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Activate your digital account | https://www.tauntongazette.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tauntongazette.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2022%2F04%2F12%2Ftaunton-zoning-lot-sizes-smaller-planning-board-city-council-high-rents-affordable-housing%2F9501110002%2F | 2022-04-12T16:29:12 | 0 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tauntongazette.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2022%2F04%2F12%2Ftaunton-zoning-lot-sizes-smaller-planning-board-city-council-high-rents-affordable-housing%2F9501110002%2F |
This Spring, you may want to check your gutters to make sure there wasn’t any damage left from the winter. If you’re afraid of falling off the ladder or finding who knows what in your gutters, call the professionals.
Gutter Helmet does a free estimate for all customers. And this April, they’re offering a huge discount. Click the video above to learn more about their offer. | https://fox59.com/indy-now/leave-it-to-the-pros-when-it-comes-to-your-gutters/ | 2022-04-12T16:29:26 | 1 | https://fox59.com/indy-now/leave-it-to-the-pros-when-it-comes-to-your-gutters/ |
Across central Indiana, many people are looking for new opportunities. Spherion Staffing is hoping to find some new recruiters.
Spherion is looking for anyone who has the ability to connect with others. The company is offering growth opportunities and to learn about the community.
Watch the video above to find out more information on how you can join the Spherion team.
Let’s get social: follow your friends at Indy Now
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes fun, the latest on what’s happening in central Indiana, information about the local businesses featured on the show, and much more. | https://fox59.com/indy-now/your-next-job-could-be-helping-others-find-their-next-job/ | 2022-04-12T16:29:32 | 1 | https://fox59.com/indy-now/your-next-job-could-be-helping-others-find-their-next-job/ |
(NewsNation) — Skyrocketing prices on essentials are forcing some older Americans out of retirement as U.S. inflation continues to hit new highs.
In just the past six months, about 480,000 adults over 55 began looking for a job, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. That’s compared to the 180,000 adults looking in the six months prior to the pandemic. This increase is credited in part to the outsized impact inflation is having on the ability of people to retire.
The government’s consumer price index, released Tuesday morning, showed prices shot up 8.5% in March compared to 12 months earlier, according to a report by the Labor Department. This marks the fastest year-over-year inflation rise since December 1981 and surpasses the 7.9% 12-month increase in February, which itself set a 40-year high.
One out of four adults said that inflation is the single greatest threat to their retirement plans in 2022, according to Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. That’s more than concerns about health care costs, outliving your money or job security combined.
Even before the pandemic, the economic health for some retirees varied. Older workers without a college degree only had about $9,000 in retirement savings on average, compared to the $167,000 for those with a college degree.
In just February, 3% of retirees re-entered the workforce, a trend that is expected to continue for months according to Indeed. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/inflation-forcing-retirees-back-into-jobs/ | 2022-04-12T16:29:38 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/inflation-forcing-retirees-back-into-jobs/ |
A scammer is accused of exploiting pandemic loneliness with a puppy scam that stole money from people without delivering any pets.
Google announced the lawsuit this week. The company alleges Nche Noel of Cameroon used numerous Google services to offer purebred basset hound puppies for sale online. The scam, the company said, was a violation of its terms of service.
Noel used Google Voice, Gmail, Google Search and Google Ads to pull off the scheme, the company said in its criminal complaint.
AARP brought the scam to Google’s attention in September 2021. The group said a South Carolina resident looking for a puppy online came across Noel’s website. After corresponding via email and text messages, the seller instructed the buyer to send $700 in gift cards as payment.
The victim complied. Shortly after that, the victim received a text claiming the delivery company needed an additional $1,500 for delivery. The puppy never arrived.
Google’s investigation linked specific Google Voice and Gmail accounts to multiple services related to the scam and “other similar non-delivery schemes.” The accounts were linked by subscriber email addresses or recovery email addresses, phone numbers and login IPs, the company said.
Noel ran other websites that operated under similar methods, according to the complaint. The defendant utilized Google Ads campaigns to promote the websites and fraudulent sales.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the alleged scheme was the way in which Noel, posing as a seller, offered companionship to lonely senior citizens without coming through on the promise of a new puppy. That it happened in the middle of the pandemic, when depression and loneliness ran rife throughout society, made the scam particularly objectionable in Google’s eyes.
“Defendant’s online puppy scam is particularly nefarious because it not only relies on one-on-one communications, but also exploits the joy of pet adoption, resulting in both emotional harm and financial loss,” the company said in the complaint. “Defendant’s exploitative and malicious sham pet adoption scheme abuses Google products to prey on vulnerable victims during an unprecedented pandemic.”
According to the Better Business Bureau, pet scams make up 35% of online shopping scams reported to the group. The rise in pet adoptions spurred by pandemic isolation led to a surge in online searches about pet adoption, according to Google Search Trends.
The FTC and FBI said those scams disproportionately target older Americans, who lose an estimated $650 million per year.
Google is seeking damages, including compensatory and punitive damages, and asking the court to ban Noel and any conspirators from using its services. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/scammer-accused-of-exploiting-seniors-pandemic-loneliness-with-puppy-scheme/ | 2022-04-12T16:29:44 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/scammer-accused-of-exploiting-seniors-pandemic-loneliness-with-puppy-scheme/ |
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts have taken another step at solidifying their special teams unit by agreeing to terms with veteran Brandon King.
There has been no official announcement from the team, but IndyStar’s Joel Erickson reported the addition, citing King’s agent.
King, 28, was part of two world championships with the New England Patriots as a core special teams contributor. He has appeared in 73 games, and has been on the field for 1,390 special teams snaps and just two as a defensive back.
King’s addition is the latest move to reinforce special teams. Previously, the team signed safety Armani Watts, who was a core special teams player with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The moves counter the losses of two free agents. George Odum, a 2020 first-team All-Pro, signed with the San Francisco 49ers and Matthew Adams was reunited with Matt Eberflus in Chicago.
King helped the Patriots win Super Bowls after the 2016 and 2018 seasons and enjoyed a personal comeback after missing 2019-20 with a torn quadriceps. He suffered the injury in the 2019 training camp, and it lingered to the extent he spent 2020 on the physically unable to perform list.
Last season, King returned to appear in 16 of 17 games and was on the field for a career-high 307 special teams snaps. He had 10 special teams tackles, the fourth time he reached double figures.
King’s teammates recognized his return by selecting him recipient of the Patriots’ Ed Block Courage Award.
Listen to the Colts Blue Zone Podcast for weekly coverage/analysis of the Indianapolis Colts.
You can follow the Colts Blue Zone on Twitter at @ColtsBlueZone. | https://fox59.com/sports/colts/colts-add-former-patriots-special-teams-ace-brandon-king/ | 2022-04-12T16:29:50 | 0 | https://fox59.com/sports/colts/colts-add-former-patriots-special-teams-ace-brandon-king/ |
The Chicago White Sox placed starter Lucas Giolito and right fielder AJ Pollock on the injured list, part of four roster moves announced Tuesday.
Giolito went on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Saturday, with an abdominal strain. The injury occurred in Friday’s season opener at Detroit.
Pollock is on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, with a strained right hamstring that occurred Saturday.
The Sox recalled pitchers Jimmy Lambert and Anderson Severino from Triple-A Charlotte.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/chicago-white-sox-place-lucas-giolito-and-aj-pollock-on-the-injured-list/ | 2022-04-12T16:31:43 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/chicago-white-sox-place-lucas-giolito-and-aj-pollock-on-the-injured-list/ |
Grammy Award-winning artist Yandel will take the mound for the Miami Marlins during their home opener Thursday against Philadelphia at 6:40 p.m., with the popular Puerto Rican performer set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Yandel, who has tallied numerous multi-platinum hits over his career such as “Los Extraterrestres” and “Pa’l Mundo,” will soon close out his tour as the duo Wisin and Yandel.
Following the first pitch, local artist Calen Santos will perform the national anthem.
The home opener will be kicked off by festivities beginning on the West Plaza and later carried over to the Biscayne Bay Brew Hall. Entrances for the pre-game festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m., while pre-game ceremonies will start at 6 p.m.
The first 8,000 fans to enter the game will receive a 2022 magnet schedule. Attendees are also encouraged to remain in their seats after the game to enjoy the inaugural post-game LED light show.
Tickets for Thursday’s game at loanDepot Park begin at $14 and can be purchased at mlb.com/marlins/tickets.
Continuing the celebration throughout the weekend, the Marlins, along with the rest of the league, will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, which marks the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier.
After Friday’s game, fans can also head to the Biscayne Bay Brew Hall to showcase their talent with karaoke.
To close out the weekend, patrons can enjoy Sunday Funday, featuring activities throughout the game on the Skyline Terrace, photo opportunities with Billy the Marlin and the chance to run the bases post-game as part of the UHealth Diamond Dash.
In celebration of Easter, the Easter Bunny will also be available for photos.
The first 5,000 children ages 14 and under on Sunday to enter the game will receive a youth short sleeve hoodie.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/grammy-winner-yandel-to-throw-out-opening-pitch-at-marlins-home-opener/ | 2022-04-12T16:31:49 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/grammy-winner-yandel-to-throw-out-opening-pitch-at-marlins-home-opener/ |
By KAREN MATTHEWS, JIM MUSTIAN and MICHAEL R. SISAK
NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the shooter.
Officials said the gunfire wounded at least 10 people, and at least 16 in all were injured in some way in the attack that began on a subway train that pulled into the 36th Street station in the borough’s Sunset Park neighborhood. Five people were in critical condition, New York Fire Department Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said, but Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there were no life-threatening injuries.
Sewell added that the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was “not ruling out anything.” The shooter has not been identified.
A train rider’s video shows smoke and people pouring out of a subway car. Wails erupt as passengers run for an exit as a few others limp off the train. One falls to the platform, and a person hollers, “Someone call 911!” In other video and photos from the scene, people tend to bloodied passengers lying on the platform, some amid what appear to be small puddles of blood, and another person is on the floor of a subway car.
“My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming,” eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS, saying he saw a gigantic billow of smoke pouring out of the N train once the door opened.
According to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation, preliminary information indicated that the gunman who fled was wearing a construction vest and a gas mask.
Investigators believe the gunman deployed a smoke device before opening fire, one of the law enforcement officials said. Investigators are examining whether he may have used that device in an effort to distract people before shooting, the official said.
Fire and police officials were investigating reports that there had been an explosion, but Sewell said at a press conference just after noon that there were no known explosive devices. Multiple smoke devices were found on the scene, said mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy.
No MTA workers were physically hurt, according to a statement from the Transport Workers Union Local 100. Besides gunshot wounds, the injured were treated for smoke inhalation, shrapnel and panic.
Juliana Fonda, a broadcast engineer at WNYC-FM, told its news site Gothamist she was riding the train when passengers from the car behind hers started banging on the door between them.
“There was a lot of loud pops, and there was smoke in the other car,” she said. “And people were trying to get in and they couldn’t, they were pounding on the door to get into our car.”
President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the incident, as was Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, was briefed at the mayor’s residence.
The incident happened on a subway line that runs through south Brooklyn in a neighborhood — predominantly home to Hispanic and Asian communities — about a 15-minute train ride to Manhattan. Local schools, including Sunset Park High School across the street, were locked down.
Danny Mastrogiorgio of Brooklyn had just dropped his son off at school when he saw a crush of passengers, some of them wounded, running up the subway stairway at the nearby 25th Street station in panic. At least two had visible leg injuries, he said.
“It was insane,” he told The Associated Press. “No one knew exactly what was going on.”
Allan Lee was running his business, Cafe Nube, when a half-dozen police cars and fire vehicles suddenly converged on the block that contains the 36th Street station.
“Then they started ushering people that were on the block to the adjacent block and then closed off the subway entrance” near the cafe’s door, he told the AP. When he noticed bomb squad officers and dogs, he was certain it was no everyday subway problem.
A sea of emergency lights was visible from at least a dozen blocks away, where a police cordon was set up.
New York City has faced a spate a shootings and high-profile incidents in recent months, including on the city’s subways. One of the most shocking was in January when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.
Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime — especially on the subways — a focus of his early administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasn’t immediately clear whether officers had already been inside the station when the shootings occurred.
“We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual,” Adams said in a taped video message from the mayor’s residence, where he was isolating. He did not offer any additional details.
___
Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington and Michelle L. Price and Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/gunman-opens-fire-on-brooklyn-subway-at-least-10-shot/ | 2022-04-12T16:31:55 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/gunman-opens-fire-on-brooklyn-subway-at-least-10-shot/ |
Before Monday night’s game, Joey Gallo was answering questions about his struggles at the plate. Three hours later, the left fielder was the only Yankee to get a hit off of Toronto starter Alex Manoah and the only Bomber with two hits in the Blue Jays’ 3-0 shut out.
“I’m seeing a lot of good at-bats, he’s winning a lot of pitches, he’s on a lot of pitches,’ manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “He’s in a position to do what we know he can do.’
Gallo had a double, single and walk Monday night. He’s walked in all four of the Yankees games this season.
It’s a small sample size, but at least it gives Gallo a chance to quiet the talk for at least a day about his terrible start to his Yankees career last season.
Gallo hit .160 with 13 homers and a .707 OPS in 58 games, with 88 strikeouts in 188 at-bats last season after being acquired by the Yankees from the Rangers.
“My swing was a little off,’ said Gallo, adding that he’s had “a chance to regroup and reset’’ this spring. “I can kind of get my swing back to where it was early in the year last year.’
During the first half of 2021, Gallo pounded 24 homers for the Rangers and posted a .923 OPS.
While there was a lot made about Gallo being uncomfortable in the spotlight that shines on the Bronx, Gallo said it was a mechanical issue. His swing was off and he just couldn’t fix it on the fly.
“It’s kind of like golf. If your swing is off, it’s really, really tough to get it back on, and that’s just how I kind of felt,’ Gallo said. “I just didn’t feel comfortable at the plate.
“I kind of look back and think a lot of things were a little off that I usually am not doing.”
The offseason gave him a chance to reset.
“It kind of cleanses yourself (by not having) to swing every day,’ Gallo said.
After taking time to rest (about a month), Gallo just went back to work, letting his swing get back to normal.
Gallo was the only offensive highlight for the Yankees Monday night. They were shut out for the first time this season and the offensive struggles brought back some memories from their inconsistent 2021, which led them to shake up their coaching staff.
The Yankees were built on power hitters and to overwhelm their opponents with offense, but finished seventh in the American League in OPS (.729), 10th in runs scored (711) and were fourth in strikeouts (1,482) last season. The Yankees let long-time hitting coach Marcus Thames and assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere go this winter after those offensive struggles.
They promoted Dillon Lawson, who had been the team’s minor league hitting coordinator, to the coaching position with the big leaguers. They promoted Triple-A hitting coach Casey Dykes to his assistant and hired Hensley Meulens, who has vast major league coaching experience, as the second assistant.
So far the change in personnel hasn’t netted the results the Yankees have wanted.
While offense is down across the board with the batting average through four games down from .237 last year to .229 now and the OPS from .714 to .682, the Yankees aren’t exactly dominating on that side of the ball. The Yankees went into Monday night’s game 18th in scoring in the league and 16th in OPS.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/joey-gallos-hits-against-blue-jays-were-yankees-bright-spot-in-shutout-loss/ | 2022-04-12T16:32:01 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/joey-gallos-hits-against-blue-jays-were-yankees-bright-spot-in-shutout-loss/ |
By SEAN MURPHY
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.
The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. Abortion rights advocates say the bill signed by the GOP governor is certain to face a legal challenge.
Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.
“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill, flanked by anti-abortion lawmakers, clergy and students. “I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.
Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican now running for Congress who wrote the bill, called it the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.
“Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign,” Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.
Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.
The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a “bounty” of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same,” Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. “We’ve sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect.”
Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.
The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up.
One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills that is one vote away from the governor’s desk would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-to-make-abortion-illegal/ | 2022-04-12T16:32:07 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-to-make-abortion-illegal/ |
By YURAS KARMANAU and ADAM SCHRECK
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia’s bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled, and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.
Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine’s capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.
Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly one. In the six weeks since, Russia’s ground campaign stalled, its forces suffered losses that may number in the thousands and it stands accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.
Putin insisted Tuesday that his military action aimed to protect people in areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to “ensure Russia’s own security.”
He said Russia “had no other choice” but to launch what he calls a “special military operation,” and vowed it would “continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.”
For now, Putin’s forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas. which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists’ claims of independence. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in the region favor Russia’s larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing its troops to finally turn the tide in their favor.
In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.
It came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. “And then we’ll use chemical troops to smoke them out of there,” the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions — which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons — had been used in Mariupol.
That city has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said Monday has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their corpses “carpeted through the streets.” Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000 and gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to dispose of the corpses.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons “would be a callous escalation in this conflict,” while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a “wholesale breach of international law.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administration’s persistent concerns “about Russia’s potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.”
Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may use phosphorus bombs — whose use in civilian areas is banned under international law — in Mariupol.
In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and leaving thousands of people dead. The war has also driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes — including nearly two-thirds of all children.
Moscow’s retreat from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.
Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine’s accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were “fake.” Associated Press reporters saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some with hands bound who appeared to have been shot at close range.
The Russian leader spoke at the Vostochny space launch facility in the country’s Far East, during his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began. He also said that foreign powers wouldn’t succeed in isolating Russia.
He said that Russia’s economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions “blitz” and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.
Addressing the pace of the campaign, Putin said Russia was proceeding “calmly and rhythmically” because it wanted to “achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.”
While building up forces in the east, Russia continued to strike targets across Ukraine in a bid to wear down the country’s defenses. Russia’s defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.
___
Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___ | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/putin-vows-russia-will-press-ukraine-invasion-till-goals-met/ | 2022-04-12T16:32:13 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/putin-vows-russia-will-press-ukraine-invasion-till-goals-met/ |
The Florida Chamber of Commerce predicts Florida’s population will hit 26 million by 2030, an increase of more than 3.5 million residents. And as the people pour in, so, too, does their money.
“They’re literally making cash registers ring,” said Chamber president and CEO Mark Wilson. “That puts dollars in local governments. Our tax collection is hitting record revenues.”
But as competition for housing grows and more pressure is put on schools, the environment and infrastructure, some experts worry that sprawling development will lead to more crowded classrooms and roads and polluted waterways.
“The thing about growth, if it isn’t properly planned, it’s not going to pay for itself,” said Paul Owens, president of 1000 Friends of Florida, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for growth management, and a former Orlando Sentinel editorial page editor.
How should the growth of Florida be managed? And who should shape the future of the state?
These questions sit at the heart of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, a research project by the Chamber meant to guide Florida’s development over the next decade. The blueprint calls on businesses, local governments and private organizations to tackle 39 goals from job training to environmental protection.
According to the Chamber, Florida will take on an additional 50 million visitors each year by 2030, on top of the already 130+ million tourists that visit annually. Florida will need an additional 1.6 million jobs, and roads will have to handle 3 million more cars.
The Chamber breaks down its forecast by county on its website thefloridascorecard.com. Orange, for example, is expected to gain more than 400,000 new residents by 2030 and will require 262,667 new jobs, it says.
Owens says the condition of Florida’s roads today should be enough to raise concern. “There are very few communities in Florida where traffic hasn’t gotten worse,” he said.
Water quality is another realm where Owens sees the conflicts with growth.
“It’s pretty easy to connect the dots between doing a poor job on managing growth and water quality problems,” he said, referring to issues such as blue-green algae blooms and red tides that have plagued the state’s rivers and coastlines.
While social and environmental advocates often talk about growth in terms of impacts, Wilson sees the influx as an opportunity. “I fundamentally reject the idea that [growth] is a bad thing,” he said.
Wilson points to Florida’s economy, which just since the blueprint was written four years ago, has gone from the 17th largest economy in the world (if Florida were an independent nation) to the 15th.
“We’re bigger than Mexico now,” Wilson said.
That’s ahead of schedule for the blueprint, which aims to see Florida become the 10th largest economy, putting it ahead of South Korea.
Owens says proper growth management shouldn’t get in the way of economic development; it should enhance it.
“Reasonable controls on growth are not bad for the economy,” Owens said. “They limit the costs we incur when we don’t properly control growth.”
Wilson agrees that growth needs direction. “As we unite the business community, we want to make sure we grow the right way and that we do it with purpose,” he said.
The blueprint looks to do this without the typical state controls public policy advocates often call for, such as tighter environmental regulations or higher impact fees. Wilson points to the fact that the top five states people move to Florida from are New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania, all states with strong regulations and an income tax.
“We’re gaining $2 million in income every hour,” Wilson said. He said California and New York lose $1 million in income per hour.
The blueprint instead looks to the private sector to step up on issues such as children in poverty.
“The way we’re going to cut childhood poverty isn’t going to be through some federal mandate,” Wilson said. “It’s through businesses adopting a zip code.”
The Chamber works with businesses, local governments and other organizations to identify and adopt zip codes high in child poverty and work for localized solutions.
Florida Blue, for example, has adopted five zip codes throughout the state, including 32805 in Orlando.
Owens supports the idea of private investment in public issues, but he is skeptical of a system without public supervision.
“It’s the trust but verify approach,” he said. “If you want to empower local groups or private groups to take the initiative, that’s terrific. But there should be some sort of oversight to make sure that they follow through.”
For Owens, issues such as childhood poverty or reading levels (another benchmark for the blueprint) can be traced to Florida’s history of sprawling development, which he says stretches the ability of public services. “The more you stretch services, the less efficient they are, and the more expensive they are,” he said.
Wilson acknowledged that some metrics, such bringing up children’s reading levels, should have been handled before now.
“We failed the plan,” he said. “Why did the voters allow that to happen?”
1000 Friends of Florida also issued an outlook with a horizon of 2070. The report sees dire consequences if development isn’t reined in, such as one-third of the state becoming paved. “That’s going to create all kinds of problems for water quality and flooding,” Owens said.
“If properly planned, we could certainly reduce the impact of 3.5 million more Floridians,” Owens added. “It requires steering that growth toward already developed areas that have the infrastructure in place to handle it, rather than a hands-off attitude that you see in a lot of parts of Florida.
Wilson agrees that planning is key, just not controlled by government.
“If people think that politicians over the next 10 years are going to do the right thing, and businesses and residents don’t need to focus on early learning or water or infrastructure, then we’re going to end up like Illinois or New York,” he said.
Want to reach out? Email tfraser@orlandosentinel.com. Follow TIFraserOS on Twitter. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-florida-growth-predictions-2030-20220412-ufvi246nbre5nmsq7feoqgiuou-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:16 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-florida-growth-predictions-2030-20220412-ufvi246nbre5nmsq7feoqgiuou-story.html |
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners, the Judds reunited, and Kelsea Ballerini turned a tough break into a one-woman house party at Monday night’s CMT music awards.
Underwood and Aldean won video of the year and collaborative video of the year for their duet “If I Didn’t Love You” on the show that uses fan votes to honor the best in country music videos.
“This one’s all about the fans man,” Underwood said as she accepted the belt-buckle CMT trophy for video of the year, a record 25th win for her.
“I’m pretty sure I picked the perfect partner for this song,” Aldean said.
The Judds made their first major awards show performance in over two decades, with 76-year-old Naomi and her 57-year-old daughter Wynonna singing their signature 1990 classic “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
They were joined by a gospel choir in the performance that was pre-recorded outside the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The show from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee made the best of the last-minute absence of co-host Kelsea Ballerini, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days earlier.
Her co-host, “Avengers” actor Anthony Mackie, took the stage alone at the start of the live CBS telecast and introduced a “backup KB,” Kane Brown, to help with hosting duties. Brown was also the night’s most nominated artist but came up empty.
But Ballerini wouldn’t be left out. She appeared on a big screen from home, decked out in a full awards-show dress in her living room.
“This is my normal Monday night, in full glam, with lighting I set up myself, and a remote truck outside,” Ballerini said. “I would so much rather be there with you, but I will be popping in all night long.”
Later in the show, Ballerini performed from her backyard, singing her new single “Heartfirst” alone with a white guitar while standing on the grass with images of her band projected on to a curtain hung behind her.
She made constant costume changes, appearing in a new dress for each appearance and ending the night in her pajamas.
Miranda Lambert won her eighth CMT award, for female video of the year, for “If I Was a Cowboy,” which she also performed.
“I am so happy to be a part of the women of country music today,” Lambert said.
Cody Johnson won male video of the year for “′Til You Can’t.”
Maddie & Tae won best group or duo video for “Woman You Got.” Tae Kerr, who recently went through a difficult pregnancy and premature birth, appeared on a screen from home during their acceptance, holding her new baby.
“I’ve missed you, I’ve missed you so much, and I’ve been drinking because I’m so nervous,” Maddie Font said to her musical partner during an acceptance speech where she went from laughs to tears and back again. “Tell that baby girl I love her.”
At age 69, George Strait won his first ever CMT award, taking CMT performance of the year for “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?” from “CMT Giants: Charley Pride’.”
Performances came fast and furious during the three hour show.
Keith Urban opened the telecast with his single “Wild Hearts,” followed immediately by the duet “Never Say Never” from Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, who stepped out to the front of an outdoor stage to let the Nashville rain hit them as they sang.
Underwood sang her song “Ghost Story” in a pre-taped performance from her Las Vegas residency, taking flight mid-song Cirque du Soleil-style on a cloth swing hung from the ceiling.
Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town gave the first live performance of their collaboration “Pray.” All wore all white and stood on a smoke covered stage as inspirational images from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine were shown behind them.
The hosting change-up wasn’t the only hiccup the show faced: lightning forced the closure of the CMT’s pink carpet before most stars arrived to have their photos taken and be interviewed.
Dalton reported from Los Angeles. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/ct-ent-cmt-awards-winners-20220412-mrxsch64yrbjjoddcmluhkxqqq-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:22 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/ct-ent-cmt-awards-winners-20220412-mrxsch64yrbjjoddcmluhkxqqq-story.html |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — An 18-year-old freshman player for Jacksonville University women’s soccer team, a former star player in Osceola County, was killed in a crash while returning from a team bonding trip.
School officials said Stephanie Davis was killed Sunday afternoon when the SUV she was riding in veered off the road, overcorrected and flipped over. Davis attended Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee.
Seven of her teammates were injured in the crash, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The team was returning from a tubing trip near Lake City when the crash happened, officials said.
The other players had injuries described as minor, and were treated at hospitals, troopers said.
Jacksonville Coach John Constable remembers Davis for her work ethic and infectious smile, the Florida Times-Union reported.
Kris Ford, her coach at Tohopekaliga High School, told the newspaper that Davis was “a rock star” for the team during her senior year there.
Ford told the newspaper that Davis was mentoring younger players at the high school via phone, email and social media.
“She was really helping them out, telling them what it takes to succeed at the college level,” Ford said. “Going to Jacksonville was a huge honor for her. She very hard for that. She was never given anything.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-lake-toho-soccer-stephanie-davis-dies-jacksonville-soccer-team-crash-20220412-zea3jcxvzfb5nfmghnq4kesfuu-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:34 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-lake-toho-soccer-stephanie-davis-dies-jacksonville-soccer-team-crash-20220412-zea3jcxvzfb5nfmghnq4kesfuu-story.html |
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, whose seven months in that role has been overshadowed by probes into a previous campaign, was arrested Tuesday in a federal corruption investigation.
The Democrat was accused in an indictment of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin’s agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.
Facing charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, he was expected to make an initial appearance Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. Two lawyers representing Benjamin did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Benjamin had joined the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul in September, chosen by her to fill her former job a couple of weeks after she stepped into the governorship following the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations.
Just over two months later, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamin’s failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamin’s campaign.
The indictment said Benjamin, formerly a state senator from Harlem, and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.
They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.
Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdol’s arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.
More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.
Republican chairman Nick Langworthy said in a prepared statement that “Hochul chose a dirty politician to serve as her partner in government and running mate.”
“Brian Benjamin’s shady dealings and corruption were well-documented, but Hochul turned a blind eye and put him a heartbeat away from the governorship,” Langworthy said.
Hochul said Monday at a press conference she didn’t know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.
She said last week she had the “utmost confidence” in Benjamin.
“This is an independent investigation related to other people and he’s fully cooperating. He is my running mate,” Hocuhl said Thursday at a press conference.
Republican minority legislative leaders — Senate Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Leader Will Barclay — called on Benjamin to resign.
“Kathy Hochul and Senate Democrats might tolerate this corruption, but New Yorkers don’t and neither do I,” Ortt said. “I’m calling on Gov. Hochul and Senate Democrats to stop hiding from the truth and join me in demanding Brian Benjamin’s resignation.”
Spokespeople for Hochul, Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie didn’t immediately provide comment Tuesday when asked if Benjamin should resign.
If Benjamin resigns, he would still likely appear on the ballot for the 2022 gubernatorial Democratic primary even if Hochul picks a new lieutenant governor, according to state elections law.
“There are only three ways to get off the ballot: death, declination or disqualification,” State board of elections spokesperson John Conklin said in an email.
Benjamin was the state’s second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.
He has a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Brown University and a master’s of business administration from Harvard Business School, and worked as a developer of affordable housing.
Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-brian-benjamin-arrested-20220412-fnj4f5nuxfgxvlk2ij4uegoany-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:40 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-brian-benjamin-arrested-20220412-fnj4f5nuxfgxvlk2ij4uegoany-story.html |
KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA — Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isn’t bad weather, pests or blight — the traditional agricultural curses — but fertilizer: It costs too much.
Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.
Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.
“I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else,’’ she said.
Higher fertilizer prices are making the world’s food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.
The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.
“Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers?’’ said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.
The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven “to the brink of survival.’’
The U.N. says Russia is the world’s No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.
Many developing countries — including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala — rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.
The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies “have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants,’’ said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.
Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.
Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said “you have to search to find’' ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.
“Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they won’t be able to farm their land because there will be no income,’’ Filis said.
In China, the price of potash — potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer — is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.
In the eastern Chinese city of Tai’an, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.
“We can hardly make any money,” said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.
Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give “the crop what it needs as a food source.’’
As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what you’re putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else,” said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.
In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil’s Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He’s worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, he’ll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.
“The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?” he said. “We have to find other markets.’’
Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa’s largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.
India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.
“If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less,” said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. “That’s why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.”
Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.
“Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope,” said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. “So these support services go a long way for them.”
Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.
Still, there’s no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, “will be difficult.’’
The market already was “super, super tight” before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.
“Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all,’’ she said.
Asadu reported from Lagos, Nigeria, and Wiseman from Washington. Contributing to this story were: Tatiana Pollastri in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Lefteris Pitarakis in Athens; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Joe McDonald and Yu Bing in Beijing; Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Kathia Martínez in Panama City; Christoph Noelting in Frankfurt; Fabiola Sánchez in Mexico City; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Morocco; Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Edie Lederer at the United Nations; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-fertilizer-shortage-russia-20220412-cql5cdosuvggppooyxtdgo3era-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:47 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-fertilizer-shortage-russia-20220412-cql5cdosuvggppooyxtdgo3era-story.html |
The new White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, said Monday that while there had been a recent uptick in new U.S. coronavirus cases, he was not overly concerned.
“We’ve got to watch this very carefully — obviously, I never like to see infections rising — I think we’ve got to be careful,” Jha said on the “Today” show. “But I don’t think this is a moment where we have to be excessively concerned.”
Jha, a public health expert, made several media appearances Monday, his first official day according to the White House, and he pointed to low hospitalization numbers across the United States. The vast majority of the country has low community levels of COVID-19, according to calculations performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are designed to assess the number of new cases in a community and the strain on its hospitals, a point also made on Sunday by Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top pandemic adviser.
“Right now that is showing an uptick, but not showing substantial changes in what we should be doing,” Jha said on CNN, referring to the CDC framework. “And I think the CDC policy is right on this.”
And while he touted the role of at-home tests, Jha acknowledged many of those results may go unreported, underpinning, he said, the importance of hospitalizations as a metric.
Jha’s tenure begins as a highly transmissible omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, has become the dominant version among new U.S. cases. As of Sunday, the United States was averaging more than 31,000 cases a day, an increase of 3% over the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database, just a fraction of the height of the omicron winter surge.
Still, New York City and Washington, D.C., are among the places seeing steeper increases than the nation overall, though their average numbers of new cases remain far lower than recent peaks, too. Prominent officials in both cities, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mayor Eric Adams of New York, have tested positive in recent days, as have some Broadway stars.
On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had tested negative in the past 24 hours. Harris had been considered a close contact of her communications director, who tested positive last week, but the vice president was now five days post-exposure, Psaki said.
A handful of colleges and universities in the country have reinstated mask mandates as they battle outbreaks on campus. On Monday, the city of Philadelphia announced it would soon reinstate an indoor mask mandate.
And after the Gridiron Club and Foundation’s annual dinner in Washington on April 2, at least 80 attendees tested positive, Tom DeFrank, a contributing editor for National Journal and president of the Gridiron Club, said in an email Monday afternoon. The number of new cases reported each day has been declining, he said, adding that reported symptoms remain mild, with several asymptomatic cases.
“Now that we are nine days after the dinner, the connection between a new positive test and our dinner is certainly arguable, particularly for public officials who have had a full week of public events,” DeFrank said in a statement.
“What it reminds us is the pandemic isn’t over,” Jha said on “Good Morning America,” referring to the number of cases after the Gridiron dinner, which included some Cabinet members. “We are still going to see cases of this virus spreading. And we have to continue to be vigilant. We have to continue to be careful.”
Neither Biden nor Pelosi attended the Gridiron dinner, and Pelosi said Monday that she would be leaving isolation Tuesday after testing negative Monday.
Elsewhere in the House, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said Monday she had tested positive. In Connecticut, the lieutenant governor, Susan Bysiewicz, said she tested positive, too.
Jha also told the “Today” show that the CDC would get the final say on the future of the mask mandate on airplanes and other public transportation — but said that extending the requirement, which goes through at least April 18, “is absolutely on the table.”
Jha replaced Jeffrey D. Zients, who left the position to return to his private life, according to the White House. Zients, an entrepreneur and management consultant, steered the White House response and U.S. vaccination campaign through multiple variants.
c.2022 The New York Times Company | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-nyt-covid-czar-uptick-20220412-oqjyimuwvbaszh7w2llqcw2moi-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:32:53 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-nyt-covid-czar-uptick-20220412-oqjyimuwvbaszh7w2llqcw2moi-story.html |
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.
The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. Abortion rights advocates say the bill signed by the GOP governor is certain to face a legal challenge.
Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.
“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill, flanked by anti-abortion lawmakers, clergy and students. “I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.
Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican now running for Congress who wrote the bill, called it the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.
“Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign,” Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.
Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.
The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a “bounty” of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same,” Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. “We’ve sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect.”
Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.
The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up.
One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills that is one vote away from the governor’s desk would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-oklahoma-abortion-illegal-20220412-m6y45aiajvhbbbtpc5jycp4ed4-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:00 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-aud-nw-oklahoma-abortion-illegal-20220412-m6y45aiajvhbbbtpc5jycp4ed4-story.html |
Nikki Fried said Monday she would declare a “housing state of emergency” if she’s elected governor and would push for doubling the homestead property tax exemption on owner-occupied residential property in Florida.
Life for many Floridians is being increasingly and severely stressed by soaring costs for renters and homebuyers, and Fried said the issue is the one she hears about from voters more than any other.
“Everyone is struggling across the board,” Fried said in a telephone interview on the first day of a statewide tour in which she’s rolling out her housing plans. “The cost of living in our state is sending so many people to leave. And that’s heartbreaking because we all love our state and we all want to live here.”
On Tuesday, Fried plans to continue touting her Lower Costs, Higher Standards housing plan during a stop in Palm Beach County.
Fried said the housing affordability crisis affects middle-class families and those with lower incomes, and cuts affects all ages.
“We’re losing good talented individuals, and families are being separated because younger generations can’t afford to live here and older generations, like seniors who are on fixed incomes, certainly cannot afford to have any of their rent increased,” she said.
Homestead
Fried said she would push to double the homestead exemption to $100,000 from its current $50,000 on owner-occupied homes.
Fried’s campaign didn’t provide figures. But for the owner who lives in a home worth more than $100,000 living in an area where the total tax rate for everything but schools (city, county, water management district, hospital or health care district, Children’s Services Council) is $15 for every $1,000 of value, the South Florida Sun Sentinel calculated the savings at $750.
But with property values rising, people likely wouldn’t see their taxes go down that much. For example a 3% increase in value on a $350,000 home would result in $158 more in taxes if the rate stayed the same, offsetting the potential savings.
And local governments could increase their tax rates.
Increasing the homestead exemption would require amending the Florida Constitution. In 2018, a plan to add $25,000 to the homestead exemption received 58.1% of the vote, short of the 60% threshold for passage.
Local governments officials would likely vigorously oppose any attempt to increase the homestead exemption as they did in 2018.
Fried said she would seek a collaboration between the state and local governments to deal with potential lost revenue. She said there is money to be found in the state budget. “The money is there. We just need to prioritize it,” she said.
Also, she said, the increased exemption wouldn’t apply to taxes levied by school districts. Currently, the homestead exemption for school taxes is $25,000, half what it is for other governments that levy property taxes.
Sadowski
The Sadowski affordable housing trust fund, created in 1992 as a dedicated source of revenue to finance affordable housing programs, has had billions of dollars diverted to other programs by the Legislature and governor.
Fried said she would veto any state budget that attempted to divert Sadowski money to non-housing spending.
“The times of gutting the Sadowski Fund for other personal pet projects of electeds will end under a Fried administration,” she said.
Emergency
Fried said she would declare housing state of emergency. And she said she would “direct the attorney general to consider any type of rent increase that is over inflationary rates to be considered price gouging because that’s what it is.”
She said pursuing landlords for price gouging is “absolutely” possible, although the idea might be more aspirational than realistic.
The Florida attorney general is an independent elected official, who doesn’t have to do what the governor orders. Also, the Florida price gouging law is activated during more typical states of emergencies, such as hurricanes, and making it unlawful during those periods to “to rent, sell, lease, offer to rent, sell, or lease essential commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities at an unconscionable price.”
Not alone
Democrats have spent much of 2022 talking about cultural and social-issue legislation relating to abortion restrictions, LGBT youth and race that Republicans pushed through the state Legislature with the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The pressure on housing is a pocketbook issue that could resonate with voters.
In January, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, another candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, presented an Affordable Florida for All plan on a tour of the state.
It included multiple components, including housing affordability for renters and homebuyers, plus promises to curb utility rate increases and lowering homeowners insurance premiums.
“Housing here in the Sunshine State is more unaffordable than ever. And Gov. DeSantis’ policies, sadly, are only making it worse,” Crist said in a statement at the time. “Our housing market prices and rent increases are catching up with places like New York.”
State Sen. Annette Taddeo, another candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, also highlighted lack of affordability in a video she recently posted on her Facebook page. “Our affordable housing crisis is skyrocketing, property insurance rates are so bad that we’ve been named the least affordable state in the nation. The least. Last. dead last.”
Crist and Taddeo also both oppose diverting Sadowsky housing money to other purposes.
“Sadowsky belongs to the people of Florida for affordable housing, not politicians in Tallahassee,” Crist’s affordable housing campaign document states.
“For over 20 years, instead of investing in affordable housing, Republicans have used it as a piggy bank for their pet projects. That stops with me as governor,” she said in the Facebook video.
Essential to act
Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat, said what she’s been hearing from voters in the last year about housing is much different from what she heard during the 2018 campaign, when she was running for her current post of state agriculture commissioner.
Fried said she heard from one renter whose landlord was demanding a $700-a-month increase in rent and an additional security deposit, meaning they had to come up with an extra $2,000 within 30 days. “People of our state don’t have that type of money to be able to put into their homes on late notice,” she said.
Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/fl-ne-nikki-fried-affordable-housing-20220412-6o3pfzb73vg7boedu25nyyzhuu-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:06 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/fl-ne-nikki-fried-affordable-housing-20220412-6o3pfzb73vg7boedu25nyyzhuu-story.html |
Everything from heavy heat and humidity to a lightning delay that lasted a little over 30 minutes was thrown at the Hagerty High and Oviedo girls beach volleyball teams during a historic rivalry match last week.
That didn’t stop two teams with state championship aspirations from going full steam in their first showdown since the Florida High School Athletic Association adopted beach volleyball as a full-fledged sport this year.
Hagerty scored a 4-1 victory at home. Two days later the Huskies edged visiting Tallahassee Leon 3-2 to remain undefeated as the highest ranked Orlando area team.
“It’s very exciting because these kids have worked hard,” Huskies coach Juanita Hitt said of beach volleyball being elevated to varsity status for 2022. “To bring this sport up to an FHSAA sanction has been in the works for years, and we’re so excited to play for a state championship.”
The newest FHSAA sport is played on sand courts, not a shiny wood gymnasium floor.
Hitt Beach, named in honor of Hagerty’s coach, was the on-campus venue for the match. The six-court outdoor facility, located just past the baseball field’s outfield fence, opened in 2017, several years after Seminole County public schools began playing the game as a club sport.
What’s new is that a true state champion will be crowned at the May 6-7 state tournament at the FSU Beach Volleyball Courts. The FHSAA lists 142 teams playing across the state in what is now one of the association’s 32 championships. Girls wrestling was also added this year.
“It’s awesome to get the opportunity to compete for a state title with this being my senior year,” Oviedo standout Raven Wrobleski said. “It’s a second chance, honestly, because now we’re playing for real here. It’s a chance to do something special for the school and with my teammates.”
Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1996 games in Atlanta. The United States has a strong tradition with Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings being its most successful pairing with gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
The NCAA sanctioned a college championship in 2016, providing another set of scholarship opportunities.
Beach and indoor volleyball are played by many of the same rules; the one exception being the sand sport has just two players on either side of the net rather than six teaming up indoors with substitutes also coming off the bench to participate.
The dimensions of a standard gymnasium volleyball court is 30 feet by 60 feet. Beach court dimensions are slightly smaller at 26.25 by 52.5 feet – a lot of ground for two players to cover.
Like the college format, FHSAA dual matches have five pairs representing each school. They each play best-of-three set matches. The team that wins the most matches prevails.
Last Wednesday, Oviedo’s No. 1 pairing of Wrobleski and Paige Wisneski won in straight sets. But Hagerty won the other four matches with its pairings of Brooke Stephens/Brielle Mullen, Abby Mas/Mayte Camacho, Maddie Schwartz/Layla Miller, and Alana Garcia/Anisa Mafarachisi.
Hitt was proud of the way her team managed to brave the elements and secure a victory.
“Oviedo always has a good team, both indoor volleyball and beach, so it’s a great win for us,” Hitt said. “These kids play nonstop. They are truly resilient. They do a great job and pushing through when they’re tired. I’m very proud of them.”
Oviedo’s Wisneski, a veteran of both versions of volleyball, still prefers the indoor game played in the fall.
“There’s more relationships with people on the court rather than there just being two players,” she said. “Plus you’re on more stable ground with indoor.”
For beach partners that play together all season the bonds do become strong. Wisneski and Wrobleski have been teammates for just over a year and have developed good chemistry.
“You have to rely more on your partner and do everything you can to help each other stay cool under pressure,” Wrobleski said. “You’re outside, it’s hot, and you can’t afford to get into your head when you miss a point or are on a bad streak. Even so, I like it because it allows you to build up more confidence in yourself as a player.
“Paige is a great partner. She’s a great person on and off the court, and she gets along with everyone. On the court, she has good instincts and never gives up on a play. She’s the best partner I could ask for.”
The loss did not dampen Oviedo coach Jen Darty’s enthusiasm about her team’s goals and its chance for a possible rematch in the district playoffs, which will be played the week of April 25-30.
“We’re a young group, and it’s fun to see them grow and compete with the way they have,” Darty said. “Luckily, we’re in Hagerty’s district, so we’ll hopefully see them later on down the road and we’re excited about the opportunity.”
Both coaches said making beach volleyball an official varsity sport was a long time coming.
In SAC play Hagerty won conference titles in 2015 and 2021 while Oviedo won three consecutive championships, 2016-18. Those club seasons gave both programs a head start on many of the schools now playing under the FHSAA umbrella.
“We’re lucky that we’ve been competing for the last seven years in Seminole County, so we had an advantage over understanding the duals and everything else while everyone was struggling to figure it out,” Darty said.
Oviedo takes a 6-1 record into an after-school match at Lake Mary (5-1) Wednesday.
Hagerty (8-0) hosts Lyman (1-4) on Wednesday afternoon.
Other area teams that are enjoying success are West Orange (11-1), Orangewood Christian (8-0), and Windermere Prep, which is 7-0 going into a Tuesday match vs. Lake Nona.
This report was first published at Orlandosentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-sp-hs-beach-volleyball-is-a-hit-0408-20220412-lby4pgojxrbvtgpk2xkx6udiq4-story.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:12 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-sp-hs-beach-volleyball-is-a-hit-0408-20220412-lby4pgojxrbvtgpk2xkx6udiq4-story.html |
RIPLEY • Cedric Burnside, torchbearer of the Northeast Mississippi hill country blues, won "Best Traditional Blues Album" at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for his 2021 album "I Be Trying."
Burnside, 43, was raised in Holly Springs and now lives in Ashland. He spends quite a bit of time in Ripley, where he's set up an office on the square and will soon be opening a juke joint.
On Monday night, Ripley Mayor Jon Grisham declared April 11 "Cedric Burnside Day" during a Grammy celebration at Jefferson St. Tap Room.
The Ripley Main Street Association also unveiled a portrait of Burnside painted by Sam Ingram to be displayed at the Blues Alley downtown alongside local blues greats like Burnside's grandfather, R.L. Burnside, and Junior Kimbrough.
Third time's the charm
Burnside had been nominated two times prior to his Grammy win. The phrase "third time's the charm" proved true, and Burnside took home a Grammy on April 3.
"Considering I had never won a Grammy before, it felt good to actually win," Burnside said. "It gets me a few steps further to doing what I need to do, not just for music, but for my community."
"It's cool to win these Grammys," he added. "I think this is just one of many, but also, I know I'll get further ahead on helping people."
When Burnside's named was called on "music's biggest night," he jogged to the stage with his tour manager, Chuck Duncan.
"Wow, thank y'all so much," Burnside said, still in awe. He thanked the Recording Academy, his record label, promotion team and Jesus Christ "for letting the universe work with me."
Recording the album
Burnside wrote the record, "I Be Trying," in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, save for one song — "Love Is The Key."
But the album's themes of getting knocked down by life, struggling and trying to be the best person you can be resonate deeply in a time when a whole lot of the world has experienced "the blues" firsthand.
When he got ready to go into the studio in 2020, the virus shut everything down and put recording on pause. But he picked it up at the end of that year.
"It's funny how it pertains to what's going on in the world today," Burnside said.
»WATCH: Step In official music video
"I Be Trying" was recorded in the span of three days in late 2020 at Royal Studios in Memphis — the same recording studio where Willie Mitchell, Al Green and other soul artists cranked out hit after hit in the 1960s and 70s.
It released in June 2021, sharing songs inspired not only by Burnside's own life experiences, but those of his family and friends.
"I feel like every day, life gives you something to talk about, something to write about," Burnside said. "And that might be good or it might be bad."
Burnside feels the core message of the album is positivity.
"I want people to know that no matter what you go through, you're still going to have to be strong and embrace it," Burnside said. "But your actions, that's what determines how your life is going to go."
Carrying on a family legacy
Burnside first toured with his grandfather, hill country blues legend R.L. Burnside, at 13 years old.
He's been playing hill country blues for more than 30 years now. To bring home a Grammy to Mississippi for continuing the musical tradition of the place and people he loves means the world to him.
"(Hill country blues) started to get the recognition that it deserves in the late 90s, early 2000s, but not as much as it should have," Burnside said. "Now, just to have North Mississippi, the hill country part, on the map now. I feel like we're now on the map."
Burnside recorded a cover of "Bird Without a Feather" by his late grandfather, whom he refers to as Big Daddy, for the album.
"I want to just keep creating it, creating my own music as well as my Big Daddy's music and Junior's music," Burnside said. "So it meant a lot to me when they called my name for this award. To win this Grammy, it meant a lot to me. I honestly think my Big Daddy would be very proud, as well as my mom, my dad and my brother — everybody who's gone on before me, who has passed, that was a big part of my life."
While carrying on the family legacy, Burnside aspires to leave behind his own: a legacy of positivity, love and inspiration.
He shared a bit of that positivity Monday morning when he visited the classrooms of hundreds of Ripley Elementary School students whose artwork now adorn the front windows of Burnside's office and juke joint — drawings of Grammy awards and guitars with messages reading "Congratulations Cedric."
Opening the Jook Joint
This summer, Burnside will open a juke joint — aptly named Jook Joint — in downtown Ripley.
"I want to help the community and I want to bring people from all over the world," Burnside said of his vision for the juke joint.
"I want to bring people together," he said. "I want people to come to Ripley, I want them to see what Ripley has to offer and I also want Ripley to see something that they never saw before. And not just Ripley, the whole hill country."
The venue will feature live music with a focus on the blues. Customers will have the option to grab a beer and a bite to eat while they enjoy the tunes in a laid back, authentic juke joint atmosphere.
Although he's from the Holly Springs area, Burnside has spent a considerable amount of time working in Ripley over the last few years, and he's grown fond of the town.
He even recorded an album in Ripley a couple of months ago at the soon-to-open juke joint. Burnside has a name for the album but isn't ready to share it yet. He hopes to release it later this year.
On the heels of the Grammy win, Burnside will be releasing new merch and music soon. Fans can find updates at Burnside's Facebook page, and those eager to visit the Jook Joint when it opens can follow along on Facebook as well. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/cedric-burnside-wins-grammy-for-best-traditional-blues-album/article_5b2b11e4-5c1b-5f8d-bec4-21e6e9de29c2.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:33 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/cedric-burnside-wins-grammy-for-best-traditional-blues-album/article_5b2b11e4-5c1b-5f8d-bec4-21e6e9de29c2.html |
PONTOTOC - Eltice Jarrett was born July 18, 1928, to Mamie Hale Joyner and James Amos Joyner.
She departed this earthly life from Pontotoc Health and Rehab on Sunday, April 10, 2022.
She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Graden Jarrett, 3 daughters, Jean Mathews of Pontotoc, Patsy Medlin (James) of New Albany, Rhonda Goolsby (Aaron) of Hickory Flat; 7 grandchildren, Steve Mathews (Lisa), David Mathews (Tabatha), Barry Mathews (Kourtney), Joy Williams (Todd), Jarrett Thompson (Megan), Ginger Heatherly (Derek), Jessie Hutchison (Wesley); several great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, 1 sister-in-law Cora Browning. And several bonus great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her Mother and Father, brothers, Martin and Collins Joyner, 1 sister Patricia Joyner Fitts, and 1 son-in-law Johnny Mathews.
Her greatest treasure was her family. She was a devoted Christian wife, mother and grandmother and was a member of Midway Baptist Church. She will be remembered for her kindness and humbleness to meet the needs of her community. She was a member of the Beckham Homemakers Club for over 50 years.
Pallbearers will be Steve Mathews, David Mathews, Barry Mathews, Jarrett Thompson, Todd Williams, Derek Heatherly, Wesley Hutchison, Colten Mathews, Ross Mathews, and Parker Heatherly.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 Friday, April 15, 2022, at Midway Baptist Church with Bro. Rocky Watts and Bro. Bobby Caples officiating. Visitation will be Thursday night April 14, from 5 pm until 8 pm and Friday from 12 pm until service time at 2 pm all at Midway Baptist Church, 8773 Highway 15 South, Pontotoc, MS 38863. Browning Funeral Home is honored to assist the family.
The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the Pontotoc Health and Rehab and HomeCare Hospice for the compassionate and loving care that they provided to our wife and mother.
OXFORD - Mrs. Annie Mae Milliner, 91, passed away Tuesday, April 05, 2022, at her home in Oxford. Graveside services will be on Friday, April 15, 2022 11:00 a.m. at Salem United Methodist Church 11 CR 167 Oxford, MS. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 14, 2022 3:00 - 5:00 at Serenity Oxford Funeral. Chapel Serenity Burney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Mississippi State guard Cam Carter (5) looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas in Starkville, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. Mississippi State won 81-68. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
STARKVILLE • Mississippi State's Cam Carter has entered the transfer portal, the freshman guard announced Tuesday morning.
He is the second Bulldog to enter the portal since the end of the season, joining forward Javian Davis.
Carter's minutes were erratic throughout his lone season under Ben Howland at Mississippi State. But when he played, he often provided a spark off the bench.
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He averaged 2.2 points per game with a career-high 15 scored in MSU's loss at Alabama. Carter had played 25 minutes in the eight games leading up to that mid-February loss at Alabama, but his flashes were enough for Howland to thrust him into the starting lineup.
He started four games for MSU in a crucial stretch, but once his struggles began to pile up, Howland returned Shakeel Moore into the starting lineup.
Carter was a four-star prospect out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. He is a native of Donaldsonville, Louisiana.
Carter's decision to enter the portal comes two days after MSU head coach Chris Jans added former Oregon State point guard Dashawn Davis out of the portal. It also comes as MSU remains one of the final two schools (Xavier) in the running for former LSU guard Xavier Pinson.
STEFAN KRAJISNIK is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at stefan.krajisnik@djournal.com. | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-state-freshman-guard-cam-carter-enters-transfer-portal/article_cc51d8d5-d46c-5e6e-a56b-a5aa88ed4b6e.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:36 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-state-freshman-guard-cam-carter-enters-transfer-portal/article_cc51d8d5-d46c-5e6e-a56b-a5aa88ed4b6e.html |
STARKVILLE • Mississippi State's Ashley Jones has entered the transfer portal, a source told the Daily Journal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Her departure leaves new head coach Sam Purcell with eight scholarship players on his current roster.
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Jones averaged 4.1 points per game for the Bulldogs last season. She joined MSU prior to the 2020-21 season from Temple but had to sit due to NCAA transfer rules.
Jones' role with MSU changed throughout the season, but she wound up as one of seven active players for interim head coach Doug Novak at the season's end. She scored a season-high 17 points on Senior Day against Arkansas before playing just one minute in MSU's lone SEC tournament game against Kentucky.
She spent two years at Temple — the first of which she sat out due to transfer rules after coming over from West Virginia.
In the lone season she took the court for the Owls, Jones averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. She was named newcomer of the year in the American Athletic Conference and earned second-team All-AAC honors.
She averaged 2.8 points per game in her freshman season (2017-18) at West Virginia.
Jones is a Philadelphia native who attended Neumann-Goretti Catholic High School. She ranked as the No. 75 overall player in the country and the No. 15 point guard by ESPN out of high school.
STEFAN KRAJISNIK is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at stefan.krajisnik@djournal.com. | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-state-guard-ashley-jones-enters-transfer-portal/article_1c710fb0-c347-5ec1-96d5-c9e4628d4a4b.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:37 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-state-guard-ashley-jones-enters-transfer-portal/article_1c710fb0-c347-5ec1-96d5-c9e4628d4a4b.html |
Jackson State center Jayveous McKinnis (11) dunks the ball ahead of Iowa State forward George Conditt IV (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 47-37.
OXFORD • Jackson State forward Jayveous McKinnis — a three-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year winner and first-team All-SWAC selection — has signed with Ole Miss as a graduate transfer, the program announced Tuesday morning.
The 6-foot-7 Brandon native averaged 12.4 points and 10.3 rebounds last season for the Tigers. He was 12th nationally in rebounds per game and was second the previous year at 13.2 per game.
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In his career, McKinnis shoots just under 61% from the field, with all but three of his attempts coming from inside the 3-point line.
“Jayveous had a fantastic career at Jackson State,” coach Kermit Davis said in a news release. “He is an elite-level athlete. He was second in the nation in rebounding two years ago, and against us two seasons ago he had 12 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. I think Jay will continue to make great strides facing-up and shooting the ball. He comes from a great family, and he is truly Mississippi Made.”
Ole Miss finished 13-19 last season and lost its last five games to end the year. Forward Sammy Hunter and guard/forward Luis Rodriguez both entered the transfer portal in recent weeks, as did forward Eric Van Der Heijden, guard Grant Slatten and guard Austin Crowley. Van Der Heijden has committed to UNC Wilmington while Crowley has committed to Southern Miss.
MICHAEL KATZ is the Ole Miss athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at michael.katz@djournal.com. | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/ole-miss/jackson-state-star-jayveous-mckinnis-signs-with-ole-miss/article_29c098e4-3f7d-5d9e-be43-b03dc244faf8.html | 2022-04-12T16:33:39 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/ole-miss/jackson-state-star-jayveous-mckinnis-signs-with-ole-miss/article_29c098e4-3f7d-5d9e-be43-b03dc244faf8.html |
5 outdoor NJ restaurants within a drive from anywhere
Spring season is upon us and that means outdoor dining is almost back in full swing. You thought you had enough of outdoor dining when you were forced to do it during the pandemic. But at the end of the day, when it’s a choice instead of a law, remember how nice it is to eat alfresco.
For those of us that live in smaller Jersey towns, a good outdoor meal isn’t always easy to come by. Restaurant waits can be long, which usually leads to picking up sandwiches or a small snack instead of eating out. So a great outdoor restaurant in New Jersey has to really be worth a drive.
Now it’s time to really take stock of the quality outdoor restaurants in New Jersey. And some of them may not be right around the corner. Here are the five that are.
Battello, Jersey City
If you are looking for an authentic, yet classy meal outside, check out this fun restaurant. Menu items range from a Lobster Roll to a Crabby Patty, which are the perfect dishes to welcome the warm weather. This restaurant also has an incredible view of the Manhattan Skyline, making it a great place to go if you want to be near but not exactly in the city.
HAVEN, Edgewater
HAVEN has been rated one of the world’s best waterfront restaurants and also is known to have amazing brunch. They have a wide variety of seafood including a seafood risotto, and you can finish off the meal with a salted caramel ice cream sundae for dessert.
Orchard Park By David Burke, East Brunswick
If you live in Jersey, you have definitely been to a David Burke restaurant. Orchard Park has been popular for a while and is a great place to get a terrace drink with friends at any time of the day. The restaurant has tables, lounge chairs, a full bar and more making it the perfect spot to spend a couple of hours. If you come here you have to order the Clothesline Bacon, Burke’s signature dish.
Laguna Grill & Rum Bar, Brigantine
Laguna Grill opens in May every year and specializes in seafood and fun. They have a patio bar and live music which New Jerseyans love to enjoy throughout the summer. They also have a great kids menu so don’t worry about picky eaters here.
Robin’s Nest, Mount Holly
This modern American restaurant has a delicious menu full of fun dishes such as Honey Pecan Chicken and Lobster Ravioli. There is an outdoor waterside patio too, where you can enjoy these items in addition to the Pink Poodle, which is their signature Vodka Pink Lemonade drink.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Judi Franco only.
You can now listen to Dennis & Judi — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite best friends anytime, anywhere and any day of the week. Download the Dennis & Judi show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/5-outdoor-nj-restaurants-within-a-drive-from-anywhere/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:31 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/5-outdoor-nj-restaurants-within-a-drive-from-anywhere/ |
Allergic reaction at lunch — What would you do?
Had a lunch meeting with some new friends this week at a well-known restaurant in North Jersey. One of our guests had an allergy to mustard.
It's the first I've heard of a mustard allergy, so of course, I asked a lot of questions and may have mentioned that her allergy would likely be a show topic on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it was more than a conversation.
After asking about the ingredients of the salad dressing, we were confident that the food was allergy safe. First of all, the food was very good, any meeting that starts with raw oysters is likely to be a good one. When our lunch arrived, she took a bite of her salad and you could tell something was wrong.
My new friend asked me to taste the salad and see if there was mustard in the dressing. Not being a germaphobe (credit hot yoga) so I dug in. Although I have a relatively decent palette, I wasn't sure when I tasted the dressing. So of course, I went in for another bite. It was delicious.
Back to the story, we called the waiter over and asked him to confirm with the chef. Meanwhile, my friend jumped up and bolted to her car where she has no fewer than three EpiPens.
Two things crossed my mind. First, would she make it to the car or would I need to deliver the shot? And two, how awful a mustard allergy would be! Mustard is a key ingredient in my potato, chicken, and egg salad. I've used mustard for slow-cooked beef and ribs. It's our go-to when our friend Amy serves crabs, a simple mustard and mayo dipping sauce. Plus we love Kielbasa sliced and fried with mustard.
Anyway, my friend was fine and the restaurant apologized and comped our lunch. Of course, our other friend pulls out cash and we decided it was the right thing to tip the waiter on what the price of the meal would have been. As you know, I don't carry cash so I deferred to my lunch partners. The cash thing is a whole other discussion. Later this week.
Have you ever needed medical attention at a restaurant? Ever saved anyone? Hit me up on the free New Jersey 101.5 app and let me know YOUR story!
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill's own. Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015. | https://nj1015.com/allergic-reaction-at-lunch-what-would-you-do/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:37 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/allergic-reaction-at-lunch-what-would-you-do/ |
New Jersey is home to the first robot burger vending machine
On the second floor of the Newport Centre mall in Jersey City you will find the only hot food vending machine certified by the National Sanitary Foundation.
It's called RoboBurger and it serves piping hot freshly made burgers from their vending machine. The RoboBurger vending machines are made in Newark, by a minority-owned company.
This thing has been in the making for years and the company hopes its time has come.
The original machine was rolled out in late 2020 at the Lucky Seven Tavern in Jersey City. The co-founder and CEO Audley Wilson started his invention in his garage 17 years ago and promises "restaurant quality freshly grilled burgers from scratch."
The machine grills the burgers and adds condiments to the customer's orders along with toasting the bun. The 100% grass and vegetarian-fed Angus patties are never pre-cooked and warmed and come out piping hot.
The company hopes to locate the RoboBurger machines in New York City and the tri-state area. The presence of the machine has already prompted two burger chains to enter the market at the Newport Centre Mall. Both Shake Shack and King of Kobe plan on opening locations in the mall in the coming months.
The burgers from RoboBurger are priced at $6.99, which seems to be a bargain for the quality at this moment in time.
Look for one coming to a shopping center near you, and remember it started here in Jersey!
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Dennis Malloy only.
You can now listen to Dennis & Judi — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite best friends anytime, anywhere and any day of the week. Download the Dennis & Judi show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/new-jersey-is-home-to-the-first-robot-burger-vending-machine/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:44 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/new-jersey-is-home-to-the-first-robot-burger-vending-machine/ |
A jury in Virginia is scheduled to hear opening statements Tuesday in a defamation lawsuit filed by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
Depp says Heard libeled him when she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Depp is never mentioned by name, but he says the article implicates him nonetheless because it refers to past accusations Heard made when she sought a restraining order against him. Depp denies the abuse allegations.
Photos: Johnny Depp Supporters Rally Amid Virginia Libel Case
A civil jury of seven members, plus four alternates, was selected Monday to hear the case in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Heard's lawyers had sought to have the case tried in California, where the actors reside. But a judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case in Virginia because The Washington Post's computer servers for its online edition are located in the county.
The trial is expected to last for more than a month. A lengthy witness list includes actors Paul Bettany and James Franco, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Some witnesses are slated to appear in person, while others are scheduled to appear via video link. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/jury-to-hear-opening-statements-in-johnny-depp-libel-case/3642386/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:47 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/jury-to-hear-opening-statements-in-johnny-depp-libel-case/3642386/ |
1 killed after teens took turns shooting each other while wearing body armor, Florida police say
Two teenagers have been arrested after a 16-year-old was shot and killed in Florida Sunday.
According to police, the shooting happened inside a mobile home in the Gateway Homes of Belleview mobile home park in Belleview, Florida, about an hour outside of Orlando, around 7 p.m. They found the victim, 16-year-old Christopher Leroy Broad Jr., suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital where he died.
Over the past few days, investigators have determined that another teen, 17, and Broad, were taking turns shooting at each other while wearing a body armor-style vest.
"I saw a teenage boy come outside all hysterical screaming," said Joe Vanhouten.
Vanhouten is an Army veteran who lives next door. He saw the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
"I was always taught from a young age you never play with guns," he said.
According to arrest affidavits, three teenage friends, including Broad, lived at the home with one of their fathers. On the day of the shooting, they had a couple more friends over to hang out. The lead detective discovered that one of the teens recorded Snapchat videos of the shooting. He said one of the videos first shows Broad shooting at one of the others who was wearing a "tan plate carrier style vest." Another video shows how they took turns and Broad was next shot five times by a 9 mm handgun.
"It seems weird to me that they would have a body armor vest. Why would you have one?" said Vanhouten.
According to the arrest affidavit, one of the teens told police they have shot at the vest before and no bullets went through it. The report also states the alleged shooter said one of his shots struck Broad in an area not covered by the vest. The medical examiner said he died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
"A sad deal that teenage boys being I guess being teenagers, not realizing the possible consequences of what they were doing," said Vanhouten.
Police now have the gun after serving a search warrant on the home. According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged shooter told police the gun belongs to his father who leaves it at home for protection.
"It’s just a sad story all the way around," said Vanhouten.
Police say the 17-year-old who allegedly shot and killed Broad is now charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm.
Another teen, also 17, is charged with providing false information to law enforcement.
Police say that teen was interviewed as a witness to the shooting and misled officers about what took place by blaming the shooting on other people like the other friends at the home and telling the 911 dispatcher that the house was shot by unknown suspects.
Sister station WESH is not identifying the teens until they have been formally charged as adults.
WESH tried calling the alleged shooter’s family, but they are not accepting calls. They also did not comment when we visited the neighborhood.
Authorities want everyone to know that guns should never be used this way.
"I'm sure these kids never envisioned that a death was going to occur as a result of their behavior,” Dr. David Thomas, a forensics professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, said.
Thomas said many people don't understand armored vests.
"The biggest misnomer is that they're bulletproof because they're not. They're ballistic vests and they're rated on scales of what type of bullet they'll stop,” Thomas said.
Thomas says even a police officer wearing the best vest wouldn't want to get shot in it.
"That trauma is ungodly, what the body goes through,” Thomas said.
According to the police report in this case, the alleged shooter said one of his shots hit Christopher in an area not covered by the vest.
Thomas told WESH, sadly, he thinks a lot of teens don't understand just how dangerous guns are.
"If you don't know anything about the gun, if you don't know anything about the equipment, just leave it alone. Stay safe and leave it alone because it's not something to play with,” Thomas said. | https://www.koat.com/article/belleview-teen-killed/39702844 | 2022-04-12T16:38:47 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/belleview-teen-killed/39702844 |
New Jersey’s report card on handing COVID-19: F (Opinion)
A recent study by conservative activists looking at how individual states handled the COVID-19 crisis puts New Jersey dead last with a failing grade of F. While the media here and around the country applauded the Murphy administration's "out of an abundance of caution" approach, evidently it did real damage.
While the media vilified governors in states like Florida and glorified and promoted governors like Murphy, the results were the opposite.
Teen suicides were up, and the government allowed state teachers unions to dictate policy and restrictions, not parents and taxpayers. Our neighbors in New York under the leadership of now-former Gov. Andrew Cuomo performed poorly on every measure and ranked 49th among all states.
Guess what state came in last.
That's right, New Jersey!
Other states that received an F grade included California, Illinois, and no surprise, Washington, D.C.
Despite unscientific, extreme measures on schools, churches, medical facilities and businesses, Murphy won re-election in the wake of his carnage. The public can't be held totally responsible for the egregious mistake. It's the fault of the mainstream media that continued to support instead of challenge governors like Murphy on his destructive decisions and policies.
Don't trust polls, either. In recent years they've been inaccurate and not worth your trust. DO NOT trust the usual suspects in the mainstream media. Do your own homework and seek out the truth. It's our job as voters to never let this kind of miscalculation and man-made catastrophe happen again.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Dennis Malloy only.
You can now listen to Dennis & Judi — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite best friends anytime, anywhere and any day of the week. Download the Dennis & Judi show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/new-jerseys-report-card-on-handing-covid-19-f-opinion/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:50 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/new-jerseys-report-card-on-handing-covid-19-f-opinion/ |
New York LiveDaily lifestyle show giving viewers the best in all things New York -- 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and 7:15 p.m. Fridays | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/new-york-live/celeb-inspired-makeup-looks-for-spring/3642031/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:53 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/new-york-live/celeb-inspired-makeup-looks-for-spring/3642031/ |
No, you can’t take that: Lakewood, NJ man charged with raiding construction dumpster
JACKSON — A Lakewood man was charged with theft after police found him taking metal from a dumpster at a construction site early Sunday morning.
Police said the Simcha Labovitz, 26, was parked next to a dumpster at a construction site on East Veterans Highway around 3:40 a.m. A large amount of metal and construction material was piled near the car, police said.
Police told Labovitz to return the items as it was not clear if the property owner was holding onto the material for recycling purposes or payment. Labovitz began to argue with them and said he would not comply as he believed he was not doing anything criminal.
Labovitz also refused to take contact information for the property owner in order to get permission to remove the items.
While trash left on the curb is considered up for grabs, police said that in this case, the privately-owned receptacle was on an active construction site that was not open to the public.
As the argument over returning the materials continued, Labovitz called 911 and reached the Ocean County Radio Room, which is run by the Sheriff's Department. The dispatcher was able to confirm that Labovitz did not have permission to be on the property.
Dispatch transferred his call to the watch commander at the Jackson police department, which told Labovitz he could return the items without arrest.
During his arrest, officers said, they found a small clear glass pipe with residue.
Labovitz was charged with theft and possession of drug paraphernalia and released.
Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/no-you-cant-take-that-lakewood-nj-man-charged-with-raiding-construction-dumpster/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:56 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/no-you-cant-take-that-lakewood-nj-man-charged-with-raiding-construction-dumpster/ |
NY Lt. Gov Brian Benjamin arrested in campaign donation scheme
New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, whose seven months in that role has been overshadowed by probes into a previous campaign, was arrested Tuesday in a federal corruption investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said Benjamin was arrested on charges of bribery, honest services wire fraud and falsification of records.
Benjamin, formerly a state senator from Harlem, had joined the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul in September, chosen by her to fill her former job a couple of weeks after she stepped into the governorship following the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations.
But just over two months later, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamin’s failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted.
Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol, a lawyer and real estate developer in New York, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamin’s campaign.
In an indictment unsealed Tuesday, Benjamin was accused of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin's agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.
The indictment said the scheme operated from 2019 to 2021.
The indictment said Benjamin and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme.
They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.
Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdol’s arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.
More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.
Despite her saying she didn’t know of the subpoenas at the time, Hochul proclaimed her support for Benjamin, and he said he had told state police as they went though the process of vetting him.
"I have utmost confidence in my lieutenant governor," Hochul said during a Thursday press conference. "This is an independent investigation related to other people and he’s fully cooperating. He is my running mate."
"In her first major decision as governor, Kathy Hochul chose a dirty politician to serve as her partner in government and running mate. Brian Benjamin’s shady dealings and corruption were well-documented, but Hochul turned a blind eye and put him a heartbeat away from the governorship," state Republican chairman Nick Langworthy said in a prepared statement.
Benjamin was the state's second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, the Democrat emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.
He has a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Brown University and a master’s of business administration from Harvard Business School, and worked as a developer of affordable housing. | https://www.koat.com/article/ny-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-arrested-campaign-donation-scheme/39702187 | 2022-04-12T16:38:57 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/ny-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-arrested-campaign-donation-scheme/39702187 |
First, Kenneth Foote-Smith heard a bang. Then he heard screams.
Over the following minutes, Foote-Smith witnessed a terrifying attack unfold on the subway car just behind him.
Five people were shot on an N train as it approached the 36th Street Station in Brooklyn, and eight others were injured. The shooter remained at large late Tuesday morning.
"I was on the train car right in front of where the attack happened," Foote-Smith told NBC New York. "We turned toward the train car, and we see white smoke starting to billow and fill up the train car. We see people running toward the doors that separate the train cars, and we see people banging on them, screaming for help, almost like a horror movie.
"Some kind gentleman on the other side was trying to open the door to get to the connector, and unfortunately the door was jammed on our side, so they couldn't get to the train. We heard more bangs that sounded like gunshots, and we were cramming toward the conductor's door."
The train stopped briefly, Foote-Smith said, as smoke continued to fill the car behind him, "to the point we couldn't even see the faces of the people in the train car any more."
Soon after, the train pulled into the 36th Street Station and the doors opened.
Local
"We all run out once the doors open, and it's absolute bedlam," Foote-Smith said. "There's people fleeing up the stairs. Luckily, and R train pulls up, and people start running on the R train."
Foote-Smith got on the R train across the platform, which soon left for 25th Street and safety.
"I just really had to hope that the person wasn't on this car somehow," he said.
Click here for more coverage of the Brooklyn shooting attack | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/brooklyn-subway-attack-almost-like-a-horror-movie-witness-says/3642235/ | 2022-04-12T16:38:59 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/brooklyn-subway-attack-almost-like-a-horror-movie-witness-says/3642235/ |
See Bill Spadea LIVE — List of 2022 events across New Jersey
I'm hosting and speaking at many events throughout the month of April. Many events that I host are political and many are to support charities and educational initiatives.
If you are not willing or able to call the show and speak on air, I make sure that I schedule enough events around the state to maximize the interaction and conversation with the great people of our state.
It's important that we rebuild our state from the ground up. Our huge market share on the radio is one thing, but what's really important is the action that accompanies the words.
For me, it was taking the momentum of our perspective through two years of mandates and lockdowns — and we're still not out of the woods — and building an organization to formalize our advocacy. That's why I launched Common Sense Club. To give parents and businesses around the Garden State a voice beyond the microphone.
It's one of the reasons I work hard every day and spend quality time with groups around our great state. Noting replaces that in-person conversation with people who are diggin' in with us!
Here's a list of some of the events I'll be at this month:
Town Hall (Free/cash bar) at Civile Cucina Restaurant in Metuchen, NJ
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
For info, email Sabrina@commonsenseclub.org
Business Networking (Free) in Parsippany, NJ
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
To register and for the location, call James at (815) 262-1394
Meet and Greet (tickets) at 618 Restaurant in Freehold, NJ
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Call the restaurant for tickets (732) 577-0001
Meet and Greet (free/cash bar) at Temperance House in Newtown, PA
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 5 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Reserve your spot by emailing Sabrina@commonsenseclub.org
Town Hall(Free/Cash Bar) at Spring Lake Manor in Spring Lake Heights, NJ
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Parental Bill of Rights Event (tickets) at Trump National in Colts Neck, NJ
Thursday, April 21, 2022 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Get your tickets HERE.
Republican Club Speech (Free) at Rivoli's Restaurant in Toms River, NJ
Thursday, April 21, 2022 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For more info, email Sabrina@commonsenseclub.org
Financial Seminar (tickets) at Washington Crossing Inn in Washington Crossing, PA
Sunday, April 24, 2022 (all day)
For more info, click HERE.
County Republican Club Speech (free) at Garden State Distillery in Toms River, NJ
Monday, April 25, 2022 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
For more info, email Sabrina@commonsenseclub.org
Business Networking (free) in Manalapan, NJ
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
To register and find out the location, call Chris at (732) 598-2945
Conference (tickets) at The Palace in Somerset, NJ
Thursday, April 28, 2022 (all day)
For more info, click HERE.
Dinner Gala NJ Right to Life (tickets) at Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ
Friday, April 29, 2022 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
For tickets, click HERE.
Medical Freedom Rally Speech (tickets) at Hightstown Elks Lodge in East Windsor, NJ
Saturday, April 30, 2022 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
For more info, click HERE.
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill's own. Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015. | https://nj1015.com/see-bill-spadea-live-list-of-2022-events-across-new-jersey/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:02 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/see-bill-spadea-live-list-of-2022-events-across-new-jersey/ |
Oklahoma governor signs bill that places near-ban on abortions
Senate Bill 612 is one of several anti-abortion bills that have made their way through the Oklahoma Legislature this session.
Senate Bill 612 is one of several anti-abortion bills that have made their way through the Oklahoma Legislature this session.
Senate Bill 612 is one of several anti-abortion bills that have made their way through the Oklahoma Legislature this session.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that places a near-ban on abortions in Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 612 is one of several anti-abortion bills that have made their way through the Oklahoma Legislature this session.
The measure bans nearly all abortions at conception, and there would be no exceptions for rape or incest. The only exception is to save the life of the woman in case of an emergency.
The bill specifically targets health care workers who perform the procedure. They can be punished by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Women who get an abortion will not face penalties.
>> Related: Vice President Kamala Harris calls Oklahoma's newly passed abortion bill 'shameful'
By signing Senate Bill 612, Stitt kept his promise to sign any bills restricting abortions that come to his desk.
The bill was decried by abortion rights proponents throughout the legislative process, including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which said last week that the law "would be devastating" for Oklahomans and also Texans, who make up nearly half of the patients who seek abortion care in Oklahoma.
"Now, Oklahomans could face a future where they would have no place left in their state to go to seek this basic health care," the group said in a news release.
The Oklahoma state Senate is also considering legislation, House Bill 4327, modeled after the controversial Texas law. That bill would ban most abortions at any point in pregnancy and allow private citizens to enforce the law through civil litigation.
CNN contributed to this report. | https://www.koat.com/article/oklahoma-kevin-stitt-abortion-bill-signing/39703460 | 2022-04-12T16:39:07 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/oklahoma-kevin-stitt-abortion-bill-signing/39703460 |
Several shot, unexploded devices found at Brooklyn train station
At least five people were shot and injured Tuesday at a subway station in New York City during a morning rush hour attack that left wounded commuters bleeding on a train platform.
Fire personnel responding to reports of smoke at the 36th Street station in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood at around 8:30 a.m. found at least 13 people were hurt, but — aside from the five shot — there were no details on what those injuries entailed.
According to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation, preliminary information indicated that a suspect fled wearing a construction vest and a gas mask.
Photos and video from the scene showed people tending to bloodied passengers lying on the floor of the station and the air filled with smoke. Fire and police officials were investigating reports that there had been an explosion, but the police department tweeted that there were “no active explosive devices at this time.” Multiple smoke devices were found on the scene, mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy, who confirmed the initial shooting injury count, said.
“My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming,” eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS, saying he saw a gigantic billow of smoke pouring out of the N train once the door opened.
Gov. Phil Murphy sent prayers to the victims of the shooting on his social media.
"We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with our partners in New York to ensure everyone’s safety," the governor wrote.
State Police said they are closely monitoring the situation and are in constant communication with law enforcement in New Jersey and around the area.
"As always, we urge the public to remain vigilant, and if you see something, say something. Please call 1-866-4SAFENJ to report any suspicious activity," State Police said.
A bystander video shows people lying on the subway platform amid what appeared to be small puddles of blood, as a loudspeaker announcement told everyone on the smoke-hazy platform to get on a train. Inside a subway car, a person lay on the floor, encircled by others. Outside the station, a police officer yelled, “Let’s go! Get out of the way!”
Trains servicing that station were delayed during the morning rush hour.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office did not immediately have more details. Adams was at the mayor’s residence Tuesday morning and was being briefed.
The incident happened on a subway line that runs through south Brooklyn in a neighborhood about a 15-minute train ride to Manhattan. Local schools, including Sunset Park High School across the street, were locked down.
Danny Mastrogiorgio of Brooklyn had just dropped his son off at school when he saw a crush of passengers, included multiple wounded, running up the subway stairway at the 25th Street station in panic. At least two had visible leg injuries, he said.
“It was insane,” he told The Associated Press. “No one knew exactly what was going on.”
Allan Lee was running his business, Cafe Nube, when a half-dozen police cars and fire vehicles suddenly converged on the block.
“Then they started ushering people that were on the block to the adjacent block and then closed off the subway entrance” near the cafe’s door, he told the AP. When he noticed bomb squad officers and dogs, he was certain it was no everyday subway problem.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement she had been briefed on the situation and said her office would work with the transit authority and police department as the investigation continued.
Police officers were canvassing 4th Avenue, the station's cross-street, asking witnesses whether they were on the train. A sea of emergency lights was visible from at least a dozen blocks away, where a police cordon was set up.
The shootings come as New York City has faced a spate a shootings and high-profile incidents in recent months, including on the city’s subways. One of the most shocking was in January when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.
Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime — especially on the subways — a focus of his early administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasn’t immediately clear whether officers had already been inside the station when the shootings occurred.
(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) | https://nj1015.com/several-shot-unexploded-devices-found-at-brooklyn-train-station/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:08 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/several-shot-unexploded-devices-found-at-brooklyn-train-station/ |
A sweeping law enforcement investigation is underway after a smoke canister-wielding gunman shot nearly a dozen people on a Manhattan-bound N train and platform at a subway station in Brooklyn's Sunset Park on Tuesday.
Latest updates below:
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/live-updates-manhunt-for-nyc-subway-gunman-after-8-are-shot-in-brooklyn-attack/3642239/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:12 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/live-updates-manhunt-for-nyc-subway-gunman-after-8-are-shot-in-brooklyn-attack/3642239/ |
The true story of why this NJ town famously has only 9 residents
People always cite Tavistock as having the smallest population of any town in New Jersey. And that’s true. Tavistock has five residents. But what we don’t hear much about is Walpack, New Jersey, a town with only nine residents.
You can’t compare it to Tavistock in any way. Tavistock’s population is low because it’s sort of a town, but sort of a golf course. Tavistock has property taxes in the tens of thousands and a couple of luxurious mansions.
Walpack's property taxes are a couple hundred a year. And Walpacks teeny population happened organically.
People fled. And the story of how that happened is way more interesting than you ever knew. Actually, back in The '70s, Walpack was just another cute little very small town in New Jersey with a few hundred residents. And then what happened changed everything.
Walpack’s decline stems from the infamous Tocks Island Dam project. Back in the '50s, the federal government came up with an idea to dam up the Delaware River and create a huge 37-mile-long lake between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Not only would this proposed lake have reduced the flooding problems the area had back then, but its proponents thought it would be a recreational paradise. Tourists! Money! It was a win/win in the feds’ and the state’s minds.
No doubt employing the infamous eminent domain laws that we have seen used and abused here in New Jersey, in preparation for the endeavor, the federal government started gobbling up properties right and left (literally!) along the banks of the river.
The only problem? Towns would be buried underwater and completely lost if the dam came to be. And, in typical government fashion, no one seemed to care.
Worried residents started to leave. The project was ultimately scrapped, but that didn’t stop the mass exodus out of the areas that would be affected. And of course, one of those was Walpack. Walpack was a town that would’ve been underwater should this project have come to fruition. And that handful of holdouts are pretty much the group who live there now.
The dam proposal was tabled in the late 1970s and now all of the land that was purchased by the federal government is now part of the Delaware National Water Recreation area and enjoyed by thousands of Sussex County residents. Including, of course, the nine in Walpack.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Judi Franco only.
You can now listen to Dennis & Judi — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite best friends anytime, anywhere and any day of the week. Download the Dennis & Judi show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/the-true-story-of-why-this-nj-town-famously-has-only-9-residents/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:14 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/the-true-story-of-why-this-nj-town-famously-has-only-9-residents/ |
Wildlife officials in Georgia warn of invasive lizard species that can 'eat almost anything'
Wildlife officials in Georgia warn if tegus become established in the wild, they will be nearly impossible to eradicate.
Wildlife officials in Georgia warn if tegus become established in the wild, they will be nearly impossible to eradicate.
Wildlife officials in Georgia warn if tegus become established in the wild, they will be nearly impossible to eradicate.
Georgia’s wildlife agency is asking residents to report sightings of an invasive lizard that can pose a threat to native species.
The state Department of Natural Resources is trying to locate and remove South American tegus from Georgia before the lizards can thrive in greater numbers. So far, the state’s only known wild population has been found in Toombs and Tattnall counties in southeast Georgia.
Wildlife officials hope to stop the black and white lizards from spreading further. They can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 10 pounds, and have a wide-ranging appetite that favors eggs of turtles, alligators and ground-nesting birds.
“They can live almost anywhere and eat almost anything,” Daniel Sollenberger, a DNR wildlife biologist, said in a news release.
“We are focusing our efforts to accomplish two goals: document the extent of where tegus occur in the wilds of southeast Georgia and remove those animals as soon as we can after they are detected,” Sollenberger said. “With area residents, hunters and other folks helping us keep an eye out for and controlling tegus, we are cautiously optimistic we can control this population.”
Officials aren’t sure how tegus got introduced into the wild in Georgia, but they are commonly kept as pets.
Last year the DNR removed a single tegu that was spotted on a game camera and later captured in a trap. Seven were collected, both dead and alive, in 2020.
Wildlife officials warn if tegus become established in the wild, they will be nearly impossible to eradicate. Wild populations have also been found in South Carolina and Florida. Trapping at one site along Everglades National Park can yield hundreds of the lizards each season. | https://www.koat.com/article/tegu-lizard-georgia-invasive-species/39702355 | 2022-04-12T16:39:17 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/tegu-lizard-georgia-invasive-species/39702355 |
At least five people were shot Tuesday on a subway in Brooklyn during a morning rush hour attack that left wounded commuters bleeding on a train platform and police searching for the shooter.
Two of the five shot were said to have been seriously wounded in the attack, which happened before and as the train pulled into the 36th Street station in Sunset Park during the morning rush hour commute. Others were hurt in the attack, though the extent of their injuries wasn't immediately clear. Officials said their injuries likely stemmed from the crowd response to the chaos.
The attack was just the latest targeting the NYC subway and its riders — find out more about past attempts to target the city’s mass transit system below.
DECEMBER 2017
On Dec. 11, 2017, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Akayed Ullah, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, and a lawful permanent resident of Bangladesh, detonated a pipe bomb strapped to his chest in a subway station near the busy Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. One commuter who was inside the station when the pipe bomb was detonated suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg, and two other victims partly lost their hearing as a result of the blast.
Pictures: Multiple People Hurt in Brooklyn Subway Shooting
Shortly after the blast, first responders located Ullah lying on the ground in the station where he had detonated the improvised explosive device, and he was taken into custody. Ullah — who admitted that he conducted the attack on behalf of the ISIS terror group — was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Local
DECEMBER 1994
Edward J. Leary, a 50-year-old computer analyst from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, lost his job at Merrill Lynch and took his rage into New York City's subway in December 1994, firebombing two trains with homemade explosives, including one that turned a train in lower Manhattan into a furnace and left dozens of people injured. Leary was convicted and sentenced to 94 years. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/past-nyc-subway-attacks/3642100/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:19 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/past-nyc-subway-attacks/3642100/ |
There's an air fryer that's $100 off as part of deep discounts on home appliances - Deal of the Day April 12
Walmart is one of the most popular retail chains in the country and has been for quite some time. If you didn’t know, Walmart has daily deals on favorite items that are called “flash picks.”
Walmart says on its website that flash picks offer up to 50% off limited-stock items that are top-rated and popular.
For April 12, we thought we’d share with you some of the deals on home appliances we found for you to take advantage of.
And if you’re not interested in those products, there are many offerings to choose from on Walmart’s Flash Picks page.
SAVE $100 ON AN AIR FRYER
The MOOSOO Air Fryer Oven is marked down more than 50%, according to Walmart, with savings of $100.
The air fryer oven is an 8-in-1, oil-less air fryer with a capacity of 12.7 quarts.
Can't see the products below? Click here to view the deal.
BEST SELLING MICROWAVE ON SALE
A highly-rated microwave is part of Tuesday's flash picks. The LG countertop microwave is $50 less than its original price.
TOP-RATED COFFEE BREWER DEAL
Save on a coffee brewer that allows you to brew up a batch of coffee up to a day in advance.
TACKLE SPRING CLEANING WITH THIS HANDHELD VACUUM
A popular pick at Walmart, this handheld vacuum is listed at almost 20% off. | https://www.koat.com/article/walmart-flash-picks-home-appliance/39702302 | 2022-04-12T16:39:28 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/walmart-flash-picks-home-appliance/39702302 |
10-year-old boy saves little cousin from dog attack
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) – Family members are calling 10-year-old Miloe Burgess a hero after he protected his 3-year-old cousin, Rylee Foreman, during a dog attack.
Rylee, Miloe and their other cousins were playing outside at their grandparents’ house in Florida when a dog started attacking Rylee.
“I don’t know what happened, but I know she was screaming,” Miloe told WJHG.
“He laid on top of me,” Rylee said of her cousin.
Miloe called for help as he protected his cousin, and his grandma was able to get the kids inside and away from the dog.
Rylee needed 24 stitches in her arms, legs and feet, but family members said they believe things could have been much worse.
“I don’t know if she’d be here today,” Miloe’s mom Doria Andersen said.
Officials said they don’t see kids as young as Miloe doing things this brave very often: “Just to show that they were brave,” animal control officer Cary Miller said. “Being their age, as young as they were, to step up and take those steps.”
Miloe, who loves to fish, was honored Monday for his actions. A business in the area and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office gave the 10-year-old a new fishing pole, tackle box and lures.
Copyright 2022 WJHG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:28 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ |
President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia's military campaign in Ukraine is going according to plan and vowed to press on with the "special operation" until its goals are fulfilled.
Speaking during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia’s Far East, Putin claimed the campaign is not moving faster because Russia wants to minimize losses. He also said that talks with Ukraine negotiators are in a deadlock, leaving Moscow no other choice but to press on with its offensive.
He insisted the “military operation will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set,” and that foreign powers wouldn’t succeed in isolating Russia.
Putin said that Russia’s economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions “blitz” and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.
This is a live update. Click here for complete coverage of the crisis in Ukraine. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/putin-vows-war-will-go-on-until-moscows-goals-are-fulfilled/3642203/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:32 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/putin-vows-war-will-go-on-until-moscows-goals-are-fulfilled/3642203/ |
4-year-old found dead in pond after wandering off from apartments, police say
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:02 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (WGCL/Gray News) - A frantic search for a 4-year-old Georgia boy ended early Tuesday morning after his body was recovered from a pond, police confirm.
The DeKalb County Police Department said Kyuss Williams wandered away from an apartment complex and was reported missing Monday evening. A search led investigators to discover the young boy’s body in a pond just behind the residence around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Police say they do not suspect foul play at this time and believe Kyuss may have drowned.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2022 WGCL via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/4-year-old-found-dead-pond-after-wandering-off-apartments-police-say/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:35 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/4-year-old-found-dead-pond-after-wandering-off-apartments-police-say/ |
'A dream come true': WNBA drafts its first player from an HBCU in 20 years
No player from a historically Black college or university has been drafted into the WNBA since 2002. On Monday night, that finally changed.
Ameshya Williams-Holliday, a senior center out of Jackson State University, was selected in the third round, 25th overall, by the Indiana Fever, making her the first HBCU player to be drafted into the WNBA in 20 years.
"It's an honor, a dream come true and a blessing to be able to be a part of history and to be able to open doors for our HBCU community," Williams-Holliday said in a statement to CNN. "Being a trailblazer feels amazing, but there is so much more to accomplish."
A three-time Southwestern Atlantic Conference defensive player of the year, Williams-Holliday was also player of the year for the 2021-22 season.
"I'm very grateful for this opportunity to continue my career on the next level and most importantly to continue to be a great example for my son Jace and my younger siblings and for the kids in my community," she continued. "I want every HBCU athlete to never lose hope and to know anything is possible."
In the 26 years since the WNBA's founding, only five players from an HBCU have ever been drafted into the league.
Three were in 2002: Andrea Gardner from Howard University, Amba Kongolo from North Carolina Central University, and Jacklyn Winfield from Southern University and A&M College.
The two other HBCU players drafted were Denique Graves in 1997 and Karen Wilkins in 1998, both from Howard University.
But in 2022, there are no players from an HBCU in the WNBA.
"I think if I was at a Power 5 school, it would be a different story of me being drafted or trying to get my foot in (the WNBA)," Williams-Holliday said in an interview last week with ESPN's Andscape.
"People think (HBCUs) can't compete with other top institutions (or) a Power 5 school, but that's not true," she said. "I think we deserve to be on the same level. I do think if I was still at Mississippi State, I would be a first-round draft pick." | https://www.koat.com/article/wnba-drafts-first-player-from-hbcu-in-20-years/39702882 | 2022-04-12T16:39:38 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/wnba-drafts-first-player-from-hbcu-in-20-years/39702882 |
Krispy Kreme is matching its price of a dozen doughnuts to a gallon of gas
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:38 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - The price of gas may be hitting you hard, but Krispy Kreme wants to sweeten things a little.
For the next four weeks, the restaurant chain will sell a dozen of its glazed doughnuts for the same price as a gallon of gas.
The promotion will only be available on Wednesdays, and Krispy Kreme will use the national average gas price on the previous Monday to determine the price.
That means this Wednesday, a dozen glazed doughnuts should cost $4.11. That’s a pretty good deal, considering they usually set you back at least $10.
The promotion ends May 4.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:42 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ |
School resource officer saves choking student
IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A school resource officer jumped into action last week when a student began choking on a piece of candy, WBTV reports.
A video obtained by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office shows Deputy Alan Josey attending to a student at North Iredell Middle School after she showed signs of respiratory distress.
“Deputy Josey acted quickly, determined the student was choking, and performed the lifesaving Heimlich maneuver, thus dislodging a piece of candy,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Another student also attempted to help the girl before Josey arrived on the scene.
Before becoming a police officer, Josey spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat medic.
“Deputy Josey’s quick actions certainly abated a tragedy and allowed a young girl the opportunity to return home to her family,” the sheriff’s office said.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:49 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ |
Police: Student stabbed at Kansas City school by another student
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:17 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - Police said one student has been injured after he was stabbed by another at Northeast Middle School.
The Kansas City Police Department said the two students were boys in either seventh or eighth grade, KCTV reported.
The stabbing resulted from some confrontation and occurred in a bathroom, department spokesperson Donna Drake said.
The victim received life-threatening injuries, and the student of interest in the stabbing has been detained.
There is no ongoing threat, police said.
Copyright 2022 KCTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ | 2022-04-12T16:39:56 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ |
Use Venmo? Tax changes are coming
Tennessee senator aims to reverse filing requirement
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Filing taxes can be confusing. If you use apps like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, it could soon get even more complicated.
Until now, Venmo users didn’t have to report income they received through the app, if it was under $20,000.
As a part of the American Rescue Plan, Congress lowered that requirement to just $600.
“I feel like that’s really the thing that’s burdensome. For many, they don’t declare their income, and now, they have to [declare],” said Michael Harlen, a touring musician, who is primarily paid through Venmo.
The new requirement didn’t add up for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) either.
“Think about all the small businesses, even individuals that, you know, basically have transactions back and forth. They’re now going to have to file new IRS forms,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty is now introducing the ‘SNOOP’ Act, short for Stop Nosy Obsessions with Online Payments. It would re-establish $20,000 as the minimum reporting requirement for those paid through apps.
“This is the process of trying to fix what should have never happened,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty faces an uphill battle. Right now, his bill only has support from Republicans.
The $600 threshold will go into effect for the 2023 tax season. According to Venmo’s tax experts, it only applies to earned taxable income, not reimbursements.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ | 2022-04-12T16:40:03 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ |
Inflation continued to climb in March, as prices for consumer goods rose by 8.5%, according to the Labor Department — the largest year-on-year increase since February 1981.
The consumer price index (CPI), which measures the cost of various goods and services, increased by 1.2% last month, following a 0.8% increase in February. Gas, food and shelter are the main drivers for rising inflation.
As expected, the price of gas surged with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, increasing by 18.3% after rising 6.6% in February. This is perhaps not surprising for most drivers, as the price of a gallon of gas spiked to $4.33 in March, nearly double what it cost in January 2021, according to data from AAA.
The cost of shelter is now up 5%, as a housing shortage has driven up prices in both the home property and rental markets.
Food costs keep rising
While the cost of gas and shelter is concerning, prices for basic food items also continue to climb steadily. The food price index climbed by 1% last month, for a total year-over-year increase of 8.8%. In the previous six months, food prices have increased by a monthly average of about 0.8%.
Notably, food prepared at home now costs 10% more than it did a year ago, making it more difficult for consumers to save money by eating out less. In comparison, the year-over-year average cost of takeout and restaurant meals has climbed 6.9%.
This is because the cost for essential food items needed to prepare meals continues to increase due to supply chain issues, disrupted harvests and labor costs. These items have jumped up in price by the following rates in the last year:
- Flour and prepared flour mixes: 14.2%
- Butter and margarine: 14%
- Meat, poultry and fish: 13.8%
- Milk: 13.3%
- Eggs: 11.2%
- Fresh fruits: 10.1%
- Bread: 7.1%
- Fresh vegetables: 5.9%
Grocers have been more aggressive in increasing prices compared to restaurants, says Matt Dmytryszyn, chief investment officer at financial advisory firm Telemus. "Restaurants tend to reset menu prices on a periodic basis and we would expect added price hikes in the near future," he says.
Money Report
"Ultimately, we expect pricing to be more balanced between food at home and away from home."
When will inflation level off?
No one knows for sure when inflation will slow, but one silver lining from Tuesday's CPI report is that the index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3% in March, following a 0.5% increase the prior month. That means costs for most items is still rising, but perhaps leveling off.
To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue raising interest rates after introducing a 0.25% increase in March — its first since 2018.
By doing so, the central bank increases the cost of borrowing money, which discourages spending, and in turn, tends to decrease inflation.
A more aggressive interest rate increase is possible at the U.S. central bank's next policy meeting in early May, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans said Monday.
A 0.50% rate hike "is obviously worthy of consideration, perhaps it's highly likely," Evans said.
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Don't miss: Here's an item-by-item look at how much more expensive your groceries are, due to inflation | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/rising-inflation-has-made-it-more-expensive-to-eat-at-home-heres-how-much-grocery-prices-have-increased/3642365/ | 2022-04-12T16:40:05 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/rising-inflation-has-made-it-more-expensive-to-eat-at-home-heres-how-much-grocery-prices-have-increased/3642365/ |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — Six electric vehicle charging stations located downtown are now up and working, according to City of Fort Wayne officials.
The EV charging stations are on Berry and Wayne streets, located near where those roads meet Barr Street.
The city received a $90,000 grant from the Indiana Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund Committee to go toward the installation of the stations, according to city officials.
Fort Wayne’s Public Works Division has installed eight stations at several locations throughout the community and will be installing another 20 or more this year.
To be considered for the grant, city officials responded to a request for proposals from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Greater Indiana Clean Cities, a non-profit designated by the U.S. Department of Energy to help deploy alternative fuels and transportation, helped city officials plan where to put the stations.
The EV stations that will be operational soon or installed in the near future will be at locations like the Allen County Public Library’s downtown branch, the Memorial Coliseum, Jefferson Pointe and Skyline Garage, amongst others.
“These chargers will encourage adoption of electric vehicles, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions in Indiana,” said Kerri Garvin, executive director of Greater Indiana Clean Cities, in a media release.
The announcement comes after the Indiana Department of Transportation made public a $100 million plan to build charging stations along federally designated fuel corridors over the next five years.
According to that plan, EV charging stations will need to be installed every 50 miles along the state’s interstate highway system. Each station will need to include at least four 150kW DC fast chargers capable of charging four vehicles at the same time.
Plus, each charging station must meet minimum power capabilities at or above 600kW, according to the department of transportation.
Where exactly EV charges will be located as part of that state plan have yet to be decided upon or released.
Locations for EV chargers throughout Fort Wayne as part of the city’s plan are listed below.
Planned or installed locations and number of level 2 dual charging stations:
- Allen County Public Library, downtown branch, 2
- Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4
- Downtown Civic Garage, 1
- Foster Park, near the golf clubhouse, 2
- Jefferson Pointe along Jefferson Boulevard, 2
- Meijer at Dupont and Diebold roads (future location of store), 2
- Meijer on Lima Road, 2
- Meijer on Maysville Road, 5
- Renaissance Point YMCA, 1
- Skyline Garage at Ash Skyline Plaza, 1
Location and number of level 2 single chargers:
- Berry Street parking, 3
- Wayne Street parking, 3
Locations of future vehicle stations and number of stations
- Public Safety Academy in Southtown Centre, 2
- Indiana Tech Campus, 2
- Quimby Village near Clyde Theater, 2 | https://www.wane.com/news/charge-it-up-downtown-ev-stations-now-operational/ | 2022-04-12T16:40:06 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/charge-it-up-downtown-ev-stations-now-operational/ |
Dallas school board candidate holds meet and greet event
Beatriz Guerrero
The Gaston Gazette
A candidate for the Dallas Township seat on the Gaston County school board will hold a campaign event from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Glenn Bratton will hold a meet and greet at 308 S. Rhyne St. in Dallas.
Bratton, a 1978 graduate of North Gaston High School, retired as a sergeant with Gaston County Police in 2013 after 30 years of service.
Bratton is running for the seat now held by Steve Hall.
Hall is running for the Dallas Township seat on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, but could file for re-election to the school board if unsuccessful in the May 17 primary.
The nonpartisan school board election takes place Nov. 8.
Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/dallas-school-board-candidate-holds-meet-and-greet-event/7286993001/ | 2022-04-12T16:43:27 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/dallas-school-board-candidate-holds-meet-and-greet-event/7286993001/ |
Gastonia Police ID woman whose body was found in March
Gastonia Police have identified a woman whose body was found March 11, 2022, on the 300 block of South Dixie Street.
The woman was identified as 65-year-old Veronica Cunningham of Columbia, South Carolina.
Cunningham was last seen in Richland County, South Carolina, on March 5 and reported missing by her family soon after she was last seen.
Police do not suspect foul play in Cunningham’s death.
Gastonia Police sought the public's help in identifying the woman by releasing photographs of her as well as tattoos on her body.
Police say she had last been seen alive March 6 at the QuikTrip at 1843 W. Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia.
Police say preliminary autopsy results indicate the woman died of natural causes.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/gastonia-police-id-woman-whose-body-found-march/7288618001/ | 2022-04-12T16:43:33 | 1 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/gastonia-police-id-woman-whose-body-found-march/7288618001/ |
Gastonia urges people to ride bus with gas prices high
With gas prices hovering around the $4 per gallon mark now might be just the time to hop on a city bus, Gastonia leaders say.
And Gastonia has extended its free bus fares through May 31, with federal tax dollars covering the cost.
Gastonia hasn't charged riders to take a city bus since March 2020 citing economic hardships faced by residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The extension in free fares really evolved out of ways of dealing with the COVID and the economic impact of it," said Gastonia City Councilman Robert Kellogg.
The extension of free bus fares could help service those without employment or struggling to afford recent increases in gas prices, Kellogg said.
Over the last year, the buses have averaged about 13,652 passengers each month.
"The city and our transportation staff look at where we're at each month in terms of COVID and if the extensions are viable and it is so that's why we keep doing it," said Kellogg.
The city received $2,572,448 in federal and state funding last year to cover expenses for the free fare extensions.
These expenses cover administration, bus and van operations, bus and van maintenance, salaries, building and grounds maintenance, fuel and more.
These expenses averaged to about $200,442 per month throughout the last year.
Federal and state taxes are paying approximately $15 per rider.
The city also plans to create a transfer station specifically for servicing the FUSE District this spring. The station currently will be free of bus fare as the city continues to provide free bus fare extensions.
The transfer station will be located behind CaroMont Health Park at the corner of North Trenton Street and West Airline Avenue.
The city has 23 employees involved in the bus transit services including part-time and full-time drivers, automotive technicians, dispatchers and more.
Reach Janiya Winchester at 704-869-1842 or jwinchester@gannett.com | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/gastonia-urges-people-ride-bus-gas-prices-high/6998842001/ | 2022-04-12T16:43:39 | 1 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/04/12/gastonia-urges-people-ride-bus-gas-prices-high/6998842001/ |
Losing Simon was far more than just losing a pet
I recently stood speaking quietly to one of our friends, Diane, who is in our Sunday school class. The class was breaking up. My wife Carla was waiting nearby as I asked Diane about Simon. Tears developed in her eyes as she began to describe her recent loss. I have learned to let people who want to tell a story tell it and that is what I did.
When they first met 16 years ago it was clear Simon had a troubled past. She was told he might not be redeemable. He had been beaten and abused. He was skinny and shaking, but Diane said there was something about him that caught her attention. A friend who was with her suggested she consider her decision carefully. So she went home, but she could not get him out of her mind. She called back that same day to say she wanted to adopt Simon.
Their first night at home was a challenge. She was quiet and careful. She let him decide how their relationship would evolve. By her actions and her thoughtful provisions she tried to make it clear he was not in danger, and he was starting a new life filled with acceptance, love, and attention.
Diane said, “I renamed him Simon when I adopted him because in Hebrew it means, listening, and I wanted him to listen to the Master’s voice and hear mine, and know he could trust that in my presence he was safe, and would never be hurt or abused again.”
Day-by-day she did all she could to comfort Simon until one day he became the comforter. He became the friend waiting for her after a hard day at work.
They took long walks around their neighborhood. Diane was careful to keep Simon away from circumstances that might lead him to believe he or she was in danger. Sudden movements, loud noises or others coming into his space were never comfortable for him.
But Diane and Simon bonded on a level that is difficult to describe. They shared many experiences for nearly two decades, just being together, each knowing the other was there, wrapped in the comfort of a caring presence.
The past week had been difficult for Diane. Simon had become lethargic. He would not eat. She cooked chicken for him. He could not eat it. She took him to her good veterinarian, Dr. Hadley Harris, who told her, though she could not diagnose specifically what was wrong, Simon was giving all the signs that his end was approaching.
Diane lay in the floor beside him and told him it was OK for him to leave. She thanked him for his love, for his companionship, for the life they had lived together. She cried quietly and kissed his furry head.
As the end approached, Diane stood with a gentle hand on Simon, protecting him to the end as she had promised, feeling his pain subside as he slipped away peacefully.
Many of us have been there, standing with an animal that has been far more than a pet, a companion waiting for us at the end of the day, licking our faces in the morning when it is beyond time to go outside, lying at our feet as we read newspapers and books or watch television.
Especially for people who live alone, a Simon can make a great difference in the quality of life.
Goodbye, Simon. Thank you for being a friend to our friend, Diane. She and we will not forget you.
Michael K. McMahan is a resident of Gastonia. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/opinion/2022/04/12/losing-simon-far-more-than-just-losing-pet/7288433001/ | 2022-04-12T16:43:45 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/opinion/2022/04/12/losing-simon-far-more-than-just-losing-pet/7288433001/ |
10-year-old boy saves little cousin from dog attack
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) – Family members are calling 10-year-old Miloe Burgess a hero after he protected his 3-year-old cousin, Rylee Foreman, during a dog attack.
Rylee, Miloe and their other cousins were playing outside at their grandparents’ house in Florida when a dog started attacking Rylee.
“I don’t know what happened, but I know she was screaming,” Miloe told WJHG.
“He laid on top of me,” Rylee said of her cousin.
Miloe called for help as he protected his cousin, and his grandma was able to get the kids inside and away from the dog.
Rylee needed 24 stitches in her arms, legs and feet, but family members said they believe things could have been much worse.
“I don’t know if she’d be here today,” Miloe’s mom Doria Andersen said.
Officials said they don’t see kids as young as Miloe doing things this brave very often: “Just to show that they were brave,” animal control officer Cary Miller said. “Being their age, as young as they were, to step up and take those steps.”
Miloe, who loves to fish, was honored Monday for his actions. A business in the area and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office gave the 10-year-old a new fishing pole, tackle box and lures.
Copyright 2022 WJHG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ | 2022-04-12T16:50:57 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ |
Krispy Kreme is matching its price of a dozen doughnuts to a gallon of gas
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:38 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - The price of gas may be hitting you hard, but Krispy Kreme wants to sweeten things a little.
For the next four weeks, the restaurant chain will sell a dozen of its glazed doughnuts for the same price as a gallon of gas.
The promotion will only be available on Wednesdays, and Krispy Kreme will use the national average gas price on the previous Monday to determine the price.
That means this Wednesday, a dozen glazed doughnuts should cost $4.11. That’s a pretty good deal, considering they usually set you back at least $10.
The promotion ends May 4.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ | 2022-04-12T16:51:03 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ |
School resource officer saves choking student
IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A school resource officer jumped into action last week when a student began choking on a piece of candy, WBTV reports.
A video obtained by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office shows Deputy Alan Josey attending to a student at North Iredell Middle School after she showed signs of respiratory distress.
“Deputy Josey acted quickly, determined the student was choking, and performed the lifesaving Heimlich maneuver, thus dislodging a piece of candy,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Another student also attempted to help the girl before Josey arrived on the scene.
Before becoming a police officer, Josey spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat medic.
“Deputy Josey’s quick actions certainly abated a tragedy and allowed a young girl the opportunity to return home to her family,” the sheriff’s office said.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ | 2022-04-12T16:51:15 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ |
Police: Student stabbed at Kansas City school by another student
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:17 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - Police said one student has been injured after he was stabbed by another at Northeast Middle School.
The Kansas City Police Department said the two students were boys in either seventh or eighth grade, KCTV reported.
The stabbing resulted from some confrontation and occurred in a bathroom, department spokesperson Donna Drake said.
The victim received life-threatening injuries, and the student of interest in the stabbing has been detained.
There is no ongoing threat, police said.
Copyright 2022 KCTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ | 2022-04-12T16:51:22 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ |
Use Venmo? Tax changes are coming
Tennessee senator aims to reverse filing requirement
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Filing taxes can be confusing. If you use apps like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, it could soon get even more complicated.
Until now, Venmo users didn’t have to report income they received through the app, if it was under $20,000.
As a part of the American Rescue Plan, Congress lowered that requirement to just $600.
“I feel like that’s really the thing that’s burdensome. For many, they don’t declare their income, and now, they have to [declare],” said Michael Harlen, a touring musician, who is primarily paid through Venmo.
The new requirement didn’t add up for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) either.
“Think about all the small businesses, even individuals that, you know, basically have transactions back and forth. They’re now going to have to file new IRS forms,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty is now introducing the ‘SNOOP’ Act, short for Stop Nosy Obsessions with Online Payments. It would re-establish $20,000 as the minimum reporting requirement for those paid through apps.
“This is the process of trying to fix what should have never happened,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty faces an uphill battle. Right now, his bill only has support from Republicans.
The $600 threshold will go into effect for the 2023 tax season. According to Venmo’s tax experts, it only applies to earned taxable income, not reimbursements.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ | 2022-04-12T16:51:29 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ |
Woman charged with embezzling from Mt. Morris youth athletic fund
GENESEE CO., Mich. (WNEM) - A 39-year-old woman from Flint has been charged with embezzlement for taking money from a local youth athletic fund, according to the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office.
Board members of the Mt. Morris Mountaineers Wrestling group first reported their concerns to police in November 2019 after a check from the organization’s bank account bounced when they tried to buy uniforms for the program.
The Mt. Morris Mountaineers Wrestling group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises funds for the wrestling program at the Mt. Morris Consolidated School District.
At the time, the woman was serving as the elected treasurer for the group. The initial police investigation into the allegations stalled when the woman moved out of Michigan and the group’s financial records made it difficult to establish probable cause evidence that’s necessary for charges, the prosecutor’s office said.
In January, police received further information and the woman returned to the Flint area. The investigation was reopened and the prosecutor’s office issued an embezzlement charge after receiving the details of the investigation.
“Many communities have non-profit groups that are set up to assist and support local youth athletics and these types of informal groups seem to be the ones we see victimized most often by embezzlement,” said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
The woman was charged with embezzlement between $20,000 and $50,000, a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. She will be arraigned in the 67th District Court.
“They are often lead by volunteers with little experience in managing organizational funds and oversight of the group’s finances is often loose and unchecked until it’s too late,” Leyton said. “There is a wealth of information on the internet that non-profit organizations can read up on to help them put safeguards in place to prevent embezzlement of group funds and, I encourage these organizations to do so sooner rather than later.”
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/woman-charged-with-embezzling-mt-morris-youth-athletic-fund/ | 2022-04-12T16:51:35 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/12/woman-charged-with-embezzling-mt-morris-youth-athletic-fund/ |
Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old in Maryland
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 4:48 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
(Gray News) - An Amber Alert for a missing 12-year-old boy in Maryland was canceled on Tuesday.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children announced that the alert had been canceled via Twitter.
Maryland State Police said that the boy had been found unharmed.
State police had issued an Amber Alert on Monday for the boy, who had been missing since April 8.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/amber-alert-issued-maryland-missing-12-year-old/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:28 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/amber-alert-issued-maryland-missing-12-year-old/ |
10-year-old boy saves little cousin from dog attack
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) – Family members are calling 10-year-old Miloe Burgess a hero after he protected his 3-year-old cousin, Rylee Foreman, during a dog attack.
Rylee, Miloe and their other cousins were playing outside at their grandparents’ house in Florida when a dog started attacking Rylee.
“I don’t know what happened, but I know she was screaming,” Miloe told WJHG.
“He laid on top of me,” Rylee said of her cousin.
Miloe called for help as he protected his cousin, and his grandma was able to get the kids inside and away from the dog.
Rylee needed 24 stitches in her arms, legs and feet, but family members said they believe things could have been much worse.
“I don’t know if she’d be here today,” Miloe’s mom Doria Andersen said.
Officials said they don’t see kids as young as Miloe doing things this brave very often: “Just to show that they were brave,” animal control officer Cary Miller said. “Being their age, as young as they were, to step up and take those steps.”
Miloe, who loves to fish, was honored Monday for his actions. A business in the area and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office gave the 10-year-old a new fishing pole, tackle box and lures.
Copyright 2022 WJHG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:35 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/10-year-old-boy-saves-little-cousin-dog-attack/ |
4-year-old found dead in pond after wandering off from apartments, police say
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:02 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (WGCL/Gray News) - A frantic search for a 4-year-old Georgia boy ended early Tuesday morning after his body was recovered from a pond, police confirm.
The DeKalb County Police Department said Kyuss Williams wandered away from an apartment complex and was reported missing Monday evening. A search led investigators to discover the young boy’s body in a pond just behind the residence around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Police say they do not suspect foul play at this time and believe Kyuss may have drowned.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2022 WGCL via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/4-year-old-found-dead-pond-after-wandering-off-apartments-police-say/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:41 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/4-year-old-found-dead-pond-after-wandering-off-apartments-police-say/ |
Columbia Fireflies partners with Blood Connection to increase blood donations
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Blood Connection and the Minor League Baseball team, the Columbia Fireflies announced a partnership to encourage blood donations in the Midlands.
The Columbia Fireflies will join the Lifesaver League, which is a group of minor league sports teams committed to serving their community through hosting blood drives and encouraging blood donations.
“We are proud to partner with The Blood Connection as part of the Lifesaver League to encourage Fireflies fans to help our local community by donating blood at one of the Blood Drives at the ballpark this summer,” said Ashlie DeCarlo, Director of Marketing for the Columbia Fireflies. “There is a critical need for blood donations right now and just one moment out of your day can help save a life.”
The Blood Connection is a community blood center serving the Carolinas and Georgia, and supplies blood products to more than 70 hospitals within Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
The Blood Connection and the Fireflies will hold three blood drives throughout the 2022 season:
- Thursday, April 14 from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Sunday, June 26 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Thursday, September 8 from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
“Our Lifesaver League partnerships are a longstanding tradition within The Blood Connection, and we are excited to enter into this venture with the Columbia Fireflies,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. “We’re looking forward to reaching more potential blood donors across the Midlands by bringing our blood donation opportunities to Fireflies fans and Segra Park. Local hospitals certainly need their donations desperately.”
The blood donor events will be held at Segra Park, located in downtown Columbia where the Fireflies regularly have games.
Potential donors can make an appointment to donate blood with the Fireflies by going to thebloodconnection.org/fireflies.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/columbia-fireflies-partners-with-blood-connection-increase-blood-donations/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:48 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/columbia-fireflies-partners-with-blood-connection-increase-blood-donations/ |
5 Ways to Boost Your Instagram Engagement
Melanie Deziel the Co-Founder and VP of The Convoy joins Gayle Guyardo the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom with what people need to know to tips people can do to increase their Instagram engagement.
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI.
You can watch Bloom in the Tampa Bay Market weekdays at Noon on WTTA: Spectrum 1006; Frontier 514; DirecTV 38; Dish 38; Comcast 43, and look for Bloom early mornings on WFLA News Channel 8. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/5-ways-to-boost-your-instagram-engagement/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:49 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/5-ways-to-boost-your-instagram-engagement/ |
FIRST ALERT - Enjoy the Spring temperatures, storms and unsettled weather return by the end of the week
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) -
First Alert Headlines
- Highs will reach the 80s Tuesday - Thursday of this week, which will keep us well above the average for this time of year
- Morning lows will also stay mild and start in the 50s & 60s
- The next chance of rain will arrive Thursday as a cold front approaches from the west
First Alert Summary
A nice Spring forecast is underway, as we continue through the week, temperatures will remain above average. We’re expecting warm, cloudy conditions for the University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball Championship Parade in Downtown Columbia.
A cold front brings a chance of showers and storms to the area Thursday (50% chance). Rain totals for the day will stay below 0.25″ in most areas for the day, but unsettled weather will stick around for Friday and the Easter weekend
The front that will arrive Thursday will stall near our coast and pull in a few showers Saturday and a better chance Sunday. Here is your Easter Weekend Forecast.
Forecast Update
Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies with highs in the low to mid 80s.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with highs in the low 80s.
Thursday: Partly cloudy with a 50% chance for a few showers. Highs in the low 80s.
Good Friday: Partly cloudy with a few showers highs in the upper 70s.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/first-alert-enjoy-spring-temperatures-before-storms-unsettled-weather-returns-end-week/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:54 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/first-alert-enjoy-spring-temperatures-before-storms-unsettled-weather-returns-end-week/ |
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You have been added to Breaking News Newsletter | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/breakthrough-medical-treatment-for-e-d-no-pills-no-injections-155/ | 2022-04-12T16:56:58 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/breakthrough-medical-treatment-for-e-d-no-pills-no-injections-155/ |
Putin vows Russia will press Ukraine invasion until goals met
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia’s bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled, and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.
Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine’s capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.
Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly one. In the six weeks since, Russia’s ground campaign stalled, its forces suffered losses that may number in the thousands and it stands accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.
Putin insisted Tuesday that his military action aimed to protect people in areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to “ensure Russia’s own security.”
He said Russia “had no other choice” but to launch what he calls a “special military operation,” and vowed it would “continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.”
For now, Putin’s forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas. which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists’ claims of independence. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in the region favor Russia’s larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing its troops to finally turn the tide in their favor.
In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.
It came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. “And then we’ll use chemical troops to smoke them out of there,” the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions — which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons — had been used in Mariupol.
That city has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said Monday has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their corpses “carpeted through the streets.” Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000 and gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to dispose of the corpses.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos in this story may include disturbing content.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said on Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Zelenskyy and Ukrainian generals “do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution and help our guys.”
“For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger,” Podolyak said in a tweet. “They’re fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.”
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons “would be a callous escalation in this conflict,” while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a “wholesale breach of international law.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administration’s persistent concerns “about Russia’s potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.”
Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may use phosphorus bombs — whose use in civilian areas is banned under international law — in Mariupol.
In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and leaving thousands of people dead. The war has also driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes — including nearly two-thirds of all children.
Moscow’s retreat from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.
Reports have primarily focused on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, but Ukraine’s prosecutor-general’s office said Tuesday that it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.
The prosecutor’s office said the bodies of six civilians had been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.
Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people, including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed, including two children, when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.
Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine’s accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were “fake.” Associated Press reporters saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some with hands bound who appeared to have been shot at close range.
The Russian leader spoke at the Vostochny space launch facility in the country’s Far East, during his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began. He also said that foreign powers wouldn’t succeed in isolating Russia.
He said that Russia’s economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions “blitz” and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.
Addressing the pace of the campaign, Putin said Russia was proceeding “calmly and rhythmically” because it wanted to “achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.”
While building up forces in the east, Russia continued to strike targets across Ukraine in a bid to wear down the country’s defenses. Russia’s defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.
___
Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/graphic-mayor-more-than-10000-civilians-dead-ukraine-port-city/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:00 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/graphic-mayor-more-than-10000-civilians-dead-ukraine-port-city/ |
Physician, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books and TV Personality Dr. Ian Smith joins Gayle Guyardo the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom about his new book Plant Power: Flip Your Plate, Change Your Weight.
Smith’s book is designed to help people looking to lose weight by sharing a four-week plant-based plan.
Each day the book details how to flip one’s diet from 70% meat to 30% meat and 70% plants, which he said leads to natural and pain-free weight loss to keep people full and satisfied.
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI.
You can watch Bloom in the Tampa Bay Market weekdays at Noon on WTTA: Spectrum 1006; Frontier 514; DirecTV 38; Dish 38; Comcast 43, and look for Bloom early mornings on WFLA News Channel 8. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/change-your-weight-tv-doctor-ian-smith-joins-gayle-guyardo-on-bloom/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:04 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/change-your-weight-tv-doctor-ian-smith-joins-gayle-guyardo-on-bloom/ |
Biden waiving ethanol rule in bid to lower gasoline prices
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is visiting corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce he’ll suspend a federal rule preventing the sale of higher ethanol blend gasoline this summer, as his administration tries to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of 15% ethanol blend that is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.
Senior Biden administration officials said the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at 2,300 gas stations. Those stations are mostly in the Midwest and the South, including Texas, according to industry groups.
The move comes as Biden is facing growing political pressure over inflation, as new data Tuesday showed prices are rising at the fastest pace in more than 40 years, driven in part by soaring energy prices during the Russia-Ukraine war. The Labor Department said Tuesday that its consumer price index jumped 8.5% in March from 12 months earlier, the biggest year-over-year increase since December 1981.
Gas prices accounted for more than half of the monthly jump in prices. Food and housing costs also climbed in March in ways that could weigh on families. Inflation began to accelerate last year amid robust hiring after the passage of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, a challenge for U.S. consumers that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine then amplified.
Administration officials said the EPA has begun analyzing the “emergency” step of allowing more E15 gasoline sales for the summer and determined it is not likely to have significant on-the-ground air quality impacts. That’s despite some environmentalists long arguing that more ethanol in gas increases pollution, especially during warmer summer months.
Biden is to announce the move at a biofuel company in Menlo, west of Des Moines. Iowa is the country’s largest producer of corn, key to producing ethanol.
The waiver is another effort to help ease global energy markets that have been rocked since Russia invaded Ukraine. Last month, the president announced the U.S. will release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve over the next six months. His administration said that has helped to slightly reduce gas prices lately, after they climbed to an average of about $4.23 a gallon by the end of March, compared with $2.87 at the same time a year ago, according to AAA.
“Not only is this decision a major win for American drivers and our nation’s energy security, it means cleaner options at the pump and a stronger rural economy,” Emily Skor, CEO of the biofuel trade association group Growth Energy, said in a statement.
Members of Congress from both parties also had urged Biden to grant the E15 waiver.
“Homegrown Iowa biofuels provide a quick and clean solution for lowering prices at the pump and bolstering production would help us become energy independent once again,″ said Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. He was among nine Republican and seven Democratic senators from Midwestern states who sent Biden a letter last month urging him to allow year-round E15 sales.
The trip will be Biden’s first as president to Iowa, where his 2020 presidential campaign limped to a fourth-place finish in the state’s technologically glitchy caucus.
After bouncing back to win the Democratic nomination, Biden returned for a rally at the Iowa state fairgrounds four days before Election Day 2020, only to see Donald Trump win the state by 8 percentage points.
Biden heads back to the state at a moment when he’s facing yet more political peril. He’s saddled with sagging approval ratings and inflation at a 40-year high while his party faces the prospect of big midterm election losses that could cost it control of Congress.
The president also planned to promote his economic plans to help rural families struggling with higher costs, while highlighting the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law enacted last fall. The law includes money to improve internet access, as well as for modernizing wastewater systems, reducing flooding threats and improving roads and bridges, drinking water and electric grids in sparsely populated areas.
“Part of it is showing up in communities of all sizes, regardless of the results of the last election,” said Jesse Harris, who was a senior adviser to Biden’s 2020 campaign in Iowa and directed get out the vote and early voting efforts for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Harris said most presidents who visit Iowa typically go to the state’s largest cities. Hitting an area like Menlo, part of Guthrie County, which backed Trump over Biden by 35 percentage points in 2020, “does speak to the importance the administration places on infrastructure broadly but also infrastructure in rural and smaller communities.”
The Biden administration plans to spend the coming weeks pushing billions of dollars in funding for rural areas. Cabinet members and other senior officials will travel the country to help communities get access to money available as part of the infrastructure package.
“The president is not making this trip through a political prism,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “He’s making this trip because Iowa is a rural state in the country that would benefit greatly from the president’s policies.”
Still, administration officials have long suggested that Biden travel more to promote an economy that is rebounding from the setbacks of the coronavirus pandemic. The number of Americans collecting unemployment has fallen to the lowest levels since 1970, for example.
But much of the positive jobs news nationally has been overshadowed by surging gas, food and housing prices that have offset wage gains.
Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kauffman was unsparing in his criticism of Biden’s handling of the economy and inflation. But, he said, the temporary move on ethanol was the right one.
“First of all, let me say that that’s a good thing. Absolutely good thing. It would have been nice had he done it earlier,” Kauffman said. “Am I glad about this waiver? Yes I am. Is it enough? Nope.”
The high inflation also poses a threat to Biden’s broader domesti agenda, which the White House hoped would draw a contrast with Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia released a statement saying that the Biden administration and the Federal Reserve failed “to act fast enough,” to curb costs for the American people and that the problem of high prices predates the invasion of Ukraine.
“It is a disservice to the American people to act as if inflation is a new phenomenon,” Manchin said in a release.
Manchin, whose opposition doomed Biden’s 10-year, roughly $2 trillion measure in December, had recently returned to the negotiating table with the White House. Manchin has said that any new package must include provisions for deficit reduction and controlling inflation. It remains unclear what impact the new inflation data will have on the status of those negotiations.
After Iowa, Biden will visit Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday.
Psaki blamed Russia’s war in Ukraine for helping to drive up gas prices and said the administration expects the consumer price index for March to be “extremely elevated” in large part because of it.
The EPA has lifted seasonal restrictions on E15 in the past, including after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Trump administration allowed for selling E15 in the summer months two years later but had the rule struck down by a federal appeals court.
A group representing petroleum refiners blasted the move, saying the only emergency was Biden’s dropping poll numbers.
“We are right there with the administration on wanting to see relief for consumers at the pump, but an unlawful executive order is not how to solve the problem,’’ said Chet Thompson, president & CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
Emergency fuel waivers are meant to be short-term solutions to supply disruptions from disasters such as a hurricane, Thompson said. The new waiver “is politics, not a real solution for drivers.”
___
Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa and Farnoush Amiri and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/iowa-rejected-biden-president-back-sell-rural-plan/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:06 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/iowa-rejected-biden-president-back-sell-rural-plan/ |
Nineteen-year-old Ashley Moberg and her father John traveled to Tampa Bay to watch their favorite team, the New York Yankees during spring training over the weekend.
When the weather took a turn for the worse, the game was cut short and fans, including the Mobergs, were heading back to their cars.
That’s with the father and daughter were struck by lightening.
The two join Gayle Guyardo the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom with how they survived the frightening ordeal.
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI.
You can watch Bloom in the Tampa Bay Market weekdays at Noon on WTTA: Spectrum 1006; Frontier 514; DirecTV 38; Dish 38; Comcast 43, and look for Bloom early mornings on WFLA News Channel 8. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/father-daughter-survive-lightning-strike/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:10 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/father-daughter-survive-lightning-strike/ |
Krispy Kreme is matching its price of a dozen doughnuts to a gallon of gas
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:38 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - The price of gas may be hitting you hard, but Krispy Kreme wants to sweeten things a little.
For the next four weeks, the restaurant chain will sell a dozen of its glazed doughnuts for the same price as a gallon of gas.
The promotion will only be available on Wednesdays, and Krispy Kreme will use the national average gas price on the previous Monday to determine the price.
That means this Wednesday, a dozen glazed doughnuts should cost $4.11. That’s a pretty good deal, considering they usually set you back at least $10.
The promotion ends May 4.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:15 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/krispy-kreme-is-matching-its-price-dozen-doughnuts-gallon-gas/ |
What started out as the world’s largest grilled cheese blog is now a place where you can find all sorts of delicious cooking ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and sometimes dessert!
MacKenzie Smith is a 2 time Food Network Champ, Cookbook Author, Blogger, Cheese Expert and Executive Chef in New Smyrna Beach, FL.
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI.
You can watch Bloom in the Tampa Bay Market weekdays at Noon on WTTA: Spectrum 1006; Frontier 514; DirecTV 38; Dish 38; Comcast 43, and look for Bloom early mornings on WFLA News Channel 8. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/its-national-grilled-cheese-day-try-this-amazing-recipe/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:19 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/its-national-grilled-cheese-day-try-this-amazing-recipe/ |
Gunman opens fire on Brooklyn subway; at least 10 shot
NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the shooter.
Officials said the gunfire wounded at least 10 people, and at least 16 in all were injured in some way in the attack that began on a subway train that pulled into the 36th Street station in the borough’s Sunset Park neighborhood. Five people were in critical condition, New York Fire Department Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said, but Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there were no life-threatening injuries.
Sewell added that the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was “not ruling out anything.” The shooter has not been identified.
A train rider’s video shows smoke and people pouring out of a subway car. Wails erupt as passengers run for an exit as a few others limp off the train. One falls to the platform, and a person hollers, “Someone call 911!” In other video and photos from the scene, people tend to bloodied passengers lying on the platform, some amid what appear to be small puddles of blood, and another person is on the floor of a subway car.
“My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming,” eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS, saying he saw a gigantic billow of smoke pouring out of the N train once the door opened.
According to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation, preliminary information indicated that the gunman who fled was wearing a construction vest and a gas mask.
Investigators believe the gunman deployed a smoke device before opening fire, one of the law enforcement officials said. Investigators are examining whether he may have used that device in an effort to distract people before shooting, the official said.
Fire and police officials were investigating reports that there had been an explosion, but Sewell said at a press conference just after noon that there were no known explosive devices. Multiple smoke devices were found on the scene, said mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy.
No MTA workers were physically hurt, according to a statement from the Transport Workers Union Local 100. Besides gunshot wounds, the injured were treated for smoke inhalation, shrapnel and panic.
Juliana Fonda, a broadcast engineer at WNYC-FM, told its news site Gothamist she was riding the train when passengers from the car behind hers started banging on the door between them.
“There was a lot of loud pops, and there was smoke in the other car,” she said. “And people were trying to get in and they couldn’t, they were pounding on the door to get into our car.”
President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the incident, as was Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, was briefed at the mayor’s residence.
The incident happened on a subway line that runs through south Brooklyn in a neighborhood — predominantly home to Hispanic and Asian communities — about a 15-minute train ride to Manhattan. Local schools, including Sunset Park High School across the street, were locked down.
Danny Mastrogiorgio of Brooklyn had just dropped his son off at school when he saw a crush of passengers, some of them wounded, running up the subway stairway at the nearby 25th Street station in panic. At least two had visible leg injuries, he said.
“It was insane,” he told The Associated Press. “No one knew exactly what was going on.”
Allan Lee was running his business, Cafe Nube, when a half-dozen police cars and fire vehicles suddenly converged on the block that contains the 36th Street station.
“Then they started ushering people that were on the block to the adjacent block and then closed off the subway entrance” near the cafe’s door, he told the AP. When he noticed bomb squad officers and dogs, he was certain it was no everyday subway problem.
A sea of emergency lights was visible from at least a dozen blocks away, where a police cordon was set up.
New York City has faced a spate a shootings and high-profile incidents in recent months, including on the city’s subways. One of the most shocking was in January when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.
Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime — especially on the subways — a focus of his early administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasn’t immediately clear whether officers had already been inside the station when the shootings occurred.
“We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual,” Adams said in a taped video message from the mayor’s residence, where he was isolating. He did not offer any additional details.
___
Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington and Michelle L. Price and Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/multiple-people-shot-new-york-city-subway-station/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:22 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/multiple-people-shot-new-york-city-subway-station/ |
Business Strategist Martha Krejci of Make Money with Martha along with Fertility Coach Erica Hoke, who was inspired by Martha, join Bloom Host Gayle Guyardo to discuss how to become your own boss. For more info on Make Money with Martha visia Marthaekrejci.com/quit
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/make-money-with-martha-4/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:25 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/make-money-with-martha-4/ |
Oklahoma governor signs bill to make abortion illegal
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.
The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. Abortion rights advocates say the bill signed by the GOP governor is certain to face a legal challenge.
Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.
“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill, flanked by anti-abortion lawmakers, clergy and students. “I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.
Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican now running for Congress who wrote the bill, called it the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.
“Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign,” Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.
Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.
The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a “bounty” of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same,” Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. “We’ve sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect.”
Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.
The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up.
One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills that is one vote away from the governor’s desk would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-make-abortion-illegal/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:29 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-make-abortion-illegal/ |
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the U.S., but there is hope.
New lung cancer screening guidelines double the number of black Americans and women eligible for screening.
The updated guidelines are also an important step forward in addressing racial disparities associated with lung cancer.
Dr. Victor Waters, a national volunteer medical spokesperson for the American lung association joins Gayle Guyardo the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom about the new guidelines.
Bloom airs in 40 markets across the country, with a reach of approximately 36 million households, and in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, WI.
You can watch Bloom in the Tampa Bay Market weekdays at Noon on WTTA: Spectrum 1006; Frontier 514; DirecTV 38; Dish 38; Comcast 43, and look for Bloom early mornings on WFLA News Channel 8. | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/new-lung-cancer-screenings-helps-two-groups-at-great-risk/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:31 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/bloom/new-lung-cancer-screenings-helps-two-groups-at-great-risk/ |
Orangeburg homicide under investigation
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 9:15 AM EDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety said they’re investigating a homicide.
On Sunday April, 10, 2022 police were called to the scene at the Orangeburg Manor Apartments at around 3:10 a.m. Investigators were told of potential gunshots at the scene.
On arrival they found the 32-year-old man lying in the living room. Police found a shell casing at the front door step.
Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact their local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/orangeburg-homicide-under-investigation/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:35 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/orangeburg-homicide-under-investigation/ |
In his latest book, Dr. Ian Smith creates a plan for gradually shifting to a more plant-based diet, without giving up animal protein completely. He includes easy-to-follow and affordable recipes and makes the case for adopting this way of life to reap its multitude of health benefits.
Dr. Ian Smith’s’Plant Power’: Get the benefits of plant-based eating without sacrificing other foods you love
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You have been added to Breaking News Newsletter | https://www.wfla.com/daytime/dr-ian-smithsplant-power-get-the-benefits-of-plant-based-eating-without-sacrificing-other-foods-you-love/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:37 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/daytime/dr-ian-smithsplant-power-get-the-benefits-of-plant-based-eating-without-sacrificing-other-foods-you-love/ |
Russia’s war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies
KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP) — Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isn’t bad weather, pests or blight — the traditional agricultural curses — but fertilizer: It costs too much.
Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.
Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.
“I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else,’’ she said.
Higher fertilizer prices are making the world’s food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.
The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.
“Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers?’’ said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.
The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven “to the brink of survival.’’
The U.N. says Russia is the world’s No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.
Many developing countries — including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala — rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.
The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies “have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants,’’ said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.
Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.
Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said “you have to search to find’' ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.
“Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they won’t be able to farm their land because there will be no income,’’ Filis said.
In China, the price of potash — potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer — is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.
In the eastern Chinese city of Tai’an, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.
“We can hardly make any money,” said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.
Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give “the crop what it needs as a food source.’’
As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what you’re putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else,” said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.
In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil’s Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He’s worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, he’ll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.
“The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?” he said. “We have to find other markets.’’
Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa’s largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.
India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.
“If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less,” said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. “That’s why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.”
Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.
“Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope,” said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. “So these support services go a long way for them.”
Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.
Still, there’s no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, “will be difficult.’’
The market already was “super, super tight” before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.
“Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all,’’ she said.
___
Asadu reported from Lagos, Nigeria, and Wiseman from Washington. Contributing to this story were: Tatiana Pollastri in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Lefteris Pitarakis in Athens; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Joe McDonald and Yu Bing in Beijing; Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Kathia Martínez in Panama City; Christoph Noelting in Frankfurt; Fabiola Sánchez in Mexico City; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Morocco; Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Edie Lederer at the United Nations; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/russias-war-worsens-fertilizer-crunch-risking-food-supplies/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:41 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/russias-war-worsens-fertilizer-crunch-risking-food-supplies/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Florida Departments of Health in West Central Florida are responding to an outbreak of meningococcal disease and said getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself.
It is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, according to the FDOH. The bacteria is not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or flu – people catch meningococcal disease from close contact over a period of time, kissing or sharing drinks.
Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, confusion and rash.
The number of cases identified so far this year has surpassed the five-year average of meningococcal disease cases in Florida, health official said.
FDOH epidemiologists are investigating each case as well as contacting people with potential or direct exposure to known cases to provide them with information and treatment options.
According to the CDC, the two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis – which is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord – and a bloodstream infection, both of which can become deadly.
According to a statement from the agency, the following groups should consider vaccination with a meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine during this outbreak:
- College and university students
- Immunocompromised individuals
- People living with HIV
- Men who have sex with men
- People in any groups listed above who received their MenACWY vaccine more than five years ago
You can find meningococcal vaccines, including the MenACWY vaccine, by contacting a health care provider, county health department or pharmacy.
Here are the numbers for departments of health in the Tampa Bay area:
- Citrus: 352-527-0068
- Hardee: 863-773-4161
- Hernando: 352-540-6800
- Highlands: 863-386-6040
- Hillsborough: 813-307-8000
- Manatee: 941-748-0747
- Pasco: 727-619-0300
- Pinellas: 727-824-6900
- Polk: 863-519-7900
- Sarasota: 941-861-2900 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-dept-of-health-warns-of-meningococcal-outbreak-across-the-state/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:43 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-dept-of-health-warns-of-meningococcal-outbreak-across-the-state/ |
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — A Niceville man is charged with kidnapping a 6-year-old boy from his Fort Walton Beach home on April 11.
Fort Walton Beach Police Department said Brock Sutton, 29, broke into a home on Graham Court just before 5:00 a.m.
Police responded to a burglary in process. When officers arrived, they learned Sutton had kicked a back door in and took the young boy from his bedroom.
Police said Sutton ran from the scene with the child in hand.
Officers located Sutton and the boy 15 minutes later near the Uptown Station shopping center off Eglin Parkway, less than a mile from the home.
The boy was unharmed, and police took the child back to his mother.
The homeowners said they do know Sutton but he has no relation to the child.
Sutton is charged with burglary to an occupied dwelling, resisting without violence, and kidnapping.
The 29-year-old has a history in the Okaloosa County Jail Log facing DUI and theft charges. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-man-accused-of-breaking-into-home-kidnaping-6-year-old-from-bed/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:49 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-man-accused-of-breaking-into-home-kidnaping-6-year-old-from-bed/ |
School resource officer saves choking student
IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A school resource officer jumped into action last week when a student began choking on a piece of candy, WBTV reports.
A video obtained by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office shows Deputy Alan Josey attending to a student at North Iredell Middle School after she showed signs of respiratory distress.
“Deputy Josey acted quickly, determined the student was choking, and performed the lifesaving Heimlich maneuver, thus dislodging a piece of candy,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Another student also attempted to help the girl before Josey arrived on the scene.
Before becoming a police officer, Josey spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat medic.
“Deputy Josey’s quick actions certainly abated a tragedy and allowed a young girl the opportunity to return home to her family,” the sheriff’s office said.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:49 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/school-resource-officer-saves-choking-student/ |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A Jacksonville University soccer player died after she was involved in a wreck with her teammates on Sunday.
JU’s “The Wave” reported that Stephanie Davis and several of her teammates were headed back to Jacksonville from Lake City when the crash happened.
According to the Associated Press, the Florida Highway Patrol said Davis and seven others were in an SUV when it veered off the highway, overcorrected and flipped over.
“Stephanie’s journey at JU had only just begun, but she will be dearly missed by her family, teammates, classmates and everyone else who had the pleasure of knowing her on campus,” said Alex Ricker-Gilbert, senior vice president and athletic director.
The injured players survived and are recovering from their injuries, according to the university. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/jacksonville-university-soccer-player-killed-in-crash-on-way-home-from-trip/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:55 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/jacksonville-university-soccer-player-killed-in-crash-on-way-home-from-trip/ |
Police: Student stabbed at Kansas City school by another student
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:17 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - Police said one student has been injured after he was stabbed by another at Northeast Middle School.
The Kansas City Police Department said the two students were boys in either seventh or eighth grade, KCTV reported.
The stabbing resulted from some confrontation and occurred in a bathroom, department spokesperson Donna Drake said.
The victim received life-threatening injuries, and the student of interest in the stabbing has been detained.
There is no ongoing threat, police said.
Copyright 2022 KCTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ | 2022-04-12T16:57:55 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/stabbing-kansas-city-middle-school-leaves-1-with-life-threatening-injuries/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Already high inflation has increased, particularly for food items in the livestock and feed industries. Ahead of the latest Consumer Price Index release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 12, reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the conflict in Ukraine adds some uncertainty to the mix. With the CPI now out, inflation hit another record.
The USDA says it’s made the global dairy outlook particularly concerning. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has added to supply issues for “feed, fuel, energy and fertilizer prices,” adding to cost increases in the industry and transferring higher prices to shoppers.
The report from the department said the immediate impact on consumers would be higher prices and smaller quantities in products purchased, even with rising demand.
According to the USDA, exports from Ukraine and China of meat products are slowing down, so Brazil “will increase production substantially to backfill global demand.” Additionally, the U.S.’s higher prices are expected to reduce competitiveness in the second half of 2022, while export levels remain unchanged.
“Much of the drop in global exportable supplies spurred by the absence of Ukraine will be fulfilled by Brazil which is one of the few major exporters able to service a wide array of markets,” USDA reported.
The latest “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak” is also complicating trade, due to restrictions in place from U.S. trading partners, according to the USDA. Generally, Ukraine’s decrease in exports due to the conflict with Russia is expected to affect the global supply of pork and chicken, while Russia’s exports of beef and pork are also contributing factors. Both countries’ reductions contribute to market fluctuation.
The CPI released April 12 showed how those prices have risen compared to last year. Gasoline prices were already up, adding to increases in transportation and energy costs in the agriculture industry and the transport industry itself. While crude oil’s costs were up 70% compared to March 2021, the costs of key protein products, like beef or pork, were up, though not nearly to the same severity.
Beef prices were up 16%, while pork was up 15.3% and chicken was up 13.4% compared to last year. However, going back to the cost of feed, which the USDA says is typically made of things like soybean, hay and other grains, those same base items are also growing in cost, playing into a slowdown of recovery.
“For most countries, higher feed prices are expected to stymie expansion despite forecasted economic recovery buoying modest demand growth,” the USDA reported.
For people, products made from similar types of materials such as grain and wheat got more expensive, too. Flour and prepared flour mixes rose 14.2% in the past year, according to the CPI.
The effect on agricultural products is big as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine due to Ukraine’s status as a major exporter of wheat and corn, as well as dairy products, fruit juice and vegetable oils, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.
The Observatory of Economic Complexity, a data visualizer that analyzes global economic factors, reported Ukraine’s top exports for 2020 included $4.89 billion in corn, $4.61 billion in wheat and $5.32 billion in seed oils. While the site reported most of those exports were sent to China, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Egypt, with China a major manufacturing center in the global economy, delays or reductions in Ukrainian economic outputs are a factor of concern for the market and inflation.
The USDA reported in March that the amount of red meat and poultry consumption in U.S. markets is expected to increase due to higher demand, with price rises to follow.
On April 13, the Producer Price Index comes out from the BLS, showing what the materials costs are for the products used to make the goods we buy, eat and build with. | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/cost-of-ukraine-crisis-hits-milk-meat-feed-amid-inflation-surge/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:01 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/cost-of-ukraine-crisis-hits-milk-meat-feed-amid-inflation-surge/ |
US inflation jumped 8.5% in past year, highest since 1981
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with costs for food, gasoline, housing and other necessities squeezing American consumers and wiping out the pay raises that many people have received.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that its consumer price index jumped 8.5% in March from 12 months earlier, the sharpest year-over-year increase since 1981. Prices have been driven up by bottlenecked supply chains, robust consumer demand and disruptions to global food and energy markets worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine. From February to March, inflation rose 1.2%, the biggest month-to-month jump since 2005. Gasoline prices drove more than half that increase.
Across the economy, the year-over-year price spikes were widespread. Gasoline prices rocketed 48% in the past 12 months. Used car prices have soared 35%, though they actually fell in February and March. Bedroom furniture is up 14.7%, men’s suits and coats 14.5%. Grocery prices have jumped 10%, including 18% increases for both bacon and oranges.
Investors focused on a bright spot in the report and sent stock prices up: So-called core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose just 0.3% from February to March, the smallest monthly rise since September. Over the past year, though, core prices are up 6.5%, the most since 1982.
“The inflation fire is still out of control,’’ said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at the research firm FWDBONDS LLC.
The March inflation numbers were the first to fully capture the surge in gasoline prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow’s attacks have triggered far-reaching Western sanctions against the Russian economy and disrupted food and energy markets. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gasoline — $4.10 — is up 43% from a year ago, though it’s dipped in the past couple of weeks.
The acceleration of inflation has occurred against the backdrop of a booming job market and a solid overall economy. In March, employers adding a robust 431,000 jobs — the 11th straight month in which they’ve added at least 400,000. For 2021, they added 6.7 million jobs, the most in any year on record. In addition, job openings are near record highs, layoffs are at their lowest point since 1968 and the unemployment rate is just above a half-century low.
The escalation of energy prices, a potential threat to the economy’s long-term durability, has led to higher transportation costs for the shipment of goods across the economy, which, in turn, has contributed to higher prices for consumers. The squeeze is being felt particularly hard at the gas pump.
“That’s an extra dollar per gallon that I’m paying to get into the city to work,” Jason Emerson of Oakland, California, said as he loaded groceries into his car. “And then, you know, we have the tolls that just went up this past year a dollar. My eggs are a dollar more as well. So everything’s going up at least a dollar, which, you know, adds up.’’
The latest inflation numbers solidify expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates aggressively in the coming months to try to slow borrowing and spending and tame inflation.
Kathy Bostjancic, an economist at Oxford Economics, said she expects year-over-year inflation to hit 9% in May and then begin “a slow descent.” Some other economists, too, suggest that inflation is at or near its peak. With federal stimulus aid having expired, consumer demand could flag as wages fall behind inflation, households drain more of their savings and the Fed sharply raises rates, all of which could combine to slow inflation.
But that could take time. Robust spending, steady pay raises and chronic supply shortages are still fueling inflation. In addition, housing costs, which make up about a third of the consumer price index, have escalated, a trend that seems unlikely to reverse anytime soon.
Economists note that as the economy has emerged from the depths of the pandemic, consumers have been gradually broadening their spending beyond goods to include more services. A result is that high inflation, which at first had reflected mainly a shortage of goods — from cars and furniture to electronics and sports equipment — has been emerging in services, too, like travel, health care and entertainment. Airline fares, for instance, have soared an average of nearly 24% in the past 12 months. The average cost of a hotel room is up 29%
The expected fast pace of the Fed’s rate increases will make loans sharply more expensive for consumers and businesses. Mortgage rates, in particular, though not directly influenced by the Fed, have rocketed higher in recent weeks, making home buying costlier. Many economists say they worry that the Fed has waited too long to begin raising rates and might end up acting so aggressively as to trigger a recession.
The American public’s expectation for inflation over the next 12 months has reached its highest point — 6.6% — in a survey the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has conducted since 2013. Once public expectations for inflation rise, they can be self-fulfilling: Workers typically demand higher pay to offset their expectations for price increases. Businesses, in turn, raise prices to cover their higher labor costs. This can set off a wage-price spiral, something the nation last endured in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Inflation, which had been largely under control for four decades, began to accelerate last spring as the U.S. and global economies rebounded with unexpected speed and strength from the brief but devastating coronavirus recession that began in the spring of 2020.
Many Americans have been receiving pay increases, but inflation has more than wiped out those gains for most people. In February, after accounting for inflation, average hourly wages fell 2.7% from a year earlier. It was the 12th straight monthly drop in inflation-adjusted wages.
Still, for now, with the job market healthy, inflation has yet to dampen overall consumer spending. Levi Strauss & Co., for example, says its price increases don’t seem to have fazed its customers.
That said, Adrian Mitchell, chief financial officer at Macy’s, cautions that chronically high inflation will likely lead consumers to be choosier: They may spend less on department store goods and more on services like travel and dinners out.
“We do believe that the consumer is going to be spending,’’ Mitchell said. “But are they going to be spending on discretionary items that we sell, or are they going to be spending on an airline ticket to Florida or air travel or going out to restaurants more?”
In Atlanta, Shirley Hughes has had to raise prices at her bakery, Sweet Cheats, because of soaring costs for items like eggs and milk. Two years ago, a 36-pound container of butter cost $75. Now, it’s $145. Thirty dozen eggs were $50. Now, they’re $75 — and even that price is possible only if Hughes picks them up herself, instead of having them delivered. She’s raised the price of her six-inch cake by $5 to $50.
So far, she said, people have generally accepted her higher prices. But there are limits. One customer wanted a six-inch cake delivered to her boyfriend — an hour’s drive away. Hughes told her the price of making the cake and delivering it would come to nearly $200.
The customer canceled.
___
D’Innocenzio and Anderson reported from New York. AP video journalist Terence Chea in Oakland, California, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/sticker-shock-march-inflation-likely-set-new-40-year-high/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:02 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/sticker-shock-march-inflation-likely-set-new-40-year-high/ |
(NewsNation) — Skyrocketing prices on essentials are forcing some older Americans out of retirement as U.S. inflation continues to hit new highs.
In just the past six months, about 480,000 adults over 55 began looking for a job, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. That’s compared to the 180,000 adults looking in the six months prior to the pandemic. This increase is credited in part to the outsized impact inflation is having on the ability of people to retire.
The government’s consumer price index, released Tuesday morning, showed prices shot up 8.5% in March compared to 12 months earlier, according to a report by the Labor Department. This marks the fastest year-over-year inflation rise since December 1981 and surpasses the 7.9% 12-month increase in February, which itself set a 40-year high.
One out of four adults said that inflation is the single greatest threat to their retirement plans in 2022, according to Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. That’s more than concerns about health care costs, outliving your money or job security combined.
Even before the pandemic, the economic health for some retirees varied. Older workers without a college degree only had about $9,000 in retirement savings on average, compared to the $167,000 for those with a college degree.
In just February, 3% of retirees re-entered the workforce, a trend that is expected to continue for months according to Indeed. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/inflation-forcing-retirees-back-into-jobs/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:07 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/inflation-forcing-retirees-back-into-jobs/ |
Two people dead, one injured in Richland County shooting
Published: Apr. 12, 2022 at 11:55 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said they’re at the scene of a shooting Tuesday.
Around 10 a.m. deputies were called to the 7600 block of Hunt Club Rd on reports of a person shot.
According to officials when deputies arrived, they found three victims with gunshot wounds.
Two of the victims were pronounced deceased at the scene. A third victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
We will have more on this as the story develops.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/two-people-dead-one-injured-richland-county-shooting/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:08 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/two-people-dead-one-injured-richland-county-shooting/ |
AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) – A New York Supreme Court judge whose home was raided by law enforcement last month died Tuesday, sources told WIVB News 4.
John L. Michalski, 61, died by suicide, the sources said.
Michalski’s judicial career began in 2006, when he was appointed to the state Court of Claims and as an acting state Supreme Court justice. Prior to his appointment, Michalski served as a town prosecutor in Amherst and a prosecutor with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, according to a biography on the New York Law Journal.
News 4 reported last year that a trainspotter in February 2021 witnessed Michalski lie down across train tracks at the Depew Amtrak Station as a slow-moving train approached. The trainspotter caught the incident on video and shared a portion of it with News 4 Investigates. The judge sustained a serious leg injury but survived the incident.
Depew officials released a heavily redacted police report and declined to release any video of the incident. News 4 sued the Village of Depew to release more information, but a judge largely sided with the village, stating that it was an “apparent suicide attempt” and therefore some details of the incident are exempt for privacy concerns.
Suicides are not typically reported on. However, this case is unique given Michalski’s job and law enforcement’s interest in him.
News 4 reported last year that federal authorities had questioned Michalski on his relationship with Peter Gerace, the operator of Pharaoh’s Gentlemen’s Club in Cheektowaga. Law enforcement raided the club in December 2019.
Two sources told News 4 Investigates last year that the Geraces are close friends with the Michalskis. In fact, Michalski married Gerace and his former wife, Katrina Nigro, in September 2014, according to the marriage certificate.
Later in the day last Feb. 28, after Michalski was hit by the train, law enforcement in Florida arrested Gerace for several felonies, including bribing a federal drug agent and conspiracy to commit sex and drug trafficking. In court, Gerace has denied any wrongdoing.
Michalski’s caseload was reassigned to other judges while he was placed on medical leave. He was reinstated in January.
But his caseload was again reassigned to other judges after the search warrant was executed at his home, where agents were seen carrying out multiple boxes of what appeared to be paper files. Sources told the Buffalo News that the agents sought information on alleged tax crimes involving an online business operated out of the home.
Michalski was never charged with any crimes.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski,” Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said. “I, along with my colleagues at the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, extend our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
Here is a timeline of events that preceded Tuesday’s news.
March 9, 2021: The Depew Police Department said that a state supreme court judge was “involved in an incident with a C.S.X. train.” News 4 confirmed that the judge was Michalski. The incident happened on Sunday, Feb. 28.
News 4 also confirmed around this time that federal prosecutors were looking into the relationship between Michalski and family friend Peter G. Gerace Jr., who operates the Pharaoh’s Gentlemen’s Club in Cheektowaga. Gerace Jr. was charged with distribution of drugs, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and paying bribes to former Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
March 12, 2021: The Depew Police Department released a heavily redacted report about the train incident. It revealed very few new details that had not been previously reported. Michalski at this time remained hospitalized in stable condition with a serious leg injury at ECMC.
March 22, 2021: News 4 obtained exclusive video from a trainspotter who captured footage of the judge being run over by a slow-moving train. The video showed Michalski jogging across one set of tracks and lying stomach-down across another while the train approached.
April 14, 2021: News 4 filed a lawsuit against the Village of Depew to compel officials to release the complete police report and any videos of the train incident, but a judge declined, stating that it was an “apparent suicide attempt.”
Nov. 12, 2021: Seven months after the train incident, Michalski formally requested to return to his job as a judge.
Jan. 27, 2022: Michalski was reinstated to the bench. He had not publicly addressed the train incident.
March 24, 2022: Authorities were seen raiding Michalski’s home. His attorney, Terry Connors, said Michalski and his wife were fully compliant and authorities executed a search warrant. Michalski’s caseload was reassigned.
April 5, 2022: Michalski died at 61. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/judge-found-dead-weeks-after-feds-raid-his-home/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:13 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/judge-found-dead-weeks-after-feds-raid-his-home/ |
United Way of the Midlands recruiting hundreds of volunteers for National Volunteer Week
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Roll up your sleeves and lift up our Midlands community during National Volunteer Week!
United Way of the Midlands is working to fill over 400 volunteer spots to help with dozens of projects across the Midlands starting April 18.
The projects will benefit 25 local nonprofit organizations in our community.
National Volunteer Week runs from April 18-23 and United Way is offering several volunteer opportunities to fit a variety of skills and interests.
Projects include landscaping, card writing, serving meals, reading and much more.
There are also virtual volunteer opportunities for those who cannot attend in-person gatherings.
To explore the different volunteer opportunities and sign-up, visit here.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/united-way-midlands-recruiting-hundreds-volunteers-national-volunteer-week/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:15 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/united-way-midlands-recruiting-hundreds-volunteers-national-volunteer-week/ |
(WGHP) — NFL quarterback Cam Newton is raising some eyebrows after an appearance on a podcast.
In the Sunday episode of the Barstool Sports Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, the former MVP quarterback talked about what he perceives as the role of women in society.
“I had a perfect, a perfect example of what a man was in my life by my father.,” he said. “My parents have been together for 36, 37 years now and it’s a beautiful thing. I grew up in a three-parent household: my mom, my father and my grandmother and I knew what a woman was, not a bad (expletive), a woman.”
He continued by explaining what he interprets the difference between a ‘bad (expletive)’ and a woman is.
“A bad (expletive) is a person who is just, you know, ‘Girl, I’m a bad (expletive), I’m doing this, I’m doing that,” Newton said. “I look the part but I don’t act that part.’ And there’s a lot of women who are bad (expletives), and I say (expletives) in a way not to degrade a woman, but just to go off the aesthetic of what they deem is a boss chick.”
Newton went on to say that a “woman for me” is someone who “handles (her) own” but knows how to “cater to a man’s needs.”
From there he continued, “And I think a lot of times when you get that aesthetic of ‘I’m a boss (expletive), Imma this, Imma that.’ No, baby. But you can’t cook. You don’t know when to be quiet. You don’t know how to allow a man to lead.”
While he said he didn’t want to sit behind the mic and criticize women, he wanted “men to start being men.” | https://www.wfla.com/sports/cam-newton-women-dont-know-when-to-be-quiet/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:19 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/sports/cam-newton-women-dont-know-when-to-be-quiet/ |
Use Venmo? Tax changes are coming
Tennessee senator aims to reverse filing requirement
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Filing taxes can be confusing. If you use apps like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, it could soon get even more complicated.
Until now, Venmo users didn’t have to report income they received through the app, if it was under $20,000.
As a part of the American Rescue Plan, Congress lowered that requirement to just $600.
“I feel like that’s really the thing that’s burdensome. For many, they don’t declare their income, and now, they have to [declare],” said Michael Harlen, a touring musician, who is primarily paid through Venmo.
The new requirement didn’t add up for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) either.
“Think about all the small businesses, even individuals that, you know, basically have transactions back and forth. They’re now going to have to file new IRS forms,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty is now introducing the ‘SNOOP’ Act, short for Stop Nosy Obsessions with Online Payments. It would re-establish $20,000 as the minimum reporting requirement for those paid through apps.
“This is the process of trying to fix what should have never happened,” said Hagerty.
Hagerty faces an uphill battle. Right now, his bill only has support from Republicans.
The $600 threshold will go into effect for the 2023 tax season. According to Venmo’s tax experts, it only applies to earned taxable income, not reimbursements.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:20 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/use-venmo-tax-changes-coming/ |
AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Angela Hood, CEO and Founder of ThisWay Global, announced they are leveraging IBM technology intending to expand the reach and function of its AI-backed and Google-accelerated HR recruitment technology. IBM's AI-powered automation software is expected to help provide ThisWay Global with the ability to easily integrate into businesses' existing environments and quickly match employers to candidates from diverse communities of qualified job applicants.
According to a recent industry survey, mid-market and enterprise companies have a problem finding and hiring quality candidates. IBM App Connect Enterprise empowers ThisWay Global to provide its customers with scalable integrations into HRIS (human resources information systems) and CRM (candidate resource management) platforms, opening doors for HR leaders and recruiters to millions of candidates.
"We're thrilled," said Hood "to make hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce more accessible for our clients with the support of IBM App Connect Enterprise."
How it Works
ThisWay Global's recruitment process automation (RPA) platform – Ai4JOBS – is a powerful diversity sourcing and matching platform (SaaS) that enables organizations to connect with diverse applicants and candidates from 8,500+ online diversity communities. Every applicant is matched against every open position, based only on their skills and experience, enabling employers to quickly find the best applicant instantly and without bias. ThisWay Global's unbiased candidate matching engine identifies top qualified candidates for every job from the entire candidate database. It combines specific machine learning and data security with the powerful ability to match applicants to opportunities based on more than 1000 data points. This solution increases customer compliance, efficiency, and the accurate matching of qualified talent, while simultaneously increasing diversity and inclusion.
ThisWay Global's architecture was uniquely developed to be natively embedded into enterprise technology platforms, providing companies with seamless, secure, compliant recruiting automation that expands to match a customers' current needs and to facilitate their growth within their current workflow.
ThisWay Global is using IBM App Connect Enterprise to support a breadth of integration needs across a modern enterprise. With IBM App Connect Enterprise, businesses can integrate ThisWay Global's Ai4JOBS platform into their existing environments. IBM App Connect Enterprise delivers an automated approach to integration designed to reduce development complexity and speed time to value, empowering businesses to connect applications and data no matter where they reside, be it on-cloud or on-premises with security.
IBM App Connect Enterprise enables ThisWay Global to easily integrate with and provide technology to customers that previously did not have access to ThisWay Global's technology, diverse talent pool, and reach of their entire integration partner network.
"As businesses bounce back and doors reopen for customers globally, companies are navigating a complex labor market and may struggle to find the talent they need quickly enough, especially skilled knowledge workers," said Dinesh Nirmal, General Manager, IBM Automation. "ThisWay Global is leveraging IBM's AI-powered automation technology to help organizations accelerate how they find and hire diverse talent and help address the shortage of skills across industries."
Part of the IBM Ecosystem, ThisWay Global's strengths combined with IBM technology can help address the most complex challenges in business and society for clients with hybrid cloud and AI.
In September of 2021, ThisWay Global was one of 12 North American startups along with their founders selected for the Google Startup Accelerator Program. This group was chosen for their use of AI/ML to address business challenges and a specific technical challenge that Google mentorship could help solve. This acceleration by Google helped ThisWay Global to finalize their embedded approach for their IBM relationship.
About ThisWay Global:
Founded by Angela Hood in University of Cambridge's ideaSpace, ThisWay Global is a WBENC certified, VC-backed, Google accelerated HR tech industry leader that matches all people to all jobs instantly and without bias. Using proprietary artificial intelligence, TWG's network has performed over 15.5 trillion matching events, providing companies and governments with technology to reduce bias and increase diversity across all industries. ThisWay Global is headquartered in the booming tech hub of Austin, Texas, with offices in Silicon Valley and Boston. To learn more or to schedule a demo, visit thiswayglobal.com.
Media contacts:
Michael Coats (707) 235-6203; michael@coatspr.com
Bill Fanning (ThisWay Global's CRO) (512) 649-8288; bill.fanning@thiswayglobal.com
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- Acquisition of Air Liquide Emirates for Industrial Gases LLC (ALEMIR) and Orca Industrial Gases LLC, which includes liquid bulk, packaged gases and specialty gases of Air Liquide in the UAE
- Acquisition of Air Liquide's majority share in Middle East Carbon Dioxide W.L.L (MECD), a joint venture with ALMO Holdings CO W.L.L, for a liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) production facility in Bahrain
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) announced that it has acquired Air Liquide's industrial gases business in the UAE, including liquid bulk, packaged gases and specialty gases; and Air Liquide's majority share in MECD, which owns and operates a liquid CO2 production facility in Bahrain. Financial terms are not being disclosed for the agreement.
"The acquisition builds on many years of good experience working in and serving customers in the Middle East and supports our growth strategy for the region," commented Hamid Sabzikari, vice president and general manager, Air Products Industrial Gases Middle East, Egypt and Turkey.
"It is yet another example of how Air Products is building and strengthening its industrial gas business in the Middle East. In acquiring these businesses, we have further expanded our footprint and regional presence in the UAE and Bahrain, strengthened our product sourcing and reliability, and welcomed talented and dedicated people into our Middle East organization who are passionate about serving local customers."
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 80 years. Focused on serving energy, environment and emerging markets, the Company provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the global leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The Company develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas projects, including: gasification projects that sustainably convert abundant natural resources into syngas for the production of high-value power, fuels and chemicals; carbon capture projects; and world-scale low and zero carbon hydrogen projects supporting global transportation and the energy transition.
The Company had fiscal 2021 sales of $10.3 billion from operations in 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of over $55 billion. More than 20,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.
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SOURCE Air Products | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/air-products-acquires-air-liquides-industrial-gases-business-united-arab-emirates-bahrain/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:34 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/air-products-acquires-air-liquides-industrial-gases-business-united-arab-emirates-bahrain/ |
Customers Cite Akamai's "Outstanding Job of Identifying New and Emerging Threats and Adapting Their Response."
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today announced it was named a Leader in the 2022 Forrester Bot Management Wave report. In its examination, Forrester evaluated 15 total vendors in the bot management space based on 25 criteria grouped by current offering, strategy and market presence.
Bot management is an increasingly vital tool that enables organizations to confront bad bots. According to Forrester, "Bad bots continue to consume resources and overwhelm organizations, accounting for at least a quarter of all internet traffic. Bot management has evolved from an emerging market to a rapidly maturing offering expected to meet the needs of small organizations with a single application as well as large enterprises with hundreds of them."
The 2022 Forrester Bot Management Wave report states that, "Akamai's vision is a standout, recognizing the evolution of bot operations, addressing the growing collaboration between security and the lines of business, and protecting the end-customer journey; recent launches of adjacent offerings like Account Protector and Audience Hijacking Protection support the vision."
The report specifically notes that, "Akamai shows strength in bot detection, with 16 layers ordered to minimize performance impacts and anti tampering features like Javascript obfuscation. A wide range of attack response options are available, including tarpits, cryptographic challenges, and deception. Akamai provides a list of more than 1,500 good bots across 17 categories — customers can easily add other known good bots to the list."
Akamai's bot management solutions offer behavioral-based detections with advanced machine learning algorithms powered by unmatched volumes of data on the intelligent edge platform. Interacting with 1.3 billion unique devices on a typical day, Akamai can identify anomalies in hundreds of signals to detect the most sophisticated bots. On average, Akamai detects more than 11.5 billion bot requests per day, taking action at the edge to protect digital businesses from a continuously evolving bot landscape.
"We are constantly evolving our solutions to stay ahead of evolving threats," said Eric Graham, Akamai's Vice President, Product Management. "We are pleased to be named a Leader in this report and are particularly proud that customers tell Forrester that Akamai has been outstanding at staying effective over time against shifting attacks."
A complimentary copy of the 2022 Forrester Bot Management Wave report is available for download here: For additional information regarding Akamai's approach to bot management, visit https://www.akamai.com/products/bot-manager
About Akamai
Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences — helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's most distributed compute platform — from cloud to edge — we make it easy for customers to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's security, compute, and delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jim Lubinskas, 703-907-9103, jlubinsk@akamai.com
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SOURCE Akamai Technologies | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/akamai-named-bot-management-leader-by-independent-research-firm/ | 2022-04-12T16:58:41 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/akamai-named-bot-management-leader-by-independent-research-firm/ |