car transfers, hearty English breakfasts, and personal assistants to all guests.
4. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Opening later this spring, the second London property from Mandarin Oriental is housed in a modern red brick building in Mayfair designed by the firm of the late British architect Richard Rogers (behind the Pompidou Centre in Paris). The 50 guest rooms take cues from haute couture, with hand-painted silk wallpaper by de Gournay and carpets with floral motifs. Korea-born chef Akira Back makes his U.K. debut with an eponymous restaurant, while the spa includes a 25-meter-long indoor pool.
5. Royal Mansour Casablanca
A major port city with architectural styles ranging from Islamic Moroccan to art deco, Casablanca is perpetually in the shadow of Marrakech. This spring, it could feature more prominently on the traveler's map. The city will welcome the Royal Mansour Casablanca, the sister property to the iconic Royal Mansour in Marrakech. The hotel will open after a five-year restoration project in an art deco landmark built in 1952 as the city's first luxury hotel.
6. Singita Milele
Guests on the private Grumeti Reserve in Tanzania have 350,000 acres of varying, wildlife-filled Serengeti landscape to themselves. The five existing retreats on the reserve, all run by luxury safari standard-bearer Singita, range from the stately Sasakwa Lodge to the canvas-walled Sabora Tented Camp. In May 2024, Singita Milele opens. The villa, ideal for groups of up to 10 guests, will have ample outdoor living spaces, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, and a movie room. Suites will be named after the collective nouns of charismatic megafauna (a crash of rhino, for one) and will showcase local designers and materials, while floor-to-ceiling glass walls, outdoor showers, and sprawling terraces have been designed to make guests feel connected to the surrounding savanna. Explorations with Singita are all tailored to guests' interests and preferred schedules, be it a drive to see roaming wildebeest herds or a walk in the bush.
7. Karangoma
Wild Expeditions in Africa focuses on supporting small, locally owned camps and mobile safaris in Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, and Karangoma in Botswana's Okavango Delta will be no different. Opening in May 2024, the six-tent lodge is a partnership with local elder Olatotse Sarefo and is located on 74,000 acres of a wooded peninsula surrounded by the Okavango's seasonal floodplains. Accommodations, which sit on wooden decks and are linked by elevated pathways, will be inspired by Hambukushu basket weaving. Guest experiences will be centered on the cultural traditions of the Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu people with such activities as wildlife tracking and tutorials on making (and playing) local instruments. This being the Okavango, wildlife sightings abound: Observe lions, wild dogs, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and more on game drives, walks, or by mekoro boat.
8. Janu Tokyo
The flagship of Janu, a new sister brand to cult favorite global luxury hotel group Aman Resorts, is finally opening its doors in March 2024 in Tokyo's Roppongi neighborhood. Where Aman tends to be hushed and secluded, Janu leans playful and social. The 122 rooms and suites designed by Jean-Michel Gathy have a sleek and minimalistic aesthetic, and the 43,000-square-foot wellness center has a hammam, nine treatment rooms, and two pools.
9. Soneva Secret
In February 2024, Soneva Secret debuted in the secluded Maldivian Haa Dhaalu Atoll, a habitat for mantas, whales, dolphins, and more. Sonu Shivdasani, founder of the region's sustainability-minded Soneva Fushi, is behind the new Secret resort brand, which focuses on remote destinations that get travelers—children included—closer to nature while maintaining a near-zero carbon footprint. The 14 overwater and beach villas, served by 14 private chefs, were designed with an airy indoor-outdoor vibe and have retractable roofs for stargazing; the restaurant Out of This World has an overwater wine cellar with a glass floor.
10. Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
The Red Sea area of Saudi Arabia has an ambitious goal of creating 50 hotels by 2030, all required to follow regenerative tourism principles. Such recent newcomers include Six Senses and the St. Regis Red Sea Resort. And come spring, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will open 63 villas along white-sand shores, each with its own sea-facing pools and panoramic windows. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve will have a diving center for snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing on the Red Sea, as well as the Conservation House, which will educate guests about Saudi Arabian culture and natural landscapes through various activities on land and on the water. | <urn:uuid:d3532704-f6ec-4bc8-9cc2-d9f166b23540> | {
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Available in Indore | <urn:uuid:671199d3-277c-4b60-a4cf-24566eb6e0e4> | {
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A large US health care tech company was hacked. It's leading to billing delays and security concerns
A massive U.S. health care technology company says it was attacked by the ransomware group ALPHV, also known as Blackcat. Change Healthcare first acknowledged the attack last week. It is affecting health care providers across the country. Mostly it is…
Source: LacrosseTribune.com
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Great Lakes tribal leaders ask Biden to support Bad River in dispute with Enbridge
by Bob Hague on February 29, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Great Lakes tribes want the Biden Administration to oppose a pipeline. In a letter, leaders of 30 tribes including 9 of 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin, ask the administration to support the Bad River Chippewa in its dispute with […]
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Ice is off Madison area lakes
by WRN Contributor on February 29, 2024 at 7:27 PM
A short season for ice cover on Madison's lakes. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office has declared lakes Mendota and Monona open, as of Wednesday this week. Lake Mendota froze over on January 15th, meaning it was only frozen over for […]
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WIAA Boys Basketball Regional Quarter-Final Scores from Tuesday 2/27
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 7:14 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:12 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:03 PM
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Evers vetoes PFAS cleanup bill
by Bob Hague on February 28, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Governor Tony Evers vetoes a "forever chemicals" cleanup bill. The Republican authored bill passed the Legislature on party line votes. In a statement on Tuesday the Democratic governor said he continues to object to a provision that […]
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WBA Award
by WRJC WebMaster on February 28, 2024 at 5:58 PM
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BB FULL Game: Bangor at Royall (Panthers Win Outright SBC Championship)
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 8:16 PM
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Mile Bluff brings virtual intensive care to Mauston
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 5:59 PM
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (WiscReport.com) is not affiliated with Wisconsin Government or any state agency, department, entity, or other website or printed publication with Wisconsin in it's name. Established in 2002, we operate completely independent from political parties and other forms of outside influence. Our Mission is to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We are WiscReport on Twitter and Facebook. A Morbizco Internet Media online publication. – WisconsinReport.com. | <urn:uuid:28247fcd-801e-40e9-a68e-ff4b53bbecf7> | {
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Three former Department of Education employees charged with defrauding Arizona voucher program
Three former Arizona Department of Education employees were indicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges in what prosecutors say was a scheme to defraud more than $600,000 from an education voucher program
Three former Arizona Department of Education employees were indicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges in what prosecutors say was a scheme to defraud more than $600,000 from an education voucher program that has drawn criticism for its skyrocketing costs and lax regulation by the state.
Prosecutors said Thursday that the three employees approved applications for 17 students -– five of which were fictitious -- that admitted them into the voucher program using forged birth certificates and special education evaluations.
Delores Lashay Sweet, Dorrian Lamarr Jones and Jennifer Lopez, who were fired last year from the Department of Education, are accused of using the money for their own benefit, such as luxury purchases. Two of Sweet's adult children, Jadakah Celeste Johnson and Raymond Lamont Johnson Jr., also were charged with conspiracy and money laundering.
"They created ghost students with forged birth certificates – children that didn't exist –- and gave them fake disability diagnoses that would make them eligible for larger funding amounts," said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office is examining other suspected abuses of the voucher program.
No attorneys for the former Department of Education employees and Johnson's two adult children could found in court records. Phone messages left late Thursday afternoon for Sweet, Jones and Jadakah Johnson weren't immediately returned. Efforts to get Lopez's phone number were unsuccessful. And Raymond Johnson Jr. doesn't have a listed phone number.
The Democratic attorney general said the case shows the voucher program is an easy target for fraud and that the Republican-majority Legislature should take steps to lessen the opportunity for fraud within the voucher program.
Sen. John Kavanagh, a Republican who supports the vouchers, said he doesn't see the problem as fraud within the Empowerment Scholarships Account program, but rather fraud in the agency that runs it.
"I don't think that it's anymore damning of the ESA than when a bank teller steals money from the banking system," Kavanagh said. "It (the problem) is about the people, not the program."
Mayes said investigators were tipped off to the alleged fraud not by the education department, which runs the voucher program, but rather a credit union that noticed unusually large cash withdrawals.
In a statement, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne disputed that his office didn't tell the Attorney General's Office about the fraud, saying his office had alerted Mayes' office about concerns about two of the three employees. He also said he has placed more controls on the program and reported other instances of suspected abuse of the voucher program to Mayes' office.
"Our discovery of the activities of the two former staffers is consistent with my determination to root out potential fraud and abuse," Horne said.
The voucher program lets parents use public money for private-school tuition and other education costs. It started in 2011 as a small program for disabled children. But it was expanded repeatedly over the next decade until it became available to all students in 2022.
Originally estimated to cost $64 million for the current fiscal year, budget analysts now say it could top $900 million.
The changes in Arizona's voucher program led to a sharp increase in the number of participants. Before the expansion, nearly 12,000 students — including disabled children, those living on Native American reservations and children in low-performing schools — took part in the program. Now that all students can apply for the vouchers, more than 75,000 students participate.
Critics say the expansion is a drain on the state's coffers, while backers say the expansion lets parents choose the best school for their children.
About 75% of the students who got vouchers immediately after the program was expanded had no prior record of attending an Arizona public school, according to Department of Education data reported in 2022. That suggests the state subsidies went largely to students whose families already were paying private school tuition. ____ Associated Press writer Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:5839195d-fd47-4efe-8b51-8a7b46fbe61a> | {
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DENVER — Two new mobile apps aim to reduce food waste in the Denver metro area.
When Kenlys Otten first opened Cake Sugar World Bakery, it was an all-online operation where she baked what was ordered. She opened a retail location last year. With the addition of walk-in clients, it became very unpredictable to know how much product would be left on the shelves at the end of the day.
"It's something you can never control," Otten said.
Otten would give away what she could, but in other cases, she was forced to toss leftover food in the trash.
"I started getting sad because it's a lot of work. It's not only that, but we are organic. Our products are very expensive when it comes to ingredients," she explained.
On some days, she would toss up to $300 in product.
It's a common problem. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports about 40% of food produced in the U.S. is wasted. Experts say Denver is right on par with that, with costs that stretch far beyond financial.
"You're wasting all of the resources that went into producing, growing, transporting, refrigerating that food. That has a huge environmental impact," said Lesly Baesens, Denver Food Waste Program administrator.
Behind the residential sector, restaurants and grocery stores account for the most food waste. Otten recently teamed up with the app Too Good To Go.
"We connect businesses who have surplus food at different points throughout the day directly to consumers to purchase that food at a pretty steep discount," said Sarah Soteroff, a spokesperson with Too Good To Go. "We want to help businesses recoup some of the lost revenue."
Customers find participating businesses and can buy surprise bags of surplus food that would typically go to waste. The contents of the bags can range from a random assortment of groceries, ingredients from restaurants, or treats from a bakery. The cost can be up to 50% off of the retail price.
"Not only is it stop the waste but stop the hunger. Because some people may feel like, 'Oh, I wish I can have this dessert.' Well, now you can," said Otten of being able to sell her excess products at a more affordable price through the app.
Nonprofits have been busy developing apps to help tackle food waste, too.
"The fact that there are other apps and other organizations that are working toward the goal, that's just exciting to hear," said Hasan Robinson, app program coordinator for the We Rescue app.
Restaurants, delis and grocery stores can post their extra food to the app, and volunteers who download the app can click on one to help transport it to charities.
"So far this month while it's been open, we've recovered 61,000 servings of food," said Robinson.
Every little bit helps. Experts say having solutions right on a cell phone can be a good start.
"I think having a variety of different apps is actually a good thing. I believe that, sadly, there's so much food that does end up wasted that having different solutions that may work for different businesses is a good idea," said Baesens. | <urn:uuid:d9284200-f3b8-43fc-85bd-f09b00f1c2ff> | {
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Adds outlook, dividend, comments on travel industry
Feb 28 (Reuters) - Spanish travel booking group Amadeus AMA.MC said on Wednesday it expects its revenue to grow 11% to 14.5% this year after a solid 2023 boosted by the world travel post-pandemic recovery which allowed it to raise its dividend by two thirds.
"We are optimistic about our growth in 2024 and beyond," Chief Executive Luis Maroto said in a statement.
Adjusted net profit last year jumped 60% from the previous year out of revenue which rose 21%, Amadeus said. As a result it raised its dividend paid out of 2023 profit to 1.24 euros per share, from 0.74 euros the year before.
After the two-year pandemic slump, Amadeus has continued to benefit from a leisure travel boom despite high inflation rates and tightening monetary conditions.
Still, the company signalled a slowdown in the fourth quarter as booking cancellations rose - due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East - mainly in North America, the Middle East and Africa.
"The recovery in global air traffic during the fourth quarter continued, albeit at a slower pace than prior quarters," the company said.
Amadeus' net profit in the fourth quarter jumped to 248 million euros ($268.46 million) from 181 million euros in the same period a year earlier.
The net result was higher than the LSEG-compiled analyst consensus of 236 million euros.
($1 = 0.9238 euros)
(Reporting by Jakub Olesiuk and Matteo Allievi; Editing by Inti Landauro and Christopher Cushing)
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Federal prosecutors are asking for former President Donald Trump's classified documents to start on July 8.
Trump's attorneys and special counsel Jack Smith are asking for the trial in the classified documents case to be pushed, CNN reported.
Trump's attorney proposed August 12 as an alternative date, according to The Associated Press. Smith proposed July 8.
The August 12 date happens to come weeks after the Republican National Convention, the AP reported.
"As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution, which affords President Trump a Sixth Amendment right to be present and to participate in these proceedings as well as...a First Amendment right that he shares with the American people to engage in campaign speech," defense lawyers wrote, according to the AP.
The trial was previously scheduled to start in May. According to Reuters, District Judge Aileen Cannon is expected to address the trial date at a hearing Friday.
Trump faces dozens of charges related to his handling of classified documents. Also charged are his aide, Walt Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveria.
The case involves 1.3 million pages of unclassified discovery, about 60 terabytes of closed-circuit television footage spanning at least nine months and 5,500 pages of classified discovery, court records show.
The United States Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to hear arguments to see if Trump gets presidential immunity in the election interference case which could impact the classified documents case as well, according to CNN reported.
Trump has several other criminal cases and the schedule for those remains unclear, according to CNN.
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Texas battles historic wildfires as snow covers scorched land in the Panhandle
STINNETT, Texas (AP) — A dusting of snow covered a desolate landscape of scorched prairie, dead cattle and burned out homes in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, giving firefighters brief relief in their desperate efforts to corral a blaze that has grown into the largest in state history.
The Smokehouse Creek fire grew to nearly 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers). It merged with another fire and is just 3% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Gray skies loomed over huge scars of blackened earth in a rural area dotted with scrub brush, ranchland, rocky canyons and oil rigs. In Stinnett, a town of about 1,600, someone propped up an American flag outside of a destroyed home.
Dylan Phillips, 24, said he hardly recognized his Stinnett neighborhood, which was littered with melted street signs and the charred frames of cars and trucks. His family's home survived, but at least a half a dozen others were smoking rubble.
"It was brutal," Phillips said. "The street lights were out. It was nothing but embers and flames."
The Smokehouse Creek fire's explosive growth slowed Thursday as snow fell and winds and temperatures dipped, but it was still untamed and threatening. It is the largest of several major fires burning in the rural Panhandle section of the state. It has also crossed into Oklahoma.
Firefighter Lee Jones was helping douse the smoldering wreckage of homes in Stinnett to keep them from reigniting when temperatures and winds increase Friday and into the weekend.
"The snow helps," said Jones, who was among a dozen firefighters called in from Lubbock to help. "We're just hitting all the hot spots around town, the houses that have already burned."
Authorities have not said what ignited the fires, but strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures fed the blazes.
"The rain and the snow is beneficial right now, we're using it to our advantage," Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman Juan Rodriguez said of the Smokehouse Creek fire. "When the fire isn't blowing up and moving very fast, firefighters are able to actually catch up and get to those parts of the fire."
Authorities said 1,640 square miles (4,248 square kilometers) of the fire were on the Texas side of the border. Previously, the largest fire in recorded state history was the 2006 East Amarillo Complex fire, which burned about 1,400 square miles (3,630 square kilometers) and resulted in 13 deaths.
An 83-year-old woman was the only confirmed death so far this week. But with flames still menacing a wide area, authorities had yet to conduct a thorough search for victims or tally the numerous homes and other structures damaged or destroyed.
President Joe Biden, who was in Texas on Thursday to visit the U.S.-Mexico border, said he directed federal officials to do "everything possible" to assist fire-affected communities, including sending firefighters and equipment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has guaranteed Texas and Oklahoma will be reimbursed for their emergency costs, the president said.
"When disasters strike, there's no red states or blue states where I come from," Biden said. "Just communities and families looking for help. So we're standing with everyone affected by these wildfires and we're going to continue to help you respond and recover."
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties and planned to visit the Panhandle on Friday.
Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the weekend forecast and "sheer size and scope" of the blaze are the biggest challenges for firefighters.
"I don't want the community there to feel a false sense of security that all these fires will not grow anymore," Kidd said. "This is still a very dynamic situation."
Jeremiah Kaslon, 39, a Stinnett resident who saw neighbors' homes destroyed by flames that stopped just on the edge of his property, seemed prepared for what the changing forecast might bring.
"Around here, the weather, we get all four seasons in a week," Kalson said. "It can be hot, hot and windy, and it will be snowing the next day. It's just that time of year."
The woman who died was identified by family members as Joyce Blankenship, a former substitute teacher. Her grandson, Lee Quesada, said deputies told his uncle on Wednesday that they had found Blankenship's remains in her burned home.
Encroaching flames caused the main facility that disassembles America's nuclear arsenal to pause operations Tuesday night, but it was open for normal work by Wednesday. The small town of Fritch, which lost hundreds of homes in a 2014 fire, saw some 40 to 50 homes destroyed this week, Mayor Tom Ray said.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller estimated the number of cattle killed in the fires to be in the thousands, with more likely to come.
"There'll be cattle that we'll have to euthanize," Miller said. "They'll have burned hooves, burned udders."
Miller said individual ranchers could suffer devastating losses. But he predicted the overall impact on the Texas cattle industry and on the prices consumers pay for beef would be minimal. Cattle raised in the Panhandle are largely "range cattle," not feeder cattle that are sold to feed lots and eventually make their way to the kitchen table for consumption, he said.
___
Vertuno reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press reporters Ty O'Neil in Stinnett, Texas; Jamie Stengle in Dallas; and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:507e6fc2-e075-42a3-a1cd-cca15e90ebcc> | {
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I wasn't thrilled with the AR glasses I tried at MWC last year. I said at the time that everyone designing these devices could only offer tethered experiences. I also said that the industry was waiting for Apple to lead the way with its own AR device.
Fast-forward to MWC 2024, and the Apple Vision Pro is now out in the US. It's leading the way, and I expect more spatial computers to launch in the coming years as Apple perfects the Vision Pro and irons out the various issues that early adopters have highlighted.
As for the AR glasses that you might see at trade shows, they're still tethered, which means you have to connect them via a USB-C cable to a computer to enjoy any sort of immersive content. And that content will only be as good as the quality of that display inside the glasses.
That was my general mindset on Wednesday heading into a demo of Tecno's Pocket Go Windows AR gaming system.
I wasn't expecting anything mind-blowing, as marketing reps understandably overhype these devices. But let me tell you this right now: The Tecno Pocket Go system blew my mind from the moment I put the AR glasses on. I had so many questions, and I wanted the demo to last as long as possible while knowing that others behind me wanted to test it out.
The AR display steals the show
So, what is the Tecno Pocket Go console? The Chinese company calls it the industry's first Windows AR gaming set. The package consists of AR glasses (AR Pocket Vision) and a controller (Pocket Windows Handheld), which doubles as a Windows 11 computer. Connect the two via USB-C, and you get the Pocket Go console, which is unlike anything else on the market.
What really surprised me during the demo was the quality of the AR display. The Pocket Vision glasses feature a 0.71 micro-OLED 2K display that's incredibly crisp. The glasses project the equivalent of a 215-inch TV some 20 feet away.
These are augmented reality glasses, but "reality" isn't a core part of the experience. You can see real-life objects in your peripheral vision, of course, but that's about it. And I didn't care about any of that as I was running around in the game while moving my head in real life or while sitting in a bean bag chair asking questions about the Pocket Go.
The game ran smoothly, the controls were super responsive, and the virtual display moved as I moved my head. The headset is very comfortable, too. It's thicker than a pair of prescription glasses but still far less heavy than most VR or AR headsets. It even features adjustable diopter settings to accommodate your vision requirements.
I thought Tecno had a winner in that AR display experience from the moment I put the Pocket Vision headset on my head. But I was also surprised to learn this device was an actual Windows 11 PC. It's not Android or some proprietary operating system.
Therefore, you can play any high-end PC game on this Windows 11 machine while having the game show up on a virtual 215-inch display in front of your eyes.
On top of that, the Pocket Windows Handheld device can work as a Windows 11 computer. You can connect a keyboard and a mouse to it, and you'd get a spatial computer of sorts. If you use it with the AR Pocket Vision headset, that is. I haven't actually tried the PC experience on the Pocket Go, but Tecno assured me it's possible.
Not only that, but the AR Pocket Vision works with other devices. You could hook it up to a smartphone, Nintendo Switch, a PS5, a Steam Deck, or another PC.
The powerful Windows 11 PC
The AR Pocket Vision isn't meant to work as a standalone device, but Tecno packed plenty of tech in the glasses. In addition to that stunning screen, you get a six-axis gyroscope and an AI algorithm that helps track your head movements.
The glasses feature "N'BASS nano-structured acoustic materials and TECNO's unique vibration enhancement algorithm to convert in-game sounds into nuanced vibrations," per Tecno.
I realized after the fact that the sound must have been off or the volume was down during the demo. I did focus more on my conversation with the Tecno rep about the Pocket Go system than the in-game sounds. The controller gave me force feedback when something crashed into me. It must have been a car of some sort.
Considering the demo was relatively short, I could not assess whether the AR Pocket Vision would induce nausea. This can be an issue when it comes to wearable headsets. But I felt fine while using it.
As for the Windows 11 PC performance, Tecno equipped the controller with "the latest gaming CPU." That means 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 5.1GHz speed. Put differently, this is a 35W chip doing the heavy lifting for those high-end games. It's paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of storage. A PC-grade cooling system ensures proper heat dissipation.
Finally, the controller has a replaceable 50Wh battery for extended gaming sessions. Tenco didn't share a battery estimate with us, however.
The controller felt slightly larger than traditional gaming console controllers, but I did not experience any issues handling it, nor did it get too warm during the demo.
Price and release date
What I didn't like about the gaming experience was the lack of ammo in the game. Those testing the headset before me emptied the clip, and I was stuck with melee weapons in whatever game was playing on the headset. This tells you immediately that I'm not a gamer. It also tells you that plenty of people have tried it before me.
But trust me when I say this: the AR Pocket Vision experience is amazing, and the display is a huge part of that. That screen alone is a big upgrade over last year's slew of AR experiences.
Will the commercial product be as good? I can only hope so. Hopefully, the Pocket Go will work great as a gaming system and Windows PC. Again, I only tested playing a game on the Pocket Go. We'll have to wait for Tecno to ship it to see what else it can do.
When can you buy one? We still aren't sure. The Pocket Go is coming later this year, but Tecno has yet to announce the markets that will first get it.
As for the price, a Tecno rep told me that the Pocket Go might sell for around $1,000. That gets you both the AR Pocket Vision and the Pocket Windows Handheld. The company might sell the two gadgets separately, as they do not have to be paired. As I said, you could use the AR glasses with other gadgets. The Windows 11 PC would work with any type of display, not just virtual ones. | <urn:uuid:2060acb8-d85f-4f03-b5d4-ae05597f8b29> | {
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Federal prosecutors are requesting a July 8 trial for former President Donald Trump on charges that he illegally retained and concealed classified documents. Defense lawyers say no trial should be conducted this year but proposed August 12 as an alternative possibility.
The dueling proposals were submitted Thursday ahead of a pivotal hearing in Florida at which the judge in the case, Aileen Cannon, is expected to set a trial date. The trial is currently set for May 20, but Cannon indicated months ago that she expected to revisit that date during Friday's hearing.
The trial date in the classified documents prosecution has taken on added significance in light of the uncertainty surrounding a separate federal case in Washington charging Trump with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court said this week that it would hear arguments in late April on whether Trump as a former president is immune from prosecution, leaving it unclear whether that case might reach trial before the November election.
In their motion, defense lawyers made clear to Cannon their strong preference to avoid a trial in the current year while Trump — who faces four separate state and federal prosecutions — is campaigning for the Republican nomination for president.
A key element of the Trump team strategy has been to seek to delay his criminal cases until after the election. If elected president, Trump could order the Justice Department to dismiss the federal cases or could seek to pardon himself.
"As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution, which affords President Trump a Sixth Amendment right to be present and to participate in these proceedings as well as...a First Amendment right that he shares with the American people to engage in campaign speech," defense lawyers wrote.
But they proposed August 12 — weeks after the Republican National Convention — as a possible alternative trial date in the event Cannon seeks to move forward with a trial this year.
Defense lawyers have separately asked Cannon to dismiss the case, citing among other reasons the immunity argument that will soon be considered by the Supreme Court.
Of the four criminal cases that Trump faces, the only one with a trial date that seems poised to hold is a New York state prosecution charging him with falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments to a porn star. That case is set for trial on March 25.
Another case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, charges him with scheming to subvert the presidential election in Georgia in 2020. No trial date has been set. | <urn:uuid:52fa2fe8-45c4-4386-8cc6-3f3f3202e000> | {
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perfume company
- Pop CultureJAY-Z Victorious In Dispute Against Perfume Company, Wins Over $4.5 Million In RoyaltiesThe battle between JAY-Z and perfume company Parlux is over.By Thomas Galindo
- Pop CultureJay-Z Cleared In Breach Of Contract Lawsuit With Perfume Company ParluxAfter weeks of court hearings, Jay-Z has been cleared of any wrongdoing.By Taylor McCloud
- Pop CultureJay-Z Accuses Parlux Attorney Of "Playing Lawyer Tricks" During Trial With Perfume CompanyJay appeared in court again on Monday. By Taylor McCloud | <urn:uuid:d8cda094-5f91-4b88-aae4-0ce9bc5be5c7> | {
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Clarksville, TN – The upcoming week in Clarksville Montgomery County promises a mix of weather conditions, from showers to sunny spells.
Showers are expected tonight, mainly after 3:00am. The low temperature will be around 38°F, and the southeast wind will blow at approximately 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent, with new rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch.
On Friday, showers are likely, primarily before 8:00am. The day will remain cloudy, and the high temperature will reach 51°F. Expect a southeast wind of 5 to 10 mph, with new precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.
There's a 20 percent chance of showers Friday night before 7:00pm. The night will be cloudy, with a low of around 46°F. The southeast wind will gradually become calm.
Saturday will have partly sunny skies with a high near 66°F. Winds will be light, becoming south-southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
It will be mostly clear Saturday night, and the low temperature will be around 48°F. A gentle south-southeast wind of about 5 mph will accompany the clear skies.
Sunday will be delightful with mostly sunny skies and a high near 74°F. The south wind will pick up, reaching speeds of 5 to 15 mph, with occasional gusts up to 20 mph. As night falls, the clouds return, and the low temperature settles around 56°F.
To start the week on Monday, there's a 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Despite the potential rain, we'll still enjoy some sunshine, and the high temperature will hover around 74°F. The south wind will be more pronounced, reaching speeds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.
Showers are expected Monday night. The low will be around 56. The chance of precipitation is 80%.
Remember to stay weather-aware and keep up with Clarksville Online for any changes to the weather. | <urn:uuid:d8191ad2-8ac0-4800-86dc-32dee1dfa8a7> | {
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I was recently in Albuquerque to record an episode of our Unpacked by AFAR podcast. The episode was about the city's outdoor spaces and how they've been protected over the years. I met local historians, explored the Paseo del Bosque trail, and even interviewed a hot air balloon pilot—while flying in a balloon. But the narrative that surprised me the most was around food. Yes, there are fantastic chiles, but the city offers far more. It has a thriving Vietnamese culinary scene. It has a generation of new winemakers building on New Mexico's wine-making tradition. (It's the oldest wine-producing region in the United States.) It has a young Native farming community. And so much more. Here's how to take advantage of this Southwestern city's culinary bounty.
Where to eat
El Patio
Red or green? It's the official state question, shorthand for, "Do you want red or green chiles?" In this case, "chile" traditionally refers to the sauce served with whatever dish you're ordering. Find out which one you like best at El Patio, a classic joint opened in 1977, which offers dishes like frito pie, chile relleno, and its famous green chile enchiladas. One last chile hint: To try both, just ask for "Christmas."
Indian Pueblo Kitchen
Located inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the casual Indian Pueblo Kitchen restaurant offers an easy way to tour New Mexico's 19 pueblos through food. (The pueblo people are New Mexico's original inhabitants, and each pueblo is a sovereign nation.) On my visit, I swear I ate half the menu. We started with the blue corn–crusted fried Kool-Aid pickles, tasted our way through several stews, including the killer red chile beef bone posole, worked our way up to blue corn enchiladas, and rounded things off with a slice of peach pie. The perfect way to end, or kick off, a visit to the cultural center.
Sawmill Market
It's choose-your-own-adventure dining at this polished food hall—one of three in the city—located in what was once (surprise) a sawmill. There are almost 30 restaurants and food merchants in Sawmill Market, including Hot Pizza (wood-fired pies), Dr. Field Good's Burgers (comfort food with a New Mexican spin), and Little Madrid (paella, Basque cheesecake), plus a couple of cocktail bars, an excellent coffee shop, and other options.
Campo
I can't recommend a stay at Los Poblanos enough, but if you can't manage a night, at least have dinner at Campo. Under chef Christopher Bethoney, the restaurant uses ingredients grown on site, plus seasonal products from mostly New Mexican producers. The menu changes frequently, but the grilled New Mexican beef is a highlight, as is anything with corn. Plus, it has a strong list of New Mexican wines. Don't miss the Farm Shop, which sells coffee, bonkers-good pastries, and a whole host of delicious things to bring home, including the inn's new botanical-infused gins.
Coda Bakery
When a local food writer tells you that Coda serves the best bánh mì sandwich he's ever had, you listen. At this Vietnamese spot, they use local ingredients to craft gorgeous spring rolls, noodle bowls, and sandwiches (try the shrimp sausage). Rounding out the menu are smoothies and traditional Vietnamese coffees.
Mesa Provisions
Steve Riley is another local chef focusing heavily on New Mexican–grown food, and at his Central Avenue Mesa, he transforms it into things like chicken-fried quail, trout with a citrus beurre blanc and pickled mushrooms, and a magical, miso-accented charred cabbage dish. I sat at the bar, where I got to chat with the bartenders, and Steve himself—a 2024 James Beard semifinalist—as I sipped on a local sparkling wine and snacked on green chile–studded cheddar biscuits. A must-visit!
Barelas Coffee House
The Barelas neighborhood is one of the oldest communities in Albuquerque, and in many ways, it is the city's Latin heart. It's home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, as well as the revered Barelas Coffee House, a restaurant opened in 1978 by longtime resident Michael Gonzales. Try classic dishes like huevos rancheros, enchiladas, and the very popular menudo, a traditional Mexican soup made here with tripe and red chile paste (and with the reputed power to cure hangovers). One of the restaurant's many claims to fame: Barack Obama once dined here.
Soo Bak Seoul Bowl
This popular spot started as a food truck, and locals loved it so much, chef-owner John Katrinak went brick and mortar. At Soo Bak, he used both his mother and grandmother's recipes to craft the Korean–New Mexican menu, which ranges from classic bibimbap with kimchi and rice to the New Mexican bowl with spicy pork, green chile, and Korean pepper sauce.
Where to drink
Bow & Arrow Brewing
Bow & Arrow is the first Native women–owned brewery in the United States. Owners Missy Begay and her wife, Shyla Sheppard, use Southwestern ingredients—often Indigenous ones, purchased locally—to craft creative, tasty beers. Beers like the Denim Tux, a nod to the official wardrobe of the Southwest, is made with blue corn from the Santa Ana Pueblo. Plus, through their annual Native Land Initiative, they brew a beer to acknowledge the land of the Tiwa people that the brewery sits on, share the recipes with breweries around the country, and donate all proceeds to local Native American nonprofits.
La Cumbre
Play foosball, grab some food, and enjoy fan favorites like the Elevated IPA at this longtime local brewery, which takes its name from the Spanish word for "summit." La Cumbre founder and brewer Jeff Erway rotates in seasonal brews like the Tonal Bliss IPA, but his goal is to really dial in the classics. He also has a second location that only serves beer.
The Copper Lounge
At this queer friendly bar, the vibes are speakeasyish and the cocktails are creative. Sit beneath the copper ceiling—hey, it's the Copper Lounge!—and sip on an El Mezcalero (pineapple juice, mezcal, ginger) or a Kentucky Ninja (Japanese whisky, bourbon, lemon). Or sit in the lounge, where they screen old-timey movies. Small bites, such as Sonoran dogs and elote, are also available.
Happy Accidents
You know you'll get a good drink when the people who run it were named the best bar team at the 2023 Spirited Awards, the most prestigious bar award. (You may also recognize Happy Accidents co-owner Kate Gerwin from her appearance on Netflix's Drink Master). Choose from more than 40 cocktails, from the spirit-free Chris Barley (roasted buckwheat, garam masala, hops) to the very spirited Dirty Talk (kind of like a dirty martini, but with olive, garlic, leek, and rosemary gins).
Teddy Roe's
Another excellent watering hole, this one a true speakeasy. I won't reveal how to find Teddy Roe's, because that's half the fun, but your adventuring (which may or may not begin in a bakery . . . ) will be rewarded with a hefty list of elevated, creatively named cocktails, like the blueberry-infused Blues on Michigan Avenue or green tea–accented take on a milk punch called the Genuine Risk. Or ask one of the bartenders—one may just be co-owner Jessica O'Brien—to whip you up something special.
Zendo Coffee
Sometimes you need a brew of a different sort, and Zendo Coffee (there are two locations) hits the spot. The café doubles as an art gallery, so you'll always have something to look at while you savor your Aztec latte (dark chocolate, cayenne) or Regis (double shot, sparkling water, house-made whipped cream). Plus, the pastries from the Witching Flour Bakery are fantastic, even the gluten-free doughnuts.
Where to eat, drink, and be outside
Bike and Taco tour with Routes
Albuquerque has some excellent trails, so don't miss an opportunity to see the city on two wheels. Routes, located in Old Town, rents bikes, but it also offers guided tours, from those that focus on murals to those that focus on Breaking Bad filming locations. The newest offering is the ABQ Bike & Taco tour, which takes you to three different taco spots, with cycling breaks in between.
Level 5 at Hotel Chaco
There's no better panoramic view in the city than the one at the top of Hotel Chaco, located across the street from the Sawmill Market. On a sunny day (and there are many of them in Albuquerque), its Level 5 rooftop restaurant is the place to be for sunset. And the food and drinks match the view—on my visit, I watched the sun dip below the horizon as I sipped an Old-Fashioned and ate the Asparagus Calabacitas, a mix of summer squash and asparagus accented with a swirl of red chile gel and served with tortillas. | <urn:uuid:dcea66aa-5e1f-4f9a-b473-297260f24fd9> | {
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Will the timing of the Supreme Court's Trump case mean no trial before the election?
The Supreme Court's decision to hearformer President Trump's immunity claim, and the timing of it, have enormous consequences--not just for Trump, but for the American political system, and for the court itself.
Nobody really knows what's going on behind the scenes at the Supreme Court. But there are hints, as well as questions. Among the questions are these: Why did the court decline special counsel Jack Smith's request to hear the immunity case in December, but agree to hear Trump's appeal now? And why, when Trump appealed, did the court take more than two weeks to say it would hear his case, and then set a briefing schedule that all but ensures that Trump will either face trial during the presidential campaign or possibly not face trial at all.
The court's timing
"Surely the court was aware that timing is everything here," says UCLA law professor Richard Hasen. "And the fact that they set this for the last week of the term when they're going to be the busiest that they are going to be all year...it looks like they recognize that this trial may well not happen before the election."
The court could have moved faster. It has historically done that in other big cases with political ramification. Indeed, in Bush v. Gore the court decided the 2000 electionin three days. And in the Watergate tapes case, the court ruled against President Nixon 16 days after oral argument.
What makes this term different is that there are a dozen huge non-Trump-related landmine cases that are pending, several to be argued in April, and none yet decided.
Given that, University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck says he thinks that the schedule the court set out Wednesday is pretty speedy. And he thinks the court could deliver an opinion in the Trump immunity case by the end of May. A hint of that is what he calls the "weird language" in the court's order yesterday, language that suggests the lower courts could proceed to trial faster than usual if the Supreme Court rules against the former president.
Kavanaugh's likely role
Both Hasen and Vladeck agree on one thing—the pivotal role that likely has been played and will be played in this case by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. While other members of the court have served in the executive branch, Kavanaugh is the justice who has worked most closely with a president. He was staff secretary to George W. Bush and worked with him on a daily basis.
As Vladeck observes, Kavanaugh "has a uniquely pro-executive perspective, not just having been in the White House, but having been in that White House at a period of time when the White House was claiming as much power as we've ever seen a White House claim."
Most defenders of executive power believe that the president, and presumably a former president, is entitled to a hearing at the Supreme Court in any non-frivolous case that that involves him personally.
Trump, of course, is a former president, and it's hard to find a scholar who believes that he has total immunity now that he is out of office.
"Even an executive power person like Justice Kavanaugh surely doesn't believe that a president could order SEAL Team Six to assassinate political rivals without facing potential criminal consequences," says Hasen.
The forever shield from criminal prosecution that Trump is advocating would allow just such immunity. His lawyers conceded the point in the lower court.
"The problem that President Trump is going to run into at the end of the day is even the most generous reading of a line between official and non-official acts puts at least much of the January 6th indictment on the non-official side of the line," says Vladeck. "I don't see any universe where the court would say he has immunity for all of it."
The hitch, says Vladeck, is that if the court delivers that kind of a "mixed decision," how much does that "throw a wrench in the trial clock?"
The other Trump cases
When and how the Supreme Court decides the Trump case will undoubtedly affect other Trump cases awaiting trial. The election interference case in Georgia almost certainly will not take place before the election. But when and if it takes places, Vladeck notes that "there is nothing about being president that requires you to call the secretary of state of Georgia and ask him to fine 11,000 more votes."
That is "even more true" in the Mar-a-Lago case, he says, because the charges involve allegations that the former president illegally removed classified documents from the White House and then obstructed government efforts to get them back--charges that only involve Trump's conduct after he left the White House.
And finally there is the New York case charging Trump with paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, also at a time when Trump was not president, though the allegation is that he was trying to hide his sexual liaison.
Even though the stakes are "the most trivial," in the New York case, Hasen observes, the trial is not in doubt. Jury selection is set to begin March 25, and Hasen says that some of the district attorney's theories under New York law "are more plausible than I first thought in terms of... this being a felony."
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:f9a675d9-ba46-47af-aaf1-372f974ffdcd> | {
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Alabama Sen. Katie Britt will deliver Republicans' response to the 2024 State of the Union, lawmakers announced on Thursday.
Britt, at 42, is the youngest female senator and the first woman elected to the post from Alabama. She announced the response plan in a joint statement with Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"The Republican Party is the party of hardworking parents and families, and I'm looking forward to putting this critical perspective front and center," Britt said.
In a further announcement on X, Britt said "We'll have a candid conversation about the future of our nation — and I'll outline the Republican vision to secure the American Dream for generations to come."
I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to speak directly to my fellow Americans on March 7.
We'll have a candid conversation about the future of our nation—and I'll outline the Republican vision to secure the American Dream for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/QN9q2eJUL1— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) February 29, 2024
Sen. McConnell praised Britt in the announcement, saying "she's wasted no time becoming a leading voice in the fight to secure a stronger American future and leave years of Washington Democrats' failures behind."
Britt's delivery of the speech has echoes of the response delivered last year by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. In it, Gov. Sanders criticized President Joe Biden's age and said "It's time for a new generation of Republican leadership."
Britt's address is expected to follow President Biden's State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7.
The specifics of the presidential address generally aren't shared ahead of time, but this year it is expected to touch on major issues such as the U.S. response to the Israel-Hamas war, recent changes to the legal landscape of women's reproductive health and the 2024 presidential election.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | <urn:uuid:b69a5dcc-3186-446c-8be9-8730a28cb0bd> | {
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Predictions abound for credit card interest rates in the coming months. Like many interest rates, it's likely credit card interest rates will drop if the Fed starts cutting rates.
Credit card APRs have risen steadily for the last 22 months, landing at 22.75% in November 2023, Federal Reserve data showed. Rising rates were largely attributed to the Fed's frequent rate hikes throughout the year.
Rates aren't expected to drop by much, especially compared to how much they've increased in recent years. What the Fed does with interest rates is one of the biggest determining factors.
"Ultimately, with the changes of the fed funds rate, the prime rate also changes, which then in turn increases or decreases the APR on your credit card," John Jones, investment advisor at Heritage Financial, said.
If you're stuck with high interest credit card debt, combining that debt into a lower interest personal loan can help you become debt-free sooner. Use an online marketplace like Credible to make sure you're getting the best rate and lender for your needs.
Credit card debt reaches new high
While credit card interest rates may drop this year, many Americans still face growing credit card balances. The total credit card debt in the U.S. reached $1.08 trillion in 2023, a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report said. That's an increase of 4.7% since 2022.
Sixty-one percent of Americans are in credit card debt, according to a Clever Real Estate study. The average balance of those surveyed was $5,875. Millennials face the largest credit card debt burden, owing nearly $6,800, on average.
Some Americans spend over $1,500 each month on their credit cards. Due to this high spending, over a quarter of credit card users find it difficult to make monthly minimum payments. Fourteen percent missed a payment in 2023, Clever's study found.
Credit card debt remains a persistent problem for Americans. Twenty-three percent of credit cardholders reported it'll take more than five years to pay down their balances.
This debt is also holding back consumers from making other major purchases. Forty-seven percent of respondents to Clever's survey said they couldn't save up an emergency fund due to their debt. Twenty-two percent have put buying a home on hold because of high credit card debt levels.
Credit card debt can be difficult to get out of, but a low interest personal loan can help. Credible can help you find reputable personal loan lenders that provide timely funding.
Buy now, pay later usage is growing
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) options are also becoming more popular among some consumers. About half of adults have used BNPL apps, Statista reports.
"It's never been more important for people to be able to hang onto their cash, as more consumers are looking to use BNPL to pay for the necessities of life … all the way around to fun things like travel and entertainment," Jacqueline White, president of i2c, said in a PYMENTS release.
There's a particular kind of consumer that tends to choose buy now, pay later options. A Liberty Street Economics report found that 41% of applicants for BNPL plans were recently denied other forms of credit.
Similarly, consumers with lower credit scores often use BNPL, despite being offered BNPL options less frequently at checkout. Forty-three percent of those who use BNPL plans have a credit score below 620, according to Liberty Street's data.
When it comes to personal loan shopping, Credible can do the heavy lifting for you. With the click of a button, Credible will show you multiple lenders, rates and terms in one spot.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column. | <urn:uuid:7593001d-1688-45dc-88ef-ea7a7067422d> | {
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Georgia House passes bill requiring police to help arrest immigrants after student's killing
Georgia House Republicans are backing a bill that would require every eligible police and sheriff's department to help identify undocumented immigrants, arrest them and detain them for deportation
ATLANTA -- Georgia House Republicans are backing a bill that would require every eligible police and sheriff's department to help identify undocumented immigrants, arrest them and detain them for deportation.
The House voted 97-74 on Thursday for House Bill 1105 after police accused a Venezuelan man of beating a nursing student to death on the University of Georgia campus. The measure moves to the state Senate for more debate.
Jose Ibarra was arrested Friday on murder and assault charges in the Thursday death of 22-year-old Laken Riley. Ibarra, 26, is a Venezuelan citizen who immigration authorities say unlawfully crossed into the United States in 2022. It is unclear whether he has applied for asylum.
Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University's Athens campus, after starting her college career at the Athens campus of the University of Georgia. She was found dead Feb. 22 after a roommate reported that she didn't return from a morning run in a wooded area.
The bill would also set new requirements for how jail officials should check with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine whether people are known to be in the country illegally. Republican state Rep. Jesse Petrea of Savannah said that clause is needed to enforce existing state law requiring sheriffs to check with ICE on people who don't appear to be American citizens.
"Fixing policy in the face of unspeakable tragedy is not politics," said Rep. Houston Gaines, an Athens Republican. "It's doing the right thing to ensure something like this never occurs again."
Sheriffs deny they are disregarding the law to check with ICE. The bill would make sheriffs who don't check immigration status guilty of a misdemeanor. The bill would also deny state funding to jails and sheriffs that don't cooperate.
Democrats warned the bill would cause people to be detained for long periods, would separate parents born elsewhere from U.S.-born children and spark distrust of police in immigrant communities. They said it was rooted in a false narrative that immigrants bring crime, citing studies that show immigrants are less likely to be arrested.
"We want justice for what happened to Laken Riley. We don't want violent people who are here legally or not legally to be on the streets," said Rep. Esther Panitch, a Sandy Springs Democrat. "But this bill won't do it. This bill won't close our borders. It will not make us safer, and it will not make women safer."
The law would move Georgia closer to states with more aggressive immigration laws like Texas, which starting in March will allow police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally and give local judges the authority to order them out of the country.
Georgia itself passed a prior harsh law cracking down on immigration in 2011, although it later backed away from parts of it. Rep. Pedro Marin, a Duluth Democrat who is the longest-serving Latino member of the House, said he has seen people capitalize on fear of foreigners before.
"I have witnessed again and again, ambitious representatives and senators use fear as a strategy to attain and maintain electoral office," Marin said.
But Rep. Rey Martinez, a Latino Republican from Loganville, said his party is only targeting criminals.
"We're not after the immigrants. We're not. We're not after them," Martinez said. "What we are after is these folks who commit crime. That's what we're after."
Petrea added pointed criticism of Ibarra: "He said he was here for asylum. He was here for assault."
The requirement to help ICE would require eligible cities and counties to apply for what is known as a 287(g) agreement to let local officers enforce immigration law. It's unclear how many would be accepted — President Joe Biden's administration has de-emphasized the program.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center in July counted six of 159 Georgia counties with 287(g) agreements with ICE. Five of those are only in jails. Oconee County, an Athens suburb, serves warrants for immigration violations and deportation orders. State agencies also cooperate with ICE.
At least three Georgia counties dropped jail-based cooperation with ICE, according to the center, including two big suburban Atlanta counties where it was major campaign issue — Gwinnett County and Cobb County.
"This program ripped apart families, children and families," said House Democratic Whip Sam Park of Lawrenceville.
But Petrea said local assistance to is needed. "Not cooperating with the federal immigration authorities endangers public safety and it makes a mockery out of our nation's immigration laws, period," he said.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:07743f6a-06e8-4378-a6ab-07005c81f567> | {
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He said, "I was on her show a half-dozen times. When she stepped back from it, she contacted me and I talked to her off-camera some. I got to know one thing about her… I found her to be a very nice, very caring, very sincere person. And so I hope the world just extends her some grace at this point."
Dr. Phil also shared his take on what America is talking about: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship. He said, "I like her. I think she's very talented… They seem to go together well."
He even offered his place for a wedding venue, saying, "I've got 5 acres… I got room."
As for the issues plaguing America right now, Dr. Phil commented, "I'm always gonna deal with real people facing real challenges looking for real solutions, but the questions have changed. I think family is the backbone of any society and I think the family in America is under attack. Some of it is unintended consequences of technology and some of it is by design."
Dr. Phil brought up the impact of social media on kids, saying, "We check our phones 352 times a day on average. That includes old people. And young people, what they don't know is they're actually targeting not just the child in general, the teen in general, but their mental health.
"They're specifically saying, 'If I can get them upset, anxious, depressed, or lonely, they will click more and more and more,'" Dr. Phil argued. "So the algorithm is designed to feed the conflict that makes them feel that way. Makes them mentally and emotionally sick for profit."
Dr. Phil is launching his new network in April. He dished, "April 2, Merit Street Media. We think we'll launch somewhere between 75 and 90 million homes. I think it will be the biggest launch since FOX."
He emphasized, "This is a destination network. I want people to be able to turn it on in the morning, leave it on all day, and not be concerned that their kids are gonna see something that they have to worry about." | <urn:uuid:aca4bfdb-9acc-4cc1-ada6-91e8004fd4bf> | {
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DES MOINES — Legislators are considering changes in Iowa's landlord-tenant law.
Landlords are currently required to notify renters three business days before eviction proceedings begin. A bill that's cleared initial review in the House and Senate would let holidays and weekends be counted if those days fall in the three-day notice period. Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, said that's a concern.
"Someone could go out of town for a long weekend and all of a sudden they get home and here's this notice and they're being evicted," Davis-Cook said, "and they haven't had the time to react to the notice and respond."
Keith Denner owns rental properties in Polk and Dallas Counties. He said the bill provides clarity as well as liability protection to landlords. Denner said there have been inconsistent rulings on that notice period from Iowa magistrates who oversee evictions, plus some rulings have declared sections of rental agreements illegal. The bill says landlords could not be sued if the illegal sections of a lease were never enforced.
"All we're saying is if there's something that turns out to be illegal there isn't an adverse consequence to us, unless we try to enforce it," Denner said during a House subcommittee hearing on the bill.
Representative Keenan Judge, a Democrat from Waukee, said the bill has major flaws. "This is completely one-sided and out of balance and needs to be corrected," Judge said.
Representative Phil Thompson, a Republican from Boone, said the legislature needs to ensure eviction proceedings are consistent throughout the state.
"We need some uniformity here and we need to clearly define some of this," Thompson said.
The bill is likely to be considered in the House Ways and Means Committee next week | <urn:uuid:22509ea2-5377-45b3-a76e-bde059b15a7b> | {
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ExxonMobil faces dozens of lawsuits from states and localities alleging the company lied for decades about its role in climate change and the dangers of burning fossil fuels. But now, ExxonMobil is going on the offensive with a lawsuit targeting investors who want the company to slash pollution that's raising global temperatures.
Investors in publicly-traded companies like ExxonMobil try to shape corporate policies by filing shareholder proposals that are voted on at annual meetings. ExxonMobil says it's fed up with a pair of investor groups that it claims are abusing the system by filing similar proposals year after year in an effort to micromanage its business.
ExxonMobil's lawsuit points to growing tensions between companies and activist investors calling for corporations to do more to shrink their climate impact and prepare for a hotter world. Interest groups on both sides of the case say it could unleash a wave of corporate litigation against climate activists. It is happening at a time when global temperatures continue to rise, and corporate analysts say most companies aren't on track to meet targets they set to reduce their heat-trapping emissions.
"Exxon is really upping the ante here in a big way by bringing this case," says Josh Zinner, chief executive of an investor coalition called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, whose members include a defendant in the ExxonMobil case. "Other companies could use this tactic not just to block resolutions," Zinner says, "but to intimidate their shareholders from even bringing these [climate] issues to the table."
ExxonMobil said in an email that it is suing the investor groups Arjuna Capital and Follow This because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) isn't enforcing rules governing when investors can resubmit shareholder proposals. A court is the "the right place to get clarity on SEC rules," ExxonMobil said, adding that the case "is not about climate change."
Other corporations are watching ExxonMobil's case, says Charles Crain, a vice president at the National Association of Manufacturers, which represents ExxonMobil and other industrial companies.
"If companies are decreasingly able to get the SEC to allow them to exclude proposals that are obviously politically motivated, then the next question is, well, can the courts succeed where the SEC has failed — or, more accurately, not even tried?," Crain says.
Activists push companies for more aggressive climate strategies
The shareholder proposal from Arjuna and Follow This called for ExxonMobil to cut emissions faster from its own operations and from its supply chain, including the pollution that's created when customers burn its oil and natural gas. That indirect pollution, known as Scope 3 emissions, accounts for 90% of ExxonMobil's carbon footprint, according to Arjuna and Follow This. The proposal is similar to others that the investor groups submitted to ExxonMobil in recent years and which ExxonMobil says received scant support from other shareholders.
After ExxonMobil sued the groups in federal court in Texas in January, Arjuna and Follow This withdrew the proposal and promised not to submit it to ExxonMobil again. But ExxonMobil refuses to drop its case.
Arjuna declined to comment. The firm said in a court filing that ExxonMobil''s climate targets aren't as ambitious as those of other big oil and gas companies, and that its shareholder proposal was meant to "foster better investment outcomes by addressing the material threat that climate change poses" to the company.
Mark van Baal, founder of Follow This, said in a statement that ExxonMobil is trying to stifle shareholders.
"Apparently, Exxon does not want shareholders to vote on whether the company should accelerate its efforts to reduce emissions," van Baal said. "This is the concern of more and more investors who want [to] safeguard the long-term future of the company and the global economy in view of the climate crisis."
Companies are offering more transparency on climate, but activists say they need to see action
Last year was the hottest ever recorded on Earth, and the effects were devastating. Rising temperatures are driving more extreme weather, from heat waves to floods and droughts. And scientists say the impacts will only get worse because humans keep putting more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Thousands of peoples' lives are disrupted or harmed by extreme weather, and the economic costs are enormous. Weather disasters in the United States last year inflicted at least $92.9 billion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"What we've seen, unfortunately, is that even in the face of disclosure and more transparency from these companies, not much has actually changed from a strategy perspective," says Kevin Chuah, an assistant professor at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business.
The impact of rising temperatures has also led states and municipalities to sue ExxonMobil and other oil and gas companies for the threats that their communities are facing, and the industry's alleged efforts to muddy the public's understanding of climate science. The latest lawsuits were filed by the city of Chicago and the state of California.
Critics say ExxonMobil's lawsuit is part of a broader effort to limit investor activism
Activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This use shareholder proposals to push corporations to go further on climate. But they've struggled in recent years to get support from broader groups of shareholders. Experts say investors are hesitant to back new climate proposals when companies already have policies to disclose and cut emissions. And they say investors worry that proposals have gotten too prescriptive and might interfere with how companies are run.
"I think these are financially material issues," says Chuah of Northeastern University. "And therefore many investors are bringing these concerns up."
ExxonMobil says it is committed to cutting emissions from its operations. But the idea that activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This can quickly push the company out of the oil and gas business with new climate policies is "simplistic and against the interests of the vast majority of ExxonMobil shareholders," the company said in a court filing in Texas.
ExxonMobil said in a statement to NPR that while shareholders are entitled to submit proposals to the company, they don't have "an unlimited right to put forth any proposal to do anything."
"Their intent is to advance their agenda rather than creating long-term value for shareholders," ExxonMobil said of Arjuna and Follow This.
Parts of corporate America have grown frustrated with the shareholder proposal process since the SEC issued guidance in 2021 that made it harder for companies to turn away some resolutions. The SEC specifically cited shareholder proposals that ask companies to set targets and timeframes to address climate change, saying it would no longer view those kinds of resolutions as inappropriate as long as companies are free to decide how to meet the goals.
The National Association of Manufacturers has argued that forcing companies to publish shareholder proposals that deal with "contentious issues unrelated to [their] core business or the creation of shareholder value," including climate change, violates their First Amendment right of free speech. And Republicans in Congress introduced legislation last year that would allow companies to reject shareholder proposals concerning environmental, social or political issues.
"Certainly, there are material climate-related topics that are going to be relevant for a company considering its growth into the future," Crain says. But he says activists too often pursue a "political goal" rather than try to help companies "understand and mitigate those climate related risks or opportunities for their operations."
Crain declined to discuss individual companies or shareholder proposals, and he says there isn't an objective way to determine when a shareholder proposal is politically motivated.
ExxonMobil's critics say its lawsuit is part of a broader effort to curtail shareholder activism, especially around social and environmental issues. "And the reason is because it's one of the few effective avenues left to hold companies accountable," says Zinner of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Corrected: February 29, 2024 at 12:00 AM EST
An earlier version of this article incorectly referred to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Accountability. The group is called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. | <urn:uuid:bc5c4c00-e20f-4210-bd77-fe5de633ad4d> | {
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Clark's final regular-season home game to be among priciest tickets in women's college hoops history
Caitlin Clark's final regular-season home game at Iowa is likely to bring one of the priciest tickets in women's college basketball history. The cheapest secondary-market ticket listed Thursday on TickPick.com for the Sunday game against No. 2 Ohio State was…
Source: LacrosseTribune.com
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Great Lakes tribal leaders ask Biden to support Bad River in dispute with Enbridge
by Bob Hague on February 29, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Great Lakes tribes want the Biden Administration to oppose a pipeline. In a letter, leaders of 30 tribes including 9 of 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin, ask the administration to support the Bad River Chippewa in its dispute with […]
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Ice is off Madison area lakes
by WRN Contributor on February 29, 2024 at 7:27 PM
A short season for ice cover on Madison's lakes. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office has declared lakes Mendota and Monona open, as of Wednesday this week. Lake Mendota froze over on January 15th, meaning it was only frozen over for […]
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WIAA Boys Basketball Regional Quarter-Final Scores from Tuesday 2/27
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 7:14 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:12 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:03 PM
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Evers vetoes PFAS cleanup bill
by Bob Hague on February 28, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Governor Tony Evers vetoes a "forever chemicals" cleanup bill. The Republican authored bill passed the Legislature on party line votes. In a statement on Tuesday the Democratic governor said he continues to object to a provision that […]
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WBA Award
by WRJC WebMaster on February 28, 2024 at 5:58 PM
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BB FULL Game: Bangor at Royall (Panthers Win Outright SBC Championship)
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 8:16 PM
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Mile Bluff brings virtual intensive care to Mauston
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 5:59 PM
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (WiscReport.com) is not affiliated with Wisconsin Government or any state agency, department, entity, or other website or printed publication with Wisconsin in it's name. Established in 2002, we operate completely independent from political parties and other forms of outside influence. Our Mission is to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We are WiscReport on Twitter and Facebook. A Morbizco Internet Media online publication. – WisconsinReport.com. | <urn:uuid:319259cc-bf1e-41af-b850-69af17f6f5fa> | {
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"url": "http://wisconsinreport.com/newsone/clarks-final-regular-season-home-game-to-be-among-priciest-tickets-in-womens-college-hoops-history/"
} |
MORRISON, Colo. — Birthdays are a big deal in the Ginn household. Not because of the number of them that are celebrated each year between the family of nine, but because of how rare it is to celebrate two of those birthdays.
In 2004, Jennifer Ginn gave birth to her oldest son, Giovanni.
"I remember having him and the doctors coming in were like, 'You have a Leap Year baby,'" she said.
Gio, as he goes by, was born on February 29, the rarest of birthdays (odds are 1 in 1,461, the number of days in 4 years).
"I've been on the earth for 20 years. But this is the fifth time I've actually had a birthday," Gio said.
Because a Leap Year is once every four years, technically, Gio has only celebrated his birthday on the date of his actual birth, five times. And while that's fewer than all of his friends and most of his other siblings, it's not the case for everyone.
"I have a little brother that I'm always going to be older than," Gio said, while his little brother sat next to him on the couch laughing.
In 2016, Gio's brother Antonio was born.
"He was born, again, on the 29," mom Jennifer said.
This one family has two children born on Leap Day. Neither were scheduled or planned for that date, according to their mom, who estimated the likelihood of that happening.
"That is like one in three point (some) million. It's like this very, extremely rare number," she said. The actual number is closer to one in two million.
Hence, why the family celebrates big every Leap Day. While other years, the boys have birthday parties on February 28 and their cakes read in fractions of numbers or decibels. On their actual birth date, the party is bigger, while the number of candles is still only in the single digits for both Antonio and Gio.
"It's really cool to have two brothers born on Leap Year," Antonio said.
"It's pretty cool. It's kind of like two-way for me to stand out," Gio added, talking about the positives of the unique birthday.
And it turns out, sharing something that rare has helped bond the two brothers together. Though they are 12 years apart, that's only technically three birthdays apart.
"Wherever life takes me, I'm always going to celebrate my February 29 birthday with my little brother. And so I think it's very unique and it means a lot to me," Gio said.
Adding to the rarity, Denver7's sister station in Colorado Springs, KOAA-TV, recently interviewed a pair of brothers also both born on February 29, also both 12 years apart. | <urn:uuid:3dc139c1-25cc-4f47-ae8d-690c6c746e72> | {
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Even though she was never a series regular, Carrie Preston became a fan favorite on The Good Wife with her occasionally recurring character, Elsbeth Tascioni. In fact, her appearances on the show earned her a pair of Primetime Emmy nominations as a guest actor, and she won the award in 2013. After The Good Wife signed off, Preston reprised the role on the first Good Wife spinoff series, The Good Fight. Now, Preston's character is getting her own spinoff series, Elsbeth. While The Good Wife and The Good Fight were dramas with some comedic elements, Elsbeth is more of a comedy with dramatic undercurrents. It's created and produced by the same team that created the previous series, Robert and Michelle King, and Preston says she's grateful to be given the chance to expand the role beyond the guest shots she'd previously gotten. (Click on the media bar below to hear Carrie Preston)
Elsbeth airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS, and episodes start streaming the following day on Paramount+. | <urn:uuid:fabe10eb-8201-4a85-9875-740c69b63884> | {
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AT LEAST 43 people have been killed and dozens injured after a fire broke out at a six-storey shopping centre in Bangladesh, the health minister said.
Samanta Lal Sen said the fire started late on Thursday in the building in Dhaka's Bailey Road area.
Firefighters rescued survivors and pulled out dead bodies, and by early Friday at least 43 people had died and 22 others were being treated, he said.
Crews said the fire began in a restaurant on the first floor of the building in the heart of the capital, and many people were trapped by the flames.
Sen said at least 33 people, including women and children, were declared dead at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
At least 10 others died after being taken to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, he said.
More than a dozen firefighting units were deployed to douse the blaze that broke out at the Green Cosy Cottage Shopping Mall, said Fire Service and Civil Defence director General Brigadier General Main Uddin.
At least 75 people, including 42 who were unconscious, were rescued from the building, crews said.
With reporting from Press Association | <urn:uuid:be9ffc97-1493-4114-adaf-b8069cb838c1> | {
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OWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa women's basketball star Caitlin Clark has announced that this season with the team will be her last as she plans to enter the WNBA Draft.
Clark has scored the most points by any major college woman's player ever on Wednesday, according to KCRG. She scored 33 points which helped her to pass Lynette Woodward, The Associated Press reported.
Clark had already broken the NCAA women's basketball career scoring record on Feb. 15 against Michigan when she poured in a school-record 49 points. That effort moved Clark, a senior, past University of Washington star Kelsey Plum's total of 3,527 points.
Clark is expected to be the number one pick for the WNBA by Indiana Fever, according to ESPN. On Wednesday, she broke a major women's college basketball scoring record by making 33 points.
Clark now has 2,650 points, ESPN reported.
© 2024 Cox Media Group | <urn:uuid:a5a519ca-e831-4fb9-bca9-312d9f65d2d7> | {
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/12002466Edit ImageSaveSaveEditCropCustom TextPortrait newborn father adult. AI generated Image by rawpixel.MoreAI GeneratedPremiumID : 12002466View personal and business license JPEGPresentation JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiFacebook Cover JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiBlog Banner JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiTwitter Post JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpiYoutube JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiHD JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpi4K HD JPEG 3840 x 2560 px | 300 dpi5K HD JPEG 5120 x 3413 px | 300 dpiBest Quality JPEG 6720 x 4480 px | 300 dpiPortrait newborn father adult. AI generated Image by rawpixel.More | <urn:uuid:2ac94d71-0740-4c2c-ab31-d08b1070a31e> | {
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Three former Department of Education employees charged with defrauding Arizona voucher program
Three former Arizona Department of Education employees were indicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges in what prosecutors say was a scheme to defraud more than $600,000 from an education voucher program that has drawn criticism for its skyrocketing costs and lax regulation by the state.
Prosecutors said Thursday that the three employees approved applications for 17 students -– five of which were fictitious — that admitted them into the voucher program using forged birth certificates and special education evaluations.
Delores Lashay Sweet, Dorrian Lamarr Jones and Jennifer Lopez, who were fired last year from the Department of Education, are accused of using the money for their own benefit, such as luxury purchases. Two of Sweet's adult children, Jadakah Celeste Johnson and Raymond Lamont Johnson Jr., also were charged with conspiracy and money laundering.
"They created ghost students with forged birth certificates – children that didn't exist –- and gave them fake disability diagnoses that would make them eligible for larger funding amounts," said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office is examining other suspected abuses of the voucher program.
No attorneys for the former Department of Education employees and Johnson's two adult children could found in court records. Phone messages left late Thursday afternoon for Sweet, Jones and Jadakah Johnson weren't immediately returned. Efforts to get Lopez's phone number were unsuccessful. And Raymond Johnson Jr. doesn't have a listed phone number.
The Democratic attorney general said the case shows the voucher program is an easy target for fraud and that the Republican-majority Legislature should take steps to lessen the opportunity for fraud within the voucher program.
Sen. John Kavanagh, a Republican who supports the vouchers, said he doesn't see the problem as fraud within the Empowerment Scholarships Account program, but rather fraud in the agency that runs it.
"I don't think that it's anymore damning of the ESA than when a bank teller steals money from the banking system," Kavanagh said. "It (the problem) is about the people, not the program."
Mayes said investigators were tipped off to the alleged fraud not by the education department, which runs the voucher program, but rather a credit union that noticed unusually large cash withdrawals.
In a statement, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne disputed that his office didn't tell the Attorney General's Office about the fraud, saying his office had alerted Mayes' office about concerns about two of the three employees. He also said he has placed more controls on the program and reported other instances of suspected abuse of the voucher program to Mayes' office.
"Our discovery of the activities of the two former staffers is consistent with my determination to root out potential fraud and abuse," Horne said.
The voucher program lets parents use public money for private-school tuition and other education costs. It started in 2011 as a small program for disabled children. But it was expanded repeatedly over the next decade until it became available to all students in 2022.
Originally estimated to cost $64 million for the current fiscal year, budget analysts now say it could top $900 million.
The changes in Arizona's voucher program led to a sharp increase in the number of participants. Before the expansion, nearly 12,000 students — including disabled children, those living on Native American reservations and children in low-performing schools — took part in the program. Now that all students can apply for the vouchers, more than 75,000 students participate.
Critics say the expansion is a drain on the state's coffers, while backers say the expansion lets parents choose the best school for their children.
About 75% of the students who got vouchers immediately after the program was expanded had no prior record of attending an Arizona public school, according to Department of Education data reported in 2022. That suggests the state subsidies went largely to students whose families already were paying private school tuition. ____ Associated Press writer Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:42221756-847d-45cc-9579-17c6f9533b8f> | {
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Tu Chinh Reef (internationally known as Vanguard Bank) is part of Vietnam's continental shelf and its sovereignty is established in full in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on February 29.
Hang made the statement at the ministry's regular press conference in response to reporters' queries regarding China's recent deployment of coast guard ships to operate in Vietnam's Tu Chinh reef area.
She underlined that Vietnam's stance on Tu Chinh Reef is consistent and has been repeatedly affirmed.
Vietnam resolutely opposes all actions that violate Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime zones which are established in full conformity with international law, especially the UNCLOS 1982, she stated.
Hang emphasized that Vietnam has and will persistently protect its legitimate rights and interests at sea through peaceful methods in line with international law. | <urn:uuid:48317688-5e2a-48f3-ba77-825ed8a0d32a> | {
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macOS 15 is Apple's upcoming 2024 operating system update for MacBook laptops and Mac desktop computers. After tightening the integration between Mac and iPad in previous software updates, the company offered a lackluster update with macOS Sonoma, which focused on improved video call experiences and boosting gaming performances.
Apple has a much more significant update planned for 2024, and it'll be the first version of macOS to put AI front and center. Here's everything we know so far about macOS 15.
What will Apple call macOS 15?
It's always hard to predict what Apple will call its latest macOS version. Rumors have previously suggested Apple was planning to call a future macOS Mammoth, as the Cupertino firm had asked for a trademark extension of this name in 2021.
Mammoth was rumored for 2021 when Apple unveiled Monterey and again rumored in 2022. For 2024, currently, it's unclear what Apple will call macOS 15. Internally, this software is known as Glow.
Apple delayed development of macOS 15 to fix bugs
By the end of 2023, a report by Bloomberg highlighted that Apple briefly paused the development of its upcoming operating system updates to fix an incredible amount of bugs. With that, employees had an unusual week of development pause to address the several errors with iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18.
According to the publication, Apple's software chief, Craig Federighi, is pushing the company's employees to address bugs over launching new features. Gurman says this effort has been going on for a few years now, which explains why we had so many delayed features in recent software launches.
While macOS Sonoma wasn't one of the worst software experiences when talking about bugs, this update has made Safari unusable as it consumes too much memory. In addition, there's a pesty Notes bug that when you add a numerical list, it changes to bullets.
Personally, while I'd love new features, as macOS Sonoma was a mild update, I couldn't help but wonder if Apple isn't planning another macOS High Sierra-like update, where the company improves software stability by fixing most of the system's bugs.
Rumored features
Unlike hardware releases, it's difficult to know which software improvements Apple will bring to its new operating system since it's all in-house. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 is expected to be an "ambitious and compelling update," as the company will heavily rely on AI capabilities for this software update. That said, here's what we expect macOS 15 to bring.
AI is coming to Mac
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, analyst Jeff Pu, and The Information believe generative AI will be a massive part of iOS 18 and the iPhone 16. That said, it's possible that some of these features might land on the Mac. These are some use cases for Apple's AI:
- Auto-summarizing and auto-complete features for core apps and productivity software (Pages, Keynote). This was also rumored by leaker yeux1122, which says code on iOS 18 suggests this function.
- Better playlist creation in Apple Music
- Siri (a big overall overhaul with a focus on AI)
- Code completion in a new version of Xcode for developers
- AppleCare tools to assist employees in helping customers with troubleshooting
All of this could also be part of macOS 15, although we'll have to wait until Apple announces this operating system update.
Apple Vision Pro integration
Since macOS 14 lacked new features between Mac and iPad, likely, Apple is now focusing its efforts on integrating its Mac system with Vision Pro. With productivity features being a core part of visionOS, we may see a better integration between these software, such as:
- More virtual displays when connecting your Vision Pro to Mac
- Improved efficiency on iWork suite when connected to a Mac
macOS 15 release date
If Apple follows the trend, the company will unveil macOS 15 at the WWDC 2024. The conference hasn't been announced yet, but it usually occurs in the first week of June. After that, macOS 15 will be available for developers to try out.
Around July, a public beta will be made available. If Apple follows the trend, macOS should be finally released around October since it usually comes a month after the iOS software update. Still, it depends on how big of an update this one will be, as macOS Sonoma was released in September.
When can I try the macOS 15 beta?
You can't try the first macOS 15 beta just yet, as this operating system update hasn't been announced. Still, once it's teased during WWDC 2024, users just need to follow the steps below:
- After enrolling in the developer beta, go to Settings;
- Open General and select Software Update
- Click on Beta updates and switch from macOS Sonoma Developer Beta to macOS 15 Developer beta
How to download macOS 15 public beta
At the moment, you can't download macOS 15 public beta. Still, make sure you're enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program to test macOS 15's newest features. Unlike other years, you just have to log into the program with your Apple ID, agree with the terms and conditions, and follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your Mac;
- Open General and select Software Update;
- Click on Beta updates and check macOS 15 Public Beta.
Compatible Mac models
As Apple focuses on Mac models with its own silicon, we could see more Intel counterparts losing compatibility with macOS 15. Here are the Macs that currently support macOS 14 Sonoma:
- 2019 iMac and later
- 2017 iMac Pro
- 2018 MacBook Air and later
- 2018 MacBook Pro and later
- 2019 Mac Pro and later
- 2018 Mac mini and later
- 2022 Mac Studio and later | <urn:uuid:b54b3466-2d1c-48b4-9700-442aa866d4a2> | {
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ATLANTA — (AP) — Georgia House Republicans are backing a bill that would require every eligible police and sheriff's department to help identify undocumented immigrants, arrest them and detain them for deportation.
The House voted 97-74 on Thursday for House Bill 1105 after police accused a Venezuelan man of beating a nursing student to death on the University of Georgia campus. The measure moves to the state Senate for more debate.
Jose Ibarra was arrested Friday on murder and assault charges in the Thursday death of 22-year-old Laken Riley. Ibarra, 26, is a Venezuelan citizen who immigration authorities say unlawfully crossed into the United States in 2022. It is unclear whether he has applied for asylum.
Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University's Athens campus, after starting her college career at the Athens campus of the University of Georgia. She was found dead Feb. 22 after a roommate reported that she didn't return from a morning run in a wooded area.
The bill would also set new requirements for how jail officials should check with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine whether people are known to be in the country illegally. Republican state Rep. Jesse Petrea of Savannah said that clause is needed to enforce existing state law requiring sheriffs to check with ICE on people who don't appear to be American citizens.
"Fixing policy in the face of unspeakable tragedy is not politics," said Rep. Houston Gaines, an Athens Republican. "It's doing the right thing to ensure something like this never occurs again."
Sheriffs deny they are disregarding the law to check with ICE. The bill would make sheriffs who don't check immigration status guilty of a misdemeanor. The bill would also deny state funding to jails and sheriffs that don't cooperate.
Democrats warned the bill would cause people to be detained for long periods, would separate parents born elsewhere from U.S.-born children and spark distrust of police in immigrant communities. They said it was rooted in a false narrative that immigrants bring crime, citing studies that show immigrants are less likely to be arrested.
"We want justice for what happened to Laken Riley. We don't want violent people who are here legally or not legally to be on the streets," said Rep. Esther Panitch, a Sandy Springs Democrat. "But this bill won't do it. This bill won't close our borders. It will not make us safer, and it will not make women safer."
The law would move Georgia closer to states with more aggressive immigration laws like Texas, which starting in March will allow police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally and give local judges the authority to order them out of the country.
Georgia itself passed a prior harsh law cracking down on immigration in 2011, although it later backed away from parts of it. Rep. Pedro Marin, a Duluth Democrat who is the longest-serving Latino member of the House, said he has seen people capitalize on fear of foreigners before.
"I have witnessed again and again, ambitious representatives and senators use fear as a strategy to attain and maintain electoral office," Marin said.
But Rep. Rey Martinez, a Latino Republican from Loganville, said his party is only targeting criminals.
"We're not after the immigrants. We're not. We're not after them," Martinez said. "What we are after is these folks who commit crime. That's what we're after."
Petrea added pointed criticism of Ibarra: "He said he was here for asylum. He was here for assault."
The requirement to help ICE would require eligible cities and counties to apply for what is known as a 287(g) agreement to let local officers enforce immigration law. It's unclear how many would be accepted — President Joe Biden's administration has de-emphasized the program.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center in July counted six of 159 Georgia counties with 287(g) agreements with ICE. Five of those are only in jails. Oconee County, an Athens suburb, serves warrants for immigration violations and deportation orders. State agencies also cooperate with ICE.
At least three Georgia counties dropped jail-based cooperation with ICE, according to the center, including two big suburban Atlanta counties where it was major campaign issue — Gwinnett County and Cobb County.
"This program ripped apart families, children and families," said House Democratic Whip Sam Park of Lawrenceville.
But Petrea said local assistance to is needed. "Not cooperating with the federal immigration authorities endangers public safety and it makes a mockery out of our nation's immigration laws, period," he said. | <urn:uuid:57917270-f947-4e82-b082-18203e7bc741> | {
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perjury
- Pop CultureNicki Minaj Seemingly Doubles Down On Kenneth Petty's Innocence After Footage Of Accuser LeaksA video of Jennifer Hough detailing her case against Kenneth Petty circulates online. By Aron A.
- MusicSuge Knight's Attorney Pleads Guilty To Perjury And ConspiracySuge Knight's former attorney Matthew Fletcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy and perjury charges related to Knight's 2016 murder charge. By Brianna Lawson
- BeefCassidy Claps Back At Tory Lanez On New Diss Track "Perjury"Cassidy didn't hold back on Tory Lanez in his new diss track "Perjury."By Alexander Cole | <urn:uuid:46f89245-6101-4fa0-9f63-fcc0cc830390> | {
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Biden and Trump try to use immigration to election advantage
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — On the banks of the same Rio Grande but 300 miles apart, President Joe Biden and GOP challenger Donald Trump on Thursday surveyed the U.S.-Mexico border and tussled from a distance over who is to blame for the nation's broken immigration system and how to fix it.
Immigration has emerged as a central issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, which is widely expected to be a Biden-Trump rematch, and each man is seeking to use the border problems to his own political advantage.
Their itineraries were remarkably similar: They arrived in Texas within a half-hour of one another. Each chose an optimal location from which to make his point, got a briefing on operations and issues, walked along the scrub brush by the Rio Grande and spoke directly to the public. Their remarks even overlapped in time for a bit.
But that's where the parallels ended.
Biden sought to spotlight the necessity of a bipartisan border security bill that was tanked by Republicans on Trump's orders, and flat-out asked the Republican frontrunner to join him in supporting a congressional push for more funding and tighter restrictions.
"Here's what I would say to Mr. Trump," Biden said. "Instead of playing politics with the issue, join me, or I'll join you in telling the Congress to pass this bill. You know and I know it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country's ever seen."
Biden went to the Rio Grande Valley city of Brownsville, which for nine years was the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. The numbers have dropped in recent months, which officials credited in part to Mexico for stepping up its own border security. The visit was a nod to how the Biden administration views migration: as a regional and global issue, not just a U.S. problem.
The president walked along the Rio Grande and received a lengthy briefing from Homeland Security officials, who spoke bluntly about what they needed to do their jobs effectively — in short, more money to hire more officers along the border and for use across the asylum process to help clear out massive backlogs.
"I want the American people to know what we're trying to get done," Biden said. "We can't afford not to do this."
Trump simply blamed Biden.
He traveled to Eagle Pass, roughly 325 miles northwest of Brownsville, in the corridor that's currently seeing the largest number of migrant crossings. He met with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas National Guard soldiers who have commandeered a local park and put up razor wire fencing at the river's edge to keep migrants from crossing illegally. The park has become a Republican symbol of defiance against the federal government.
"This is like a war," Trump said.
Gazing out over the river, Trump raised his fist and waved and shouted to people on the Mexico side, who waved back. Then, he declared that migrants arriving to the border were criminals and some were terrorists, a dialed-up version of the accusations he often used during the 2016 campaign. This time, he's started to harness rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue migrants are poisoning the blood of America.
"They're being let into our country and it's horrible," Trump said. "It's horrible."
Trump also brought up the killing of a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia recently. The suspect is a Venezuelan migrant.
"Crooked Joe has the blood of countless innocent victims," Trump said. "It's so many stories to tell, so many horrible stories."
Despite Trump's claims, many studies have found immigrants are less drawn to violent crime than native-born citizens. One published by the National Academy of Sciences, based on Texas Department of Public Safety data from 2012 to 2018, reported native-born U.S. residents were more than twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as people in the country illegally.
As the politicians traded barbs over who was to blame, migrants were still making the dangerous journey into the U.S. Trump stood on a concrete boat launch where a day earlier, a man had been pulled from the river, drowned, trying to cross. In Brownsville where Biden spoke, a group of migrants had crossed illegally overnight.
Across the border from Brownsville, in Matamoros, makeshift shelters dotted the ground for migrants who hope to come to the U.S.
"I come completely alone on this journey, I have been on this journey for about six months and the only important thing I have in my life are my mom, my little sister and nobody else," Joseph Elián Gutierrez Castillo, a Nicaraguan migrant, said in Spanish. "With God's favor everything will go well."
The number of people who are illegally crossing the U.S. border has been rising for years, for reasons that include climate change, war and unrest in other nations, the economy, and cartels that see migration as a cash cow.
Migrants can ask for asylum whether they come illegally or through ports of entry; in some cases they are turned away because of current policies, but many families are allowed into the U.S., where they often wait years for a court date to determine whether they can stay.
The administration's approach has been to pair crackdowns at the border with increasing legal pathways for migrants designed to steer people into arriving by plane with sponsors, not illegally on foot to the border. The numbers of migrants flowing across the U.S-Mexico border have far outpaced the capacity of an immigration system that has not been substantially updated in decades.
Arrests for illegal crossings fell by half in January, but there were record highs in December.
Since the president was last at the border a year ago, the debate over immigration in Washington has shifted further to the right, with Democrats increasingly eager to embrace border restrictions now that migrants are sleeping in police stations and airplane hangars in major U.S. cities.
During bipartisan talks on the deal that would have toughened access for migrants and funded enforcement and immigration court, Biden himself said he'd be willing to "shut down the border" right now, should the deal pass.
The talks looked promising for a while. But Trump, who didn't want to give Biden a political win on one of his signature campaign issues, convinced Republicans to kill the deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declared the deal dead on arrival.
Republicans claim Biden has the power he needs to fix the issue, but absent legislative action, any major policy changes are likely to be challenged or held up in court. Under Trump, too, new hardline policies were often held up in court.
Among voters, worries about the nation's broken immigration system are rising on both sides of the political divide, which could be especially problematic for Biden.
According to an AP-NORC poll in January, the share of voters concerned about immigration rose to 35% from 27% last year. Fifty-five percent of Republicans say the government needs to focus on immigration in 2024, while 22% of Democrats listed immigration as a priority. That's up from 45% and 14%, respectively, from December 2022.
Trump has laid out updated immigration proposals that would mark a dramatic escalation of the approach he used in office and that drew alarms from civil rights activists and numerous court challenges.
Some of those include reviving and expanding a travel ban, imposing "ideological screening" for migrants, terminating all work permits and cutting off funding for shelter and transportation for people who are in the country illegally. | <urn:uuid:dd66737f-4517-4a95-b461-dd95c84d2dd6> | {
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Biden and Trump were both at the border today, staking out ground on a key 2024 issue
Updated February 29, 2024 at 5:57 PM ET
President Biden squared off against former President Donald Trump on Thursday on one of the issues expected to dominate the 2024 presidential election: immigration.
Both Biden and Trump visited two Texas border communities a few hundred miles apart that have been grappling with large numbers of migrants seeking asylum. Biden went to Brownsville, and Trump to Eagle Pass.
The trip was heavy on symbolism and short on new ideas to tackle the issue. Trump sought to paint a picture of uncontrolled crime and violence, which he blamed on Biden — while Biden sought to show he had agreed to a get-tough bill, blaming Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for blocking it.
It's only the second time during his presidency that Biden has been to the border. The trip comes as Biden goes on the offensive, trying to turn the tables on an issue that has been a liability for him.
Only 29% of respondents in a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist pollsaid they approve of the way Biden is handling immigration.
Biden is trying to flip the script on this issue
Biden met with Border Patrol agents and local leaders in Brownsville as he blamed House Republicans for failing to pass border funding and policy changes that the community has been seeking.
Biden has said Trump saw a political advantage for his party to block bipartisan legislation that would have tightened rules for asylum, expanded detention facilities and provided more money to hire more border agents. Had the legislation passed, it would have helped Biden show he was willing to get tough on the issue.
On Thursday, he urged Republicans to revive the package, and wrapped up his remarks by inviting Trump to work with him — something that is highly unlikely to happen in this election year.
"We can do it together. You know — and I know — it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country has ever seen. So instead of playing politics with the issue, why don't we just get together and get it done?" Biden said.
Trump sees the border as a winning issue for him
Trump — the front-runner in the race to be the Republican nominee in November — announced his trip to the border first. His team said Biden had chased him to the border and said that strategy would backfire.
Trump went to Eagle Pass, a community where the state government has been trying to play a bigger role in enforcement, and highlighted recent crimes committed by migrants in major cities.
Trump blamed Biden for the death of a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia. An undocumented Venezuelan immigrant has been arrested for the crime.
"I spoke to her parents yesterday. They're incredible people. They're devastated beyond belief. But she was beautiful, just so beautiful in so many ways. And brutally assaulted, horrifically beaten," Trump said.
Biden's campaign said Trump was fear mongering and said that violent crime had fallen during Biden's time in office — something the White House highlighted with police chiefs the day before the border visit.
"All he cares about is stirring up hate, stirring up division ... going even further than the extremism that we saw when he last held power," said Michael Tyler, a Biden spokesperson.
The stakes for both leaders are high
Polls show a majority of Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats on securing the border.
A new Monmouth University poll found that 53% of respondents support building a border wall, the first time a majority of Americans have backed the proposal since Trump launched his first presidential campaign.
As he did in his first run for office, Trump has made border security a central theme for 2024. He has promised to launch the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if elected.
Democrats saw an opening in a New York special election
But Democrats see an opportunity to counter a prevailing narrative that they are soft on border security while Republicans are viewed as hawkish.
House Democrat Tom Suozzi won his special election in New York earlier this month by campaigning hard on Republicans spoiling the bipartisan border bill.
Evan Roth Smith, a Democratic pollster for the political strategy group, Blueprint, said that showed it's possible for Democrats to paint Republicans as "unserious about border security."
He said it's not unlike the opportunity Democrats seized to effectively campaign against Republicans after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
"We now have proof-positive in this latest election that Republicans are out over their skis again on immigration. They don't know what to do," Roth Smith said. "And they've handed Democrats something they can run on for months or maybe years."
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:b0af4fb8-ab7e-40d9-b044-bbe57ae81c98> | {
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The Lion Country Safari drive-through safari park in the South Florida city of Loxahatchee welcomed a new and rare endangered ape, park officials announced on Thursday. The new white-handed gibbon was born on Feb. 17.
It is the first ape to be born at the park in nearly 28 years. Park officials said the ape will cling to its mother until it matures and begins to explore on its own. The baby's parents, 23-year-old Tamatha and 36-year-old Larry, are visible to visitors on their habitat islands in the last section of the park's tour, officials said.
White-handed gibbons are a lesser ape species native to the rain forests of Asia.
They are generally monogamous and produce one offspring after a gestation period of approximately seven months. The average life expectancy for a white-handed gibbon is 25-30 years in the wild and approximately 44 years under human care, park officials said.
The apes are on the endangered species list, and populations are decreasing in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trafficking, officials said.
This story was originally published by AjaDorsainvil at Scripps News West Palm Beach.
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The second estimate for real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2023 was revised slightly downward, partly driven by less private inventory investment than was initially estimated, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.2% for the October-through-December period after rising 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023, according to the BEA's advance estimate released Wednesday.
The reading comes just under the BEA's original GDP estimate for the fourth quarter, which showed the economy increased at a rate of 3.3%, primarily reflecting solid consumer spending on goods and services. And it beat economic forecasts that anticipated a deceleration of growth over the previous month with the expectation that the economy would expand by a 2% rate.
The stronger-than-expected growth pushes the timeline for when the Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates further into the distance. Fed officials have predicted at least three rate cuts this year, with interest rates expected to tick down to 4.6%, according to the central bank's updated economic forecasts in its Summary of Economic Projections (SEP).
However, January's hotter-than-expected inflation reading and solid economic data give the Fed more room to wait.
"The GDP numbers confirm the resilience of the nation's economy, which signals the Federal Reserve will be more reluctant to lower interest rates later this year," A&D Mortgage CEO Max Slyusarchuk said.
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Housing needs rates to drop
For the housing market, the longer timeline for interest rate cuts will likely keep mortgage rates from declining much during the year's first half. December saw rates drop from nearly 8% to the mid-6% range, where they remained until rising to almost 7% at the end of February.
A reversal in interest rates is crucial in creating more affordability for buyers also dealing with record home price gains. Home prices hit a record high in December, rising 5.5% above the previous year's gain.
Fannie Mae predicts that mortgage rates will drop below 6% by the end of 2024 as the Fed dials back interest rates. A longer timeline for these cuts would delay this. Homebuyers on the sidelines that are waiting for a meaningful change in rates before they buy, shouldn't, Slyusarchuk said.
"This means that homeownership will not get more affordable in the near future," Slyusarchuk said. "So, for those who can find a home, homeownership remains a strong investment, and there is no benefit to holding off making an offer, as housing fundamentals won't change greatly this year."
If you're looking to become a homeowner, you could still find the best mortgage rates by shopping around. Visit Credible to compare your options without affecting your credit score.
Upside risk to inflation
Inflation increased 3.1% in January, less than the 3.4% growth last month but above the sub-3% growth economists had expected. While inflation has been "moving in the right direction," ongoing wars, supply chain disruptions, and banking sector uncertainties could reverse the progress toward achieving and maintaining the Federal Reserve's 2% target, according to Freddie Mac.
"These factors may lead to a 'higher for longer' rate environment," Freddie Mac said.
Moreover, strong consumer demand adds to the upside risk to inflation as Americans get used to paying more for goods and services and are less determined to resist price increases, according to a Morning Consult report.
"Fewer consumers report surprise over prices, corresponding with less price sensitivity and trading down compared with a year ago," the report said. "Improving purchasing power is helping to boost demand for everything from restaurant purchases to homes and autos."
If you are struggling with high inflation, you could consider taking out a personal loan to pay down debt at a lower interest rate, reducing your monthly payments. You can visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column. | <urn:uuid:4f7fd04d-ac6f-478c-95d7-12fde6390ba7> | {
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Judge holds ex-CBS and Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source of stories
Judge holds ex-CBS and Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source of stories
WASHINGTON -- Judge holds ex-CBS and Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source of stories.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:a94c817c-32ba-4c26-8472-6f0987d1edb9> | {
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Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss Sues Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix in Scandoval Aftermath
Getty Images
"Vanderpump Rules" star Rachel "Raquel" Leviss is taking legal action against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix.
On Thursday, Leviss filed a lawsuit against Sandoval and Madix, alleging revenge porn, eavesdropping, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress.
The filing comes a year after Scandoval, her cheating scandal with Sandoval, who was dating Madix at the time.
The docs stated that the scandal "caused mayhem in Leviss's life, culminating in months-long in-patient treatment at a mental health facility and her departure from the show. Fomented by Bravo and Evolution in conjunction with the cast, Leviss was subjected to a public skewering with little precedent and became, without exaggeration, one of the most hated women in America."
Her filing argued she was "misled" to believe that she was "contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment."
The docs stated, "It is clear that Bravo deliberately sacrificed Leviss for the sake of its commercial interests from its refusal to allow her the opportunity to tell her side of the story and defend herself, which she repeatedly begged for permission to do."
Bravo is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Leviss called herself a "victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man," who she claims allegedly filmed explicit videos "without her knowledge or consent."
She claims that the videos were "distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman [Madix] seeking vengeance."
Along with seeking unspecified damages, she wants Sandoval and Madix to stop distributing the alleged videos and destroy all the copies.
The docs emphasize that Leviss "suffered in silence," adding, "Leviss, who was humiliated and villainized for public consumption, remains a shell of her former self, with her career prospects stunted and her reputation in tatters."
Sandoval, Madix, and Bravo have not yet responded to Leviss' filing. | <urn:uuid:35cfa73f-e857-4a90-8379-f8263e9bca50> | {
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The first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo astronauts fell silent Thursday, a week after breaking a leg at touchdown and tipping over near the lunar south pole.
Intuitive Machines' lander, Odysseus, lasted longer than the company anticipated after it ended up on its side with hobbled solar power and communication.
The end came as flight controllers received one last photo from Odysseus and commanded its computer and power systems to standby. That way, the lander can wake up in another two to three weeks — if it survives the bitterly cold lunar night. Intuitive Machines spokesman Josh Marshall said these final steps drained the lander's batteries and put Odysseus "down for a long nap."
"Good night, Odie. We hope to hear from you again," the company said via X, formerly Twitter.
Before losing power, Odysseus sent back what Intuitive Machines called "a fitting farewell transmission."
Taken just before touchdown, the picture shows the bottom of the lander on the moon's pockmarked surface, with a tiny crescent Earth and a small sun in the background.
The lander was originally intended to last about a week on the moon.
Houston-based Intuitive Machines became the first private business to land a spacecraft on the moon without crashing when Odysseus touched down Feb. 22. Only five countries had achieved that since the 1960s, including Japan, which made a sideways landing last month.
Odysseus carried six experiments for NASA, which paid $118 million for the ride. The first company to take part in NASA's program for commercial lunar deliveries never made it to the moon; its lander came crashing back to Earth in January.
NASA views these private landers as scouts that will pave the way for astronauts due to arrive in another few years.
Until Odysseus, the last U.S. moon landing was by Apollo 17's Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | <urn:uuid:5883f06e-1802-4b84-b417-9ed3df6a25da> | {
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MIAMI — Florida says it will soon release the grand jury proceedings in Jeffrey Epstein's 2006 sexual abuse case.
Epstein was a wealthy financier, who was charged with paying dozens of girls over many years for sex. He died in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
More than a decade earlier, a grand jury convened in Florida's Palm Beach County investigated allegations that he was sexually abusing teenage girls and young women at his estate. The grand jury ultimately returned a single charge of soliciting prostitution. Following a federal investigation, Epstein pleaded guilty in state court to two prostitution charges and received a lenient sentence. He served just 13 months in prison, leaving the jail almost every day as part of a work release deal.
At a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill authorizing the release of Epstein's grand jury records, calling it "long overdue." He also called for the release of records from the FBI investigation of Epstein. "I would challenge Joe Biden to do that now," he said. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions about how this happened."
The Florida grand jury records are expected to be opened when the law goes into effect in July.
Some of Epstein's victims were with DeSantis at the bill signing. Haley Robson was 16 years old when she was recruited and began working for Epstein. She said she hoped releasing the grand jury report will finally provide some answers. "Why was Jeffrey Epstein given such grace and mercy for his inhumane crimes? And why were we outed in the media and treated so poorly?"
Epstein had several homes, often flying guests and girls to his estate on a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prince Andrew, former President Bill Clinton and attorney Alan Dershowitz were among his high-profile guests. His former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking while with Epstein.
More than a decade after Epstein completed the terms of his plea deal and probation, a series of reports in the Miami Herald brought new attention to Epstein and his victims. He was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges when he was found dead in his jail cell, a death that was ruled suicide.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:7cfe9708-76ad-4b66-b97f-2a77543913dd> | {
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UP TO EIGHT former MEPs from Ireland may be involved in legal proceedings against the European Parliament over a decision it made to halve pension payments from a special voluntary scheme that they had signed up for.
More than 400 MEPs in total have now moved to take legal action against the EU's Parliament after the decision was made to cut their pension payments in order to reduce a huge deficit that had built up in the defined-benefit pension fund.
The pension fund was open to MEPs between 1990 and 2009 because no other pension scheme existed for MEPs at the time. Between those years, more than one thousand MEPs from a number of different parliamentary terms joined the fund and contributed to it.
For some MEPs, this would be the only pension that they would receive.
The total sum of payments given to former politicians each year is in the millions, while the recipients of the fund are mainly anonymous.
The Parliament last year agreed to halve the payments in an effort to reduce a €310 million deficit that had built up since the pension scheme was closed in 2009.
The Journal obtained documents from 2014 that identify every MEP who was a beneficiary of the fund and contacted nine former Irish MEPs who were listed as members.
Only one responded. Former MEP – and current Commissioner – Mairead McGuinness confirmed to The Journal that she is no longer a member of the fund, nor had she received or will receive in future a pension from the scheme.
A spokesperson for McGuinness also confirmed that she is not part of any legal proceedings against the Parliament.
The remaining eight named former Irish MEPs declined to comment on the matter or have not replied to requests to confirm their status in the fund or in the legal proceedings. It is unclear if the eight who were listed as members in 2014 remained members of the fund, or whether any of them are involved in the legal action.
The documents obtained by The Journal confirm that the same eight former Irish MEPs have received or are due to receive payments from the fund once they are 67 years old. The documents were leaked by German journalist Hans-Martin Tillak, through the Open Europe think-tank.
The Financial Times has reported that the fund pays out around €20m per year to former MEPs, with an average pension of over €2,000 per month, rising to a maximum of €6,800 per month.
In May 2023, the Parliament voted in favour of slashing these payments by half, in order to further reduce the deficit, increasing the retirement age from 65 to 67 and putting an end to the automatic linking of benefits with inflation.
The Parliament previously moved to place a 5% levy on the voluntary pension fund in order to cover the deficit it had created.
These measures are estimated to reduce the €310 million deficit to approximately €86 million.
As of February 2023, documents showed that the fund was due to pay out between €22-23 million per year until 2030. The total would later drop to above €10 million until 2047 and above €100,000 until 2073.
However, the Financial Times reported last year that the scheme was set to run out of money by the end of 2025.
MEPs who have served from 2009 onwards receive a pension when they turn 63 which is equal to 3.5% of their salary for each full year in office. | <urn:uuid:71ecc637-003e-4f97-b3e8-3941b3593866> | {
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Iowa star Caitlin Clark declares for WNBA draft, will skip final season of college eligibility
Iowa star Caitlin Clark says she will leave the Hawkeyes after this season and enter the WNBA draft. Clark made the announcement Thursday on social media. She is 18 points away from passing LSU's Pete Maravich for the all-time NCAA…
Source: LacrosseTribune.com
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Great Lakes tribal leaders ask Biden to support Bad River in dispute with Enbridge
by Bob Hague on February 29, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Great Lakes tribes want the Biden Administration to oppose a pipeline. In a letter, leaders of 30 tribes including 9 of 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin, ask the administration to support the Bad River Chippewa in its dispute with […]
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Ice is off Madison area lakes
by WRN Contributor on February 29, 2024 at 7:27 PM
A short season for ice cover on Madison's lakes. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office has declared lakes Mendota and Monona open, as of Wednesday this week. Lake Mendota froze over on January 15th, meaning it was only frozen over for […]
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WIAA Boys Basketball Regional Quarter-Final Scores from Tuesday 2/27
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 7:14 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:12 PM
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Kim Strompolis Announces for Mayor
by WRJC WebMaster on February 29, 2024 at 6:03 PM
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Evers vetoes PFAS cleanup bill
by Bob Hague on February 28, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Governor Tony Evers vetoes a "forever chemicals" cleanup bill. The Republican authored bill passed the Legislature on party line votes. In a statement on Tuesday the Democratic governor said he continues to object to a provision that […]
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WBA Award
by WRJC WebMaster on February 28, 2024 at 5:58 PM
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BB FULL Game: Bangor at Royall (Panthers Win Outright SBC Championship)
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 8:16 PM
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Mile Bluff brings virtual intensive care to Mauston
by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 5:59 PM
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (WiscReport.com) is not affiliated with Wisconsin Government or any state agency, department, entity, or other website or printed publication with Wisconsin in it's name. Established in 2002, we operate completely independent from political parties and other forms of outside influence. Our Mission is to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We are WiscReport on Twitter and Facebook. A Morbizco Internet Media online publication. – WisconsinReport.com. | <urn:uuid:fbea149c-6922-4a57-b676-d715ca0be87e> | {
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/12002469Edit ImageSaveSaveEditCropCustom TextPortrait father adult baby. AI generated Image by rawpixel.MoreAI GeneratedPremiumID : 12002469View personal and business license JPEGPresentation JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiFacebook Cover JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiBlog Banner JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiTwitter Post JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpiYoutube JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiHD JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpi4K HD JPEG 3840 x 2560 px | 300 dpi5K HD JPEG 5120 x 3413 px | 300 dpiBest Quality JPEG 6720 x 4480 px | 300 dpiPortrait father adult baby. AI generated Image by rawpixel.More | <urn:uuid:3cc502ed-556c-4c45-ba4c-5803b2d3e91e> | {
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U.S. & World | <urn:uuid:c7431891-8564-4c15-bc7e-2e14dfa2ccb0> | {
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"url": "https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/justin-bieber-and-hailey-bieber-concerns-grow-as-her-dad-stephen-baldwin-pleads-for-prayers/3294247/"
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Democratic lawmakers ask Justice Department to probe Tennessee's voting rights restoration changes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of Democratic Tennessee lawmakers is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate how the state has further restricted the process for people with felony records to get their voting rights back.
According to the letter, 22 Democratic lawmakers argue Tennessee's elections office has stepped beyond what state law allows in requiring that people get their full citizenship rights restored or secure a pardon in addition to the restoration processes that have been in place.
"While Tennessee law permits restoration of voting rights through a straight-forward administrative procedure, the Tennessee Secretary of State has imposed an illegal, de facto procedure that injects obstacles, delay and extralegal standards that prevent virtually any eligible applicants from exercising the voting rights restored by law," the letter states.
Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer and Sens. Charlane Oliver and Jeff Yarbro delivered the letter to Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke on Thursday.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett on Thursday downplayed the criticism outlined in the letter.
"Tennesseans should not be surprised that some want to weaponize the Department of Justice against the state ranked number one in election integrity," Hargett said in a statement.
The policy changes began last summer, but the issue once again sparked outcries from voting rights advocates after elections officials in January made another legal interpretation that restoration of gun rights is part of the requirement.
Because of those changes, coupled with existing state and federal laws for certain offenses that permanently ban someone from getting their gun rights back, critics argue the state's new policy permanently disenfranchises tens or possibly hundreds of thousands of people from getting another chance to vote.
The change, instituted by elections officials in July, has since halted almost all voting rights restorations: Just nine people have been approved using the new process.
The Secretary of State's office did not respond to how many people have been denied their rights in that same time period.
And in the nearly seven months before it was implemented, about 200 people were approved and 120 denied, according to data from the secretary of state's office. State election officials have said a Tennessee Supreme Court case on a separate but related voting rights restoration question made the changes necessary.
But the Democratic lawmakers say the state has drastically erred in its interpretation.
"We believe these actions likewise may constitute violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the New Voter Registration Act of 1993 and potentially the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871," the letter says.
So far, Republicans inside the GOP-dominated Legislature have shown no interest in addressing voter restoration rights during this year's legislative session. Senate Speaker Randy McNally told The Associated Press earlier this year he would prefer even more restrictions, while House Majority Leader William Lamberth told reporters people should not have violated the law if they wanted to continue casting ballots.
Separately, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who has touted his support for criminal justice reform, has said changes to the voting rights restoration process are "worth a conversation" but so far has not actually done so by introducing legislation or issuing an executive order to restore voting rights.
The lack of action has exasperated Democrats, who argue that the state's current policy is similar to Jim Crow-era laws that were put in place with the intent of stopping Black people from participating in elections.
News that the state was requiring convicted felons get their gun rights restored before they could become eligible to vote was only made public by Tennessee's election office when pressed by The Associated Press. The announcement quickly sparked outrage at tying firearm access to voting.
However, State Elections Coordinator Mark Goins has maintained that someone's full citizenship rights must be restored before they can regain the right to vote, saying that , "Under the Tennessee Constitution, the right to bear arms is a right of citizenship."
In Tennessee, all felony drug crimes and felonies involving violence specifically strip away someone's gun rights, and high-level action such as a pardon by a governor is needed to restore their voting rights.
Separately, a longstanding, federal lawsuit over Tennessee's voting rights restoration processes was scheduled to go to trial last November. The election office's policy change this summer spurred delays in court, and the case is now slated for a trial in December, after the 2024 elections conclude. | <urn:uuid:f922503d-87ec-4ea8-8a4c-43bee6f880f9> | {
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PGA
- SportsScHoolboy Q Reveals How Golf Changed His LifeScHoolboy Q reflected on how golf has impacted his life at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am over the weekend.By Cole Blake
- SportsPro Golfer Shot & Killed After Truck Crashes Onto Course & Opens FireProfessional Golfer Gene Siller was shot and killed after a truck drove onto a course in Georgia and opened fire.By Cole Blake
- PoliticsDonald Trump Loses Golf As PGA Terminates Championship PartnershipThe PGA is the latest organization to cut ties with Donald Trump.By Cole Blake | <urn:uuid:559a1b3b-c658-4ab9-a228-25e714207aef> | {
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BROWNSVILLE, Texas — (AP) — On the banks of the same Rio Grande but 300 miles apart, President Joe Biden and GOP challenger Donald Trump on Thursday surveyed the U.S.-Mexico border and tussled from a distance over who is to blame for the nation's broken immigration system and how to fix it.
Immigration has emerged as a central issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, which is widely expected to be a Biden-Trump rematch, and each man is seeking to use the border problems to his own political advantage.
Their itineraries were remarkably similar: They arrived in Texas within a half-hour of one another. Each chose an optimal location from which to make his point, got a briefing on operations and issues, walked along the scrub brush by the Rio Grande and spoke directly to the public. Their remarks even overlapped in time for a bit.
But that's where the parallels ended.
Biden sought to spotlight the necessity of a bipartisan border security bill that was tanked by Republicans on Trump's orders, and flat-out asked the Republican frontrunner to join him in supporting a congressional push for more funding and tighter restrictions.
"Here's what I would say to Mr. Trump," Biden said. "Instead of playing politics with the issue, join me, or I'll join you in telling the Congress to pass this bill. You know and I know it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country's ever seen."
Biden went to the Rio Grande Valley city of Brownsville, which for nine years was the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. The numbers have dropped in recent months, which officials credited in part to Mexico for stepping up its own border security. The visit was a nod to how the Biden administration views migration: as a regional and global issue, not just a U.S. problem.
The president walked along the Rio Grande and received a lengthy briefing from Homeland Security officials, who spoke bluntly about what they needed to do their jobs effectively — in short, more money to hire more officers along the border and for use across the asylum process to help clear out massive backlogs.
"I want the American people to know what we're trying to get done," Biden said. "We can't afford not to do this."
Trump simply blamed Biden.
He traveled to Eagle Pass, roughly 325 miles northwest of Brownsville, in the corridor that's currently seeing the largest number of migrant crossings. He met with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas National Guard soldiers who have commandeered a local park and put up razor wire fencing at the river's edge to keep migrants from crossing illegally. The park has become a Republican symbol of defiance against the federal government.
"This is like a war," Trump said.
Gazing out over the river, Trump raised his fist and waved and shouted to people on the Mexico side, who waved back. Then, he declared that migrants arriving to the border were criminals and some were terrorists, a dialed-up version of the accusations he often used during the 2016 campaign. This time, he's started to harness rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue migrants are poisoning the blood of America.
"They're being let into our country and it's horrible," Trump said. "It's horrible."
Trump also brought up the killing of a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia recently. The suspect is a Venezuelan migrant.
"Crooked Joe has the blood of countless innocent victims," Trump said. "It's so many stories to tell, so many horrible stories."
Despite Trump's claims, many studies have found immigrants are less drawn to violent crime than native-born citizens. One published by the National Academy of Sciences, based on Texas Department of Public Safety data from 2012 to 2018, reported native-born U.S. residents were more than twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as people in the country illegally.
As the politicians traded barbs over who was to blame, migrants were still making the dangerous journey into the U.S. Trump stood on a concrete boat launch where a day earlier, a man had been pulled from the river, drowned, trying to cross. In Brownsville where Biden spoke, a group of migrants had crossed illegally overnight.
Across the border from Brownsville, in Matamoros, makeshift shelters dotted the ground for migrants who hope to come to the U.S.
"I come completely alone on this journey, I have been on this journey for about six months and the only important thing I have in my life are my mom, my little sister and nobody else," Joseph Elián Gutierrez Castillo, a Nicaraguan migrant, said in Spanish. "With God's favor everything will go well."
The number of people who are illegally crossing the U.S. border has been rising for years, for reasons that include climate change, war and unrest in other nations, the economy, and cartels that see migration as a cash cow.
Migrants can ask for asylum whether they come illegally or through ports of entry; in some cases they are turned away because of current policies, but many families are allowed into the U.S., where they often wait years for a court date to determine whether they can stay.
The administration's approach has been to pair crackdowns at the border with increasing legal pathways for migrants designed to steer people into arriving by plane with sponsors, not illegally on foot to the border. The numbers of migrants flowing across the U.S-Mexico border have far outpaced the capacity of an immigration system that has not been substantially updated in decades.
Arrests for illegal crossings fell by half in January, but there were record highs in December.
Since the president was last at the border a year ago, the debate over immigration in Washington has shifted further to the right, with Democrats increasingly eager to embrace border restrictions now that migrants are sleeping in police stations and airplane hangars in major U.S. cities.
During bipartisan talks on the deal that would have toughened access for migrants and funded enforcement and immigration court, Biden himself said he'd be willing to "shut down the border" right now, should the deal pass.
The talks looked promising for a while. But Trump, who didn't want to give Biden a political win on one of his signature campaign issues, convinced Republicans to kill the deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declared the deal dead on arrival.
Republicans claim Biden has the power he needs to fix the issue, but absent legislative action, any major policy changes are likely to be challenged or held up in court. Under Trump, too, new hardline policies were often held up in court.
Among voters, worries about the nation's broken immigration system are rising on both sides of the political divide, which could be especially problematic for Biden.
According to an AP-NORC poll in January, the share of voters concerned about immigration rose to 35% from 27% last year. Fifty-five percent of Republicans say the government needs to focus on immigration in 2024, while 22% of Democrats listed immigration as a priority. That's up from 45% and 14%, respectively, from December 2022.
Trump has laid out updated immigration proposals that would mark a dramatic escalation of the approach he used in office and that drew alarms from civil rights activists and numerous court challenges.
Some of those include reviving and expanding a travel ban, imposing "ideological screening" for migrants, terminating all work permits and cutting off funding for shelter and transportation for people who are in the country illegally.
___
Associated Press writers Valerie Gonzalez in Brownsville, Texas, and Michelle Price in New York contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:9792f229-ab3c-439e-b549-c4eb61e4b93c> | {
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ExxonMobil faces dozens of lawsuits from states and localities alleging the company lied for decades about its role in climate change and the dangers of burning fossil fuels. But now, ExxonMobil is going on the offensive with a lawsuit targeting investors who want the company to slash pollution that's raising global temperatures.
Investors in publicly-traded companies like ExxonMobil try to shape corporate policies by filing shareholder proposals that are voted on at annual meetings. ExxonMobil says it's fed up with a pair of investor groups that it claims are abusing the system by filing similar proposals year after year in an effort to micromanage its business.
ExxonMobil's lawsuit points to growing tensions between companies and activist investors calling for corporations to do more to shrink their climate impact and prepare for a hotter world. Interest groups on both sides of the case say it could unleash a wave of corporate litigation against climate activists. It is happening at a time when global temperatures continue to rise, and corporate analysts say most companies aren't on track to meet targets they set to reduce their heat-trapping emissions.
"Exxon is really upping the ante here in a big way by bringing this case," says Josh Zinner, chief executive of an investor coalition called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, whose members include a defendant in the ExxonMobil case. "Other companies could use this tactic not just to block resolutions," Zinner says, "but to intimidate their shareholders from even bringing these [climate] issues to the table."
ExxonMobil said in an email that it is suing the investor groups Arjuna Capital and Follow This because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) isn't enforcing rules governing when investors can resubmit shareholder proposals. A court is the "the right place to get clarity on SEC rules," ExxonMobil said, adding that the case "is not about climate change."
Other corporations are watching ExxonMobil's case, says Charles Crain, a vice president at the National Association of Manufacturers, which represents ExxonMobil and other industrial companies.
"If companies are decreasingly able to get the SEC to allow them to exclude proposals that are obviously politically motivated, then the next question is, well, can the courts succeed where the SEC has failed — or, more accurately, not even tried?," Crain says.
Activists push companies for more aggressive climate strategies
The shareholder proposal from Arjuna and Follow This called for ExxonMobil to cut emissions faster from its own operations and from its supply chain, including the pollution that's created when customers burn its oil and natural gas. That indirect pollution, known as Scope 3 emissions, accounts for 90% of ExxonMobil's carbon footprint, according to Arjuna and Follow This. The proposal is similar to others that the investor groups submitted to ExxonMobil in recent years and which ExxonMobil says received scant support from other shareholders.
After ExxonMobil sued the groups in federal court in Texas in January, Arjuna and Follow This withdrew the proposal and promised not to submit it to ExxonMobil again. But ExxonMobil refuses to drop its case.
Arjuna declined to comment. The firm said in a court filing that ExxonMobil''s climate targets aren't as ambitious as those of other big oil and gas companies, and that its shareholder proposal was meant to "foster better investment outcomes by addressing the material threat that climate change poses" to the company.
Mark van Baal, founder of Follow This, said in a statement that ExxonMobil is trying to stifle shareholders.
"Apparently, Exxon does not want shareholders to vote on whether the company should accelerate its efforts to reduce emissions," van Baal said. "This is the concern of more and more investors who want [to] safeguard the long-term future of the company and the global economy in view of the climate crisis."
Companies are offering more transparency on climate, but activists say they need to see action
Last year was the hottest ever recorded on Earth, and the effects were devastating. Rising temperatures are driving more extreme weather, from heat waves to floods and droughts. And scientists say the impacts will only get worse because humans keep putting more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Thousands of peoples' lives are disrupted or harmed by extreme weather, and the economic costs are enormous. Weather disasters in the United States last year inflicted at least $92.9 billion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"What we've seen, unfortunately, is that even in the face of disclosure and more transparency from these companies, not much has actually changed from a strategy perspective," says Kevin Chuah, an assistant professor at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business.
The impact of rising temperatures has also led states and municipalities to sue ExxonMobil and other oil and gas companies for the threats that their communities are facing, and the industry's alleged efforts to muddy the public's understanding of climate science. The latest lawsuits were filed by the city of Chicago and the state of California.
Critics say ExxonMobil's lawsuit is part of a broader effort to limit investor activism
Activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This use shareholder proposals to push corporations to go further on climate. But they've struggled in recent years to get support from broader groups of shareholders. Experts say investors are hesitant to back new climate proposals when companies already have policies to disclose and cut emissions. And they say investors worry that proposals have gotten too prescriptive and might interfere with how companies are run.
"I think these are financially material issues," says Chuah of Northeastern University. "And therefore many investors are bringing these concerns up."
ExxonMobil says it is committed to cutting emissions from its operations. But the idea that activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This can quickly push the company out of the oil and gas business with new climate policies is "simplistic and against the interests of the vast majority of ExxonMobil shareholders," the company said in a court filing in Texas.
ExxonMobil said in a statement to NPR that while shareholders are entitled to submit proposals to the company, they don't have "an unlimited right to put forth any proposal to do anything."
"Their intent is to advance their agenda rather than creating long-term value for shareholders," ExxonMobil said of Arjuna and Follow This.
Parts of corporate America have grown frustrated with the shareholder proposal process since the SEC issued guidance in 2021 that made it harder for companies to turn away some resolutions. The SEC specifically cited shareholder proposals that ask companies to set targets and timeframes to address climate change, saying it would no longer view those kinds of resolutions as inappropriate as long as companies are free to decide how to meet the goals.
The National Association of Manufacturers has argued that forcing companies to publish shareholder proposals that deal with "contentious issues unrelated to [their] core business or the creation of shareholder value," including climate change, violates their First Amendment right of free speech. And Republicans in Congress introduced legislation last year that would allow companies to reject shareholder proposals concerning environmental, social or political issues.
"Certainly, there are material climate-related topics that are going to be relevant for a company considering its growth into the future," Crain says. But he says activists too often pursue a "political goal" rather than try to help companies "understand and mitigate those climate related risks or opportunities for their operations."
Crain declined to discuss individual companies or shareholder proposals, and he says there isn't an objective way to determine when a shareholder proposal is politically motivated.
ExxonMobil's critics say its lawsuit is part of a broader effort to curtail shareholder activism, especially around social and environmental issues. "And the reason is because it's one of the few effective avenues left to hold companies accountable," says Zinner of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Corrected: February 29, 2024 at 12:00 AM EST
An earlier version of this article incorectly referred to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Accountability. The group is called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. | <urn:uuid:3a55dabe-516d-45d2-8b93-448ed0ada706> | {
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PORTAGE, Mich. — Public safety officers are looking for a suspect they say hit a patrol car with a stolen vehicle Thursday afternoon.
The Portage Department of Public Safety (PDPS) says their officers spotted a vehicle that was reported stolen recently at Meadows Apartments.
We're told officers tried to pull the car over but it backed into one of their cruisers and took off. A pursuit was initiated, stretching into Kalamazoo and then canceled for safety reasons.
PDPS describes the vehicle as a silver 2014 Nissan Sentra.
Those with knowledge of the vehicle's whereabouts are encouraged to connect with PDPS at 269-343-4567. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Silent Observer at 269-343-2100. | <urn:uuid:55ea69d0-e4b9-44b0-b260-7a9b08458b8c> | {
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BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A Bellingham man was arrested this month after a toddler chewed on a straw used to smoke fentanyl, police said.
On Feb. 18, officers and firefighters responded to a medical call involving an 18-month-old child at a home off McKenzie Avenue.
According to investigators, the child was not breathing after the child held a straw that was used to smoke fentanyl.
Medics gave the child Narcan and took the child to the emergency room for further treatment.
Police said the child was diagnosed as having suffered a fentanyl overdose.
The child recovered and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Family Services took the child into protective custody.
According to investigators, a man was sitting on a couch with the child when he realized the toddler pulled a straw out of his pocket and chewed on it.
The man used the straw the night before and smoked fentanyl through it, police said.
Police swabbed the straw and conducted a test, which resulted in a presumptive presence of fentanyl.
The man was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail, where he remains on no bail.
He faces charges of third-degree assault of a child. | <urn:uuid:ece0230b-9f5d-4486-8958-574bb6a562ac> | {
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Judge holds veteran journalist Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source
A federal judge has held veteran investigative reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge her source for a series of Fox News stories about a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but never charged
WASHINGTON -- A federal judge held veteran investigative reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt on Thursday for refusing to divulge her source for a series of Fox News stories about a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but never charged.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington imposed a fine of $800 per day until Herridge complies, but the fine will not go into effect immediately to give her time to appeal.
Cooper wrote that he "recognizes the paramount importance of a free press in our society" and the critical role of confidential sources in investigative journalism. But the judge said the court "also has its own role to play in upholding the law and safeguarding judicial authority."
"Herridge and many of her colleagues in the journalism community may disagree with that decision and prefer that a different balance be struck, but she is not permitted to flout a federal court's order with impunity," wrote Cooper, who was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama.
A lawyer for Herridge, Patrick Philbin, declined to comment. Representatives for CBS and Fox News did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
The source is being sought by Yanpin Chen, who has sued the government over the leak of details about the federal probe into statements she made on immigration forms related to work on a Chinese astronaut program.
Herridge, who was recently laid off by CBS News, published an investigative series for Fox News in 2017 that examined Chen's ties to the Chinese military and raised questions about whether the scientist was using a professional school she founded in Virginia to help the Chinese government get information about American servicemembers.
The stories relied on what her lawyers contend were items leaked from the probe, including snippets of an FBI document summarizing an interview conducted during the investigation, personal photographs, and information taken from her immigration and naturalization forms and from an internal FBI PowerPoint presentation.
Chen sued the FBI and Justice Department in 2018, saying her personal information was selectively leaked to "smear her reputation and damage her livelihood."
The judge had ordered Herridge in August to answer questions about her source or sources in a deposition with Chen's lawyers. The judge ruled that Chen's need to know for the sake of her lawsuit overcomes Herridge's right to shield her source, despite the "vital importance of a free press and the critical role" that confidential sources play in journalists' work.
Herridge was interviewed under oath in September by a lawyer for Chen, but declined dozens of times to answer questions about her sources, saying at one point, "My understanding is that the courts have ruled that in order to seek further judicial review in this case, I must now decline the order, and respectfully I am invoking my First Amendment rights in declining to answer the question."
Philbin, who served as deputy White House counsel during the Trump administration, has said that forcing Herridge to turn over her sources "would destroy her credibility and cripple her ability to play a role in bringing important information to light for the public."
Philbin also told the judge that disclosing the identity of Herridge's sources raises national security concerns, writing in court papers that there is a "serious risk" that Chen "was involved in making information about U.S. military members available" to the Chinese.
Legal fights over whether journalists should have to divulge sources are rare, though they've arisen several times in the last couple decades in Privacy Act cases like the one filed by Chen. Some lawsuits have ended with a hefty Justice Department settlement in place of a journalist being forced to reveal a source, an outcome that remains possible in Herridge's case.
In 2008, for instance, the Justice Department agreed to pay $5.8 million to settle a lawsuit by Army scientist Steven Hatfill, who was falsely identified as a person of interest in the 2001 anthrax attacks. That settlement resulted in a contempt order being vacated against a journalist who was being asked to name her sources.
____
Richer reported from Boston.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events | <urn:uuid:27086976-d2b0-4289-9e3e-be59f0c2a566> | {
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/12002471Edit ImageSaveSaveEditCropCustom TextPortrait father baby togetherness. AI generated Image by rawpixel.MoreAI GeneratedPremiumID : 12002471View personal and business license JPEGPresentation JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiFacebook Cover JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiBlog Banner JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiTwitter Post JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpiYoutube JPEG 2560 x 1707 px | 300 dpiHD JPEG 1920 x 1280 px | 300 dpi4K HD JPEG 3840 x 2560 px | 300 dpi5K HD JPEG 5120 x 3413 px | 300 dpiBest Quality JPEG 6720 x 4480 px | 300 dpiPortrait father baby togetherness. AI generated Image by rawpixel.More | <urn:uuid:67c75a36-615a-4a2d-a63c-3b300d996fad> | {
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Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump have filed an appeal after an Illinois circuit court judge ruled that his name should be removed from the state's primary ballot because of violations of the "insurrection clause" in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The ruling, issued by Circuit Court Judge Tracie Porter on Wednesday, agreed with arguments made by Colorado's Supreme Court when it kicked Trump off the ballot in that state.
Porter's ruling followed a determination by Illinois' State Board of Elections in January that Trump's name should remain on the ballot, but also recommended that a court make the ultimate decision in the case.
Trump's attorneys filed two separate motions in the case, including an appeal of the ruling. They have asked the Illinois Appellate Court to reverse Porter's decision and to reinstate the Board of Elections' ruling in the case.
A second motion was also filed to clarify the terms of Porter's stay in the case. The ruling had been placed on hold pending the expected filing of the appeal, but Trump's attorneys are arguing that the ruling should be stayed until the appeal is decided upon, or until the U.S. Supreme Court makes a ruling in a similar case in Colorado.
Porter issued a revised ruling on Thursday, saying that the decision would be put on hold until a decision is reached by the Appellate Court.
That Colorado case, in which Trump's name was removed from that state's primary ballot on the same grounds, is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Porter said in her ruling that the order would be put on hold if the Supreme Court's ruling was "inconsistent" with hers.
U.S. & World
The Illinois Republican Party issued the following statement in reaction to Porter's Wednesday ruling.
"As we've stated repeatedly, the Illinois Republican Party believes the people, not activist courts or unelected bureaucrats, should choose who represents them in the White House. This decision to remove President Trump from the ballot without due process is an affront to democracy and limits the voting rights of Illinois citizens," Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said.
The former president's spokesperson Steven Cheung also issued a statement.
"Democrat front-groups continue to attempt to interfere in the election and deny President Trump his rightful place on the ballot," the statement read. "Today, an activist Democrat judge in Illinois summarily overruled the state's board of elections and contradicted earlier decisions from dozens of other state and federal jurisdictions. This is an unconstitutional ruling that we will quickly appeal. In the meantime, President Trump remains on the Illinois ballot, is dominating the polls, and will Make America Great Again!"
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the Colorado case in early February, and according to legal experts cited by The New York Times and other publications, there was skepticism in the arguments made to keep the former president off the ballot.
The Illinois ruling repeatedly cited findings from the Colorado case, saying that Trump's actions in the lead-up to, and on the day of Jan. 6, 2021, should be construed as insurrection, making him ineligible to hold the office of president.
Colorado's Supreme Court concluded "that because President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section Three, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the secretary to list President Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot."
Trump's attorneys have disputed that characterization in appeals, saying that his actions fell well short of the 14th Amendment's definition of insurrection. They cited tweets the president had sent calling for peace in Washington amid the chaos at the Capitol, but Porter dismissed those remarks as "plausible deniability" of potential crimes.
"This tweet could not possibly have had any other intended purposes besides to fan the flames. The hearing office determines that these calls to peace via social media, coming after an inflammatory tweet are the product of trying to give himself plausible deniability," the ruling read.
She argued that the Capitol riot's purpose was "the furtherance of the president's plan to disrupt the electoral count taking place before the joint meeting of Congress," and therefore qualified as insurrection under the Constitution. | <urn:uuid:0d821b4e-a4f5-4a4f-99f5-352ca5edbcce> | {
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Nevada county election official in charge of controversial 2022 hand-count plan resigns
A Nye County spokesperson says top elections official Mark Kampf is resigning. The rural Nevada county has been roiled by voting machine conspiracy theories. That led to a hand-count in the 2022 midterms. The reason for Kampf's resignation is not…
Source: LacrosseTribune.com
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by WRJC WebMaster on February 27, 2024 at 5:59 PM | <urn:uuid:aa006650-09a6-4577-af2f-7f55f869f5dd> | {
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FBI raids 2 homes owned by top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal agents searched two properties owned by a top adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that agents carried out morning raids at two Bronx addresses, which records show are owned by Winnie Greco, a former fundraiser for Adams who now serves as his director of Asian affairs.
The purpose of the investigation was not revealed, and it wasn't immediately clear whether it was related to Adams. But it was another sign of deepening law enforcement scrutiny of the Democratic mayor and members of his inner circle.
A person with knowledge of the matter said the investigation that led to Thursday's raid was being overseen by the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, and it was separate from a criminal inquiry being conducted by federal prosecutors in Manhattan that led FBI agents to seize Adams' electronic devices as he left an event last fall.
The person wasn't authorized to disclose information publicly about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Neighbors of Greco's said federal agents began searching the two homes, which are on the same block, at around 6 a.m. and remained in the area for several hours.
Greco was placed on administrative leave Thursday, according to a City Hall spokesperson. A prolific fundraiser, she had worked closely with Adams for over a decade, serving as his conduit to the city's Asian-American communities.
In November, the city's Department of Investigation opened a probe into her conduct following a news report that raised questions about her political fundraising and whether she used her position in the administration to obtain personal benefits.
According to that report, published by the local news outlet The City, Greco demanded that a city employee complete free renovations on her home when he was supposed to be working.
Greco is at least the third aide to Adams whose home has targeted by federal agents. In November, the FBI raided the home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Adams, and Rana Abbasova, who worked in the mayor's international affairs office. Four days later, agents quietly seized the mayor's cellphones and an iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan.
That investigation, which is being led by Manhattan prosecutors, is believed to be focused on whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors, according to a warrant reported on by The New York Times.
Adams has repeatedly deflected questions about the investigation while stressing that he has not officially been accused of wrongdoing.
"Our administration will always follow the law, and we always expect all our employees to adhere to the strictest ethical guidelines," a spokesperson for the mayor said in a statement Thursday. "As we have repeatedly said, we don't comment on matters that are under review, but will fully cooperate with any review underway."
There was no immediate response to a voicemail seeking comment left at a phone number listed as Greco's.
__________
Associated Press photographer Mary Altaffer contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:d43dcd8f-b818-45d6-b391-3f3b48c27717> | {
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"url": "https://www.kob.com/politics-news/fbi-raids-2-homes-owned-by-top-aide-to-new-york-city-mayor-eric-adams/"
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Boise 6 / Twin Falls 6, your new home for the Vegas Golden Knights | <urn:uuid:4aeeaf73-0cf9-4e72-a2f7-59a3fd1f2718> | {
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California Live's Jobeth Devera learns about the benefits of elderberries and how you can incorporate the immune-boosting berry into the foods you eat. Learn to make elderberry cheesecake bites that are packed with antioxidants.
Elderberry Cheesecake Bites Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
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—1 cup pitted dates
—1 cup raw walnuts
Filling (first layer)
—1 1/2 cups raw, soaked cashews
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—1/4 cup lemon juice
—1/3 cup coconut oil (melted)
—2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk or another plant-based milk
—1/2 cup honey (agave nectar or maple syrup to make it vegan)
Filling (second layer)
—Leftover cashew blend from the first layer
—½ cup fresh berries
—3 tablespoons elderberry syrup
Toppings
—Additional fresh berries, caramel, chocolate drizzle or honey
Directions
Crust
- Puree 1 cup pitted dates and 1 cup raw walnuts in a food processor until it's finely chopped and sticky.
- Press the dates and walnut blend into the bottoms of a muffin-cup lined muffin pan.
Filling (first layer)
- In a mixer, puree filling ingredients until creamy and then pour on top of the crusts, filling halfway.
- Place in the freezer for about 30 minutes. You will have filling left over.
- Filling (second layer)
- Puree remaining cashew filling with ½ cup fresh berries and 3 Tablespoons Carmel Berry Co. elderberry syrup.
- Pour over the first layer, filling to the top, then add fresh berries and any other desired toppings.
- Freeze until hard (about an hour), peel off the muffin cups and enjoy! You can keep them in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for a couple weeks. | <urn:uuid:f66f9dff-b842-4c04-bf2d-690506fe7a43> | {
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"url": "https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/california-live/this-immune-boosting-ingredient-will-level-up-your-desserts/3448512/"
} |
PH
- NewsPhresher Taps Famous Dex For New Single "Keep It Up"Phresher and Dexter link up for new banger "Keep It Up."By Mitch Findlay
- Original ContentMeet Phresher: From "Wait A Minute" To Recording With EminemBrooklyn rapper Phresher is about to leave his mark on the game - wait a goddamn minute and get acquainted. By Mitch Findlay
- Original ContentWhat's New In Battle Rap (April 29)We keep you up to date on everything going on in battle rap.By Dallas Darden | <urn:uuid:4eeb3c7c-5f44-4456-9f00-c851acbc3225> | {
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/12002489Edit ImageSaveSaveEditCropCustom TextKitchen furniture architecture countertop. AI generated Image by rawpixel.MoreAI GeneratedPremiumID : 12002489View personal and business license JPEGBanner JPEG 1200 x 800 px | 300 dpiLarge JPEG 3500 x 2333 px | 300 dpiBest Quality JPEG 6720 x 4480 px | 300 dpiKitchen furniture architecture countertop. AI generated Image by rawpixel.More | <urn:uuid:8658c69d-3fb5-4e98-bbfa-f5aafd2be30c> | {
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Students who worked in the bar of a Cambridge college were not paid the minimum wage for their work. The 47 students affected worked in the bar at Emmanuel College on a voluntary basis.
The college was among 524 employers named by the Government in February 2024 for failing to pay workers the national minimum wage (NMW). It has since paid the affected students £3,924.75 in arrears which were accrued between October 2015 and June 2018.
On average, each worker was owed £83.51 in arrears after working at the bar, which is run on a not-for-profit basis and open only to college members and their guests. A spokesperson for the college said all permanent staff have been paid the Real Living Wage, or more, since before 2023, with exceptions for staff working in the student-run bar.
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They said the historical issue of underpayment stemmed from a 'misunderstanding' about how the NMW legislation applied to some students who worked on a voluntary basis at the student bar. "It had been assumed that in serving their friends and colleagues students were acting as volunteers, receiving only a small payment, with the aim of keeping costs low and supporting a shared facility," the spokesperson said.
"Once this issue was brought to the college's attention, we worked with HMRC to resolve the matter immediately, by raising student pay and ensuring they were paid the NMW."
They added: "The college closely monitors staff salaries across the University and Cambridge colleges to ensure that our salaries remain fair and competitive.
"Each year we take into account the real living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation when we consider the cost of living award to be applied for all staff."
Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Peterborough, Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in. | <urn:uuid:f258bb3f-476a-4094-887c-db220fd44fc5> | {
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — U.S. senators declined on Thursday to block the sale of F-16s to Turkey, despite voicing deep disdain for Turkey's conduct as an ally. They were upholding an unofficial bargain that Turks would get the fighter jets if they stopped blocking Sweden's accession to NATO.
"A deal's a deal," said Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Call it quid pro quo," Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who introduced the resolution to try to block the sale, told fellow senators. "That sounds better than extortion."
The Senate voted 13 to 79 to reject Paul's proposal.
Along with the Democratic committee chairman, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, Risch took the Senate floor before the vote to acknowledge some of the many U.S. objections to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government: its human rights record, its attacks on U.S. allies in Syria, its backing for offensives by Azerbaijan on an ethnic Armenian enclave, and Turkey's ties with Russia on military deals and other matters.
Nevertheless, the Republican and Democratic senior foreign policy leaders argued, adding Sweden to NATO was too important to the overall strategic interests of the Western military alliance and to the U.S. to allow fellow NATO member Turkey to spoil it.
Sweden, and Finland, sought to join NATO in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The United States and the majority of other NATO allies supported the accession, saying the two countries' militaries, industries and locations near or bordering Russia would strengthen the alliance. Finland joined NATO last year, after Erdogan lifted initial objections to that country as well.
Erdogan's objections to Sweden included it offering refuge to Turkish critics in exile. But Erdogan also publicly linked his objections to hopes of overcoming U.S. reluctance to sell him new models of the advanced fighter jet.
"I'm not here to defend Turkey or the other things that they do," Risch said. "What I am here to do is defend the importance of NATO."
Paul argued before the vote that continuing to withhold the advanced fighter jets was the best leverage the U.S. had to try to influence Turkey's behavior as an ally.
"What will Turkey do next time they want something?" he asked.
The State Department notified Congress of its approval of the $23 billion F-16 sale to Turkey in January, along with a companion $8.6 billion sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece.
The State Department agreement came just hours after Turkey deposited its "instrument of ratification" for Sweden's accession to NATO with Washington, which is the repository for alliance documents, and after several key members of Congress lifted their objections. | <urn:uuid:fc291aae-12b7-44f0-a3e1-c42684c51213> | {
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Hacking at UnitedHealth Unit Cripples a Swath of the US Health System: What to Know
Early in the morning of Feb. 21, Change Healthcare, a company unknown to most Americans that plays a huge role in the U.S. health system, issued a brief statement saying some of its applications were "currently unavailable."
By the afternoon, the company described the situation as a "cyber security" problem.
Since then, it has rapidly blossomed into a crisis.
The company, recently purchased by insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, reportedly suffered a cyberattack. The impact is wide and expected to grow. Change Healthcare's business is maintaining health care's pipelines — payments, requests for insurers to authorize care, and much more. Those pipes handle a big load: Change says on its website, "Our cloud-based network supports 14 billion clinical, financial, and operational transactions annually."
Initial media reports have focused on the impact on pharmacies, but techies say that's understating the issue. The American Hospital Association says many of its members aren't getting paid and that doctors can't check whether patients have coverage for care.
But even that's just a slice of the emergency: CommonWell, an institution that helps health providers share medical records, information critical to care, also relies on Change technology. The system contained records on 208 million individuals as of July 2023. Courtney Baker, CommonWell marketing manager, said the network "has been disabled out of an abundance of caution."
"It's small ripple pools that will get bigger and bigger over time, if it doesn't get solved," Saad Chaudhry, chief digital and information officer at Luminis Health, a hospital system in Maryland, told KFF Health News.
Here's what to know about the hack:
Who Did It?
Media reports are fingering ALPHV, a notorious ransomware group also known as Blackcat, which has become the target of numerous law enforcement agencies worldwide. While UnitedHealth Group has said it is a "suspected nation-state associated" attack, some outside analysts dispute the linkage. The gang has previously been blamed for hacking casino companies MGM and Caesars, among many other targets.
The Department of Justice alleged in December, before the Change hack, that the group's victims had already paid it hundreds of millions of dollars in ransoms.
Is This a New Problem?
Absolutely not. A study published in JAMA Health Forum in December 2022 found that the annual number of ransomware attacks against hospitals and other providers doubled from 2016 to 2021.
"It's more of the same, man," said Aaron Miri, the chief digital and information officer at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida.
Because the assaults disable the target's computer systems, providers have to shift to paper, slowing them down and making them vulnerable to missing information.
Further, a study published in May 2023 in JAMA Network Open examining the effects of an attack on a health system found that waiting times, median length of stay, and incidents of patients leaving against medical advice all increased — at neighboring emergency departments. The results, the authors wrote, mean cyberattacks "should be considered a regional disaster."
Attacks have devastated rural hospitals, Miri said. And wherever health care providers are hit, patient safety issues follow.
What Does It Mean for Patients?
– Monitor the notices and bills you receive from insurers and providers. Contact them immediately if anything seems suspicious.– If a medical provider requests your Social Security number on intake forms, leave the space blank, and politely push back if they insist.– If your health plan offers free credit or identity theft monitoring following a breach, take it.If you're concerned your data has been compromised: – Go to the Federal Trade Commission's identity theft site to file an identity theft report, if appropriate.– If someone used your name to get medical care, contact every provider who may have been involved and get copies of your medical records. Correct any errors.– Notify your health plan's fraud department and send a copy of the FTC identity theft report.– File free fraud alerts with the three major credit reporting agencies.Michelle Andrews
Year after year, more Americans' health data is breached. That exposes people to identity theft and medical error.
Care can also suffer. For example, a 2017 attack, dubbed "NotPetya," forced a rural West Virginia hospital to reboot its operations and hit pharma company Merck so hard it wasn't able to fulfill production targets for an HPV vaccine.
Because of the Change Healthcare attack, some patients may be routed to new pharmacies less affected by billing problems. Patients' bills may also be delayed, industry executives said. At some point, many patients are likely to receive notices their data was breached. Depending on the exact data that has been pilfered, those patients may be at risk for identity theft, Chaudhry said. Companies often offer free credit monitoring services in those situations.
"Patients are dying because of this," Miri said. Indeed, an October preprint from researchers at the University of Minnesota found a nearly 21% increase in mortality for patients in a ransomware-stricken hospital.
How Did It Happen?
The Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center, an industry coordinating group that disseminates intel on attacks, has told its members that flaws in an application called ConnectWise ScreenConnect are to blame. Exact details couldn't be confirmed.
It's a tool tech support teams use to remotely troubleshoot computer problems, and the attack is "apparently fairly trivial to execute," H-ISAC warned members. The group said it expects additional victims and advised its members to update their technology. When the attack first hit, the AHA recommended its members disconnect from systems both at Change and its corporate parent, UnitedHealth's Optum unit. That would affect services ranging from claims approvals to reference tools.
Millions of Americans see physicians and other practitioners employed by UnitedHealth and are covered by the company's insurance plans.
UnitedHealth has said only Change's systems are affected and that it's safe for hospitals to use other digital services provided by UnitedHealth and Optum, which include claims filing and processing systems.
But not many chief information officers "are jumping to reconnect," Chaudhry said. "It's an uneasy feeling."
Miri says Baptist is using the conglomerate's technology and that he trusts UnitedHealth's word that it's safe.
Where's the Federal Government?
Neither executive was sanguine about the future of cybersecurity in health care. "It's going to get worse," Chaudhry said.
"It's a shame the feds aren't helping more," Miri said. "You'd think if our nuclear infrastructure were under attack the feds would respond with more gusto."
While the departments of Justice and State have targeted the ALPHV group, the government has stayed behind the scenes more in the aftermath of this attack. Chaudhry said the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services have been attending calls organized by the AHA to brief members about the situation.
Miri said rural hospitals in particular could use more funding for security and that agencies like the Food and Drug Administration should have mandatory standards for cybersecurity.
There's some recognition among officials that improvements need to be made.
"This latest attack is just more evidence that the status quo isn't working and we have to take steps to shore up cybersecurity in the health industry," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a longtime advocate for stronger cybersecurity, in a statement to KFF Health News. | <urn:uuid:a3c1c6c3-91b4-490d-a828-7c998af7a2c5> | {
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From a press release:
HALIFAX: Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender made the following statement on Feb. 29 in response to the Houston government's 2024 Budget:
"Money for a school food program in this budget is a win for Nova Scotia families.
"New Democrats have been pressing for this program through both Liberal and PC governments.
"It is an idea whose time has come."
ADVERTISEMENT:
Chender said otherwise, the budget is what they have come to expect from the Houston government.
"There are over a billion dollars in additional appropriations but no new money to keep rural emergency rooms open or provide primary care to the 153,000 Nova Scotians on the doctor waitlist.
"There is nothing to help with out-of-control power bills, and this government's refusal to index income assistance in the middle of an inflationary crisis is just plain callous."
ADVERTISEMENT:
"In every part of this province, we have thousands of people in need of housing and many middle-class families who struggle each month to pay the rent, yet we see almost nothing to help those Nova Scotians in this budget.
"In fact, this budget spends less on housing than it did last year.
Premier Houston's ideological opposition to building affordable housing is ignoring the ways in which his government has exacerbated affordability issues through policy choices, and he insists on making the same choices again and again." | <urn:uuid:5b2508d0-bf19-4fc2-b376-3c08ce06358a> | {
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"language": "en",
"language_score": 0.9650077223777771,
"url": "https://thelaker.ca/chender-budget-doesnt-do-enough-to-give-n-s-families-a-break/"
} |
Bank of America Corp.'s Merrill arm and Wells Fargo & Co.'s brokerage unit are offering access to ETFs that invest directly in Bitcoin, underscoring the increasing acceptance of the products by mainstream firms.
The banks are offering the approved ETFs to some wealth management clients with brokerage accounts who request the products, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
After years of industry speculation, nearly a dozen Bitcoin ETFs won approval from US regulators in January — with the landmark decision sparking a surge in demand for the vehicles. But even with regulators' blessing, it's up to firms whether to offer trading in the Bitcoin-linked products and some may be reluctant to jump into a volatile asset class.
Many are diving in. Bank of America's Merrill and Wells Fargo join Charles Schwab Corp. and Robinhood Markets Inc., which started offering the spot Bitcoin ETFs shortly after their approval. UBS Group AG is also offering a number of the Bitcoin ETFs to some of its wealth management clients with brokerage accounts on an unsolicited basis, Bloomberg reported in January. Morgan Stanley is evaluating adding spot Bitcoin ETFs to its platform, according to CoinDesk. A representative for Morgan Stanley declined to comment to Bloomberg
Vanguard Group Inc. is among firms holding off, saying in a Jan. 24 blog post that "crypto is more of a speculation than an investment."
A representative for Wells Fargo confirmed spot bitcoin ETFs are available — since their approval by the SEC — for unsolicited purchases, either through Wells Fargo Advisors or the bank's online WellsTrade platform. A representative for Bank of America declined to comment.
The moves come as Bitcoin continued to rally to the highest price in more than two years. Bitcoin has jumped over 40% already this year atop the successful debut of the ETF products, which directly hold the token. The batch of funds from the likes of BlackRock Inc. and Fidelity Investments went live on Jan. 11, wooing net inflows of about $7.4 billion to date.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News. | <urn:uuid:ef9dd277-f6c3-4b59-a4a2-5c195e2d6b81> | {
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Health officials are investigating whether there's a link between two new RSV vaccines and cases of a rare nervous system disorder in older U.S. adults.
The inquiry is based on fewer than two dozen cases seen among more than 9.5 million vaccine recipients, health officials said Thursday. And the available information is too limited to establish whether the shots caused the illnesses, they added.
But the numbers are higher than expected and officials are gathering more information to determine if the vaccines are causing the problem. The data was presented at a meeting of an expert panel that provides vaccine policy advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials said they were investigating more than 20 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an rare illness in which a person's immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and paralysis. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS in the U.S. each year, and it's more commonly seen in older people, according to the CDC.
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Most people fully recover from the syndrome, but some have permanent nerve damage. Guillain-Barre can occur in people after they are infected with a virus, but in some instances cases have been linked to vaccinations.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and the elderly.
Last year, the CDC signed off on a recommendation made by the advisory panel, aimed at Americans age 60 and older. It was for a single dose of RSV vaccine. There were two options, one made by Pfizer and the other by GSK.
The CDC said that patients should talk to their doctors about the vaccines and then decide whether to get it.
Officials were aware that instances of Guillain-Barre had been identified in clinical trials done before the shots were approved for sale, and that different systems were watching for signs of problems.
At a meeting of the expert panel on Thursday, CDC officials presented an analysis of the reports taken in by those systems.
About two-thirds of the cases occurred in people who got a version of the vaccine made by Pfizer, called Abrysvo. But officials are also doing follow-up tracking in people who got Arexvy, made by GSK.
About two cases of Guillain-Barre might be seen in every 1 million people who receive a vaccine, health officials estimate. A CDC analysis found the the GSK rate was lower than that, but 4.6 cases per million were reported in recipients of the Pfizer shot.
Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also showed an above-expected number of Guillain-Barre cases being reported in RSV vaccine recipients, with more among Pfizer shot recipients.
"Taken together, these data suggest a potential increased risk" in RSV vaccine recipients 60 and older that must be explored, said Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC vaccine safety monitoring official.
Officials from GSK and Pfizer made brief statements during the meeting, noting that sorting out a safety signal is complicated.
"Pfizer is committed to the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the safety of Abrysvo" and is conducting four safety studies to look into the possibility of vaccine-related GBS, said Reema Mehta, a Pfizer vice president.
CDC officials also presented estimates that the vaccines have prevented thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths from RSV, and that current data indicates the benefits of vaccination outweigh the possible risks.
___ | <urn:uuid:72989aee-7362-48b9-9ecf-8bb0903e90ff> | {
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Avenged Sevenfold is stepping into virtual reality with Looking Inside, a new immersive VR concert experience. The show runs for 26 minutes and pairs the Grammy-nominated band's performance with "custom visual effects to create an immersive experience" that couldn't be brought to life any other way.
Looking Inside is available now for $12.99 in the AmazeVR app, which is available on Meta Quest and the brand-new Apple Vision Pro. The concert features songs from Avenged Sevenfold's new album, Life is But a Dream..., as well as the hit songs "Hail to the King" and "Nightmare." Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to view the performance inside the VIP lounge on Avenged Sevenfold's upcoming Life is But a Dream... North American Tour, which kicks off in Buffalo, New York on March 6. Check out the trailer for Looking Inside above.
"Being able to combine the best aspects of what a live show and technology offers is what excites us the most about our VR concert, and what we've created with the two is pretty compelling," Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows said of the VR concert experience, in a press release. "Lots of our fans already know the intricacies of our performances, but I think they're going to be blown away when they can get closer than ever before."
"We're giving Avenged Sevenfold fans a perfect moment frozen in time," added Steve Lee, AmazeVR CEO and Co-Founder. "Our technology allows app goers to preserve and experience the highest quality and detailed performance over and over again. We knew that Avenged Sevenfold was the perfect choice to debut our rock genre, they are constantly challenging the norm, experimenting with new technology, all to prioritize connecting with their fans."
Finally, Warner Records VP of web3 and innovation, Jacqui Bransky, said, "It's a really exciting time to be an artist but also to be a fan. As the music industry continues to shift, Warner Records is always looking for new opportunities to bring our artists to the forefront of the technology space. We are excited to continue creating new immersive opportunities for fans that bring them one step closer to experiencing their favorite artists up-close and personal. AmazeVR have been great partners in bringing this vision to life." | <urn:uuid:ffb721cc-da6f-434b-9fa4-6cbef0f08308> | {
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Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, who made his political mark in the 1980s with the signing of a ground-breaking free trade agreement with the United States that later expanded to include Mexico, died Thursday. He was 84.
Mulroney, Canada's last Cold War leader, opposed apartheid in South Africa and helped secure a landmark treaty on acid rain with Washington.
But he brought in a consumption tax still reviled by Canadians to this day, and his efforts to drive constitutional reform, in large part to bring wayward Quebec into the fold, ended in failure.
A lawyer by training, Mulroney was ambitious and charming, with twinkling blue eyes and a baritone voice. He was at ease in both of Canada's official languages, French and English.
He briefly came out of retirement to advise Justin Trudeau on a revamped continental trade deal.
Born on March 20, 1939 in Quebec to a family with Irish roots, Mulroney entered university at the young age of 16, where he first got involved with the Progressive Conservatives (now known as the Conservative Party).
After finishing law school, he quickly jumped into politics, first seeking the leadership of his party in 1976.
When he lost, he took a job as chief executive of a mining company. He was not yet 40 years old.
In 1983, he entered the political fray once again, vying for and winning the leadership of what was then the official opposition.
A year later, Mulroney led his Progressive Conservatives to power, bringing an end to almost two decades of Liberal rule in Ottawa with the largest majority government in history.
That resounding victory was built on a pledge to bring his native Quebec into Canada's constitutional fold.
The French-speaking province had sought to separate from the rest of Canada in 1980, and so did not sign a new constitution in 1982 after Ottawa rejected its demands for more powers.
Mulroney committed to having Quebec recognized as a "distinct society" within Canada.
His first year in office was rocky, however, as several of his ministers resigned over scandals. And his lofty goals for Quebec would remain unrealized.
On the world stage, Mulroney led a charge against the pro-apartheid regime in South Africa, putting him at odds with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
But his greatest foreign policy achievement would be the rapprochement with the United States under Ronald Reagan -- and the resulting watershed in commercial ties.
"I told him: Ronald, I want a comprehensive free trade agreement with you and the United States," he recalled in an interview with Radio-Canada.
Negotiations were launched in March 1985.
The two leaders of Irish descent sparked a media sensation when they capped the "Shamrock Summit" by singing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."
Within three years, a deal was struck, but many Canadians were mistrustful of the outcome, with opposition parties accusing Mulroney of having conceded too much.
The 1988 election would become a referendum on free trade. Mulroney won, and the deal was implemented.
The treaty would soon be replaced by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which brought in Mexico, creating one of the world's largest trading blocs.
"Generally speaking, it's been a success," he told the CBC in a 2012 interview. "It hasn't been a panacea but I never viewed it as that."
Mulroney's second term was marked by a harsh recession, which forced the government to raise taxes to try to slash a deficit that hit a record high in his final year in office.
His proposed constitutional reforms imploded -- they were seen as too favorable to Quebec and rejected.
"It was the worst moment of my life," he would later recall.
Mulroney also introduced a goods and services tax, and oversaw the privatization of one-third of more than 60 state-run corporations including Air Canada.
By the time he retired in 1993, his popularity had plummeted; his 11 percent support made him the most unpopular prime minister in Canadian history.
Less than three months after his exit, the Tories suffered a humiliating election defeat that saw the party's number of seats in the House of Commons reduced from 151 to two.
Shortly afterwards, Mulroney was caught up in a bribery scandal.
A commission of inquiry criticized him for taking more than Can$200,000 in cash from Karlheinz Schreiber, a German-Canadian arms dealer and broker for Airbus in dealings with Air Canada.
The money had changed hands in brown paper bags at three secret hotel meetings. Mulroney ultimately admitted his error in accepting the cash.
Mulroney briefly came out of retirement in 2017 at Trudeau's behest to advise on a new continental trade deal.
He worked behind the scenes for months to convince his occasional golfing buddy Donald Trump not to walk away from the talks to revamp NAFTA.
A new agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, came into effect in July 2020.
Mulroney married his wife Mila in 1973 and the couple had four children, including a daughter who became a minister in Ontario's government.
His daughter-in-law Jessica -- married to his eldest son Ben -- briefly made world headlines over her friendship with Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain's Prince Harry.
© Copyright AFP 2024. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:23c1b7c1-4eb9-4c2f-a226-9a49cee658ea> | {
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The memorable moment was a dream come true for chef and nutritionist Zoe Bingley-Pullin, who shared videos and photos from backstage at the sold-out concert with her 31,800 Instagram followers earlier this week.
Zoe posted a photo of her and her family posing the American singer backstage in front of a grey brick wall.
The Cruel Summer songstress wore casual clothing, including a pink T-shirt and black denim shorts, after belting out hits from her 10-album discography for three and a half hours onstage.
Her stage makeup was also stripped back, and her hair appeared sweaty after the marathon 44-song extravaganza.
Zoe Bingley-Pullin and her family got the chance to meet Taylor Swift and pose for photos with the megastar after one of performances in Sydney last week
'Such a magical night meeting the incredibly talented and kind-hearted Taylor Swift!' Zoe captioned her post.
'Grateful for unforgettable moments with my daughter and what a brilliant role model she is.'
Fans in the comments were shocked how Zoe and her family managed to score access to the Grammy-winning singer.
The mother revealed 'a lovely friend' organised the meet and greet as part of her daughter's birthday gift.
'How wonderful! She really is the most amazing, shining example to us all. I love her kindness and the joy she brings,' one fan commented.
The Cruel Summer songstress wore casual clothing, including a pink T-shirt and black denim shorts, after belting out hits from her 10-album discography for three and a half hours onstage. Her stage makeup was also stripped back, and her hair appeared sweaty after the marathon 44-song extravaganza
Taylor wrapped up the Australian leg of her Eras tour on Monday after playing to more than 600,000 fans across Melbourne and Sydney. Pictured: Taylor Swift performing in Melbourne
'How fabulous lucky girl,' added another.
Taylor wrapped up the Australian leg of her Eras tour on Monday after playing to more than 600,000 fans across Melbourne and Sydney.
A record-breaking 96,000 fans attended each of her three nights in Melbourne, while Sydney attracted a further 83,000 Swifties at each of her four shows.
The pop sensation reportedly earned $25million per Sydney show.
Taylor also injected a whopping $145m into the NSW economy, as thousands of local and interstate fans flocked to the city for the must-see event of the year.
She is now in Singapore for three concerts on March 2, 3 and 4.
A record-breaking 96,000 fans attended each of her three nights in Melbourne, while Sydney attracted a further 83,000 Swifties at each of her four shows. Pictured: Taylor Swift performing in Melbourne | <urn:uuid:f09317b1-4c7c-4185-826b-fc5ed27432d1> | {
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Kentucky's oldest newspaper has provided over 200 years of coverage
Mar 1, 2024
'The paper we put out today is tomorrow's history'
At The Bourbon County Citizen in Paris, Kentucky, the dusty past collides with the slick technology of the present, and the result is the beautiful story of a town and its newspaper.
On a chilly day last January, Publisher Rebecca Lawyer proved that the Zoom videoconferencing platform really is the next best thing to being there. She gave a virtual visitor the nickel tour, carrying her laptop around the newspaper offices and introducing members of her small staff.
"Say high to Warren Shiflet over there," Lawyer said. "He's stuck typing boring court news."
Up in the front shop is circulation and office manager Lois Cooke, who works behind the scenes, Lawyer said. And she wants to say hello.
On this day, Lawyer is a cheerful spirit, running the newspaper with her sister, Beverly "BeBe" Brannon.
Dating back to at least the early 1800s, The Bourbon County Citizen is known as the oldest continuously published newspaper, not only in Kentucky, but west of the Alleghenies, too. It is a proud distinction.
"But nobody knows where the Alleghenies are," Lawyer joked with a hearty laugh and added, "We have a big sign on the front of the building, and people walk by and ask, 'Where the heck are the Allegheny Mountains?'"
For the record, the Allegheny Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain range. Britannica defines the region as extending southwestward from central New York to southern West Virginia.
"The earliest issue of the paper we can find is from April 1807," Lawyer said. "I donated it to the Hopewell Museum here in town, and they have it under glass."
That first edition was called the Western Citizen, and since it began, no one can recall a single week gone by without seeing a newspaper bearing the flag "Citizen."
The paper's life story, as told in the pages of The Bourbon County Citizen goes like this.
Since the founding of the Western Citizen, the names of the paper have changed only slightly, and The Bourbon County Citizen is a lineal descendant of the original. It was launched when that part of the country was considered "out west."
The true birth of the paper goes all the way back to 1795 when the Kentucky Herald was founded in Paris, Kentucky. Joel Reid Lyle bought it in 1807 and changed its name to the Western Citizen. Eventually, it took on its current title.
In 1946, Lawyer's grandfather, Paul Brannon, took the reins at the newspaper. The Brannon family has owned and published it ever since.
After Paul Brannon's death in 1963, his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Genevieve Brannon, took it over. Genevieve became sole publisher in 1991 after Larry's death. She died in 2018 at the age of 91.
Now the Brannons' three kids and a nephew, including Lawyer and BeBe Brannon, own the newspaper.
Lawyer carried her laptop to the newspaper's archives and pointed its camera toward boxes and bound volumes. She showed off other newspaper artifacts — pieces of lead type, vintage cameras and a rotary phone from days gone by.
"We have rotary phones that still work. One is associated with our fax line, and the other one is a regular phone," she said. "The phone company is trying to make us get rid of them, but we're fighting back, and they are threatening to increase our phone bill because of them."
In the background are photos of those who came before her.
"Behind me over here is my mother and father that ran the paper," she said. "It's interesting because I never did like history growing up, but when you go through these old files and read about history in the newspaper, it makes our past seem real."
She walked the laptop around for a few more minutes before pointing it back toward herself.
"It feels just like Heaven back here, and if I could get out of the front shop, I would be back here playing all day," she said.
Lawyer reckons she has spent most of her life at the newspaper, childhood and all.
"I left the scene for about 10 years when I went to college and then worked at some other newspapers before coming back," she said. "But my sister, when she had kids, she would just bring them down here and put them in a drawer. I mean you go to the hospital, have a baby, and then bring it down here and work."'
Generally, the two sisters were always around the newspaper, even as children, and when they were asked to ride around on their bicycles to deliver the paper, they'd do it, Lawyer said.
In general, Lawyer feels good about her work. She doesn't get many compliments, but she doesn't hear a lot of complaints, either.
"So, I'm not afraid to walk downtown or anything," she said. "Folks used to come in here and say, 'I've got a bone to pick with you,' but they don't do that anymore, so I feel good about things."
The Town of Paris is a county seat, located northeast of Lexington with a population of about 10,000. Its claim to fame is the Triple Crown racehorse, Secretariat, who lived out his golden years at Claiborne Farm before dying in 1989.
The Bourbon County Citizen reaches about 3,000 households, and Lawyer believes they could do better with a little more marketing. But with staff limitations, they're doing what they can. Main Street uses a Chamber of Commerce, local government offices and local businesses.
"I think there's more advertising dollars in surrounding counties, and I know we can do more with our website, but we don't have the time or the manpower," she said. "And I'm shocked that our web audience keeps growing, because I never thought I would read a newspaper online."
The Bourbon County Citizen is fiercely local and refuses to publish any stories that are not about the county. And its advertisers are loyal, too.
"I am absolutely blown away with support from our business community, and they also realize advertising works," Lawyer said, "when you consider they are being bombarded by information and marketing messages, including ads on Facebook."
Years ago, The Citizen ran a spotlight promotion publishing photos and profiles of local businesses.
"BeBe thought of it again, and we kind of revived it," Lawyer said. "Melanie Turner, our ad director, made little mock-ups so our business owners could see what we were talking about because nobody remembered it. It has been tremendously successful."
She uses her website and social media to post breaking news and value-added content that would not be possible in print. She loves the visual components online journalism provides for online photo galleries and videos, which she loves.
"One of the projects I want to do before I depart this earth is scan all the pictures, digitize them and put them either on Facebook or a website where people can download them," she said. "I started doing it during COVID, and so far, I've done maybe 2,000," she said.
She calls the project "The Faces of Bourbon County."
Some of the old photos were never identified, so she started posting them on social media and asking readers to help identify them.
"People in the community say wonderful things about the people in the pictures, and I think that was a good move for the community and it was good for us, too," she said.
After over 200 years covering Bourbon County, The Citizen has become woven into the fabric of the community. The residents who have lived in Paris for many years can't even remember a time when there wasn't a Bourbon County Citizen, and Lawyer feels the newspaper is sometimes taken for granted.
But that's all right with her. It goes with the territory.
"The paper we put out today is tomorrow's history," she said. "And it's our story — the story of Bourbon County."
Teri Saylor is a writer in Raleigh, North Carolina. Reach her at terisaylor@hotmail.com. | <urn:uuid:0b0681a4-31e4-4e3f-b4d3-375495991f15> | {
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ExxonMobil faces dozens of lawsuits from states and localities alleging the company lied for decades about its role in climate change and the dangers of burning fossil fuels. But now, ExxonMobil is going on the offensive with a lawsuit targeting investors who want the company to slash pollution that's raising global temperatures.
Investors in publicly-traded companies like ExxonMobil try to shape corporate policies by filing shareholder proposals that are voted on at annual meetings. ExxonMobil says it's fed up with a pair of investor groups that it claims are abusing the system by filing similar proposals year after year in an effort to micromanage its business.
ExxonMobil's lawsuit points to growing tensions between companies and activist investors calling for corporations to do more to shrink their climate impact and prepare for a hotter world. Interest groups on both sides of the case say it could unleash a wave of corporate litigation against climate activists. It is happening at a time when global temperatures continue to rise, and corporate analysts say most companies aren't on track to meet targets they set to reduce their heat-trapping emissions.
"Exxon is really upping the ante here in a big way by bringing this case," says Josh Zinner, chief executive of an investor coalition called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, whose members include a defendant in the ExxonMobil case. "Other companies could use this tactic not just to block resolutions," Zinner says, "but to intimidate their shareholders from even bringing these [climate] issues to the table."
ExxonMobil said in an email that it is suing the investor groups Arjuna Capital and Follow This because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) isn't enforcing rules governing when investors can resubmit shareholder proposals. A court is the "the right place to get clarity on SEC rules," ExxonMobil said, adding that the case "is not about climate change."
Other corporations are watching ExxonMobil's case, says Charles Crain, a vice president at the National Association of Manufacturers, which represents ExxonMobil and other industrial companies.
"If companies are decreasingly able to get the SEC to allow them to exclude proposals that are obviously politically motivated, then the next question is, well, can the courts succeed where the SEC has failed — or, more accurately, not even tried?," Crain says.
Activists push companies for more aggressive climate strategies
The shareholder proposal from Arjuna and Follow This called for ExxonMobil to cut emissions faster from its own operations and from its supply chain, including the pollution that's created when customers burn its oil and natural gas. That indirect pollution, known as Scope 3 emissions, accounts for 90% of ExxonMobil's carbon footprint, according to Arjuna and Follow This. The proposal is similar to others that the investor groups submitted to ExxonMobil in recent years and which ExxonMobil says received scant support from other shareholders.
After ExxonMobil sued the groups in federal court in Texas in January, Arjuna and Follow This withdrew the proposal and promised not to submit it to ExxonMobil again. But ExxonMobil refuses to drop its case.
Arjuna declined to comment. The firm said in a court filing that ExxonMobil''s climate targets aren't as ambitious as those of other big oil and gas companies, and that its shareholder proposal was meant to "foster better investment outcomes by addressing the material threat that climate change poses" to the company.
Mark van Baal, founder of Follow This, said in a statement that ExxonMobil is trying to stifle shareholders.
"Apparently, Exxon does not want shareholders to vote on whether the company should accelerate its efforts to reduce emissions," van Baal said. "This is the concern of more and more investors who want [to] safeguard the long-term future of the company and the global economy in view of the climate crisis."
Companies are offering more transparency on climate, but activists say they need to see action
Last year was the hottest ever recorded on Earth, and the effects were devastating. Rising temperatures are driving more extreme weather, from heat waves to floods and droughts. And scientists say the impacts will only get worse because humans keep putting more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Thousands of peoples' lives are disrupted or harmed by extreme weather, and the economic costs are enormous. Weather disasters in the United States last year inflicted at least $92.9 billion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"What we've seen, unfortunately, is that even in the face of disclosure and more transparency from these companies, not much has actually changed from a strategy perspective," says Kevin Chuah, an assistant professor at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business.
The impact of rising temperatures has also led states and municipalities to sue ExxonMobil and other oil and gas companies for the threats that their communities are facing, and the industry's alleged efforts to muddy the public's understanding of climate science. The latest lawsuits were filed by the city of Chicago and the state of California.
Critics say ExxonMobil's lawsuit is part of a broader effort to limit investor activism
Activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This use shareholder proposals to push corporations to go further on climate. But they've struggled in recent years to get support from broader groups of shareholders. Experts say investors are hesitant to back new climate proposals when companies already have policies to disclose and cut emissions. And they say investors worry that proposals have gotten too prescriptive and might interfere with how companies are run.
"I think these are financially material issues," says Chuah of Northeastern University. "And therefore many investors are bringing these concerns up."
ExxonMobil says it is committed to cutting emissions from its operations. But the idea that activist investors like Arjuna and Follow This can quickly push the company out of the oil and gas business with new climate policies is "simplistic and against the interests of the vast majority of ExxonMobil shareholders," the company said in a court filing in Texas.
ExxonMobil said in a statement to NPR that while shareholders are entitled to submit proposals to the company, they don't have "an unlimited right to put forth any proposal to do anything."
"Their intent is to advance their agenda rather than creating long-term value for shareholders," ExxonMobil said of Arjuna and Follow This.
Parts of corporate America have grown frustrated with the shareholder proposal process since the SEC issued guidance in 2021 that made it harder for companies to turn away some resolutions. The SEC specifically cited shareholder proposals that ask companies to set targets and timeframes to address climate change, saying it would no longer view those kinds of resolutions as inappropriate as long as companies are free to decide how to meet the goals.
The National Association of Manufacturers has argued that forcing companies to publish shareholder proposals that deal with "contentious issues unrelated to [their] core business or the creation of shareholder value," including climate change, violates their First Amendment right of free speech. And Republicans in Congress introduced legislation last year that would allow companies to reject shareholder proposals concerning environmental, social or political issues.
"Certainly, there are material climate-related topics that are going to be relevant for a company considering its growth into the future," Crain says. But he says activists too often pursue a "political goal" rather than try to help companies "understand and mitigate those climate related risks or opportunities for their operations."
Crain declined to discuss individual companies or shareholder proposals, and he says there isn't an objective way to determine when a shareholder proposal is politically motivated.
ExxonMobil's critics say its lawsuit is part of a broader effort to curtail shareholder activism, especially around social and environmental issues. "And the reason is because it's one of the few effective avenues left to hold companies accountable," says Zinner of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Corrected: February 28, 2024 at 10:00 PM MST
An earlier version of this article incorectly referred to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Accountability. The group is called the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. | <urn:uuid:e21b5b48-2358-4ba7-b114-9d0d6180e187> | {
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State utility regulators for now will be elected from 2023 map, district court judge rules
State utility regulators will be elected this fall from districts redrawn by the 2023 Legislature as a legal challenge over the map's political fairness plays out in court.
Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott announced his ruling Thursday.
Montana Public Service Commissioners are elected from five districts across the state. The 2023 Legislature re-drew those districts last spring to better align with the state's changing population.
But the new boundaries were challenged by a group who said the map heavily favored Republicans, who currently control all five seats.
The group requested a ruling that would return districts to the previous map, drawn by federal court in 2003, while the case plays out.
Abbott rejected the request to temporarily block the new map for the 2024 election but wrote he expects the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claims. He also wrote that it is the authority of the Legislature to draw the map and the court should only step in as a last resort.
Abbott says he will fast-track the case to come to a decision before the 2025 legislative session starts next January. | <urn:uuid:21b35997-f155-46f3-983e-15e622c282dd> | {
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WAYLAND, Mich. — Police request the public's assistance in locating a missing woman out of Wayland.
Sharon Kay Shoemaker, 81, has dementia and was last seen in a 2017 Dodge Journey, according to the Wayland Police Department (WPD).
We're told she was wearing a red sweater, white shirt and a pair of black pants.
Those with knowledge of Sharon's whereabouts are urged to call 911 or dispatchers at 269-673-3899. | <urn:uuid:19d9263e-f2db-416b-88eb-9a78786d0321> | {
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Missouri is suing Planned Parenthood based on a conservative group's sting video
Missouri's attorney general has filed a lawsuit accusing Planned Parenthood of illegally taking minors into Kansas to obtain abortions without parental consent
ST. LOUIS -- Missouri's attorney general filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Planned Parenthood of illegally taking minors into Kansas to obtain abortions without parental consent, basing the allegation on a video from a conservative group that has promoted false claims on other issues.
Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit accuses Kansas City, Missouri-based Planned Parenthood Great Plains of violating Missouri law, which makes it illegal to "intentionally cause, aid, or assist a minor to obtain an abortion" without consent from a parent or guardian. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Columbia, Missouri, asks the court to stop Planned Parenthood from engaging in the conduct it alleges.
Bailey's lawsuit provides no evidence of the actions alleged outside of a hidden camera video from a conservative group, Project Veritas. The video is of a conversation between Planned Parenthood employees and someone impersonating someone seeking an abortion for a fictitious 13-year-old.
Project Veritas is known for conducting such hidden camera stings. Earlier this month, it acknowledged that claims it made in a video alleging ballot mishandling at a Pennsylvania post office in 2020 were untrue as it settled a lawsuit against the group by a postmaster. In 2021, a Project Veritas video fueled a false claim online that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine contains aborted fetal cells.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains President and CEO Emily Wales said the lawsuit is based on false information. She said in a statement that Planned Parenthood does not provide any form of transportation for patients. Besides, she said, Kansas law requires minor patients seeking abortion services to have parental consent or to show an order from a Kansas judge authorizing it.
"We will continue following state and federal laws and proudly providing Missourians with the compassionate sexual and reproductive care that remains available to them in a state with a total abortion ban," Wales said.
Project Veritas did not immediately respond Thursday to a telephone message or email seeking comment.
Missouri is among several conservative-led states that adopted restrictive abortion laws in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision establishing the nationwide right to abortion. State law prohibits almost all abortions, except in cases of "medical emergencies."
GOP lawmakers and state officials have long been at odds with Planned Parenthood. The Republican-led Missouri House on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would bar Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood. Weeks earlier, the Missouri Supreme Court thwarted a previous attempt to end that funding.
Bailey said in a statement it is time to "eradicate Planned Parenthood once and for all."
Bailey's lawsuit, based on the Project Vertias video, alleges that Planned Parenthood employees said they could take the girl to a Kansas clinic without parental knowledge, using a doctor's note written by someone at Planned Parenthood to get the girl out of school.
"This is the beginning of the end for Planned Parenthood in the State of Missouri. What they conceal and conspire to do in the dark of night has now been uncovered," Bailey said.
Bailey did not say whether he planned to file criminal charges against Planned Parenthood over the conduct the lawsuit alleges. His spokesperson said the office's investigation is ongoing but did not immediately respond to a question about whether criminal charges could be coming.
But Wales said the Project Veritas video "is heavily doctored and edited." She called the lawsuit "a press release dressed up as legal action from an unelected attorney general."
The lawsuit also asks the court to prohibit Planned Parenthood from referring minors for abortions, providing doctor's notes for minors, paying for lodging for out-of-state abortions for minors, or coordinating with others for any of those activities.
Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade told reporters that she believes that Bailey's action "falls in the bucket again of another lawsuit just to try to get some headlines in an election year."
Bailey was appointed attorney general by Republican Gov. Mike Parson after Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022. Bailey is running for election to the post this year.
___
Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.
Stacy Wakefield dies less than 5 months after her husband, World Series champion Tim Wakefield
- Feb 28, 4:19 PM
ABC News Live
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