Question:
Save big on one of the leading meditation apps on the market.

December 30, 2019 2 min read

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Description

Relieve stress & anxiety w/ a free 3-minute guided meditation session every day

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Dunbrody Archers turned out in force on Hook Head in Co Wexford on Wednesday to participate in a ceremony going back more than 300 years.

Chair of New Ross District Municipal Council, Cllr John Fleming explained the origin of the tradition of firing an arrow into the sea from the rocks beneath the world’s oldest operational lighthouse.

“The tradition dates from 1687 when the Mayor and the corporation of New Ross Town Council claimed their authority over the waters by travelling to Hook and shooting an arrow into the sea from Hook Head Lighthouse.”

Cllr Fleming explained that the Mayor of New Ross, casting the arrow into the sea symbolises the port of New Ross’s authority over the estuary of the Barrow and the Suir all the way down to Hook Head.

The members of Dunbrody Archers, founded in 2004 and now one of the largest archery clubs nationally, assisted Cllr Fleming in “the arrow ceremony” by unleashing a volley of arrows into the air at the historic lighthouse.

Cllr Fleming explained that Hook Head is renowned as the oldest intact working lighthouse in the world, dating from the fifth century when local monks lit fires on the headland to keep the ships at sea safe.

“Hook Lighthouse was built by the knight, Sir William Marshal and he also built the port town of New Ross along with Kilkenny Castle, Ferns Castle, Tintern Abbey and many other historical gems in the area,” he said.

“He married Isabel De Clare the daughter of Strongbow and Aoife and they became quite the medieval ‘power couple’ and it is thought that he built Hook Lighthouse to guide ships safely to his port town of New Ross.”

“The Hook Lighthouse tour incorporates 115 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower and features holograms illustrating the ancient history of the tower and the Hook area and spectacular views of the southern coast.”

news, story, article

By Christabella Arko, GNA

Takoradi (W/R), Jan. 1, GNA – Mr Thomas Antwi, an Elder of the Church of Pentecost, Bethel Assembly in Takoradi in the Western Region, has called on Christians to adopt a positive attitude in 2020 for national development.

“We must eradicate negative attitudes such as fear, discouragement and selfishness,” he said, whiles delivering a sermon during the watchnight service to usher in the New Year.

Elder Antwi said right attitudes such as encouraging one another, loyalty, discipline and hard work devoid of corruption, should be the attitude of every citizen in the coming year.

The watchnight saw church members mostly clad in white outfits singing and dancing to glorify God for His love, mercies and for a successful year.

They also prayed to God for forgiveness of their shortcomings and for a better life in 2020.

With the message on the theme: “You Can; take the Can’t Out of Your Life”, Elder Antwi said Christians should focus on the positives of life rather than dwell on the negatives.

He urged them to overcome all challenges that they would be confronted with in order to better their lives and contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

“Even in difficult situations be assured that you can do all things through Christ who is your strength, let that be your slogan throughout the year”, Elder Antwi said.

He said no nation can develop if its citizens do not possess a positive attitude and commitment to the national development agenda.

Elder Antwi said there is the need for a change of mind-set and attitude for all Ghanaians, not only to promote their personal development, but sustainable development and prosperity of the country as well.

He advised all especially the youth to demonstrate a ‘Yes I Can’ attitude, godly and devoted lifestyles as the year begins in order to foster peace, harmony and national development.

GNA

From new arts hotel to mural creations to a “Moon Festival.”

Get a daily rundown of the top stories on Urban Milwaukee

This past year, especially the summer, has been a notable one for the Milwaukee-area visual arts scene, from the opening of downtown’s Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel and a new Mitchell Street gallery to a bronze statue commemorating a South Milwaukee legend to a nonprofit arts organization receiving a sizable grant.

Below are my choices for the Top 10 art news highlights of 2019:

Downtown boutique hotel Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel opened June 4 at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. The hotel features several galleries, a performing arts theater, approximately two dozen pieces of artwork in each of its 219 rooms, a café, fast casual pizza restaurant, a champagne and wine bar, and live entertainment. One of South Milwaukee’s most famous residents, wrestling great Reggie Lisowski, aka “Da Crusher” was honored with a life-size bronze statue this summer. The statue was unveiled June 8 at 1101 Milwaukee Ave. in South Milwaukee during “Crusher Fest,” a two-day celebration featuring appearances by Lisowski’s wrestling contemporaries, food, beer, and plenty of polka. Sculpture Milwaukee, a four-month-long outdoor exhibition featuring the work of 22 artists, including Max Ernst, Red Grooms, Roxy Paine, and Richard Woods, returned to downtown Milwaukee for its third year. Works were displayed June through October. Jeff Redmon and his wife, Dana, opened Scout Gallery, a 5,800-square-foot space at 1104 W. Historic Mitchell St., in June. The gallery includes a retail space which sells work by local artists at many different price points. Earlier this year, the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend acquired a valuable painting by Wisconsin landscape artist Tom Uttech. The oil-on-linen painting, “NIN GASSINSIBINGWE”, is part of Uttech’s Migration series, which features birds and mammals migrating through Wisconsin’s North Woods and parts of Ontario, Canada. Uttech’s retrospective exhibit, Into the Woods, will be on display at the MOWA through January 12. In July, the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) became the recipient of a $3,000,000 grant, courtesy of the Anonymous Fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, allowing the organization to expand its programming and move into a new operating space. In October, MARN relocated to a 5,200-square-foot space, which includes a gallery, retail storefront, and events space, at Lofts on Broadway, 191 N. Broadway. RedLine Milwaukee, a nonprofit group and gallery space dedicated to supporting Milwaukee artists, closed its location, 1422 N. 4th St., in July, after a decade of operation. The East Tosa mural project, featuring six vibrant murals painted on North Avenue businesses in Wauwatosa, was completed in July. Wauwatosa alderman Joel Tilleson, who founded the project, said that the city will continue to focus on promoting public art. This summer, a Third Ward mural painted on the north side of the Dye House building, 230 E. Buffalo St., was a subject of controversy. Created by German muralist Andreas Von Chrzanowski (CASE Maclaim) the mural depicts a headless woman wearing a white utility apron with her hands folded. While some feel the mural honors working women in general, others argue the mural implies these workers are disposable. Under One Moon festival, an outdoor event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, was held in the Third Ward August 9 through 11. The event included lunar-themed music, dance and art, and showcased Museum of the Moon, British artist Luke Jerram’s 23-foot-wide inflatable art installation.

Art Events and Gallery Openings

Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.:

A “New Year’s Resolution Drop-In Tour” will be held at the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM).

Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

The MAM will host its free First Thursday. Admission to the museum is free all day.

Thursday, noon:

A MAM expert will host an Express Talk on the museum’s current exhibit, A Modern Vision:European Masterworks in the Phillips Collection, in the Baker/Rowland Galleries.

Saturday

Chroma, an exhibit focused on brilliant colors and abstraction, opens at Tory Folliard Gallery, 233 N. Milwaukee St. The exhibit features paintings and sculptures by Shane McAdams, T.L. Solien, Derrick Buisch, Terrence Coffman, Ben Grant, Michael Hedges, Clarence Morgan, Jason Rohlf, Jeremy Popelka and Richard Taylor.

Yes, we're about to remind you of the Kentucky Derby disqualification, and racing's safety issues can't be ignored. But what else ranks among racing's top moments in 2019? We asked our writers about what they'll remember most.

RELATED: Top 8 races and top 7 stories in 2019

And how about yours? Let us know in the comments...

Bee Buck: Winx goes out a winner

The amazing mare Winx finished her career in April of 2019 with a staggering 33-race winning streak in tact. The racing world hadn’t seen the likes of it, with the farewell race Randwick’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In typical Winx fashion, it was an event she’d won before, and Australian fans packed the place, there to send her off in style. There may never be another like her, now the world’s Grade/Group 1 wins record holder as she begins her next career as a broodmare. Those will be some highly anticipated foals, with the first one by, appropriately, I Am Invincible.

Candice Curtis: California Chrome sold

Nov. 20, 2019, is a day no “Chrome” will forget. That’s when news broke that California Chrome, two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, had been sold to Japanese interests for stud duty. Reaction was swift and ugly, as I don't think anyone involved with the horse imagined what vitriol would come their way with this decision. The troubling part to me is not that anything untoward will happen to our beloved Chrome, but that so many American fans have such a hatred for people who are different. Let's hope that in 2020, Chrome can be a bridge to understanding between cultures. After all, we already have one big thing in common: our love of racing.

Ryan Dickey: Brown sweeps Arlington Million day

Trainer Chad Brown, hardly a stranger to winning major turf races, took them all on Arlington Million day, sweeping four graded events on the card. Sistercharlie carried her winning streak to five Grade 1 races when she captured the Beverly D. (G1); 3-year-old Valid Point took the Secretariat (G1); Bricks and Mortar reigned in the Arlington Million (G1); and Cafe Americano wrapped things up in the Pucker Up (G3). The four Brown graded stakes winners earned a combined $1,285,800 on the day. His Arlington Million winner went on to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf, making him the Horse of the Year favorite, and his Beverly D. heroine’s under consideration for her second straight championship as top turf female.

Jarrod Horak: Michael Dickinson speaks up

Racetrack safety has been the top story in thoroughbred racing since the well-documented problems at Santa Anita Park earlier this year. Dirt surfaces have been under increased scrutiny, and Michael Dickinson, renowned trainer and president of Tapeta Footings, did not mince words at the University of Arizona's Global Symposium on Racing on Dec. 10. "The revolution against dirt has already started, but some of you haven't recognized it yet," he told the audience. Synthetic surfaces are proven to be safer than conventional dirt, and safety should be the No. 1 concern for everyone involved in the thoroughbred industry. Synthetic surfaces are not the only answer, and we should keep an open mind in regards to racetrack safely. We can always do better and should not be afraid of change. If 2019 proved anything, it’s that the days of kicking the can down the road are over.

Jonathan Lintner: The Kentucky Derby DQ

Oh boy. It’s the singular moment for which 2019 will be remembered — on the racetrack, at least — with stewards’ 20-plus minutes of deliberations in taking down Maximum Security an unprecedented move. Not before this year had a Derby winner been disqualified for interference, with Maximum Security having veered out through the far turn at Churchill Downs. After all the conversation over the DQ’s merits, the outcome seems to have redefined only one horse. Maximum Security is a likely champion and War of Will went on to win the Preakness Stakes. But as for Country House, he’s become vilified by a sect of racing fans who still don’t support the DQ. Here’s to hoping that colt — who ran the race of his life to be second across the wire — gets another chance to prove his worth.

Reinier Macatangay: Mitole takes over

Heading into the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) back in April, Mitole sported an impressive 8: 5-2-1 record. But he hadn’t yet attempted any graded stakes races despite a four-race win streak including the Chick Lang and Bachelor Stakes. Those stakes wins came against 3-year-olds in his previous season.

Mitole also needed to face an older and battle-tested Whitmore over the slop. But the public trusted Mitole more anyway by making him the 2/5 favorite. Luckily for chalk players, Mitole answered all questions.

Mitole secured the lead early on with Whitmore flanking him in second, giving both horses a fair chance. Whitmore challenged for the lead around the turn and even put his head in front, but Mitole fought back in a straight line as Whitmore began to wobble and fade slightly in the stretch. Mitole won by 2 ¾ lengths.

For the win, Mitole earned career-best figures. It was also a passing of the torch moment in the sprint division, as Mitole went on to complete a fantastic year with wins in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Forego Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Sprint, while Whitmore still seeks another win.

Mary Dixon Reynolds: The Industry unites

This will go down in the annals as a turbulent time in the history of Thoroughbred horser acing. Santa Anita, with a mostly consistent climate, counts an unseasonably rainy winter among the myriad factors that led to a spate of catastrophic injuries in southern California. They also led the industry to do some self examination with its safety protocols and reforms, culminating on Nov. 19 when organizations such as NYRA, Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Cup representing 85% of graded stakes in the U.S. came together to form the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.

The industry-led effort seeks to enhance protections that already existed and to develop new reforms to ensure racing’s future. Without healthy horses and humans, there would be no sport, after all.

Those behind federal legislation called the Horseracing Integrity Act want to see the government maintain drug testing and oversight. That could happen in due time, and the Coalition has some supporters of the Integrity Act. But the Coalition is also an earlier step in the right direction seeing these major organization on the same side of the table to promote the well-being of the athletes.

Victor Ryan: Omaha Beach wins off the bench

Asking Omaha Beach to dust himself off from the rigors of the Triple Crown trail and return nearly six months later to beat one of the fastest racehorses in the land seemed an impossible task. Yet that's precisely what I witnessed on Oct. 5 when gathered along the finish line with my media brethren. Omaha Beach surged in the final strides to best the eastern invader and heavy 2-5 favorite Shancelot by a head in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1).

The experience displayed just what is possible when a Hall of Fame trainer like Richard Mandella can partner with a Hall of Fame-caliber racehorse like Omaha Beach. As this 3-year-old colt leaves the racetrack much too soon — next month’s Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park will be his final start — the memory of the 2019 Santa Anita Sprint Championship won’t be easily forgotten.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A suspected drunken driver was arrested in a New Year’s Day highway crash that killed another motorist in West Virginia, police said.

The accident occurred early Wednesday along southbound Interstate 81 in Berkeley County, The Journal reported.

Cody Wade Braithwaite, 32, of Winchester, Virginia, was charged with DUI with death, fleeing DUI, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and a fugitive from justice, Berkeley County Sheriff Curtis Keller said.

Keller said a deputy investigating calls about a reckless driver attempted to make a traffic stop, but the suspect’s vehicle sped up and hit a car, which then struck a guardrail. The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s name was not immediately released.

The suspect’s vehicle also hit a deputy’s cruiser before being stopped, Keller said.

Braithwaite was being held without bond in the Eastern Regional Jail. It wasn’t immediately known whether Braithwaite has an attorney.

___

Information from: The Journal, http://journal-news.net/

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Instruction: Retrieve semantically similar text.


Question:
Palghar: The Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra will be controlled by "Matoshree of Delhi" and not from "Matoshree" in Mumbai, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday in an apparent reference to Congress leadership.

Fadnavis made the remarks targetting Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while campaigning for the upcoming Palghar Zilla Parishad elections.

"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi", the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly told a rally.

Fadnavis, however, didn't take any names while firing the "Matoshree in Delhi" barb. 'Matoshree' means mother in Marathi.

The NCP and the Congress are the other constituents in the Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 'Matoshree' gradually emerged as a formidable power centre in Maharashtra politics when Sena founder Bal Thackeray was alive.

Many prominent personalities, including tallest political leaders of the BJP, Bollywood actors and even late King of Pop Michael Jackson, had visited "Matoshree" in suburban Bandra.

Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.

Continuing his diatribe, Fadnavis also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray's comments that he had given a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra. "Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the NCP and Congress after polls," Fadnavis said.

He also accused the Sena of "betraying" the public mandate by forging an alliance with the NCP and Congress after the state elections.

Fadnavis appealed to people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls. It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena has to compromise with those who "abused" Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the "infighting".

The Sena not only "betrayed" the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.

Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the Shiv Sena bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.

"Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power," he said. Hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying" the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.

"Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices," he said.

On Tuesday, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte had vandalised the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, which was expanded on Monday.

Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a "clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine" to form government, but later things took a different turn. He said citizens are witness to the political developments in the state.

"It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet," the BJP leader said.

On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, "It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme."

The Shiv Sena made "tall claims" that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be made free of encumbrance. "They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit," Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses.

"Now, they have gone back on their word," he alleged.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

Mumbai: Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the New Year Day 'greeted' BJP's former ally, Shiv Sena, by taking a dig at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray saying it is 'Matoshree of Delhi' and not 'Matoshree' in Mumbai that is controlling the MVA government.

He said the Sena has insulted the people's mandate and has been dishonest with the people of the state.

"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi (without naming Congress party and Sonia Gandhi)," the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly said.

Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.

Fadnavis was speaking at the rally to launch a campaign for the election to the Palghar Zilla Parishad election. He said BJP-Sena alliance had received the mandate but BJP despite winning 105 seats is now out of power.

"Why Shiv Sena did not remember PM Modi at the time of government formation? Shiv Sena instead joined hands with Congress and NCP to form the government," he noted.

"Uddhav Thackeray had promised Sena chief Bal Thackeray that there will be Shiv Sena CM one day. But had he promised that party's CM will be on the support of Congress and NCP?" asked Fadnavis adding,

"Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the NCP and Congress after polls." He claimed that Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will not complete its tenure.

Fadnavis attacked MVA government for the crop loan waiver announced recently saying that the government has betrayed farmers who are in distress. ''Betrayal is a base for the MVA government. The party has betrayed the people's mandate and now farmers also,'' he said.

Should abortions be considered elective surgery and therefore not be permitted during the coronavirus pandemic, or are they an essential healthcare issue that should be permitted?

Predictably, in anti-abortion states like Ohio and Texas officials are saying abortions constitute elective surgery and should therefore not be allowed, while in abortion rights states like Massachusetts and Washington, officials are defending them.

This issue has even split those in the medical community working in the same facility.

Nearly 300 doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recently sent a letter to management asking them to "postpone procedures that can be performed in the future" so that they can accommodate the expected surge in patients due to the coronavirus.

The central issue in this case transcends the usual abortion debate: any elective surgery that is being performed during this crisis uses resources that are needed to help those who are hospitalized with the coronavirus.

Chethan Sathya is a pediatric surgeon and journalist in New York City.

Here is his analysis of what is at stake. "Surgeries are resource-intensive — requiring surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, transport teams, medical beds and equipment such as ventilators. Suspending elective surgeries will free up those doctors, other medical personnel, and rooms and equipment."

Dr. Sathya is also concerned about the effect that doing elective surgeries is bound to have on medical staff. "Because of the number of healthcare workers required to work close to one another for each surgery," he writes, "I have no doubt that continuing to perform non-urgent surgeries would lead to further spread of the virus among healthcare workers."

In other words, those who are pushing for abortions during the coronavirus are endangering the lives of healthcare workers.

But do they care?

Here is how Planned Parenthood has responded. "We're closely monitoring the spread of the new cononavirus, or COVID-19. The health and safety of our patients, staff, and communities is our top priority."

Notice that Planned Parenthood is only interested in its own agenda.

It says not a word about tying up resources needed by those who are truly sick.

By taking away needed personnel, gear, and equipment from servicing those who are infected with the coronavirus, it is jeopardizing the lives of those at risk.

The heart of this dispute rests on the question of whether abortion is elective surgery or not. Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and others in the abortion industry argue that abortion is not elective surgery and must be provided at all times.

But is it?

Take two women, Joy and Jane. Joy has a life-threatening heart problem and is scheduled for surgery. Jane wants an abortion. No one in his right mind would equate the two. If Joy doesn’t get heart surgery, she will probably die. If Jane is denied her abortion, she lives (as does her baby).

It comes down to this: Joy has a need; Jane has a want. No woman wants to have heart surgery — they either need it or they don't.

Conversely, no woman needs an abortion — it is, as they like to say, a matter of choice.

Does that mean that abortion is like any other elective surgery, such as a facelift (rhytidectomy) or a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)?

No. In those cases, only the person's face or tummy is affected. In the case of an abortion, another person is affected. And there is nothing elective about that person's fate.

Dr. William Donohue is the president and CEO of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. The publisher of the Catholic League journal, Catalyst, Donohue is a former Bradley Resident Scholar at the Heritage Foundation and served for two decades on the board of directors of the National Association of Scholars. He is the author of eight books, and the winner of several teaching awards and many awards from the Catholic community. Read more of his reports — Click Here Now.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed former Georgia football great Elijah Holyfield on Tuesday, just before the start of the NFL Playoffs.

Roster Move: #Eagles have signed RB Elijah Holyfield and placed DE Daeshon Hall on Reserve/Injured. pic.twitter.com/wlVFFUB6ao — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 31, 2019

Holyfield played with the Panthers in the preseason as an undrafted free agent, but did not make the 53-man roster and would sign with their practice squad.

Now, the former four-star out of Woodward Academy will compete for a Super Bowl ring with Philadelphia starting this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks after Carolina elected not to sign him to a futures contract.

— A grieving mother who lost three of her children and her husband in a tragic fire in Hemet the day after Christmas is speaking out and thanking the community and first responders.

Fighting through her grief, Christina McGraw Moreno stood before a crowd at a youth center, because she had something she wanted to say.

“Thank you to the firefighters that came out and the police officers,” she said. “And, again, I want to thank the hospital that my son was at. The nurses were awesome.”

Last week, Juan Moreno died trying to save his children after their Christmas tree apparently caught fire, sending flames throughout their apartment. Three of their children — 4-year-old Janessa, 8-year-old Isaac and 12-year-old Maria — also died.

The youth center wanted the surviving family, Christina and two of her children, to know that they were not alone.

“Anytime that there’s a tragedy like that with a family, you just want to rally around and help them out and show God’s love and kindness,” Ruth Collins, a community member, said.

Family members said the outpouring of support has been a bright spot in a very dark time.

Juan Moreno’s sister, Diana Ramirez, said in the past she would have turned to him in times like this.

“It just doesn’t feel real,” she said. “It feels like I’m still gonna get a phone call from him or a text message from the kids or something. It just doesn’t feel real.”

The family said they miss his jokes and the children’s laughter, but said they are thankful for the community that has embraced them.

“Thank you for all your love and your support and just all of your wonderful hugs,” McGraw Moreno said.

The Tuesday vigil was also a fundraiser to help cover expenses for the Moreno family. A GoFundMe page has also been set up. As of Tuesday, it had raised more than $44,000 of its initial $20,000 goal.

(Gateway Pundit) – RINO Senator Susan Collins (ME) joined her fellow RINO Senator Lisa Murkowski and criticized McConnell’s promise to coordinate the impeachment trial with the White House.

“Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with White House counsel,” McConnell recently told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “There’ll be no difference between the president’s position and our position as to how to handle this.”

Above: Murkowski, Collins

“Exactly how we go forward, I’m going to coordinate with the president’s lawyers,” McConnell said to Hannity. “The case is so darn weak coming over from the House. We all know how it’s going to end. There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office.”

McConnell is also pushing back on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s demands.

Susan Collins wasn’t happy about McConnell’s defense of the President after the Dem-controlled House railroaded him and denied him due process.

Susan Collins is the second GOP Senator to criticize McConnell.

“I’ve heard the Senate majority leader saying that he’s taking his cues from the White House,” Collins said this week in an interview with Maine Public Radio. “There are senators on both sides of the aisle, who, to me, are not giving the appearance of and the reality of judging this in an impartial way.”

Collins’ criticism of McConnell comes shortly after Murkowski called the Senate Majority Leader’s statements “disturbing.”

“And in fairness, when I heard that I was disturbed,” Murkowski said last week. “To me it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense, and so when I heard what Leader McConnell has said, I happened to think that further confused the process.”

The Democrats denied Trump due process, denied him legal counsel and denied his 6th Amendment right to face his accuser, in this case, Eric Ciaramella, the ‘whistleblower’ who coordinated with Schiff to launch the impeachment inquiry.

Speaker Pelosi continued her reign of tyranny and refused to deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate unless they bow to her demands.

The Constitution is absolutely clear about the Senate’s authority. Article I, Section 3 says: “The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments,” Breitbart’s Joel Pollak wrote.

thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/rino-senator-susan-collins-joins-murkowski-and-criticizes-mcconnells-promise-to-coordinate-impeachment-trial-with-white-house/

EditorsNote: fixes “Luka” in fifth graf

Dec 31, 2019; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) warms up before the start of their game against the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Paul scored 17 points — including 13 in the final 4:31 — to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a come-from-behind, 106-101 home win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

With less than three minutes remaining, the Thunder trailed by seven.

But then Oklahoma City reeled off a 14-2 run — fueled in large part by Paul — to end the game.

The win was the third in a row and seventh in the last eight games for the Thunder.

Dallas had a chance to regain the lead in the final minute, but Danilo Gallinari tipped the ball away from the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic right into the arms of the Thunder’s Steven Adams.

Oklahoma City converted at the free-throw line to put the game away.

Two players who were questionable going into the day — Gallinari and Dennis Schroder — led the Thunder with 20 points each.

Gallinari returned after missing four games due to ankle soreness. Schroder missed Sunday’s game because of ankle soreness.

Doncic scored 35 points to lead all scorers but struggled from behind the arc, going just 3 of 16 on 3-point attempts. He was 9 of 13 from inside the arc. Doncic added 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Doncic dominated at the start, scoring 17 first-quarter points to help the Mavericks build a 12-point lead 12 minutes into the game.

The Thunder closed the first half with a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to one going into the half.

Three Oklahoma City players produced double-doubles. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Nerlens Noel had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Adams had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The loss was the second in a row for the Mavericks, who were without Kristaps Porzingis for just the second time this season. He was a late scratch due to right knee soreness.

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The Mavericks were also without Tim Hardaway Jr., who missed the game after sustaining a hamstring injury early in a Sunday road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Oklahoma City’s Hamidou Diallo played for the first time since Nov. 22. He missed 17 games due to a hyperextended right elbow. Diallo played 19 minutes and scored four points.

—Field Level Media

Instruction: Retrieve semantically similar text.


Question:
Hours before donning their costumes, Mummers from a number of clubs were blessed for their New Year’s Day strut down Broad Street.

Some 400 Mummers and their supporters gathered for the 31st annual Mummers Mass on Dec. 31 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in South Philadelphia. The liturgy celebrated the neighborhood’s commitment to the Mummers tradition, while marking the vigil of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

“Jesus believed in fun,” said pastor and celebrant Father Francis Cauterrucci, who delivered his homily while wearing a sequined eye mask. “We gather in joyful celebration because we believe in one another.”

According to various estimates, some 10,000 participants typically perform in the Philadelphia parade, which ranks as the nation’s oldest of its kind. The event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in person and via television.

The city began formally sponsoring the parade in 1901, but the Mummers’ roots extend back to ancient and medieval traditions. Locally, the practice of dressing in costume and acting out short skits during the holidays grew with the influx of European immigrants into Philadelphia. Such performances have historically relied on humor and satire: the word “mummer” itself derives from medieval French and English words for “mask” and “mutter,” and may also be related to the name of the Greek god of ridicule, Momus. Political and cultural references shape many of the performances at Philadelphia’s parade.

The five divisions of the city’s Mummer clubs – comic, fancy, wench brigade, string band and fancy brigade – were highlighted at the Dec. 31 Mass, which was preceded by a presentation of iconic items from each group. After a prelude by the Mummers Chorus, a stylized umbrella, a set of golden slippers, a banjo, trophies and two Mummers dolls were placed on a table in the sanctuary.

One of the dolls was dedicated to the late Father Thomas Wassel, a former pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a Mummers chaplain.

Philadelphia’s mummery tradition has deep roots in South Philadelphia’s European immigrant communities and in their Catholic faith, according to the Mummers Museum.

For Fran Kelly, the Mummers Mass affirms that sense of constancy.

“We have the same routine each year at the Mass, including recognizing our deceased members,” said Kelly, a member of the Satin Slipper Fancy Brigade.

The Mass also offsets the intense competition among the clubs, he added.

“It brings us all together,” Kelly said. “We’re friends now and we love each other, but tomorrow, everybody’s out to win.”

Many families have made the Mass part of their New Year’s Eve tradition. Parishioner Noreen Brennan, who has attended the liturgy for the past three decades, brought her eight-month-old granddaughter Marlee to the Dec. 31 celebration.

“It starts off the year well, and we’re keeping the tradition alive,” said Brennan, whose family members perform in both the fancy and wench divisions.

Fellow parishioner Stosh Visack was joined at the Mass by his son Chase, who flew in from his U.S. Navy assignment in Pearl Harbor to attend the New Year’s festivities. For both father and son, the liturgy is mandatory preparation for their big day on Broad Street.

“This is our blessing for tomorrow, so we all stay safe and have a good time,” said the elder Visack, a member of the Riverfront Mummers Wench Brigade. “But first and foremost, we praise the Lord for the New Year and its blessings, and we thank God for everything that went well over the past year.”

Visack added that he wasn’t too worried about the “intricate details” of his brigade’s choreography.

“We just go right to the heart of it,” he said. “Whatever comes out, comes out.”

And that’s exactly the creative freedom that the parade and, more fundamentally, Christ’s salvation brings, said Father Cauterrucci in his homily.

“We celebrate the great and particular gifts given to us by God,” he said. “Celebrate the parade, celebrate the people who are in the parade, and celebrate this gift of life that we share together in the church.”

While some will likely spend Wednesday recovering from their New Year's Eve celebrations, many in Philadelphia will watch the Mummers Parade, a tradition unique to the City of Brotherly Love.

As mummery in the United States is largely unknown outside of the Philadelphia area, the first question some people might ask is "What is a mummer?" Honoring a tradition whose roots trace back to America in the 1600s, mummers dress up in fanciful costumes and celebrate the New Year with an annual parade on January 1.

More than 10,000 men, women and children participate in the nearly 120-year-old celebration, according to the city's Independence Visitor Center. The parade begins at 9 a.m. EST at City Hall and continues south on Broad Street until it hits Washington Avenue. It's expected to conclude at 5 p.m.

Thousands of people line the streets to watch the procession, and those who can't be there in person can stream the parade live from the comfort of their home. People in the Philadelphia area can watch the parade on TV by tuning in to WPHL. The outlet also has a live stream set up on its website.

There are five divisions of mummers in the parade. Comics try to make people laugh with slapstick or sarcastic comedy, while those in the Wench Brigade Division don the traditional attire of a dress, hat or scarf, bloomers and a parasol.

Fancies are judged on their ornate costuming, and Fancy Brigades put on Broadway-like performances. String Bands also put on a show with saxophones, banjos and percussion dominating the band, according to the Mummers Museum.

The first formal Mummers Parade was in 1901. The event is the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States, according to the Mummers Museum. Before the parade became official, in the 17th and 18th centuries, mummers used to fire guns into the air as part of the celebration, but firearms are no longer allowed in the parade because they could be dangerous.

Although the mummers engage in fierce competition on New Year's Day, George Balzer IV of the Woodland String Band told WPVI that they're "family" the rest of the year. Ahead of the 2020 parade, clubs threw their support behind the South Philly String Band, which lost two members in a car crash on January 2. Dennis Palandro, Joe Ferry and his fiancée, Kelly Wiseley, were killed after a driver veered into opposing traffic, hitting their car.

On Sunday, the Golden Crown Fancy Brigade presented the South Philly String Band with a bear and their walk-through T-shirt. The shirt included the South Philly String Band's emblem, featuring Palandro's, Ferry's and Wiseley's initials, and was intended to honor the club during the walk-through.

"Whether you're in the Comics, the string band or the Fancies, we're all mummers and we're all in together and we're all brothers and sisters, and that's what this parade has always been about—traditions," Golden Crown's Bill Burke Jr. told WPVI.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa has issued a statement on New Year’s eve, encouraging the nation to be hopeful for better things in 2020. He posted the statement on his Twitter handle on Tuesday evening. The statement read:

In 2019 we have known pain, loss, devastation, struggle and tears. We also fought and celebrated the resilience of a nation whose best is yet to come. We thank God for grace. Thank you for all the encouragement. May 2020 bring opportunity, hope and happiness.

I know the hurts, setbacks, pain and despair of you have had to endure in 2019 but we have now entered a new decade, a decade of surprises, transformational changes. 2020 is a year of GREAT CHANGE in Zimbabwe. We are all in it. Eyes on the ball. #Godisinit

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta would like an active window and knows Arsenal have yawning deficiencies in the centre-back and midfield positions. RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano and Atlético Madrid’s Thomas Lemar would be fine additions but would cost, in total, around £100m and Arsenal simply do not have that money. A January of wheeling and dealing looks more likely: Granit Xhaka’s departure would, if given the green light, free up around £25m but big-money additions might be contingent on letting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave – a sacrifice that may not be worth it. Nick Ames

Aston Villa

After spending over £100m in the summer, Villa can ill afford to go down. But they realise they will probably have to spend again if they are to blast their way out of relegation trouble. A new striker to relieve the pressure on Wesley would be welcome, and there is also a desire to improve the supply to the forward line, especially with John McGinn out for three months with injury. The Werder Bremen winger Milot Rashica is among the targets. Paul Doyle

Bournemouth

Eddie Howe has repeatedly cited the difficulty of getting value for money in the winter window but a sizeable injury list may force his hand. The priority will be keeping hold of Nathan Aké, though they are powerless to stop him joining Chelsea should his former club activate a £40m buyback clause this month. Ryan Fraser is out of contract in June but the club have no desire to cash in on the winger this window, while Howe could recall the striker Sam Surridge from Swansea. Ben Fisher

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bournemouth’s Nathan Aké could be heading back to Chelsea if his former club choose to activate the £40m buyback clause in his contract. Photograph: Jed Leicester/BPI/Shutterstock

Brighton

A lack of cutting edge in attack has cost Brighton dearly in recent weeks and Graham Potter is likely to be in the market for another striker to take the strain off Neal Maupay and the veteran Glenn Murray, who has made only three Premier League starts this campaign. They have also been linked with rising Norwegian star Emil Bohinen - the son of former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lars - and Bordeaux right-back Enock Kwateng but do not expect wholesale changes to a squad still adapting to their new manager. Ed Aarons

Burnley

Have been linked with Championship players such as Josh Brownhill of Bristol City and Ollie Watkins from Brentford. Sean Dyche is always on the lookout for inexpensive upgrades and has done well in the past few seasons, though Danny Drinkwater could return to Chelsea in January if Burnley choose not to extend his loan deal. Burnley need to keep Dwight McNeil at the club a little longer, and to think about back up for Ashley Barnes now that Dyche has begun to ration his starts. Paul Wilson

Transfer window January 2020 – every deal from Europe's top five leagues Read more

Chelsea

Frank Lampard has at least £150m to spend now the club’s transfer ban has been lifted and he wants to improve his attacking options. Targets include Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, CSKA Moscow forward Fyodor Chalov, Timo Werner of RB Leipzig, Lyon’s Moussa Dembélé and Wilfried Zaha, while Chelsea could also make a £40m move for the Bournemouth defender Nathan Aké. Olivier Giroud will be allowed to leave. Jacob Steinberg

Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson’s pleas for reinforcements to his battle-weary squad look likely to fall on deaf ears with Crystal Palace’s American owners reluctant to increase a wage bill which is in the Premier League’s top 10. Yet given the shortage in attacking options and a number of injuries in defence, new arrivals are surely needed if Palace are to maintain their upward trajectory. The prospective departure of Wilfried Zaha would free up some funds although it remains to be seen whether Chelsea or any other suitors for the Ivorian will meet the asking price of £80m. EA

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has attracted a lot of suitors but his £80m asking price remains a deterrent. Photograph: Jed Leicester/BPI/Shutterstock

Everton

With an expensive new manager believed to have been assured of financial backing Everton will be expected to do brisk business as soon as the window opens in January, though Carlo Ancelotti has promised to concentrate on the Merseyside derby in the FA Cup first, and may need to move out Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse to make room for incoming players. A goalscorer and a creative midfielder will be high on the wish list. PW

Leicester

The priority is a surefire winger or two ready to go straight into the team while the likes of Harvey Barnes and Demarai Gray develop consistency. The club has plenty to spend if necessary, including the £80m they got last summer for Harry Maguire. None of their top players will be sold, while the squad may be pruned, with fringe players such as Nampalys Mendy possible departures. PD

Liverpool

Quite clearly do not need anyone this January, unless Jürgen Klopp has concerns about outbreak of illness or injury, particularly as Takumi Minamino has already been signed from RB Salzburg. Just fitting the Japanese attacking midfielder into an already successful team will be tricky enough, and Klopp has said there is no need to rush because the present players are performing so well. While Kylian Mbappé might get straight into the Liverpool side, almost everyone else would have to wait. PW

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Takumi Minamino has a chat with Jürgen Klopp on his first day at Liverpool’s training ground. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has insisted that no one will be signed despite how Aymeric Laporte’s injury and the lack of any quality replacement for the centre-back have hurt the title defence. The Frenchman is expected back for the Champions League which may now be the main focus. As this is the transfer market, though, never say never regarding a U-turn in policy and Guardiola would have up to £50m should this occur. Jamie Jackson

Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s budget is around £150m but only for players on his summer list who become available. This includes Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, Leicester’s James Maddison, Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen or West Ham’s Declan Rice. The manager, though, should prioritise Rice, Eriksen, Maddison or another midfielder as this is his weakest department. No one should leave unless, say, Nemanja Matic demands a move and the offer is good. JJ

Premier League fans’ January transfer window wish lists Read more

Newcastle

If mid-table security is to be cemented, Steve Bruce could do – rather desperately – with a reliable striker, thereby reducing his dependence on defenders for goalscoring. Bruce needs to sell to buy and hopes to offload midfielders Jack Colback and Henri Saivet, who together earn almost £100,000 a week and are not in the 25-man first-team squad. Dwight Gayle could be sold to a Championship club while Yoshinori Muto and Ki Sung-yueng could also be offloaded. Hull’s Jarrod Bowen is Bruce’s main target. Louise Taylor

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen (right) is a priority target for Steve Bruce at Newcastle. Photograph: Greig Cowie/BPI/Shutterstock

Norwich

Norwich’s injury crisis has ended but one glaring hole remains; someone to take the load off Teemu Pukki up front. That this is the most expensive position to reinforce, and Norwich insist they cannot spend £10m on a player, means even links to young talents such as Willem II’s Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye will likely come to nothing. The upside is that there is no pressure to sell either, despite interest in Max Aarons and Ben Godfrey. Paul MacInnes

Sheffield United

Chris Wilder is well stocked for forwards but has tended to rely on the same players every week in other positions. He would welcome more strength in depth, especially in midfield and defence. He has a longstanding interest in the Blackburn Rovers centre-back Darragh Lenihan, while Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall is also on the radar. Sheffield United’s abundance of forwards, meanwhile, has restricted the playing time of Billy Sharp, in whom clubs including Celtic have expressed an interest. PD

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Blackburn Rovers centre-back Darragh Lenihan has attracted the attention of Chris Wilder at Sheffield United. Photograph: Kevin Barnes/CameraSport via Getty Images

Southampton

Still financially hamstrung from previous windows, Southampton are unlikely to spend big but Ralph Hasenhüttl is keen to strengthen at full-back to ease the workload on Cédric Soares and Ryan Bertrand. Soares is out of contract in the summer and happy to run his contract down, while Bertrand could also depart at the end of the season. Hasenhüttl is desperate to spruce up his defence with a couple of new faces capable of making an immediate impact. BF

Tottenham

José Mourinho has said on several occasions that he understands the financial constraints at Spurs; that he is happy to work with the existing squad. Does anybody truly believe His Humbleness? In an ideal world, Mourinho would like new full-backs, maybe a centre-back and a back-up striker. Whether the club can sell Christian Eriksen will hold the key to the budget. Mourinho’s first window with Daniel Levy will be an experience. David Hytner

Watford

Recent results and performances have reinforced the belief that Watford already have the players they need to get out of their current predicament, though the defence, weakened by injuries, could be reinforced. João Pedro, whose transfer was agreed last year, has arrived from Fluminense but at 18 cannot be expected to have an instant impact. Major outgoings are unlikely though some seldom-used squad members, particularly goalkeepers and midfielders, will leave on loan. Simon Burnton

Facebook Twitter Pinterest João Pedro has arrived at Watford but at only 18 it could be asking a lot for him to turn their season around. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images

West Ham

David Moyes wants to spend after being tasked with saving West Ham from relegation again. A central midfielder has to be a priority and Moyes likes Stoke’s Joe Allen. But there are other holes to fill. West Ham are trying to sign the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph and want more cover up front. JS

Wolves

Rising interest in Adama Traoré is likely to be rebuffed. Nuno Espírito Santo hopes to make a couple of additions to a squad that has coped admirably with its huge workload so far. The injury to Willy Boly means a new centre-back is high on the wish list, and Nuno would also like more options in midfield. A couple of Lille players have been eyed up – defender Gabriel Magalhães and midfielder Boubakary Soumaré - while Milan’s Franck Kessié and QPR’s versatile Ryan Manning have also attracted interest. PD

The decision by the High Court of Justice to hear a petition to rule out the possibility of Benjamin Netanyahu competing for the post of prime minister in the upcoming elections, has exacerbated the already existing tension between the political and judicial systems, to the point of posing a real threat to the stability of Israel’s democracy.The High Court cannot refrain from dealing with any case that comes before it out of fear for its status. Should such a fear prevail and paralyze the rule of law, the judicial system will have lost its independence. If judges can be intimidated once, they can be intimidated in the future as well – thus destroying the most outstanding public service in Israel. If the High Court operates on the basis of profit-and-loss considerations, at the end of the day all of us will be the losers.But does it follow from this that the High Court should issue a ruling on whether Netanyahu, who is facing criminal charges, is a legitimate candidate to form the next government if he wins the election? I think not.Even those who believe, as a matter of principle, that any and all issues are subject to a judicial decision – “everything is justiciable” – understand that it is not a good idea to translate every issue into legal language and assign its resolution to judges. Indeed, jurists in Israel and abroad debate the appropriate policy for involving the courts and on delineating the boundaries of their engagement: what is justiciable and what is not.When the country is facing an election, and a sufficiently large number of its citizens are likely to vote for a man who is facing criminal charges, and will do so fully aware of the relevant details, the courts must take a step back and refrain from intervening in the public’s decision. The election of a prime minister is at the core of the political arena, and the courts must respect this.It is true that in principle there is nothing barring Israeli law from intervening in this matter (and it would even be desirable), and the Knesset could have legislated that a person facing criminal charges may not run for the office of prime minister or be called on to form a government. However, as we know, the law currently says nothing on this matter. It seems that the legislature has chosen to keep this issue outside the courtroom.THE JUDICIAL system sees itself, and rightly so, as one of the guardians of Israeli democracy. Together with law-enforcement agencies, it shares the responsibility, among other things, to stamp out corruption in general and governmental corruption in particular. The system has not been daunted that the police, the state prosecutor and the attorney-general in an orderly and well thought-out process, decided to file an indictment against the prime minister. But with that their role comes to an end, until the charges have been heard by the court.Alongside this clear statement, there is also a need for a clear statement regarding the responsibility of the prime minister and his supporters for the deterioration of the public’s attitude toward the rule of law. We are witnessing a prime minister who is deliberately stirring up public delegitimization of bringing his case to the courts. This maneuver, which initially targeted the police and subsequently the state prosecutor, and now has the attorney-general in its line of fire, will be directed in the future – let there be no doubt about this – at the courts as well.Time after time, the prime minister and his minions, of whom the most prominent – how ironic – is the minister of justice, confront the legal system and stir up emotions. Somewhat outrageous statements jabs (“a prosecution inside the prosecution,” “a governmental coup”) and vitriolic actions (the dismissal of the director general of the Justice Ministry; the attempt to appoint an acting state prosecutor in defiance of the desire of her superior, the attorney-general), driven by inappropriate motives, have become the norm in recent months.In the history of the State of Israel, this attack will be remembered as the low point of Netanyahu’s years in power. Historians will wonder how one of the country’s most important leaders, who did so much to protect it against external enemies, could possibly have acted at the very same time and with consistent determination, moved by his own private interests, to weaken it from within.Netanyahu and those who do his bidding are tainting themselves by shaking the very foundations of democracy, one of whose main elements is the rule of law.Israel needs a time out, a quiet time, a cease-fire – in the ongoing battle between the judicial system and the political system. Responsible adults in each of those branches must take a step back and consider the full picture. Allowing the current situation to continue, with its imminent exacerbation, will deal a strategic blow to Israeli society.The writer is a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and a professor of law at Bar-Ilan University.

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Dubai: Dozens of Iraqi militiamen and their supporters stormed the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad on Tuesday to protest deadly U.S. airstrikes against their Iranian-backed force, as President Donald Trump blamed Tehran.

The Pentagon dispatched two AH-64 Apache helicopters to fly over the embassy in a show of force, and about 100 Marines already in the region will be sent to the compound to reinforce its defenses, a U.S. official said.

“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in-country, and to ensure our right of self-defense,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement.

The anti-American protesters remained outside the embassy compound into the night in Baghdad, as some set up tents suggesting they planned an extended sit-in, Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier, guards lobbed tear gas and opened fire to quell the unrest, which was quickly contained, though dozens of protesters remained outside the compound. The U.S. ambassador had departed two days earlier, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. The actual embassy building wasn’t attacked, he said.

Trump said in a tweet that Iran “will be held fully responsible” for the embassy assault as well the killing of an American contractor in Iraq that precipitated Sunday’s U.S. airstrikes against the Kataieb Hezbollah militia bases.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Trump followed up later with a tweet urging Iraqis to rise up against Iranian influence. “To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who don’t want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!” he said.

The White House said Trump spoke with Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi about regional security, and the president “emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq.”

The rare direct U.S. assault on an Iranian proxy on Sunday claimed the lives of 25 fighters and came at an especially tense time and held the potential for escalation. The U.S. and Iran are locked in a standoff over the Trump administration’s crippling economic offensive against Tehran — meant to force it to renegotiate the 2015 nuclear deal Washington abandoned — and the Islamic Republic’s suspected reprisals.

Abbas Mousavi, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, condemned in a statement “the shocking insolence” of U.S. officials who he said sought to blame his country for protests by Iraqis outraged over Americans “slaughtering at least 25 Iraqi people.”

The mob streamed into the embassy complex after climbing over blast walls and smashing down the outer gate and a guard post with hammers, according to televised footage. Black smoke billowed from tires the protesters set on fire. Dozens of protesters were hurt, some shot, others suffering from tear gas inhalation, according to a statement from the umbrella group to which Kataieb Hezbollah belongs.

Most of the protesters wore militia uniforms. Some hoisted militia flags as the crowd demanded that the embassy be shuttered and the ambassador expelled. “The embassy is closed by the order of the people,” someone scrawled on the blast walls. Other people spray-painted the word “resistance” on the barriers, and one protester was seen holding a headscarf with the image of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mahdi, the outgoing prime minister, reiterated his denunciation of the U.S. raid on Tuesday but called on protesters to leave the compound, threatening severe penalties for attacks on the mission. – Bloomberg

Also read: Islamic State is regrouping and getting stronger in Iraq again, claims report

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Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute changes is not always easy. Being prepared, planning well, and being surrounded by a good team will make that decision a lot easier. Begin by putting yourself in a positive frame of mind. You are likely to experience higher than normal levels of stress and knowing this beforehand will give you the ability to be prepared mentally and physically. You will be the anchorperson and foundation, and with your steady hand will guide your team through the stressful events. Be a reassuring and active force throughout the whole process.

It is impossible to prepare for every contingency, but planning for the known is a must. Add time or extra room to the schedule for the unknowns. When you encounter an unexpected event, your schedule should not be put off by much if you have built in some leeway. It will provide that buffer that gives you and your team the ability to deal with the unknowns and keep rolling with the change process

Surround yourself with people that you can delegate to and be confident in their abilities and skills. Be precise and specific with your directions as when the change process begins you will be depending on these individuals and their talents. Communicating and providing feedback are the keys to successful delegation; make sure your team understands this. If communication fails or there is not accurate feedback the chances of a success are lessened.

An issue that sometimes arises when delegating is micro managing. Keep an eye out to not micro-manage as you can quickly lose track of events and it will take time away from your main duties. Delegating is a skill that takes time as you must first learn the strengths and weakness of your team and know what tasks you can and cannot hand out. It may not be possible to always delegate, but when it can be done it will provide a great resource.

Always be available during the change process. Before the change prepare your friends and family that you may not be available for social events. Reassure your team that you are there for them and you are here to provide them with the necessary resources to lead them through the change. Stress to them that you are available and focused on keeping the communications lines open.

Always be aware of rumors, they will happen before during and after the change. Do not ignore any rumor, put out honest and clear communication as soon as possible. Reassure your team that if they hear a rumor to seek out more information from a reliable source. Remind them that spreading rumors helps no one and will cause more harm than good.

Not everyone will agree on the change. Keep in mind that these types of feelings are normal, as people generally do not enjoy change and are sometimes made nervous by it. You will likely encounter pushback and resistance by a number of team members. Provide facts and data to show why the change is happening and reassure them the need and benefits of the change. These types of individuals are best suited to be educated about the change with information.

If you are encountering an extreme case of pushback, provide them with some choices that still fall within the spectrum of the intended change. They should then feel more involved in the process and it will help alleviate the negative mindset they may be experiencing.It is vitally important to make sure that all stakeholders and employees are on board with a change.

In order to continue increasing awareness and to build desire to support the upcoming change; the change management team must reach out to the organization at large. The force field analysis, developed by German social psychologist Kurt Lewin helps a change management team to:

• Identify pros and cons of an option prior to making a decision

• Explore what is going right — and what is going wrong

• Analyse any two opposing positions.

If concerns or issues arise, then steps must be taken to ensure awareness is continually raised and that desire to support the change is increased. Strategies that can help the change management team responsively address employees’ concerns include:

• Engaging employees, providing forums for people to express their questions and concerns

• Equipping managers & supervisors to be effective change leaders and managers of resistance

• Orchestrating opportunities for advocates of the change to contact those not yet on board

• Aligning incentive and performance management systems to support the change.

Change is not exempt from Murphy’s Law. And even if something isn’t going wrong, change management team members must constantly be observing, listening, and evaluating the progress and process during a change. Below are several tools to help the team accomplish this.

A feedback form is used to gather information from those involved in a change to help shape the remaining course of the change project. Instead of a paper form, feedback can be obtained through online surveys (Zoomerang.com or Survey Monkey.com), an in-house questionnaire on the intranet, a few questions sent by email, or a focus group. The questions will vary depending upon the subject being queried.

Open Feedback include asking participants for suggestions and comments. The compiled results of the feedback forms can be used by the change management team members to modify the project plan and/or the communication plan or to work with specific individuals or groups that may be providing roadblocks to success.

Once a change initiative is underway, it is critical to sustain the change with reinforcement. The leader must make sure that the project and communication plan remain on track. They need to identify, and explore any issues from employees or stakeholders that have emerged, and review and consider any feedback gathered to date.

Acting as a facilitator, the leader helps to bring about learning and productivity. Communication will be a byproduct of this by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, and supervision.He or she listens actively, asks questions, encourages diverse viewpoints, organizes information, helps the group reach consensus, and understands that the individual needs of team members will affect teamwork.

The LEAD model provides a simple methodology for facilitating a participative meeting:

• Lead with objectives: When clear objectives are stated up front, group energy is channeled toward achieving an outcome. The objectives shape the content of the meeting.

• Empower to participate: In the Lead model, the facilitator is empowered to encourage active participation.

• Aim for consensus: Getting the team to consensus will have members more likely to support and carry out the decisions of the team.

• Direct the process: How the meeting progresses will influence the quality of the decisions of the team, and influences the commitment of team members.

Leaders must differentiate between process and content. Content includes the topics, subjects, or issues; process is about how the topics, subjects, or issues are addressed.

Because communications from managers and supervisors have been shown to have a significant impact on employees during a change initiative, it is appropriate that they be actively involved in celebrating success with employees as a result of positive performance. Celebrations can occur on three levels:

1. One on one conversation: In a private meeting, a supervisor should attest to the fact that due to the employee’s effort, a change was made, and how it is succeeding. He or she should extend verbal thanks to the employee.

2. Public recognition: Public recognition officially acknowledges outstanding performance and points out a role model that helped make a successful change happen. Supervisors should carefully consider who receives recognition, and not alienate group members who participated in the change but who many not have distinguished themselves as significantly.

3. Group celebrations: Fun or engaging activities are used to celebrate key milestones by a group. They include buffet or restaurant lunches, dinner events, or can include group outings to sports, amusement, or cultural events. It is important that these types of celebrations try to include the involvement of the primary change sponsor in some way.

Professor Akindotun Merino

Email: Info@africamentalhealth.net

Twitter: @drakinmerino

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Africamentalhealth/

Phone: 08118048229

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Question:
Federal judge to block latest North Carolina voter ID mandate

GOP leaders in charge of the Legislature have been trying for most of the decade to advance voter ID.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The federal judge who blocked the newest version of North Carolina's voter identification law cited the state's "sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression" as she ordered officials not to enforce the law in 2020.

U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Biggs' decision was released Tuesday and prevents North Carolina from requiring voters to provide identification starting in 2020. The Republican leaders of the state House and Senate, however, have asked North Carolina's Department of Justice to appeal.

The federal court advised last week that Biggs would formally block the photo ID requirement until a lawsuit filed by state NAACP and others is resolved. Her decision provided insight into why she blocked the law, which she said was similar to a 2013 law that a federal appeals court struck down in 2016.

That court said the photo ID and other voter restrictions were approved with intentional racial discrimination in mind, and Biggs said the newest version of the law was no different in that respect.

"North Carolina has a sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression stretching back to the time of slavery, through the era of Jim Crow, and, crucially, continuing up to the present day," Biggs wrote.

Legislators received a breakdown of voter behavior by race before passing the 2016 law and used that data to target African American voters, the court wrote in striking down that law. The defendants said there's no evidence of similar behavior before the most recent voter ID law.

But the same key lawmakers championed both bills, Biggs wrote. " ... they need not had racial data in hand to still have it in mind," the ruling says.

The approval of the new version, known as S.B. 824, was "procedurally unobjectional," Biggs wrote. But its closeness in time to the previous version; the fact that many of the same legislators were involved in both bills; the use of "unconstitutionally gerrymandered maps" and other issues "indicate that something was amiss," she wrote.

The legislative history of the bill, including statements from its supporters, show that "rather than trying to cleanse the discriminatory taint" imbued in the previous voter ID law, lawmakers tried to circumvent state and federal courts, she wrote.

The photo ID law would have been effective with the March 3 primary. But the requirement would have been put into motion sooner than that with mail-in absentee voters, who also would have had to provide an ID copy.

The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, president of the North Carolina conference of the NAACP, said he was "overjoyed" by Biggs' decision.

"Quite frankly, tears are coming to my eyes as I read the decision," he said. Biggs' "strong language is so appropriate" as the nation approaches the 2020 elections, Spearman said.

"I hope it is something that will encourage people who have not exercised their right to vote to cast their votes," he said.

After losing one court battle over voter ID, Republicans put a question on the November 2018 ballot enshrining voter ID in the state constitution. The amendment passed with 55% of the vote. The legislature approved a separate law in December 2018 detailing how to implement that amendment. Legal challenges were filed almost immediately.

GOP legislators said they had to enact an ID law because voters had approved one. But Biggs, who was appointed to the bench in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama, said the constitutional amendment was a cover for legislators that allowed them to present themselves as "faithful servants whose hands were tied."

The argument that lawmakers had to pass this particular bill falls short, she wrote. "While the legislature may had to pass some form of photo voter-ID law, it did not have to enact one which suffers from impermissible defects," she wrote.

The law did allow for more types of IDs to be used and allowed voters to get a free ID card or fill out a form explaining their "reasonable impediment" to obtaining one.

But legislators rejected an amendment allowing the use of public assistance IDs, which Biggs described as "particularly suspect."

Republican legislators have urged the state DOJ to seek a stay of the temporary injunction, saying Biggs' ruling was "inappropriate."

Their attorneys sent a letter Monday saying it's "imperative that you seek a stay of Judge Biggs' injunction immediately to avoid irreparable harm to the state."

A state DOJ spokeswoman didn't respond to an email seeking comment on the lawmakers' request.

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On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Pandemics know no borders. As the number of infections grows daily, it has become clear that no community will be spared its effects.

The leadership of the business community has never been more important than in times of crisis. American businesses have been at the forefront of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic – from manufacturing essential medical supplies to providing support for first responders and healthcare professionals.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has been tracking the contributions from businesses of all sizes and sectors that are helping combat the coronavirus. This tracker is updated daily, and we’d love to include your information.

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BOSTON – GasBuddy, the smartphone app helping consumers avoid paying full price for fuel, today predicts that 2020 will feature a yearly national average of $2.60 per gallon, representing a 2 cent drop versus 2019.

At the same time, the fuel-cost tracking service warns that the national average will rise as much as 75 cents per gallon from a low in February until an eventual peak in May.

This will lead to localized gas price hotspots that could lead unsuspecting motorists to pay as much as 15- to 50 cents more per gallon than competitors, according to GasBuddy.

Some highlights from GasBuddy’s 2020 fuel price outlook include:

The nation’s yearly gasoline bill will rise to $373 billion dollars, an increase of over $1 billion from last year as the average household sees their annual gasoline spending rise to $1,935.

The national average is forecast to rise as much as 75 cents per gallon from a low in early February to a possible peak in May, as the seasonal switch to summer gasoline leads to notable jumps and causes some stations to raise prices much quicker than others, leading to buying opportunities for motorists who compare prices.

75% of the country’s largest metro areas are at risk for seeing average prices hit $3 per gallon at some point in 2020, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. while four could see close to or over $4/gal: Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Seattle.

“Hit the road, America! It will be another year where gasoline prices will be relatively affordable — but don’t close your eyes — the price variation between stations and states will approach record levels,” advises Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy .

For those making resolutions, GasBuddy suggests shopping around at the pump and driving less aggressively: The savings could add up to $477 per year, or roughly $10 per tank. In addition, motorists can sign up for Pay with GasBuddy, a free program that links to your checking account and offers instant savings of up to 25 cents per gallon

Find the full report linked here.

Copyright 2020 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.

Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels posted a video via Instagram in which she wished her numerous fans and followers a happy new year from her sick bed.

Information Nigeria recalls the former child star has fallen ill and she will have to remain on her sickbed throughout the festivities of the new year.

In the video, Daniels also apologised to those she wronged in 2019 and she appreciated her family and fans for their continuous love and support.

The actress didn’t forget to thank her haters.

Read Also: Tacha Allegedly Dropped Tee Billz After Insulting Living Daylights Out Of Him: Report

Watch the video below:

View this post on Instagram Happy new year A post shared by Regina Daniels (@regina.daniels) on Dec 31, 2019 at 4:19pm PST

The post “I Am Sorry To Everyone I Offended” – Regina Daniels Sends Happy New Year Message To Her Fans (Video) appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday declared that its members in the Imo House of Assembly who recently announced their defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC) have lost their seats.

Addressing a press conference at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, its national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said their defection to the ruling party does not satisfy the provisions of the constitution.

While noting that there was no division in the PDP or a merger with another political group, he said their exit from the party has created vacancies in their constituencies.

The main opposition party, therefore, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin a process of conducting a fresh election to elect new representatives for the constituencies.

He said where the electoral body fails to do the needful, the party would challenge the action in court.

Details later.

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