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The Biden White House has tried to present itself as being above the fray of day-to-day squabbles, but increasingly, it’s jumping in, bashing the GOP and other critics at every opportunity.
The administration didn’t miss a chance this week to hammer Republicans over Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) floating that the House would move towards an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. They were quick with memos and statements to criticize the GOP attacks as a “clown carousel” and the idea of pursuing impeachment as “baseless.”
And the White House issued a scathing rebuke of Fox New host Greg Gutfeld, who said that Jews captured and tortured during the Holocaust survived by having skills and being useful, calling out his comments as a “dangerous, extreme lie.”
The new levels of punchy rhetoric preview the White House messaging strategy going into 2024, which is to fight back and call out what they consider extreme.
It’s a shift from their previous attitude, which was to let what they considered to be Republican chaos speak for itself.
“The cost is too expensive, both short and long term, to let them operate in a vacuum without showing that one, we know how to fight; two, that we will fight; three, we fight with facts and not with some flaming lies of information,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist.
Early in Biden’s presidency, the White House was careful not to weigh in on controversial comments from the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), hoping to avoid elevating her words and giving the far-right congresswoman more of a platform.
When McCarthy was struggling in January to get enough votes to be Speaker of the House, they sat back and watched it unfold.
Biden gently knocked the vote series at the time, saying “it’s a little embarrassing it’s taking so long,” but also added, “that’s not my problem.” The White House had also insisted that Biden would not “insert himself” into the election, which ended up taking 15 ballots for McCarthy to finally clench enough votes.
But this week, when the Speaker signaled that the House could move forward with an impeachment inquiry, the White House came out with multiple statements and highlighted quotes from fellow Republicans in his conference pushing back on the idea.
It also released a memo about Republicans’ slams against the president overall, reflecting the Biden argument that the GOP is stepping up attacks on Hunter Biden and talk of impeachment because the economy is getting stronger and is now a less effective avenue for attack.
Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court Wednesday, where his plea deal was put on hold by a judge who questioned the scope of the agreement.
The White House this week touted “Bidenomics” after GDP numbers showed surprisingly strong economic growth. It rebuked GOP lawmakers for not embracing the data, pointing to Fox Business anchor Cheryl Casone, who said on Thursday, “There goes that recession talk, right?”
“Even Fox Business is welcoming today’s blockbuster economic growth numbers, the latest in a long line of proof points that Bidenomics is delivering for middle class families,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo. “That’s because this strong growth report is objectively good news for the American people, which elected officials should support regardless of their political party.”
In the past, the White House has called out what it deemed antisemitism, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in particular has spearheaded the effort against hatred towards Jewish Americans. The rebuke of Gutfeld was particularly notable, considering it called the conservative media voice’s comments insulting to the memory of people who suffered the Holocaust.
Over the last week, Vice President Harris has taken over attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, over changes his administration has made over the way slavery is taught in his state. She quickly traveled to Jacksonville to deliver remarks over his recent moves.
And press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has turned Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) into an almost-daily punching bag, chastising him for blocking military promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
Democrats argue that it’s significant the White House is getting punchier and not relying on the Biden reelection campaign to do it for them.
“I think the reason why it’s so important that it comes from the White House is because Joe Biden is a president for all people, and that White House works for all people,” Seawright said. “It helps weed out some of the foolishness, because I don’t think we can afford at this moment to let false information go unchecked or go numb to bad or false information for the sake of political gain.”
Another Democratic strategist argued the White House has picked its spots well, seeking to highlight when Republicans are fixated on issues that don’t resonate with most moderate voters. The strategist pointed to the GOP’s fixation on Hunter Biden as an example of something that is unlikely to move many mainstream voters.
Democratic communications strategist Katie Grant Drew noted the window for moving legislation closes early in election cycles so it “makes sense” the White House is preparing for 2024.
“They know they’re going to have to defend against Republicans’ insatiable appetite for investigations and impeachments, and the best defense is a good offense,” said Drew, a principal at Monument Advocacy. “When top Republicans continue to spout controversial rhetoric and spend time on divisive issues that the vast majority of Americans don’t agree with, the White House is going to use those moments to illustrate to the American people how extreme today’s Republican Party has become.”
Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist think tank Third Way, said Biden and his team are wisely both selling their own victories and highlighting Republican dysfunction.
Ultimately, though, Kessler argued the 2024 election will be decided by broader issues such as the economy, something the White House has leaned into with its recent messaging.
“This election is going to come down to the middle. The middle ideologically, the middle of the country geographically, and the middle class,” Kessler said. “These are places where Biden’s got to win.” | https://www.wfla.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:14 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ |
COVID hospitalizations are on the rise, could signal ‘late summer wave,’ says the CDC
Despite the surge, COVID rates still at 'near-historic lows,' experts say
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is rising this summer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Hospitalizations of people with the virus are up 10%, per CDC data — the sharpest increase since December 2022.
More than 7,100 patients with COVID were hospitalized in the week of July 15, up from 6,444 the prior week.
CDC LIKELY TO RECOMMEND ANNUAL COVID BOOSTER SHOT, DIRECTOR SAYS
COVID-related emergency room visits are also on the rise, comprising 0.73% of visits as of July 21, compared to 0.49% a month prior.
"After roughly six, seven months of steady declines, things are starting to tick back up again," Dr. Brendan Jackson, the CDC's COVID-19 incident manager in Atlanta, Georgia, told NPR this week.
"We've seen the early indicators go up for the past several weeks," he continued.
"And just this week, for the first time in a long time, we've seen hospitalizations tick up as well."
He added, "This could be the start of a late summer wave."
COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS OVER: HERE'S WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
The spikes have been most prominent in the Southeast, Jackson said.
"Early indicators of COVID-19 activity (emergency department visits, test positivity and wastewater levels) preceded an increase in hospitalizations seen this past week," CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley said in a statement.
Despite the uptick, she confirmed that COVID rates are still at "near-historic lows" in the U.S.
Overall, COVID deaths continue to decline.
They're now at the lowest rate since the CDC started keeping track, according to Jackson.
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The surge in summer cases doesn’t mean the CDC plans to recommend a return to masking, he said.
More concerning are the "mutagenic" subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.
"For most people, these early signs don't need to mean much," Jackson said.
Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, is skeptical that a summer surge is underway.
"Ordinarily, I would pay careful attention to wastewater analysis, but given the amount of immunity still around from prior infection and vaccination — coupled with the fact that we are still within the Omicron family with most infections remaining mild and hospitalizations showing only a slight uptick — I don't see this as a harbinger of another surge," he told Fox News Digital.
"These are just embers of a fire not completely out."
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More concerning to Siegel are the "mutagenic" subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.
As a result, said Siegel, "I am likely going to recommend the new XBB subvariant booster in the fall, especially for those in high-risk groups who haven't had a recent infection or vaccine." | https://www.foxnews.com/health/covid-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise-could-signal-late-summer-wave-says-the-cdc | 2023-07-30T18:03:14 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/health/covid-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise-could-signal-late-summer-wave-says-the-cdc |
MUNCIE, Ind. — Police are investigating after one person was killed and multiple people were shot in Muncie, Indiana, according to police.
Muncie Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of South Hackley Street and East Willard Street around 1:14 a.m. on a report of multiple people shot. When officers arrived, they learned that a large party was hosted at this location.
Upon further investigation, they determined a 30-year-old man has died and multiple people are wounded and seeking treatment at an area hospital. Other victims have been airlifted to area facilities.
This is an active investigation being conducted by multiple agencies. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Muncie Police Department Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or Muncie Police Dispatch at 765-747-4838.
More information will be updated to this story as it becomes available. | https://wgntv.com/news/1-person-killed-and-multiple-others-shot-in-muncie-indiana/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:15 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/1-person-killed-and-multiple-others-shot-in-muncie-indiana/ |
The ACLU has argued in B.P.J. v. West Virginia State Board of Education that there’s no harm in allowing males to play on female sports teams. Now, however, the evidence is coming in, and it’s what champions of women’s sports have known all along: Putting males on female teams harms women and girls.
Across the nation, we’re seeing increasing examples of males competing in women’s sports — and displacing women. In Connecticut, two males won 15 women’s track championship titles between 2017-2019 — titles once held by nine different girls — and girls lost over 85 opportunities to participate in higher levels of competition. One Montana male athlete won the NCAA Big Sky Conference Championship in the women’s mile, and in just one year, pushed hundreds of talented young women down in cross country race rankings.
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is not offering any apologies for the move he made last weekend at Pocono that caused Kyle Larson to hit the wall and let Hamlin sail on to victory.
Truth be told, it’s what NASCAR was hoping to see more of when it established the system that divides races into three stages, rewards drivers with points for doing well in those stages and allows them to accrue playoff points, Hamlin said.
“That is what it was geared to do — give us the sense of urgency to ramp up and that regular season performance matters to get to the final four with a shot,” he said at Richmond Raceway. “The system is doing what it was designed to do.”
Hamlin also has changed, he said, after getting spun several times while leading.
“If you have one person willing to be aggressive and one person not, aggressive will win every time,” he said.
Larson, who said things are “fine” between he and Hamlin after they exchanged text messages Friday night, agreed that the point system encourages the aggressive approach Hamlin took, but added that it “makes the guys on the receiving end more mad as well just because of what’s at stake and what’s taken.”
Larson said four or five restart battles with Kyle Busch at World Wide Technology Raceway in June showed how cleanly he tries to race other drivers.
“I respect Kyle and that’s why I raced him with respect at Gateway, and I respect Denny every bit as much, if not more, or I did,” he said.
“I tend to blow things over pretty quickly,” Larson said. “This time, I probably have let it linger on my attitude a little bit this week just because it’s happened more often with him than any other driver in my career and also a win was taken.”
Larson won the first Richmond race this season in April.
POINTS RACE
William Byron has dropped 30 points behind Martin Truex Jr. in the points race with five races remaining before the playoffs begin. The regular season champion gets a 15-point bonus, but Byron doesn’t expect to make any changes to the way he’s racing while trying to secure that top spot and bonus.
“It’s really important but we can’t get too focused on the result of the regular season points,” he said. “We obviously want those points, but our process has been like it is to this point, and if we start focusing on that carrot out in front of us too much, it’s going to get us off-track.”
CHASING SPEED
Chase Elliott said Richmond is “such a weird place” where his car never feels good, but he was pleased to make the second round of qualifying. He’ll start fourth.
“Any position you can gain is good ahead of 10th,” Elliott said. “I also know this is a place where you can qualify really good and be really bad.”
Elliott missed six races with an injury and another while serving a suspension. He hasn’t won yet and likely will need to win to make the playoffs. He’s 21st in points.
“There’s a few guys that I feel like have been consistently good at this track and the rest of us are kind of hit or miss,” Elliott said. “Hopefully we can hit it tomorrow and just put together a solid day, try to get some stage points and just get up in the mix.”
HEAT CHECK
The temperature was near 100 degrees when the cars went out for qualifying, and the heat index made it feel even hotter. It’s expected to be about 90 on Sunday.
“There’s less grip and more emphasis on tire management,” Brad Keselowski said. “It will be a different race here than it was in the spring, for sure.”
Truex and Larson are the betting favorites Sunday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-unapologetic-hamlin-says-nascars-point-system-encourages-in-race-urgency-and-aggression/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:15 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-unapologetic-hamlin-says-nascars-point-system-encourages-in-race-urgency-and-aggression/ |
(Green Car Reports) — GM brought back the Chevrolet Bolt EV this week—as a future affordable EV product peg for the company’s product plan.
While the timeline is yet to be disclosed for the revamped Bolt EV, the timeline for the current Bolt EV disappearing from dealerships remains confirmed.
In April, GM disclosed that it would discontinue the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV at the end of 2023, as production winds down at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan. GM had already committed that plant to produce the Chevrolet Silverado EV and other large electric trucks on its Ultium platform.
“Drawing on various Ultium and Ultifi technological advancements will help GM bring this popular model back to market on an accelerated timeline,” GM said Tuesday, confirming that the future Bolt EV won’t carry over its existing propulsion tech.
Future Bolt EV won’t be all-new
The automaker also suggested that not everything on the Bolt EV will be new. GM noted that it “will execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program with significantly lower engineering expense and capital investment by updating the vehicle with Ultium and Ultifi technologies and by applying our ‘winning with simplicity’ discipline.”
Ultium is the broad trade term applying to GM battery and electric propulsion families, and Ultifi is the term applying to its EV software, so this simply means that the future Bolt EV won’t carry forward with its present-generation LG Chem cells. Those cells had been the focus of a very costly, large-scale recall that appears to have been worth the effort, leaving customers satisfied and loyal to the brand and nameplate.
GM had no incentive to carry the current Bolt EV’s battery tech forward anyhow.
“We’re already on the road to delivering a 60% cost reduction compared to the Bolt EV with the next generation of Ultium,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in 2021, of tech set to arrive mid-decade, as part of a statement touting the automaker as one of the few to have an EV that’s as affordable as the Bolt family.
Did GM ever actually kill the Chevy Bolt EV?
GM executives had already hinted to Green Car Reports and other outlets that while future electric small cars might be in the works, those vehicles wouldn’t use the same large-format Ultium pouch cells that GM planned to deploy on everything from the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV on up to big trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV and Chevy Silverado EV.
Likewise, GM and Honda announced in April 2022 that they were working together on a joint architecture for affordable EVs—one that would use “next-generation Ultium battery technology,” according to GM.
At that time, those compact EVs were set to arrive for 2026. It’s hard to imagine GM working on multiple compact EV platforms outside China, so this week’s announcement likely signals that the project has been pulled ahead—perhaps like how the automaker managed to accelerate development of the Cadillac Lyriq.
GM may have provided some of the answer to what comes next. Earlier this year the company clarified that it might include the flexibility of cylindrical cells in future EVs, as part of its Ultium tech but not as part of the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture. That was made clearer this April with the announcement of a joint venture between GM and Samsung SDI that will mass-produce cylindrical cells for GM products starting in 2026.
The lower-profile cells would help answer the dimensional challenges that make those large-format cells harder to package within a small car or beneath the floor of a low-profile vehicle.
Bolt EV’s manufacturing dilemma
While the Bolt EV’s Michigan plant shifts to electric truck production later in the year, the automaker doesn’t have other immediate options for U.S. manufacturing. GM vacated its Lordstown, Ohio, plant that used to assemble compact cars and is located near the Ultium LLC cells facility. It’s now under the ownership of Foxconn, which will likely assemble the $29,900 Fisker Pear urban EV there.
Meanwhile, demand for the Bolt EV surges, and GM will face a gap in its lineup after the end of the year. Of the 36,024 EVs GM delivered in the first half of 2023, just 2,365 were of its new-generation Ultium EVs. The remaining 33,659 were Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
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In its update for investors earlier this week, CEO Barra pointed to the Bolt as one of its most in-demand vehicles, at or under a 10-day supply in dealer inventory.
“Actually, we can’t build enough Bolts right now,” Barra said to Wolfe Research analyst Rod Lache. | https://www.yourbasin.com/automotive/whether-gm-killed-the-chevy-bolt-ev-or-not-its-returning-soon/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:16 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/automotive/whether-gm-killed-the-chevy-bolt-ev-or-not-its-returning-soon/ |
(iSeeCars) — The average new car costs $43,528, while the average one-to-five-year-old used car costs $34,291 according to the latest iSeeCars data.
While used cars are significantly cheaper than new cars, both are still a major expense. That’s why it’s important to set a realistic budget and determine how much money you can afford to pay for your new — or new to you — car. We have the answers to help you determine that age-old question: how much car can I afford?
- Determine Your Credit Score
Unless you’re paying for your car in full, you’ll need to secure a car loan. The first step toward getting a car loan and figuring out how much you can afford to pay is determining your credit score. This can also be referred to as your “FICO score” and is a numerical representation of your credit history. The three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – can each provide you with your FICO credit score. Another option is to check with your bank or credit card companies. Many of these institutions also provide a free credit monitoring service that will tell you your credit score.
A credit report, as well as monitoring services, also include a record of your credit history, including any items that are lowering your credit score. The higher your credit score, the better loan term you will be able to secure. Car manufacturers and dealerships will advertise special payment terms like zero-percent financing, but it’s important to remember those terms typically only apply to buyers with favorable, if not top-tier, credit scores.
If your credit score is low, you should try to boost your number before you purchase a car. You should aim for a credit score of 680 or above, but higher is always better. You can start by making sure you make your credit card and loan payments — especially any auto loan payments — on time. Resolve any past-due accounts, and pay down as much of the balance on your loans as you can, especially revolving credit accounts. You should also avoid opening new accounts, as frequent inquiries to the credit bureaus seeking new credit can lower your credit score.
While a good credit score isn’t required to secure a car loan, it will afford you a better annual percentage rate (APR) on the interest you’ll have to pay. The higher interest rate you have, the more you will end up paying in the long run. If you are unable to achieve a favorable credit score, another option is to get a co-signer on your loan. Your co-signer will agree to make loan payments if you default on your loan, which can lower an otherwise high interest rate.
- Determine Your Down Payment
Making a down payment will lower the amount of the loan, or principle, you will need to take out, which will reduce your monthly payment. This also reduces the overall interest you’ll pay on the loan over time. While this can help make a car easier to afford, don’t deplete your savings account. Be sure to keep enough money on hand for whatever surprises might come your way. Dealers and lenders may offer deals for zero down payment financing, but you can still put money down to shorten the length of your loan and reduce your monthly payment.
- Estimate the Value of Your Trade-In
The process of trading in your car begins with determining how much your car is worth. Major factors that impact your car’s value include how many miles it has on the odometer and its overall condition. Having your vehicle professionally detailed can also boost the trade-in value for your current vehicle.
Several websites, including Edmunds (Edmunds.com) and Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) have valuation tools that will give you a ballpark estimate on the value of your car. Make sure you are as honest as possible in answering any questions about your car’s condition. Some valuation tools offer an estimate specifically for trade-in value, but that’s just what it is – an estimate.
You can also sell your car to a private buyer, which will be more profitable than trading your car into a dealership. In this instance, you can price your car in accordance with its market value, which is higher than your car’s trade-in value. A car’s trade-in value is the amount of money a car dealer will offer you for your vehicle, whereas market value, also referred to as private party value, is the amount of money you would get selling your car directly to a buyer. Because dealerships handle the complex process of selling the vehicle, they offer a lower trade-in value to ensure they make a profit when they sell the car.
There are helpful online tools like the iSeeCars Price My Car Tool, which provide a detailed pricing report to help calculate your used car’s value. Simply enter your vehicle’s VIN or provide its make, model, year, trim, style, and mileage.
Whether you decide to sell your car privately or trade-in at the dealership, you can apply your car’s value toward the purchase price of your next vehicle, along with your down payment if you’re making one.
- Calculate Your Car Budget
Setting a monthly budget will guide your new or used car search. As a general rule of thumb, your car payment should not exceed 10 percent of your monthly income, and your total car expenses (fuel, maintenance, car insurance, registration) should not exceed 15 percent of your monthly take-home pay, which is the amount of money you make each month after taxes. Or, if you’re paying in cash, determine the amount you’re willing to pay for your vehicle. You can use the 15 percent rule as a guide, but if you have other major monthly expenses like student loans, you should determine a monthly payment you can comfortably afford.
- Determine Your Car Loan Amount
After you determine your monthly payment amount, you can determine how much you can borrow from a lender for your car purchase. One way to do this is by obtaining a pre-approval letter from a financial institution, which will review your credit history to determine how much money they will loan you. Keep in mind that you might be pre-approved for more than you can afford, so make sure you stick to your budget. You can also use a car affordability calculator, which is available on many personal finance websites, by entering your credit score, estimated monthly payment, and desired loan term. Remember — the shorter your loan term, the less you will pay in interest over time. Don’t be tempted to stretch out your loan term in order to have a lower monthly payment, because you’ll end up paying more in the long term. For example, if you purchase a $25,000 used car and put $4,000 down with an interest rate of 4.5 percent, your monthly payment on a four-year loan will be roughly $625 and you will pay $1,488 in interest over the duration of the loan. If you spread the loan out over five years with a higher interest rate of 5 percent, you will pay roughly $396 per month and nearly double, $2,778, in total interest. While a smaller monthly payment might seem appealing, it will cost you a lot more in the long run.
It’s important to note that most lenders will not provide a loan on a vehicle that’s more than five years old, so if you are relying on the financing you should consider a later model used vehicle.
- Shop Around for the Best Loan Rates
You should always visit a bank or credit union to get pre-approved for a loan before you go to the dealership. Even if you plan on securing an auto loan through the dealership, having a pre-approval option from a financial institution can help you negotiate against the dealer’s rate. It will also show them that you are a serious buyer, which will give you more bargaining power. Because dealers make more money on vehicles they finance, they will likely try to beat the rates you’ve already secured.
- New Car or Used Car?
When purchasing a vehicle, you have the choice of buying a new or used car. Although they are more expensive, there are perks to buying a new vehicle, including peace of mind, the reduced likelihood of unexpected repair bills, and warranty coverage. New cars also typically come with lower interest rates and financial incentives.
According to an iSeeCars study on off-lease car deals, the average used car loses 39 percent of its value after three years. When you buy a used car, the largest percentage of depreciation has already been absorbed by the original owner, and you get the car at a much lower price. You can even buy a car that is just one year old, which will typically cost 17 percent less than its new version. However, in today’s market, some lightly used cars cost more than their new versions, so be sure to compare the cost of new and lightly used vehicles. You may find that buying a new car is a better financial decision than purchasing a lightly-used one.
If you’re purchasing your used car through a franchise dealer, you will have the option to purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) car. (Check out our handy guide to learn what does certified pre-owned mean? to better understand the CPO car buying process.) CPO cars are typically used cars that are less than five-years-old and have fewer than 75,000 miles on the odometer. CPO cars typically cost slightly more than non-certified used cars, but they are backed by manufacturer warranties and may also carry special financing. CPO cars combine the best of both the new and used car worlds, by offering added warranty protection on a late-model used car.
- Buying or Leasing?
Another factor to consider is whether you want to buy or lease your vehicle. If you choose to lease, you don’t need to finance because you’re not buying the car. You just need to be able to afford the down payment and the monthly payments. If you don’t want to borrow from a bank and take out a loan, leasing could be your best option. Your lease payments typically cost less money than what you would pay for a monthly car payment if you were buying the vehicle. You can also get a much nicer car for your money and get to drive a new car every few years. Another benefit of leasing is that you don’t have to pay for repairs, as issues with your car that occur during your lease term are usually covered by the car’s factory warranty.
The downside to leasing is that you never own the vehicle. As soon as your leasing term ends, you will begin the cycle again. If you purchase a vehicle, you will likely be able to enjoy several years without a car payment, provided that you don’t take out too long of a loan term. Another drawback is that car leases come with mileage limits, which commonly range from 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. If you exceed those mileage limits, you will have to pay excessive mileage fees, which can get expensive. Lastly, the upfront cost to lease is usually more than if you were purchasing. You might need to put down a larger down payment due to your credit score, and it’s likely that the dealership will often want the first month’s payment as well.
For more information on leasing vs. buying a car, refer to our guide.
- Be Sure to Factor In Extra Costs
It’s important to make sure you budget for more than the advertised price of the car. While each state has different taxes and associated fees, you can expect to pay an extra 10% on top of the purchase price to cover the total cost of the vehicle. This includes sales tax, which is typically 5 percent to 10 percent depending on your state. There’s also documentation and registration fees, which also vary by state and the amount can be found on your state’s department of motor vehicles website. If you’re financing the vehicle, it’s important to understand you’ll also be paying interest on the financed portion of the vehicle. You should also research the car’s ownership costs to get a better understanding of what you’ll be paying per month. Car insurance is a major added expense, and it will cost more on later-model used vehicles. Be sure to check with your insurance agent before you purchase the vehicle to get an idea of what your new monthly rate will be. Be aware that used car insurance rates are also higher on sports cars and performance vehicles. You can also take the opportunity to shop around with other auto insurance companies to compare insurance quotes to ensure you’re getting the best rate. If you’re purchasing an SUV or a less fuel-efficient vehicle, you should also factor in additional fuel costs to make sure there is room in your budget. (You can refer to our list of Best Gas Mileage Cars to help reduce your fuel costs.)
- Find the Right Car
Once you’ve determined your budget, you can now search for cars within your budget. Helpful car websites and search engines have made it easier and more convenient than ever to find the right car to meet your needs. Car search engines like iSeeCars.com equip buyers with all the information they need to find the right vehicle.
- Beware of Depreciation
The depreciation on a new car means there’s a much greater loss in its value in the first few years after purchase compared to a used car. After all, The average new car loses nearly half its value after five years. If you’re going to keep your new car for the life of your loan, which will likely be between 5 and 7 years, that’s not a concern. But if you decide to switch cars earlier, the vehicle’s depreciation represents a significant ownership cost. If you plan to switch cars every few years you’ll save a lot of money buying cars that are at least 3 years old. Keep in mind that cars depreciate at different rates, so buying a car that best holds its value is a smart purchase decision.
12. Find the Best Price
Now that you’ve selected which models you’re interested in, you can do your research to find the best deal. While this mainly applies to used cars, which vary greatly in pricing, you can also do research to see which dealerships and manufacturers are offering the best new car incentives and finance rates. You may find that you can afford a more expensive vehicle than you anticipated if you spot a good deal.
Used car search engine iSeeCars.com uses data to objectively rank millions of cars and thousands of dealers, providing helpful insights and guidance to car buyers to find a good car at a good price from a trustworthy seller. Used car search engines and research sites allow you to easily compare prices and features like warranties, vehicle histories, and condition. Tools like the iSeeCars free VIN check will provide you with a pre-purchase analysis to ensure you are making the smartest purchase decision possible. It will also alert you to any red flags that could end up costing you money down the road. This includes:
- Pricing Analysis – Calculates the car’s fair value based on the local market and maps similar cars for sale locally.
- Condition – Analysis of mileage on the odometer, positives and negatives about the vehicle’s features and condition, and other resources like theft record, recalls.
- Depreciation – Estimates how much the car will depreciate over 1, 3, and 5 years
- Supply Analysis –Identifies similar vehicles for sale within the local area.
- Best Time to Buy – Analyzes when or what months may get you a better price.
- Vehicle History – Free CARFAX or Autocheck reports when provided by the seller.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re buying or leasing a car, it’s important to understand that you’ll likely keep your vehicle for several years. When taking out an auto loan or signing a lease contract, do your best to anticipate your future financial situation and make sure you’ll be able to make payments for the duration of the payment term. Also, when you determine how much you can afford to pay for a vehicle, you can still shop for cars that cost less than that amount. Just like it’s important to do your research and shop around for a vehicle, the same rule extends to auto loans. Follow our steps and you will find the best car at the best price within your budget.
More from iSeeCars:
Ready to begin your used car search? The iSeeCars.com used car search engine is the perfect place to start. With millions of listings that rank the best deals first and 59 user-friendly search filters, it can help you find the best car at the best price. And be sure to check out the comprehensive iSeeCars VIN check report to further help guide you through the car buying process and securethe best deal possible.
This article, How Much Car Can I Afford?, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com. | https://pix11.com/automotive/how-much-car-can-i-afford-3/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:20 | 0 | https://pix11.com/automotive/how-much-car-can-i-afford-3/ |
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit Donald Trump filed against CNN in which the former U.S. president claimed that references in news articles or by the network's hosts to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election as "the Big Lie" was tantamount to comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
Trump had been seeking punitive damages of $475 million in the federal lawsuit filed last October in South Florida, claiming the references hurt his reputation and political career. Trump is a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination in what is his third run for the presidency.
U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump, said Friday in his ruling that the former president's defamation claims failed because the references were opinions and not factual statements. Moreover, it was a stretch to believe that, in viewers' minds, that phrase would connect Trump's efforts challenging the 2020 election results to Nazi propaganda or Hitler's genocidal and authoritarian regime, the judge said.
"CNN's use of the phrase 'the Big Lie' in connection with Trump's election challenges does not give rise to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people," the judge wrote in his decision.
Email messages seeking comment were sent to Trump's attorneys in South Florida and Washington. Email messages seeking comment also were sent to CNN attorneys in Atlanta and South Florida.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-federal-judge-has-dismissed-trumps-defamation-case-against-cnn-over-the-big-lie | 2023-07-30T18:03:20 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-federal-judge-has-dismissed-trumps-defamation-case-against-cnn-over-the-big-lie |
CNN panel clashes over Biden acknowledging 7th grandchild: 'It's not Republicans' who made Hunter a 'scumbag'
'It's not Republicans' who 'made Hunter Biden into a complete scumbag,' CNN political commentator Scott Jennings said
A CNN panel discussion over President Biden's acknowledgment of his 7th grandchild, Hunter Biden's daughter, got heated on Sunday after a former assistant to the president said the subject was "gross and uncomfortable."
CNN's Kasie Hunt asked former special assistant to President Biden Michael LaRosa about why it "took so long" for the Bidens to acknowledge their 7th grandchild.
"First of all, I respect you as a journalist for having to ask the question, but it is a very gross and uncomfortable subject to talk about," LaRosa began.
Kasie pushed back and said, "Let's not call a little girl gross."
BIDEN FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON GRANDDAUGHTER HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE FOR A YEAR
"I'm talking about the inter sanctum of a family and the privacy of what goes on in a family," LaRosa continued, arguing that Hunter's daughter shouldn't be weaponized by Republicans.
"And everyone is welcome to make their own personal judgments on the Bidens, but it is frankly — they are a family, a real family, with real feelings, with real struggles and challenges, like every family. And I guarantee you that the more that the Republicans make this an issue, it will not work. Voters appreciate, voters relate to having struggles in their own families. They root for people with vulnerabilities. They root for people who understand and relate to them. And ultimately, the Bidens are a real family, just like everyone else," he continued.
Hunt asked CNN political commentator Scott Jennings about how Biden has made "being a family man" a big part of his "political identity."
"It’s not Republicans, with all due respect, who made Hunter Biden into a complete scumbag on this and other issues. The ignoring his own daughter, for four years! And the President of the United States hanging up a stocking for the dog and not for his seventh grandchild," he responded.
JOE BIDEN’S 2020 HUNTER NARRATIVE IS ‘HARDER TO MAKE NOW,’ NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER ADMITS
Hunt interrupted and said that we could "also have sympathy for people who are struggling with addiction," asking him to keep the conversation respectful.
"I agree. And a lot of families deal with addiction, and who ends up picking up the pieces? The grandparents. And in this case, the grandparents would not acknowledge this little girl. It is offensive," he continued.
Hunt added, "but they have now," referring to Biden having issued a statement acknowledging Navy Joan Roberts on Friday.
"Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward," Biden said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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"This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter," he added. "Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy."
"Oh, what a hero. The polling must have been brutal. The polling must have been brutal," Jennings said, responding to Hunt.
Democratic strategist Karen Finney attempted to pivot to Vice President Harris, arguing that it was "far more appalling" to see Republicans "calling the Vice President of the United States a liar."
She said the conversation surrounding Florida's slavery curriculum was "far more troubling" than an "addict and a bad family situation."
Fox News' Brandon Gillisepie and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion, and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media. | https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-panel-clashes-over-biden-acknowledging-7th-grandchild-not-republicans-who-made-hunter-scumbag | 2023-07-30T18:03:20 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-panel-clashes-over-biden-acknowledging-7th-grandchild-not-republicans-who-made-hunter-scumbag |
(NEXSTAR) – Have you ever found yourself at a crosswalk, waiting for the walk sign to appear as traffic buzzes by. And even though you press the crosswalk button – maybe multiple times – it seems to take forever for the light to change in your favor.
While some slow-changing stop lights just need you to tell them you’re there, some crosswalk signals don’t care how many times you press the crosswalk button – it’ll change when it’s ready.
Let’s explain.
It’s not exactly clear when and where the first walk/don’t walk signs were installed, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Records show it likely occurred in the 1930s, and they were much like they are today.
“When it was on, all traffic approaching the intersection stopped so pedestrians could cross the streets in all directions, including diagonally,” the DOT writes. One early system gave pedestrians 20 seconds to cross the street every 100 seconds. Another gave pedestrians the walk signal while traffic moving in the same direction had a green light.
About three decades later, crosswalk buttons began appearing. They were intended to allow vehicle traffic to continue moving smoothly until a pedestrian came along rather than frequently stopping traffic for nobody.
Today, many of those buttons are useless.
In Austin, Texas, for example, most of the downtown intersections have walk indicators that are part of the normal traffic cycle, the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department told Nexstar. This means pedestrians don’t have to push a button at all (however, outside of downtown Austin, almost all signals do have buttons).
In San Francisco, there are 1,286 traffic signals operated by the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency, 610 of which have a version of a pedestrian push button, a spokesperson told Nexstar.
At just 264 of those, pedestrians need to press a button to get a ‘walk’ signal to cross some or all of the streets at the intersection. San Francisco has 490 signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signal buttons – which verbally tell pedestrians what streets they’re on and when to cross – at 143 intersections, those buttons are also used to activate a walk signal at some or all of the crosswalks, a spokesperson explains.
Few work in Boston as well, where city officials told the Boston Globe there is too much vehicular and foot traffic to let one person influence the whole traffic light setup. Only about 100 of the roughly 1,000 pedestrian buttons in New York City work, according to reports. High costs of removing some of the non-working buttons prompted city officials to leave them in place, The New York Times reported, prompting many to find themselves pushing a useless button.
In addition to the impacts the buttons can have on interrupting traffic, some cities have cited their required maintenance when opting to abandon them.
Crosswalk signals that are actuated, meaning they are triggered by a pedestrian hitting the button or loop detectors, generally require more upkeep, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Still, actuated signals could be beneficial “where vehicle and pedestrian volumes vary considerably throughout the day.”
While some cities may leave you confused about whether the crosswalk button actually works, San Francisco has placed signs at intersections that require you to hit the button.
Unless you’re instructed not to push the crosswalk button, it’s likely in your favor to press the button to get the ‘walk’ signal. If you find yourself waiting for an extended period of time, you can cross the street when safe to do so. You can also report a walk signal that should be functioning but isn’t to your city, sometimes by calling 311 if your community uses that number. | https://wgntv.com/news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:21 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ |
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The Biden White House has tried to present itself as being above the fray of day-to-day squabbles, but increasingly, it’s jumping in, bashing the GOP and other critics at every opportunity.
The administration didn’t miss a chance this week to hammer Republicans over Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) floating that the House would move towards an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. They were quick with memos and statements to criticize the GOP attacks as a “clown carousel” and the idea of pursuing impeachment as “baseless.”
And the White House issued a scathing rebuke of Fox New host Greg Gutfeld, who said that Jews captured and tortured during the Holocaust survived by having skills and being useful, calling out his comments as a “dangerous, extreme lie.”
The new levels of punchy rhetoric preview the White House messaging strategy going into 2024, which is to fight back and call out what they consider extreme.
It’s a shift from their previous attitude, which was to let what they considered to be Republican chaos speak for itself.
“The cost is too expensive, both short and long term, to let them operate in a vacuum without showing that one, we know how to fight; two, that we will fight; three, we fight with facts and not with some flaming lies of information,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist.
Early in Biden’s presidency, the White House was careful not to weigh in on controversial comments from the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), hoping to avoid elevating her words and giving the far-right congresswoman more of a platform.
When McCarthy was struggling in January to get enough votes to be Speaker of the House, they sat back and watched it unfold.
Biden gently knocked the vote series at the time, saying “it’s a little embarrassing it’s taking so long,” but also added, “that’s not my problem.” The White House had also insisted that Biden would not “insert himself” into the election, which ended up taking 15 ballots for McCarthy to finally clench enough votes.
But this week, when the Speaker signaled that the House could move forward with an impeachment inquiry, the White House came out with multiple statements and highlighted quotes from fellow Republicans in his conference pushing back on the idea.
It also released a memo about Republicans’ slams against the president overall, reflecting the Biden argument that the GOP is stepping up attacks on Hunter Biden and talk of impeachment because the economy is getting stronger and is now a less effective avenue for attack.
Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court Wednesday, where his plea deal was put on hold by a judge who questioned the scope of the agreement.
The White House this week touted “Bidenomics” after GDP numbers showed surprisingly strong economic growth. It rebuked GOP lawmakers for not embracing the data, pointing to Fox Business anchor Cheryl Casone, who said on Thursday, “There goes that recession talk, right?”
“Even Fox Business is welcoming today’s blockbuster economic growth numbers, the latest in a long line of proof points that Bidenomics is delivering for middle class families,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo. “That’s because this strong growth report is objectively good news for the American people, which elected officials should support regardless of their political party.”
In the past, the White House has called out what it deemed antisemitism, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in particular has spearheaded the effort against hatred towards Jewish Americans. The rebuke of Gutfeld was particularly notable, considering it called the conservative media voice’s comments insulting to the memory of people who suffered the Holocaust.
Over the last week, Vice President Harris has taken over attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, over changes his administration has made over the way slavery is taught in his state. She quickly traveled to Jacksonville to deliver remarks over his recent moves.
And press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has turned Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) into an almost-daily punching bag, chastising him for blocking military promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
Democrats argue that it’s significant the White House is getting punchier and not relying on the Biden reelection campaign to do it for them.
“I think the reason why it’s so important that it comes from the White House is because Joe Biden is a president for all people, and that White House works for all people,” Seawright said. “It helps weed out some of the foolishness, because I don’t think we can afford at this moment to let false information go unchecked or go numb to bad or false information for the sake of political gain.”
Another Democratic strategist argued the White House has picked its spots well, seeking to highlight when Republicans are fixated on issues that don’t resonate with most moderate voters. The strategist pointed to the GOP’s fixation on Hunter Biden as an example of something that is unlikely to move many mainstream voters.
Democratic communications strategist Katie Grant Drew noted the window for moving legislation closes early in election cycles so it “makes sense” the White House is preparing for 2024.
“They know they’re going to have to defend against Republicans’ insatiable appetite for investigations and impeachments, and the best defense is a good offense,” said Drew, a principal at Monument Advocacy. “When top Republicans continue to spout controversial rhetoric and spend time on divisive issues that the vast majority of Americans don’t agree with, the White House is going to use those moments to illustrate to the American people how extreme today’s Republican Party has become.”
Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist think tank Third Way, said Biden and his team are wisely both selling their own victories and highlighting Republican dysfunction.
Ultimately, though, Kessler argued the 2024 election will be decided by broader issues such as the economy, something the White House has leaned into with its recent messaging.
“This election is going to come down to the middle. The middle ideologically, the middle of the country geographically, and the middle class,” Kessler said. “These are places where Biden’s got to win.” | https://www.yourbasin.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:22 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.
“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.
“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.
Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.
“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],” he said.
Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic organism responsible for the infection, is primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, but also hot springs, improperly chlorinated pool water, improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe.
This brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring within another one to 18 days of the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most infections tend to occur between June and September, but cases outside of these months are not entirely unheard of, Kyle said.
N. fowleri is also found in higher concentrations in warmer, smaller bodies of freshwater, but the organism can be found in pretty much any freshwater lake, including cooler, clearer waters, Kyle said. There was even a case in 2016 in which a teenager contracted a fatal infection of N. fowleri after going whitewater rafting — an activity generally undertaken in less-risky colder waters.
The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time.
And climate change, as scientists have observed, is already having an impact on the temperature of the world’s freshwater lakes. The quality and color of the water can also change due to warming temperatures, recent studies have suggested.
“There’s a constant risk in warmer climates,” Kyle remarked.
The amoeba itself can’t be specifically targeted with current treatments either, leading to a fatality rate of 97%. In fact, Kyle only knows of four known cases in the U.S. where patients survived, and “maybe” seven globally.
“I’m not convinced that were any further along in getting better treatment,” Kyle told Nexstar of the current antifungal and antibiotic cocktails that are currently used. “But If people can get diagnosed earlier, even with the suboptimal treatments that we have, they have a better chance of survival.”
To that end, Kyle, and the families of some of the victims, are hoping to spread awareness of the disease. He and his colleagues have also worked to identify what they believe is a biomarker that can help doctors diagnose infection earlier than previously possible, but their test is not yet FDA-approved.
“Most tests use cerebral spinal fluid, but we don’t have to have that,” he told Nexstar. “We can use blood or even urine. In our analyst studies, we can detect it three or four days before symptoms develop. I’m pretty excited.”
Preventing infection in the first place is currently the best course of action, he added.
“Raising awareness helps. But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,” he said. “It’s incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.”
People can also take precautions by avoiding bodies of warm freshwater, and especially refraining from jumping or diving into such waters, which increases the risk of having contaminated water forced into the nose. He also recommends using nose plugs, keeping your head above the surface, and properly cleaning and chlorinating wading pools, swimming pools and spas (or opting for salt-water pools or spa facilities).
Parents should also know that children are at the highest risk of infection, but likely for no other reason than that they’re more prone to be more active in the water.
“It’s difficult to define the risk,” Kyle said. “But think of it like a lightning storm. Everybody knows not to walk outside in a lightning storm with a golf club in their hands. But many parents don’t know the risk that their kids might be open to.” | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:24 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ |
(Green Car Reports) — GM brought back the Chevrolet Bolt EV this week—as a future affordable EV product peg for the company’s product plan.
While the timeline is yet to be disclosed for the revamped Bolt EV, the timeline for the current Bolt EV disappearing from dealerships remains confirmed.
In April, GM disclosed that it would discontinue the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV at the end of 2023, as production winds down at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan. GM had already committed that plant to produce the Chevrolet Silverado EV and other large electric trucks on its Ultium platform.
“Drawing on various Ultium and Ultifi technological advancements will help GM bring this popular model back to market on an accelerated timeline,” GM said Tuesday, confirming that the future Bolt EV won’t carry over its existing propulsion tech.
Future Bolt EV won’t be all-new
The automaker also suggested that not everything on the Bolt EV will be new. GM noted that it “will execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program with significantly lower engineering expense and capital investment by updating the vehicle with Ultium and Ultifi technologies and by applying our ‘winning with simplicity’ discipline.”
Ultium is the broad trade term applying to GM battery and electric propulsion families, and Ultifi is the term applying to its EV software, so this simply means that the future Bolt EV won’t carry forward with its present-generation LG Chem cells. Those cells had been the focus of a very costly, large-scale recall that appears to have been worth the effort, leaving customers satisfied and loyal to the brand and nameplate.
GM had no incentive to carry the current Bolt EV’s battery tech forward anyhow.
“We’re already on the road to delivering a 60% cost reduction compared to the Bolt EV with the next generation of Ultium,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in 2021, of tech set to arrive mid-decade, as part of a statement touting the automaker as one of the few to have an EV that’s as affordable as the Bolt family.
Did GM ever actually kill the Chevy Bolt EV?
GM executives had already hinted to Green Car Reports and other outlets that while future electric small cars might be in the works, those vehicles wouldn’t use the same large-format Ultium pouch cells that GM planned to deploy on everything from the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV on up to big trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV and Chevy Silverado EV.
Likewise, GM and Honda announced in April 2022 that they were working together on a joint architecture for affordable EVs—one that would use “next-generation Ultium battery technology,” according to GM.
At that time, those compact EVs were set to arrive for 2026. It’s hard to imagine GM working on multiple compact EV platforms outside China, so this week’s announcement likely signals that the project has been pulled ahead—perhaps like how the automaker managed to accelerate development of the Cadillac Lyriq.
GM may have provided some of the answer to what comes next. Earlier this year the company clarified that it might include the flexibility of cylindrical cells in future EVs, as part of its Ultium tech but not as part of the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture. That was made clearer this April with the announcement of a joint venture between GM and Samsung SDI that will mass-produce cylindrical cells for GM products starting in 2026.
The lower-profile cells would help answer the dimensional challenges that make those large-format cells harder to package within a small car or beneath the floor of a low-profile vehicle.
Bolt EV’s manufacturing dilemma
While the Bolt EV’s Michigan plant shifts to electric truck production later in the year, the automaker doesn’t have other immediate options for U.S. manufacturing. GM vacated its Lordstown, Ohio, plant that used to assemble compact cars and is located near the Ultium LLC cells facility. It’s now under the ownership of Foxconn, which will likely assemble the $29,900 Fisker Pear urban EV there.
Meanwhile, demand for the Bolt EV surges, and GM will face a gap in its lineup after the end of the year. Of the 36,024 EVs GM delivered in the first half of 2023, just 2,365 were of its new-generation Ultium EVs. The remaining 33,659 were Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
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Updated July 30, 2023 at 1:02 PM ET
KHAR, Pakistan — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader on Sunday in the country's northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers' convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. "Such crimes cannot be justified in any way," he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
"There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs," he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been "martyred" and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers' convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at the city's mosque at police headquarters in February this year.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar's main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
"Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones," Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
"I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground," he said. "We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people | 2023-07-30T18:03:26 | 0 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people |
House Republican warns GOP to be 'better than Nancy Pelosi' in possible Biden impeachment: 'Follow the facts'
Controversial moves like impeachment could put Republicans' majority in the House 'at risk,' Mace warned
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., admitted that Republicans are currently split over the possibility of impeaching President Biden over allegations related to possible involvement with his son Hunter Biden's business dealings, warning that if it does happen, her party has to make sure they have a strong case.
In an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," the South Carolina Republican noted that the GOP can use an impeachment inquiry as "another tool in the toolbox" without taking the step of impeachment itself, while warning that controversial moves like impeachment can come with a price.
"I will tell you, every time we walk the plank we put moderate members – members that won Biden-won districts – we are putting those seats at risk for 2024. We are putting the majority at risk," she said, noting that this applies to other polarizing issues as well, like abortion.
Mace also accused Democrats of politicizing the impeachment process with their impeachments of former President Donald Trump, noting that Republicans need to base their actions on their findings, not on any political agenda.
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"Whatever the evidence shows us, we ought to follow the facts, and we have to be better than Nancy Pelosi," Mace said. "Pelosi really politicized the impeachment process. We do not want to do that here."
Mace approached the subject of impeaching a president seriously, stating that if the House were to take that step, she and her colleagues would need to have a strong case.
"We have to show overwhelming, undeniable evidence in order to move this thing forward, and if we can’t then we should not. But if we do, then we ought to use every tool in the toolbox to make sure the American people see it for what it is, and we can hold everyone accountable."
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on "Hannity" last week that the situation was "rising to the level of impeachment inquiry," but Mace is not the only Republican to note that impeachment should be based on standards, not politics.
Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., said Wednesday it is irresponsible for Republicans to be "raising the I-word" because it "sends a message to the public and sets expectations. Buck did acknowledge that House committees' probes are fair and that such an investigation is indeed the chamber's responsibility.
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Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also added that no official should be impeached unless the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors" has been definitively reached.
"I'm not going to support impeaching somebody just because I don't like their politics," he said.
Fox News' Charles Creitz contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-warns-gop-better-pelosi-possible-biden-impeachment | 2023-07-30T18:03:26 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-warns-gop-better-pelosi-possible-biden-impeachment |
(NEXSTAR) – Facebook users still have a few weeks to claim their piece of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay to resolve a lawsuit. Ex-Facebook users can get in on the action too, as long as they meet a few criteria.
The main requirement is that you had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time.
Even people who deleted their Facebook account qualify – they’re just likely to see a smaller payout. How big your check ends up being depends in part on how long your account was active.
People have until Aug. 25, 2023 to file a claim, either online or by mail.
After the deadline passes, a judge will need to give the settlement final approval. That hearing is set for Sept. 7.
If the settlement gets the final OK, it’s not yet clear when the payments will be sent out – but you might not need to wait for a check in the mail. When submitting your claim, you can fill out your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or direct deposit info to get your payment sent straight to your account.
It’s also not clear how much each eligible recipient will get. Legal fees and administrative costs need to be deducted first. The remaining amount will be divvied up among eligible Facebook users, but we don’t know how many people have submitted a claim.
We asked Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts, to help us estimate a figure. He broke down all the factors that go into calculating the size of a class action lawsuit payment, and said that based on similar cases he estimated the higher end of payments might be in the “triple digits.” Many more people will likely receive less than $100, he estimated.
Earlier this year, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming Facebook allowed users’ personal data to be shared with third parties, the most famous being Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:27 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.
“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.
“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.
Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.
“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],” he said.
Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic organism responsible for the infection, is primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, but also hot springs, improperly chlorinated pool water, improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe.
This brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring within another one to 18 days of the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most infections tend to occur between June and September, but cases outside of these months are not entirely unheard of, Kyle said.
N. fowleri is also found in higher concentrations in warmer, smaller bodies of freshwater, but the organism can be found in pretty much any freshwater lake, including cooler, clearer waters, Kyle said. There was even a case in 2016 in which a teenager contracted a fatal infection of N. fowleri after going whitewater rafting — an activity generally undertaken in less-risky colder waters.
The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time.
And climate change, as scientists have observed, is already having an impact on the temperature of the world’s freshwater lakes. The quality and color of the water can also change due to warming temperatures, recent studies have suggested.
“There’s a constant risk in warmer climates,” Kyle remarked.
The amoeba itself can’t be specifically targeted with current treatments either, leading to a fatality rate of 97%. In fact, Kyle only knows of four known cases in the U.S. where patients survived, and “maybe” seven globally.
“I’m not convinced that were any further along in getting better treatment,” Kyle told Nexstar of the current antifungal and antibiotic cocktails that are currently used. “But If people can get diagnosed earlier, even with the suboptimal treatments that we have, they have a better chance of survival.”
To that end, Kyle, and the families of some of the victims, are hoping to spread awareness of the disease. He and his colleagues have also worked to identify what they believe is a biomarker that can help doctors diagnose infection earlier than previously possible, but their test is not yet FDA-approved.
“Most tests use cerebral spinal fluid, but we don’t have to have that,” he told Nexstar. “We can use blood or even urine. In our analyst studies, we can detect it three or four days before symptoms develop. I’m pretty excited.”
Preventing infection in the first place is currently the best course of action, he added.
“Raising awareness helps. But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,” he said. “It’s incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.”
People can also take precautions by avoiding bodies of warm freshwater, and especially refraining from jumping or diving into such waters, which increases the risk of having contaminated water forced into the nose. He also recommends using nose plugs, keeping your head above the surface, and properly cleaning and chlorinating wading pools, swimming pools and spas (or opting for salt-water pools or spa facilities).
Parents should also know that children are at the highest risk of infection, but likely for no other reason than that they’re more prone to be more active in the water.
“It’s difficult to define the risk,” Kyle said. “But think of it like a lightning storm. Everybody knows not to walk outside in a lightning storm with a golf club in their hands. But many parents don’t know the risk that their kids might be open to.” | https://wgntv.com/news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:27 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ |
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ND Gov Burgum slams RNC ‘clubhouse rules,’ accuses party of trying to keep ‘fresh faces’ off debate stage
Burgum met RNC requirements for first GOP debate on Aug. 23
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, accused the Republican National Committee of trying to keep new voices off the debate stage.
Burgum, the latest candidate to meet the RNC’s polling and fundraising thresholds for the first GOP debate on Aug. 23, made the comments during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" when addressing his controversial approach for attaining the required 40,000 unique donations.
"These are in the clubhouse rules designed to keep fresh faces, fresh ideas, entrepreneurs and innovators off the stage because you set a limit like this and of course it favors people who've held national office, it favors people who have been, you know, pundits on TV, and it favors people that have been career politicians and their name recognition," Burgum said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the RNC but did not immediately hear back.
THESE REPUBLICANS HAVE MET QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Burgum’s approach involved giving donors $20 gift cards for a $1 donation, something the second-term governor and former software executive has previously called a "completely legal" hack. Burgum said it was a bargain compared to the "$100 per customer acquisition" that consulting firms would have charged him.
The method helped secure his spot on the first Republican debate stage.
One of the Republican National Committee's requirements is for debate participants to receive at least 40,000 individual contributions with at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states.
Its second qualification is that candidates either earn 1% support in three national polls, or in two national polls and two polls from two of the first four states voting in the GOP primary.
So far, the candidates qualified for the first debate are Burgum, former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Fox News is scheduled to host the Aug. 23 showdown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It remains to be seen if Trump will choose to participate.
Fox News’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nd-gov-burgum-slams-rnc-clubhouse-rules-accuses-party-trying-keep-fresh-faces-debate-stage | 2023-07-30T18:03:29 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nd-gov-burgum-slams-rnc-clubhouse-rules-accuses-party-trying-keep-fresh-faces-debate-stage |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Four people are dead and two are hospitalized after two separate crashes on Saturday. Both incidents are connected to an annual air show in Wisconsin, according to officials.
The first crash happened shortly after 9 a.m. A T-6 Texan aircraft crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, where the Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual fly-in convention, EAA AirVenture.
Both people aboard the aircraft died, according to EAA officials.
A few hours later, a Rotorway 162F helicopter and ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter collided in mid-air at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flight line at Wittman Regional Airport, killing two and injuring two others. Both of the injured are in stable condition, according to EAA.
The Oshkosh Fire Department said one of the aircraft landed on top of a parked plane, but did not clarify which.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both accidents and has not provided a cause for either.
“Naturally, with the mid-air collision, somebody was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” EAA director of communications Dick Knapinski said. “How that occurred and why that occurred is what the NTSB will investigate and, from then, lessons will be learned as to what aviators can do to keep themselves safer.”
The investigation will likely take months to reach its conclusion.
“NTSB investigations typically take between a full year to 18 months to complete,” Knapinski explained. “They will have a preliminary investigation within the next week or so and then put out those findings. But the probable cause will probably take a year or more to determine by the board.”
The factors the NTSB will examine in its investigations include weather conditions, pilot experience, aircraft condition, flight pattern, and communication between ground and flight operations to determine the cause, which could be pilot error, a mechanical issue, or another reason, according to Knapinski. He described the weather as “mild” and likely not a contributing factor.
“Having accidents like this in the singular is very rare,” he said. “Having two fatal accidents take place on the same day is exceedingly rare.”
These are not the first incidents regarding aircraft at or en route to EAA this week. On Thursday, a single-engine plane bound for EAA AirVenture crash-landed in a cornfield in Green Lake County, hospitalizing two people.
On Tuesday, Knapinski said there was a “forced landing” east of the north/south runway at EAA AirVenture. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured.
Last Saturday, a single-engine ERCO Ercoupe headed to EAA AirVenture crashed in Fond du Lac County, injuring the pilot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:28 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ |
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Voting rights activists are returning to court to fight Alabama’s redrawn congressional districts, saying state Republicans failed to follow federal court orders to create a district that is fair to Black voters.
Plaintiffs in the high-profile redistricting case filed a written objection Friday to oppose Alabama’s new redistricting plan. They accused state Republicans of flouting a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it” and enacting a map that continues to discriminate against Black voters in the state.
A special three-judge panel in 2022 blocked use of the the state’s existing districts and said any new congressional map should include two districts where “Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority” or something close. That panel’s decision was appealed by the state but upheld in June in a surprise ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which concurred that having only one Black-majority district out of seven — in a state where more than one in four residents is Black — likely violated federal law.
The plaintiffs in the case, represented by the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and other groups, asked the three-judge panel to step in and draw new lines for the state.
“Alabama’s new congressional map ignores this court’s preliminary injunction order and instead perpetuates the Voting Rights Act violation that was the very reason that the Legislature redrew the map,” lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the case wrote.
The new map enacted by the Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature maintained one-majority Black district but boosted the percentage of Black voters in the majority-white 2nd Congressional District, now represented by Republican Rep. Barry Moore, from about 30% to 39.9%
Lawyers representing plaintiffs in the case wrote Friday that the revamped district “does not provide Black voters a realistic opportunity to elect their preferred candidates in any but the most extreme situations.” They accused state Republicans of ignoring the courts’ directive to prioritize a district that would stay under GOP control “pleasing national leaders whose objective is to maintain the Republican Party’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Alabama has maintained the new plan complies with the Voting Rights Act, and state leaders are wagering that the panel will accept their proposal or that the state will prevail in a second round of appeals to the Supreme Court. Republicans argued that the map meets the court’s directive and draws compact districts that comply with redistricting guidelines.
The state must file its defense of the map by Aug. 4. The three judges have scheduled an Aug. 14 hearing in the case as the fight over the map shifts back to federal court.
The outcome could have consequences across the country as the case again weighs the requirements of the Voting Rights Act in redistricting. It could also impact the partisan leanings of one Alabama congressional district in the 2024 elections with control of the U.S House of Representatives at stake.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that Alabama’s new map is a “brazen defiance” of the courts.
“The result is a shameful display that would have made George Wallace—another Alabama governor who defied the courts—proud,” Holder said in a statement. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/plaintiffs-in-voting-rights-case-urge-judges-to-toss-alabamas-new-congressional-map/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world | 2023-07-30T18:03:30 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/plaintiffs-in-voting-rights-case-urge-judges-to-toss-alabamas-new-congressional-map/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
The ‘Barbie’ bonanza continues at the box office, ‘Oppenheimer’ holds the No. 2 spot
NEW YORK (AP) — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
“Barbie,” the pink-infused pop sensation, has seen remarkably sustained business following its year-best $162 million opening. Its ticket sales dipped only 43%.
“Barbie” has also outpaced Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” to notch the best first two weeks in theaters of any Warner Bros. release. It’s rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie” has made at least $20 million.
“Oppenheimer,” from Universal Pictures, again landed in second place with an estimated $46.2 million. It, too, held especially strong in its second weekend, with sales decreasing just 44%. Nolan’s three-hour drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million thus far.
With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to a film industry still recovering ground it lost during the pandemic, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. Its domestic total stands at $139.2 million.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/2023/07/30/barbie-bonanza-continues-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-no-2-spot/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:30 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/2023/07/30/barbie-bonanza-continues-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-no-2-spot/ |
Former President Trump’s legal crises are growing more serious this week and show no signs of fading, even as his 2024 bid for the White House barrels forward.
Federal prosecutors filed additional serious charges against Trump on Thursday over his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House, and anticipation has reached a fever pitch over whether Trump will be charged in Washington, D.C., for his conduct after the 2020 election.
Here are five takeaways from the latest legal developments around Trump.
The new documents case charges are serious
The additional charges filed in Thursday’s superseding indictment point to more serious allegations against Trump that could make his grip on the GOP more tenuous in the months to come.
Prosecutors laid out a new set of allegations that Trump acted with two aides in attempts to delete surveillance footage at Mar-a-Lago after prosecutors subpoenaed it in connection with their investigation in June 2022. Trump now faces two new obstruction charges in connection with the allegations.
The indictment also included a new charge over Trump’s retention of a classified document containing secret Pentagon plans to attack Iran. The document is at the center of a recorded conversation mentioned in the original indictment in which Trump is discussing the materials with individuals who did not have security clearances.
The former president has tried to claim that he may not have had the physical document at the time, but the fresh allegations suggest prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to bring charges over the incident.
The nature of the allegations are sure to fuel further charges from Trump’s critics that he is unfit for office.
“I’ve never been indicted and I am not a lawyer, but if you are deleting evidence, it is because you know you are committing a crime,” former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), a 2024 presidential candidate, said Thursday night. “And anybody who supports this, anybody who defends this, is complicit in endangering America.”
Trump’s circle is increasingly implicated
The superseding indictment added a third defendant to the case: Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
De Oliveira joins longtime Trump aide Walt Nauta in being charged in connection with the former president’s retention of classified documents and possible obstruction of efforts to get them back.
The indictment alleges De Oliveira, 56, extensively pushed Mar-a-Lago’s director of information technology (IT) — who was not charged or named in the indictment — to delete surveillance footage after prosecutors subpoenaed it in June 2022 in connection with their investigation.
Other Trump associates could still be implicated in the ongoing investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, particularly over a scheme to appoint alternative electors that would flip the Electoral College in Trump’s favor.
“Sadly, I’ve made this statement to many different people … Walt Nauta, run. Carlos [De Oliveira], run,” said Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney who reached a deal with prosecutors in Manhattan and has since turned against the former president.
Volume of legal risks is on the rise
One concern for Trump is that the sheer volume of charges against him is mounting, increasing his legal exposure.
The superseding indictment in the documents case means Trump now faces a total of 40 criminal counts in that case alone, three more than he did previously.
Trump is separately facing 34 felony counts in Manhattan over allegations of a hush money scheme to keep quiet allegations of an affair.
And Trump may face charges elsewhere; he is still under federal investigation in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Legal experts have noted that the more charges Trump faces, the greater his risk of being convicted on even a single count. “If you had a choice, you wouldn’t want to be indicted in three different jurisdictions,” said one Republican strategist.
Jan. 6 charges loom
Trump attorneys met with special counsel Jack Smith’s office Thursday over the investigation into the former president’s efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.
With an indictment seeming imminent, Trump’s lawyers sought to make the case for why their client should not be charged.
A grand jury has typically been meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, though no indictment was announced this week.
Still, Trump has received a target letter in the case, typically a sign that prosecutors have enough evidence to charge an individual in an investigation.
On top of the anticipation that is building over charges in D.C., the former president is under investigation in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the state’s election results in 2020. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has indicated charges could be announced in August, setting up for yet another cycle of bad legal developments for the former president.
Trump ups pressure on GOP allies
As the legal pressure on Trump mounts, he has turned to some of his Republican allies to ratchet up their defenses.
Trump, in comments to Fox News Digital after the superseding indictment was filed, complained that the charges against him were “ridiculous” and that the Justice Department was abusing its power.
“Hopefully the Republican Party will do something about it,” Trump said.
The former president’s comments may turn up the heat on some of his supporters in the House, and even Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), to back funding cuts to the special counsel’s office. Such measures have been floated by staunch Trump allies such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
The reality for Republicans is they will have to continue to answer questions about Trump’s conduct as the cases against him develop and the charges potentially mount.
Trump, asked if he would end his 2024 campaign even if convicted, told conservative radio host John Fredericks, “not at all.”
“There’s nothing in the Constitution to say that it could. And not at all,” Trump said. “Even the radical left crazies are saying no, that wouldn’t stop. And it wouldn’t stop me either.” | https://pix11.com/hill-politics/5-takeaways-as-trumps-legal-troubles-mount/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:32 | 1 | https://pix11.com/hill-politics/5-takeaways-as-trumps-legal-troubles-mount/ |
A New Hampshire nurse and her child were kidnapped in Haiti late last week, according to the humanitarian organization El Roi Haiti.
Alix Dorsainvil works as a community health nurse for El Roi Haiti and is also married to the group's founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince.
In a statement posted to its website on Saturday, El Roi Haiti said Alix and the couple's child were taken Thursday morning from the organization's campus near Port-au-Prince.
"Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family," the group said. "Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus."
El Roi Haiti is a Christian organization that operates a K-12 school for Haitian children and offers a variety of other programs, including adult education, vocational instruction and discipleship training.
Alix Dorsainvil is originally from New Hampshire, but had been living in Haiti and operating a children's clinic for El Roi Haiti, according to a promotional video on the organization's website.
"Haitians are such a resilient people. They're full of joy and life and love," she said in the video. "I'm so blessed to be able to know so many amazing Haitians."
El Roi Haiti said it was working with its "partners and trusted relationships" to get Alix and her child returned safely, and said it was "grateful for the outpouring of prayers, care, and support for our colleague."
A State Department spokesperson told NPR that the administration is aware of reports that two U.S. citizens had been kidnapped in Haiti.
"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the spokesperson said.
The State Department is in regular contact with Haitian authorities, the spokesperson added, and is continuing to work with them and other U.S. government interagency partners.
Unrest in Haiti has worsened lately, with gangs controlling much of the country including the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The National Human Rights Defense Network said earlier this month that deadly violence and kidnappings have been surging in Haiti, with at least 75 people killed and 40 abducted between May and mid-July, the Associated Press reported.
In 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, kidnappers abducted a group of 17 missionaries on their way back from helping to build an orphanage. Five of the missionaries were later released, while 12 would eventually escape their captors.
On July 14, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution asking the secretary-general to provide some possible options to "enhance the security situation" in Haiti, including a possible U.N. peacekeeping force.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti | 2023-07-30T18:03:32 | 1 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti |
Brewers' Justin Wilson suffers injury right before he was set to make first appearance since elbow surgery
Wilson hit the injured list on Saturday
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Justin Wilson suffered another setback on Friday night just before he was set to make his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of last year.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell called Wilson out to the mound during the team’s 10-7 loss to the Atlanta Braves. However, there was an issue. Cameras in the bullpen showed Wilson grabbing his left arm as he appeared to be in a tremendous amount of pain before he was to go into the game.
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Counsell said the pitcher "felt something pretty significant" in his lat or triceps, according to MLB.com.
"To get all the way back and be ready to do the fun stuff, which is pitch in a game," Counsell said. "It’s just really unfortunate."
Milwaukee placed Wilson on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain on Saturday. The team recalled Trevor Megill from Triple-A Nashville to take over the spot.
Wilson made his Major League debut in 2012 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and only allowed one earned run in eight appearances. The following season, he became a full-time reliever and posted a 2.08 ERA in 58 games.
He then played for the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds before landing with the Brewers this past offseason.
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It’s unclear whether Wilson will return down the stretch for Milwaukee. | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brewers-justin-wilson-suffers-injury-right-set-make-first-appearance-elbow-surgery | 2023-07-30T18:03:32 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brewers-justin-wilson-suffers-injury-right-set-make-first-appearance-elbow-surgery |
(NEXSTAR) – Facebook users still have a few weeks to claim their piece of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay to resolve a lawsuit. Ex-Facebook users can get in on the action too, as long as they meet a few criteria.
The main requirement is that you had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time.
Even people who deleted their Facebook account qualify – they’re just likely to see a smaller payout. How big your check ends up being depends in part on how long your account was active.
People have until Aug. 25, 2023 to file a claim, either online or by mail.
After the deadline passes, a judge will need to give the settlement final approval. That hearing is set for Sept. 7.
If the settlement gets the final OK, it’s not yet clear when the payments will be sent out – but you might not need to wait for a check in the mail. When submitting your claim, you can fill out your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or direct deposit info to get your payment sent straight to your account.
It’s also not clear how much each eligible recipient will get. Legal fees and administrative costs need to be deducted first. The remaining amount will be divvied up among eligible Facebook users, but we don’t know how many people have submitted a claim.
We asked Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts, to help us estimate a figure. He broke down all the factors that go into calculating the size of a class action lawsuit payment, and said that based on similar cases he estimated the higher end of payments might be in the “triple digits.” Many more people will likely receive less than $100, he estimated.
Earlier this year, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming Facebook allowed users’ personal data to be shared with third parties, the most famous being Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported. | https://wgntv.com/news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:33 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ |
Sagaciously, Chuck Landon noted on July 22, “Bottom line? Loyalty is the very foundation of athletics.”
Really? Like the “loyalty” skybox-bouncers showed Doc Holliday when they grabbed him by the seat of his pants and threw him unceremoniously through the uprights onto 5th Avenue in the path of an oncoming TTA bus? Or MU’s “loyalty” shown by its early exit from the MAC to buy into CUSA (because “that’s where the money is!”). And exhibiting that “loyalty” again by buying out of CUSA — again at significant cost — to get into something called the Sun Belt (“because that’s where the money is!”). And WVU abandoning of that “valued concept,” shown in the embarrassing groveling to get out of whatever the current commitments were to get into the Big 12, because, of course, “that’s where the money is!” (Not to mention where WVU was, but I digress).
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The Biden White House has tried to present itself as being above the fray of day-to-day squabbles, but increasingly, it’s jumping in, bashing the GOP and other critics at every opportunity.
The administration didn’t miss a chance this week to hammer Republicans over Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) floating that the House would move towards an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. They were quick with memos and statements to criticize the GOP attacks as a “clown carousel” and the idea of pursuing impeachment as “baseless.”
And the White House issued a scathing rebuke of Fox New host Greg Gutfeld, who said that Jews captured and tortured during the Holocaust survived by having skills and being useful, calling out his comments as a “dangerous, extreme lie.”
The new levels of punchy rhetoric preview the White House messaging strategy going into 2024, which is to fight back and call out what they consider extreme.
It’s a shift from their previous attitude, which was to let what they considered to be Republican chaos speak for itself.
“The cost is too expensive, both short and long term, to let them operate in a vacuum without showing that one, we know how to fight; two, that we will fight; three, we fight with facts and not with some flaming lies of information,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist.
Early in Biden’s presidency, the White House was careful not to weigh in on controversial comments from the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), hoping to avoid elevating her words and giving the far-right congresswoman more of a platform.
When McCarthy was struggling in January to get enough votes to be Speaker of the House, they sat back and watched it unfold.
Biden gently knocked the vote series at the time, saying “it’s a little embarrassing it’s taking so long,” but also added, “that’s not my problem.” The White House had also insisted that Biden would not “insert himself” into the election, which ended up taking 15 ballots for McCarthy to finally clench enough votes.
But this week, when the Speaker signaled that the House could move forward with an impeachment inquiry, the White House came out with multiple statements and highlighted quotes from fellow Republicans in his conference pushing back on the idea.
It also released a memo about Republicans’ slams against the president overall, reflecting the Biden argument that the GOP is stepping up attacks on Hunter Biden and talk of impeachment because the economy is getting stronger and is now a less effective avenue for attack.
Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court Wednesday, where his plea deal was put on hold by a judge who questioned the scope of the agreement.
The White House this week touted “Bidenomics” after GDP numbers showed surprisingly strong economic growth. It rebuked GOP lawmakers for not embracing the data, pointing to Fox Business anchor Cheryl Casone, who said on Thursday, “There goes that recession talk, right?”
“Even Fox Business is welcoming today’s blockbuster economic growth numbers, the latest in a long line of proof points that Bidenomics is delivering for middle class families,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo. “That’s because this strong growth report is objectively good news for the American people, which elected officials should support regardless of their political party.”
In the past, the White House has called out what it deemed antisemitism, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in particular has spearheaded the effort against hatred towards Jewish Americans. The rebuke of Gutfeld was particularly notable, considering it called the conservative media voice’s comments insulting to the memory of people who suffered the Holocaust.
Over the last week, Vice President Harris has taken over attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, over changes his administration has made over the way slavery is taught in his state. She quickly traveled to Jacksonville to deliver remarks over his recent moves.
And press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has turned Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) into an almost-daily punching bag, chastising him for blocking military promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
Democrats argue that it’s significant the White House is getting punchier and not relying on the Biden reelection campaign to do it for them.
“I think the reason why it’s so important that it comes from the White House is because Joe Biden is a president for all people, and that White House works for all people,” Seawright said. “It helps weed out some of the foolishness, because I don’t think we can afford at this moment to let false information go unchecked or go numb to bad or false information for the sake of political gain.”
Another Democratic strategist argued the White House has picked its spots well, seeking to highlight when Republicans are fixated on issues that don’t resonate with most moderate voters. The strategist pointed to the GOP’s fixation on Hunter Biden as an example of something that is unlikely to move many mainstream voters.
Democratic communications strategist Katie Grant Drew noted the window for moving legislation closes early in election cycles so it “makes sense” the White House is preparing for 2024.
“They know they’re going to have to defend against Republicans’ insatiable appetite for investigations and impeachments, and the best defense is a good offense,” said Drew, a principal at Monument Advocacy. “When top Republicans continue to spout controversial rhetoric and spend time on divisive issues that the vast majority of Americans don’t agree with, the White House is going to use those moments to illustrate to the American people how extreme today’s Republican Party has become.”
Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist think tank Third Way, said Biden and his team are wisely both selling their own victories and highlighting Republican dysfunction.
Ultimately, though, Kessler argued the 2024 election will be decided by broader issues such as the economy, something the White House has leaned into with its recent messaging.
“This election is going to come down to the middle. The middle ideologically, the middle of the country geographically, and the middle class,” Kessler said. “These are places where Biden’s got to win.” | https://pix11.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:35 | 0 | https://pix11.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Four people are dead and two are hospitalized after two separate crashes on Saturday. Both incidents are connected to an annual air show in Wisconsin, according to officials.
The first crash happened shortly after 9 a.m. A T-6 Texan aircraft crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, where the Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual fly-in convention, EAA AirVenture.
Both people aboard the aircraft died, according to EAA officials.
A few hours later, a Rotorway 162F helicopter and ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter collided in mid-air at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flight line at Wittman Regional Airport, killing two and injuring two others. Both of the injured are in stable condition, according to EAA.
The Oshkosh Fire Department said one of the aircraft landed on top of a parked plane, but did not clarify which.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both accidents and has not provided a cause for either.
“Naturally, with the mid-air collision, somebody was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” EAA director of communications Dick Knapinski said. “How that occurred and why that occurred is what the NTSB will investigate and, from then, lessons will be learned as to what aviators can do to keep themselves safer.”
The investigation will likely take months to reach its conclusion.
“NTSB investigations typically take between a full year to 18 months to complete,” Knapinski explained. “They will have a preliminary investigation within the next week or so and then put out those findings. But the probable cause will probably take a year or more to determine by the board.”
The factors the NTSB will examine in its investigations include weather conditions, pilot experience, aircraft condition, flight pattern, and communication between ground and flight operations to determine the cause, which could be pilot error, a mechanical issue, or another reason, according to Knapinski. He described the weather as “mild” and likely not a contributing factor.
“Having accidents like this in the singular is very rare,” he said. “Having two fatal accidents take place on the same day is exceedingly rare.”
These are not the first incidents regarding aircraft at or en route to EAA this week. On Thursday, a single-engine plane bound for EAA AirVenture crash-landed in a cornfield in Green Lake County, hospitalizing two people.
On Tuesday, Knapinski said there was a “forced landing” east of the north/south runway at EAA AirVenture. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured.
Last Saturday, a single-engine ERCO Ercoupe headed to EAA AirVenture crashed in Fond du Lac County, injuring the pilot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://pix11.com/news/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:36 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Have you ever found yourself at a crosswalk, waiting for the walk sign to appear as traffic buzzes by. And even though you press the crosswalk button – maybe multiple times – it seems to take forever for the light to change in your favor.
While some slow-changing stop lights just need you to tell them you’re there, some crosswalk signals don’t care how many times you press the crosswalk button – it’ll change when it’s ready.
Let’s explain.
It’s not exactly clear when and where the first walk/don’t walk signs were installed, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Records show it likely occurred in the 1930s, and they were much like they are today.
“When it was on, all traffic approaching the intersection stopped so pedestrians could cross the streets in all directions, including diagonally,” the DOT writes. One early system gave pedestrians 20 seconds to cross the street every 100 seconds. Another gave pedestrians the walk signal while traffic moving in the same direction had a green light.
About three decades later, crosswalk buttons began appearing. They were intended to allow vehicle traffic to continue moving smoothly until a pedestrian came along rather than frequently stopping traffic for nobody.
Today, many of those buttons are useless.
In Austin, Texas, for example, most of the downtown intersections have walk indicators that are part of the normal traffic cycle, the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department told Nexstar. This means pedestrians don’t have to push a button at all (however, outside of downtown Austin, almost all signals do have buttons).
In San Francisco, there are 1,286 traffic signals operated by the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency, 610 of which have a version of a pedestrian push button, a spokesperson told Nexstar.
At just 264 of those, pedestrians need to press a button to get a ‘walk’ signal to cross some or all of the streets at the intersection. San Francisco has 490 signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signal buttons – which verbally tell pedestrians what streets they’re on and when to cross – at 143 intersections, those buttons are also used to activate a walk signal at some or all of the crosswalks, a spokesperson explains.
Few work in Boston as well, where city officials told the Boston Globe there is too much vehicular and foot traffic to let one person influence the whole traffic light setup. Only about 100 of the roughly 1,000 pedestrian buttons in New York City work, according to reports. High costs of removing some of the non-working buttons prompted city officials to leave them in place, The New York Times reported, prompting many to find themselves pushing a useless button.
In addition to the impacts the buttons can have on interrupting traffic, some cities have cited their required maintenance when opting to abandon them.
Crosswalk signals that are actuated, meaning they are triggered by a pedestrian hitting the button or loop detectors, generally require more upkeep, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Still, actuated signals could be beneficial “where vehicle and pedestrian volumes vary considerably throughout the day.”
While some cities may leave you confused about whether the crosswalk button actually works, San Francisco has placed signs at intersections that require you to hit the button.
Unless you’re instructed not to push the crosswalk button, it’s likely in your favor to press the button to get the ‘walk’ signal. If you find yourself waiting for an extended period of time, you can cross the street when safe to do so. You can also report a walk signal that should be functioning but isn’t to your city, sometimes by calling 311 if your community uses that number. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:36 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ |
WATCH: Officers pull unconscious man from burning car
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 12:12 PM CDT|Updated: 51 minutes ago
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (CNN) – Dramatic video out of Texas caught the moment officers pulled a man from a burning car.
Police in White Settlement, Texas, said they responded to a report of a car hitting a pole early Saturday morning.
The responding officers found two people in the car.
The driver was able to get out safely, but a male passenger was unconscious and unable to get out.
Officers quickly pulled the man from the burning car until medics could arrive.
The driver and passenger were taken to a hospital and are expected to survive.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/2023/07/30/watch-officers-pull-unconscious-man-burning-car/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:36 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/2023/07/30/watch-officers-pull-unconscious-man-burning-car/ |
Mauricio Dubon Player Prop Bets: Astros vs. Rays - July 30
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:23 AM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
On Sunday, Mauricio Dubon (.161 on-base percentage in past 10 games, 128 points below season-long percentage) and the Houston Astros play the Tampa Bay Rays, whose starting pitcher will be Zack Littell. First pitch is at 2:10 PM ET.
In his most recent game, he reached base in his only plate appearance against the Rays.
Mauricio Dubon Game Info & Props vs. the Rays
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Minute Maid Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Rays Starter: Zack Littell
- TV Channel: SportsNet SW
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -200)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +850)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +220)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +210)
Looking to place a prop bet on Mauricio Dubon? Check out what's available at BetMGM and use bonus code "GNPLAY" when you sign up with this link!
Read More About This Game
Mauricio Dubon At The Plate
- Dubon is batting .263 with 18 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 walks.
- In 69.8% of his games this season (60 of 86), Dubon has picked up at least one hit, and in 23 of those games (26.7%) he recorded multiple hits.
- He has gone deep in 5.8% of his games this year, and 1.4% of his trips to the dish.
- In 26.7% of his games this season, Dubon has had at least one RBI. He's picked up more than one in 4.7%.
- He has scored in 45 games this year (52.3%), including multiple runs in nine games.
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Mauricio Dubon Home/Away Batting Splits
Rays Pitching Rankings
- The Rays pitching staff is eighth in the league with a collective 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The Rays' 3.82 team ERA ranks fourth among all MLB pitching staffs.
- Rays pitchers combine to allow 114 home runs (1.1 per game), the seventh-fewest in the league.
- Littell (0-2) takes the mound for the Rays in his fourth start of the season. He has a 5.11 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched, with 26 strikeouts.
- In his last time out -- out of the bullpen on Sunday -- the right-hander threw two scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles while surrendering one hit.
- In 16 games this season, the 27-year-old has amassed a 5.11 ERA and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .301 to opposing batters.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mauricio-dubon-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:38 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mauricio-dubon-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
(iSeeCars) — The average new car costs $43,528, while the average one-to-five-year-old used car costs $34,291 according to the latest iSeeCars data.
While used cars are significantly cheaper than new cars, both are still a major expense. That’s why it’s important to set a realistic budget and determine how much money you can afford to pay for your new — or new to you — car. We have the answers to help you determine that age-old question: how much car can I afford?
- Determine Your Credit Score
Unless you’re paying for your car in full, you’ll need to secure a car loan. The first step toward getting a car loan and figuring out how much you can afford to pay is determining your credit score. This can also be referred to as your “FICO score” and is a numerical representation of your credit history. The three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – can each provide you with your FICO credit score. Another option is to check with your bank or credit card companies. Many of these institutions also provide a free credit monitoring service that will tell you your credit score.
A credit report, as well as monitoring services, also include a record of your credit history, including any items that are lowering your credit score. The higher your credit score, the better loan term you will be able to secure. Car manufacturers and dealerships will advertise special payment terms like zero-percent financing, but it’s important to remember those terms typically only apply to buyers with favorable, if not top-tier, credit scores.
If your credit score is low, you should try to boost your number before you purchase a car. You should aim for a credit score of 680 or above, but higher is always better. You can start by making sure you make your credit card and loan payments — especially any auto loan payments — on time. Resolve any past-due accounts, and pay down as much of the balance on your loans as you can, especially revolving credit accounts. You should also avoid opening new accounts, as frequent inquiries to the credit bureaus seeking new credit can lower your credit score.
While a good credit score isn’t required to secure a car loan, it will afford you a better annual percentage rate (APR) on the interest you’ll have to pay. The higher interest rate you have, the more you will end up paying in the long run. If you are unable to achieve a favorable credit score, another option is to get a co-signer on your loan. Your co-signer will agree to make loan payments if you default on your loan, which can lower an otherwise high interest rate.
- Determine Your Down Payment
Making a down payment will lower the amount of the loan, or principle, you will need to take out, which will reduce your monthly payment. This also reduces the overall interest you’ll pay on the loan over time. While this can help make a car easier to afford, don’t deplete your savings account. Be sure to keep enough money on hand for whatever surprises might come your way. Dealers and lenders may offer deals for zero down payment financing, but you can still put money down to shorten the length of your loan and reduce your monthly payment.
- Estimate the Value of Your Trade-In
The process of trading in your car begins with determining how much your car is worth. Major factors that impact your car’s value include how many miles it has on the odometer and its overall condition. Having your vehicle professionally detailed can also boost the trade-in value for your current vehicle.
Several websites, including Edmunds (Edmunds.com) and Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) have valuation tools that will give you a ballpark estimate on the value of your car. Make sure you are as honest as possible in answering any questions about your car’s condition. Some valuation tools offer an estimate specifically for trade-in value, but that’s just what it is – an estimate.
You can also sell your car to a private buyer, which will be more profitable than trading your car into a dealership. In this instance, you can price your car in accordance with its market value, which is higher than your car’s trade-in value. A car’s trade-in value is the amount of money a car dealer will offer you for your vehicle, whereas market value, also referred to as private party value, is the amount of money you would get selling your car directly to a buyer. Because dealerships handle the complex process of selling the vehicle, they offer a lower trade-in value to ensure they make a profit when they sell the car.
There are helpful online tools like the iSeeCars Price My Car Tool, which provide a detailed pricing report to help calculate your used car’s value. Simply enter your vehicle’s VIN or provide its make, model, year, trim, style, and mileage.
Whether you decide to sell your car privately or trade-in at the dealership, you can apply your car’s value toward the purchase price of your next vehicle, along with your down payment if you’re making one.
- Calculate Your Car Budget
Setting a monthly budget will guide your new or used car search. As a general rule of thumb, your car payment should not exceed 10 percent of your monthly income, and your total car expenses (fuel, maintenance, car insurance, registration) should not exceed 15 percent of your monthly take-home pay, which is the amount of money you make each month after taxes. Or, if you’re paying in cash, determine the amount you’re willing to pay for your vehicle. You can use the 15 percent rule as a guide, but if you have other major monthly expenses like student loans, you should determine a monthly payment you can comfortably afford.
- Determine Your Car Loan Amount
After you determine your monthly payment amount, you can determine how much you can borrow from a lender for your car purchase. One way to do this is by obtaining a pre-approval letter from a financial institution, which will review your credit history to determine how much money they will loan you. Keep in mind that you might be pre-approved for more than you can afford, so make sure you stick to your budget. You can also use a car affordability calculator, which is available on many personal finance websites, by entering your credit score, estimated monthly payment, and desired loan term. Remember — the shorter your loan term, the less you will pay in interest over time. Don’t be tempted to stretch out your loan term in order to have a lower monthly payment, because you’ll end up paying more in the long term. For example, if you purchase a $25,000 used car and put $4,000 down with an interest rate of 4.5 percent, your monthly payment on a four-year loan will be roughly $625 and you will pay $1,488 in interest over the duration of the loan. If you spread the loan out over five years with a higher interest rate of 5 percent, you will pay roughly $396 per month and nearly double, $2,778, in total interest. While a smaller monthly payment might seem appealing, it will cost you a lot more in the long run.
It’s important to note that most lenders will not provide a loan on a vehicle that’s more than five years old, so if you are relying on the financing you should consider a later model used vehicle.
- Shop Around for the Best Loan Rates
You should always visit a bank or credit union to get pre-approved for a loan before you go to the dealership. Even if you plan on securing an auto loan through the dealership, having a pre-approval option from a financial institution can help you negotiate against the dealer’s rate. It will also show them that you are a serious buyer, which will give you more bargaining power. Because dealers make more money on vehicles they finance, they will likely try to beat the rates you’ve already secured.
- New Car or Used Car?
When purchasing a vehicle, you have the choice of buying a new or used car. Although they are more expensive, there are perks to buying a new vehicle, including peace of mind, the reduced likelihood of unexpected repair bills, and warranty coverage. New cars also typically come with lower interest rates and financial incentives.
According to an iSeeCars study on off-lease car deals, the average used car loses 39 percent of its value after three years. When you buy a used car, the largest percentage of depreciation has already been absorbed by the original owner, and you get the car at a much lower price. You can even buy a car that is just one year old, which will typically cost 17 percent less than its new version. However, in today’s market, some lightly used cars cost more than their new versions, so be sure to compare the cost of new and lightly used vehicles. You may find that buying a new car is a better financial decision than purchasing a lightly-used one.
If you’re purchasing your used car through a franchise dealer, you will have the option to purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) car. (Check out our handy guide to learn what does certified pre-owned mean? to better understand the CPO car buying process.) CPO cars are typically used cars that are less than five-years-old and have fewer than 75,000 miles on the odometer. CPO cars typically cost slightly more than non-certified used cars, but they are backed by manufacturer warranties and may also carry special financing. CPO cars combine the best of both the new and used car worlds, by offering added warranty protection on a late-model used car.
- Buying or Leasing?
Another factor to consider is whether you want to buy or lease your vehicle. If you choose to lease, you don’t need to finance because you’re not buying the car. You just need to be able to afford the down payment and the monthly payments. If you don’t want to borrow from a bank and take out a loan, leasing could be your best option. Your lease payments typically cost less money than what you would pay for a monthly car payment if you were buying the vehicle. You can also get a much nicer car for your money and get to drive a new car every few years. Another benefit of leasing is that you don’t have to pay for repairs, as issues with your car that occur during your lease term are usually covered by the car’s factory warranty.
The downside to leasing is that you never own the vehicle. As soon as your leasing term ends, you will begin the cycle again. If you purchase a vehicle, you will likely be able to enjoy several years without a car payment, provided that you don’t take out too long of a loan term. Another drawback is that car leases come with mileage limits, which commonly range from 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. If you exceed those mileage limits, you will have to pay excessive mileage fees, which can get expensive. Lastly, the upfront cost to lease is usually more than if you were purchasing. You might need to put down a larger down payment due to your credit score, and it’s likely that the dealership will often want the first month’s payment as well.
For more information on leasing vs. buying a car, refer to our guide.
- Be Sure to Factor In Extra Costs
It’s important to make sure you budget for more than the advertised price of the car. While each state has different taxes and associated fees, you can expect to pay an extra 10% on top of the purchase price to cover the total cost of the vehicle. This includes sales tax, which is typically 5 percent to 10 percent depending on your state. There’s also documentation and registration fees, which also vary by state and the amount can be found on your state’s department of motor vehicles website. If you’re financing the vehicle, it’s important to understand you’ll also be paying interest on the financed portion of the vehicle. You should also research the car’s ownership costs to get a better understanding of what you’ll be paying per month. Car insurance is a major added expense, and it will cost more on later-model used vehicles. Be sure to check with your insurance agent before you purchase the vehicle to get an idea of what your new monthly rate will be. Be aware that used car insurance rates are also higher on sports cars and performance vehicles. You can also take the opportunity to shop around with other auto insurance companies to compare insurance quotes to ensure you’re getting the best rate. If you’re purchasing an SUV or a less fuel-efficient vehicle, you should also factor in additional fuel costs to make sure there is room in your budget. (You can refer to our list of Best Gas Mileage Cars to help reduce your fuel costs.)
- Find the Right Car
Once you’ve determined your budget, you can now search for cars within your budget. Helpful car websites and search engines have made it easier and more convenient than ever to find the right car to meet your needs. Car search engines like iSeeCars.com equip buyers with all the information they need to find the right vehicle.
- Beware of Depreciation
The depreciation on a new car means there’s a much greater loss in its value in the first few years after purchase compared to a used car. After all, The average new car loses nearly half its value after five years. If you’re going to keep your new car for the life of your loan, which will likely be between 5 and 7 years, that’s not a concern. But if you decide to switch cars earlier, the vehicle’s depreciation represents a significant ownership cost. If you plan to switch cars every few years you’ll save a lot of money buying cars that are at least 3 years old. Keep in mind that cars depreciate at different rates, so buying a car that best holds its value is a smart purchase decision.
12. Find the Best Price
Now that you’ve selected which models you’re interested in, you can do your research to find the best deal. While this mainly applies to used cars, which vary greatly in pricing, you can also do research to see which dealerships and manufacturers are offering the best new car incentives and finance rates. You may find that you can afford a more expensive vehicle than you anticipated if you spot a good deal.
Used car search engine iSeeCars.com uses data to objectively rank millions of cars and thousands of dealers, providing helpful insights and guidance to car buyers to find a good car at a good price from a trustworthy seller. Used car search engines and research sites allow you to easily compare prices and features like warranties, vehicle histories, and condition. Tools like the iSeeCars free VIN check will provide you with a pre-purchase analysis to ensure you are making the smartest purchase decision possible. It will also alert you to any red flags that could end up costing you money down the road. This includes:
- Pricing Analysis – Calculates the car’s fair value based on the local market and maps similar cars for sale locally.
- Condition – Analysis of mileage on the odometer, positives and negatives about the vehicle’s features and condition, and other resources like theft record, recalls.
- Depreciation – Estimates how much the car will depreciate over 1, 3, and 5 years
- Supply Analysis –Identifies similar vehicles for sale within the local area.
- Best Time to Buy – Analyzes when or what months may get you a better price.
- Vehicle History – Free CARFAX or Autocheck reports when provided by the seller.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re buying or leasing a car, it’s important to understand that you’ll likely keep your vehicle for several years. When taking out an auto loan or signing a lease contract, do your best to anticipate your future financial situation and make sure you’ll be able to make payments for the duration of the payment term. Also, when you determine how much you can afford to pay for a vehicle, you can still shop for cars that cost less than that amount. Just like it’s important to do your research and shop around for a vehicle, the same rule extends to auto loans. Follow our steps and you will find the best car at the best price within your budget.
More from iSeeCars:
Ready to begin your used car search? The iSeeCars.com used car search engine is the perfect place to start. With millions of listings that rank the best deals first and 59 user-friendly search filters, it can help you find the best car at the best price. And be sure to check out the comprehensive iSeeCars VIN check report to further help guide you through the car buying process and securethe best deal possible.
This article, How Much Car Can I Afford?, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com. | https://wgntv.com/news/how-much-car-can-i-afford-3/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:39 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/how-much-car-can-i-afford-3/ |
What’s fact and what’s fiction in Apple TV’s telling of the Beanie Baby phenomenon
People of a certain generation remember the hype around Beanie Babies—a phenomenon so ridiculous it now seems unreal.
The rise and inevitable fall of the infamous stuffed toy was the subject of Zac Bissonnette’s heavily researched 2015 book “The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute.” The details were so mind-boggling that directors Kristin Gore and Damian Kulash immediately knew it would make a compelling drama.
“It’s an incredibly wild and absurd story about this insane speculative craze that is super colorful and interesting,” says Gore, the filmmaker of “The Beanie Bubble” (now in select theaters and on Apple TV+), who also wrote the script. “But it was the women’s stories behind the phenomenon that really spoke to us, and that’s what we wanted to make the movie about: who we value in our culture, what we value, and the female relationship to the American dream.”
“The Beanie Bubble” stars Zach Galifianakis as real-life toy titan H. Ty Warner, but shifts its perspective away from him to three pivotal women in his life. Each impacted the success of Beanie Babies, but never got the credit they were due. Instead of directly recounting the facts in Bissonnette’s book, Gore and Kulash elected to fictionalize certain aspects.
“It went through many drafts,” Gore explains. “And then we developed this idea of wanting to tell more of a fable and a universal story.”
“There are so many weird little snippets of things that happened around the swirl of Beanie Babies that, if you wanted to tell a purely real story, it’s there,” Kulash adds. “But it wouldn’t have the same heart and depth and human journey through it.”
The film, told in a non-linear fashion that allows its three story lines to reach a similar emotional crescendo, makes no pretense that some of it isn’t accurate, opening with the tag: “There are parts of the truth you just can’t make up. The rest, we did.” But despite some narrative dramatization, much of “The Beanie Bubble” is based on fact.
Real people, fake names
While the three characters who narrate the story are fictional, each is based on an actual woman from Warner’s life.
Robbie Jones (Elizabeth Banks) embodies the characteristics and history of Patricia Roche, Warner’s former business partner and girlfriend, who went on to become a highly successful businesswoman after leaving Ty Inc., Warner’s company. Sheila Harper (Sarah Snook) stands in for Faith McGowan, Warner’s ex-girlfriend, whose two young daughters inspired some of the Beanie Babies. Maya Kumar (Geraldine Viswanathan) is a version of Lina Trivedi, a Ty Inc. employee who was responsible for creating one of the world’s first e-commerce websites, which sold the highly coveted toys.
Bissonnette confirms to The Times that these portrayals are realistic. “Anyone who wants to know what the actual, exact distinctions were, you would probably just have to read the book,” he says. “But, yeah, the broad strokes of it are there. Those were the relationships.”
“We saw in them a similar pattern of falling for something, throwing themselves into it, believing it, and then this disillusionment with what happens,” Gore adds.
The real women‘s names are not used in the film for legal reasons. “The Beanie Bubble” is based on Bissonnette’s book, not on external interviews. Gore and Kulash didn’t want to consult with Warner or Ty Inc., and they felt they couldn’t fairly go out to anyone else without talking to him.
“It got too complicated,” Gore recalls. “Because of that, and out of respect to the changes we made, we said, ‘Okay, let’s change their names.’ ”
A charismatic showman
The character of Ty Warner is complicated, veering between likable and despicable. But the version of him that appears in the film adheres to what is known about Warner. He had a difficult childhood and a big personality. He often wore flamboyant clothes, especially when selling toys, and became obsessed with plastic surgery. He was both compelling and selfish, as evidenced by several scenes.
“Ty’s great talent, among many other things, was he was able to capture people’s attention and convince them that he was giving them something that was really important,” Bissonnette says. “That’s what he did with Beanie Babies, and that’s what he did [in relationships]. He was absolutely magnetic. [But] by the ends of the relationships people had with him, they tended to feel that he did not deliver on what they had thought.”
There’s one key scene in the film that never happened, at least to the filmmakers’ knowledge. When Ty decides to propose to Sheila, he enlists her children for a choreographed dance to Ready for the World’s 1985 hit single “Oh Sheila” at the local roller rink.
“What we loved in that dance scene is that it‘s the most charming thing, especially to this ferocious single mother, to do something so loving and beautiful with her daughters,” Kulash explains. “But it also puts himself center stage.”
“There were a lot of reasons we wanted that scene, but it encapsulates so much of the spirit of him,” Gore says. “That feels very true to him.”
Online sales
While it’s hard to remember a time when online shopping wasn’t the norm, the initial Beanie Babies were all sold in real-world stores. It wasn’t until Trivedi, who also came up with the idea of adding birthdays and poems onto the toy’s tags, approached Warner about creating an e-commerce website for Ty Inc. that the true sales explosion occurred.
At first, Warner was reluctant to engage with the internet, which Trivedi had learned about in a college class. “Lina brought her modem in from home into Ty’s office to show him that were people talking about Beanie Babies on the internet,” Bissonnette says. “Beanie Babies had started to take off online and Ty didn’t have any interest. She actually got online and showed him, ‘These are the message boards where people are talking about your product.’”
Trivedi launched the first Beanie Babies website in late 1995 with great success. But it was also the advent of eBay that increased the toys’ popularity and demand, as the film accurately depicts.
“Now eBay is such a behemoth and everything is online, but [1995] really was this intersection,” Gore says. “eBay would not have existed without Beanie Babies — it would have gone under. It essentially became a clearinghouse for Beanie Babies.”
Auctions work when something’s value is uncertain, Bissonnette explains. “You really could not have invented a better product to drive mass adoption of e-commerce than what Beanie Babies were,” he says. “Beanie Babies were absolutely pivotal to the ability of eBay to grow and gain scale and become an e-commerce giant.”
Complete freakout
By late 1995, Beanie Babies were a full-fledged craze. The demand was immense and people reacted with fervor. Mail carriers delivering boxes of Beanie Babies to stores were forced to cover up the Ty Inc. logo. Divorcing couples fought over stuffed-animal collections. Some of the news footage seen in “The Beanie Bubble” is archival, but most of the TV clips were re-created for the movie.
“We shot our own versions of people grabbing things off of shelves,” Gore says. “And then we also have some real historical footage of people grabbing things off shelves. But everything was re-created from something real.”
The film opens with a memorable sequence involving a truck filled with Beanie Babies crashing on the highway. That did actually happen in 1999, with frenetic fans running from their cars to grab the toys on an Atlanta freeway. The filmmakers used 10,700 colorful Beanie Babies manufactured specifically for the film, but in reality, a truck could have carried hundreds of thousands of the toys.
“There were slightly different mechanics of the crash, but they did all spill out,” Gore says of their re-creation. “We wanted to open the movie with that from the beginning, as soon as we found out that had actually happened, because it felt like a metaphor for the whole story.”
“It’s so dramatic, so ridiculous, so beautiful,” Kulash offers. “It’s like this gorgeous ballet that leads to people being so petty and stupid.”
Happy endings
Beanie Babies may now be relatively worthless, but Warner remains a billionaire. Despite a conviction for tax evasion in 2014, he is a successful businessman with investments in several hotels, including the Four Seasons in New York City and the Biltmore in Santa Barbara. The film leaves him on a less-than-positive note, but Gore and Kulash purposefully gave each of the female characters a triumphant conclusion.
The tags seen at the end were written for the fictional characters, but they do reflect what happened to each woman. Ultimately, the filmmakers wanted to end each of their arcs in, as Gore puts it, “moments of maximum joy and victory.”
“You want to leave the film feeling pissed off at the system, but also feel like we have some power to do something about it,” Kulash explains. “We needed them to be in a good place. Their adventure movie is over and you’re on their team. And in real life, all of them did leave that situation of their own volition, so that was the moment we could universalize.”
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-07-30/the-beanie-bubble-fact-fiction-apple-sarah-snook-zach-galifianakis | 2023-07-30T18:03:40 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-07-30/the-beanie-bubble-fact-fiction-apple-sarah-snook-zach-galifianakis |
Salvage crews begin towing a burning cargo ship to a new location off the Dutch coast as smoke eases
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Salvage crews started towing a burning cargo ship loaded with thousands of cars to a temporary anchorage location off the northern Dutch coast on Sunday after smoke pouring from the stricken vessel eased, authorities said.
On Saturday night, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management had said the Fremantle Highway was unlikely to be moved because of a southeasterly wind blowing smoke from the days-old fire over tugboats.
But that changed Sunday.
“The smoke from the cargo ship subsided considerably this afternoon and the salvage combination Multraship/Smit Salvage immediately made use of this,” the ministry said in a statement referring to two salvage companies involved in the operation.
The ship was being slowly towed by two tugs to a temporary anchor point about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of the Dutch islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland.
Experts are continuously monitoring the ship’s stability and a specialized boat used to clean up oil is nearby in case there is a spill, the ministry added.
The salvage teams ultimately want to tow the stricken ship to a port but it is not yet clear where or when that will happen.
The crews on Saturday attached a second towing cable to the ship, which was transporting 3,783 new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles, from the German port of Bremerhaven to Singapore.
The ship has been burning since Tuesday. Firefighters decided not to douse the flames with water for fear of making the nearly 200-meter (219-yard) ship unstable as it floats close to North Sea shipping lanes and a world-renowned migratory bird habitat.
One crew member died and others were injured after the fire broke out. The crew was evacuated in the early hours of Wednesday.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/salvage-crews-begin-towing-a-burning-cargo-ship-to-a-new-location-off-the-dutch-coast-as-smoke-eases/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:40 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/salvage-crews-begin-towing-a-burning-cargo-ship-to-a-new-location-off-the-dutch-coast-as-smoke-eases/ |
JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Seven motorcyclists were injured in a crash involving a hit-and-run SUV driver on Saturday, the Highway Patrol said.
State troopers said it happened just before 10:15 p.m. on US 70 westbound.
A large group of motorcyclists were on the road when a black/dark-colored Ford Explorer changed lanes, striking the motorcyclist at the front of the pack. That caused a chain reaction where three other motorcycles collided.
Other riders told the Highway Patrol that the Explorer accelerated and exited at US-70 business and speeded into Smithfield.
Another rider who followed the SUV told troopers that the Ford started running red lights in the city and that he eventually lost sight of the vehicle.
Five vehicles were involved in the crash and seven people were injured, Three of the injured riders were taken to WakeMed in Cary. Two of them sustained serious injuries.
Authorities said Sunday that they are still looking for the SUV, which likely sustained rear damage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Highway Patrol. | https://abc11.com/7-motorcyclists-injured-johnston-county-us-70-crash-smithfield/13573411/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:40 | 1 | https://abc11.com/7-motorcyclists-injured-johnston-county-us-70-crash-smithfield/13573411/ |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — L’ Amico in the Flatiron District serves fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes topped with blueberries and farm eggs with sausage during weekend brunch.
PIX11’s Kirstin Cole has more in the video player.
NEW YORK (PIX11) — L’ Amico in the Flatiron District serves fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes topped with blueberries and farm eggs with sausage during weekend brunch.
PIX11’s Kirstin Cole has more in the video player. | https://pix11.com/news/morning/brunch/nyc-brunch-spot-serves-up-european-favorites/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:40 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/morning/brunch/nyc-brunch-spot-serves-up-european-favorites/ |
How to Watch the Orioles vs. Yankees Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 30
The Baltimore Orioles and Ryan Mountcastle will square off against the New York Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this game and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
Bet with theKing of Sportsbooks and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers! Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles vs. Yankees Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Time: 7:10 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Orioles rank 14th in MLB play with 122 home runs. They average 1.2 per game.
- Baltimore's .417 slugging percentage ranks 10th-best in MLB.
- The Orioles' .248 batting average ranks 17th in the majors.
- Baltimore has the No. 11 offense in MLB action, scoring 4.8 runs per game (502 total runs).
- The Orioles' .316 on-base percentage is 19th in baseball.
- The Orioles' 8.3 strikeouts per game rank 11th in baseball.
- The nine strikeouts per nine innings put together by Baltimore's pitching staff ranks 11th in MLB.
- Baltimore's 4.19 team ERA ranks 15th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- The Orioles average baseball's 19th-ranked WHIP (1.302).
Yankees Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Yankees rank sixth in Major League Baseball with 144 home runs.
- Fueled by 292 extra-base hits, New York ranks 18th in MLB with a .404 slugging percentage this season.
- The Yankees have a team batting average of just .230 this season, which ranks 29th among MLB teams.
- New York has scored 454 runs (4.4 per game) this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.
- The Yankees have an on-base percentage of .302 this season, which ranks 26th in the league.
- The Yankees are one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking seventh with an average of 8.1 strikeouts per game.
- New York strikes out 8.8 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 13th in MLB.
- New York pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.86 ERA this year, fifth-best in baseball.
- The Yankees have a combined 1.239 WHIP as a pitching staff, fifth-lowest in MLB.
Orioles Probable Starting Pitcher
- The Orioles are sending Dean Kremer (10-4) to the mound for his 22nd start of the season. He is 10-4 with a 4.59 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings pitched.
- The righty last appeared on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
- Kremer is looking to record his 11th quality start of the year in this game.
- Kremer has put together 17 starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in two of his 21 appearances this season.
Yankees Probable Starting Pitcher
- Luis Severino (2-4) will take to the mound for the Yankees and make his 12th start of the season.
- The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed eight hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
- He has earned a quality start three times in 11 starts this season.
- Severino has pitched five or more innings in two straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- He has finished one appearance without allowing an earned run in 11 chances this season.
Orioles Schedule
Yankees Schedule
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:41 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.
“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.
“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.
Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.
“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],” he said.
Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic organism responsible for the infection, is primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, but also hot springs, improperly chlorinated pool water, improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe.
This brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring within another one to 18 days of the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most infections tend to occur between June and September, but cases outside of these months are not entirely unheard of, Kyle said.
N. fowleri is also found in higher concentrations in warmer, smaller bodies of freshwater, but the organism can be found in pretty much any freshwater lake, including cooler, clearer waters, Kyle said. There was even a case in 2016 in which a teenager contracted a fatal infection of N. fowleri after going whitewater rafting — an activity generally undertaken in less-risky colder waters.
The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time.
And climate change, as scientists have observed, is already having an impact on the temperature of the world’s freshwater lakes. The quality and color of the water can also change due to warming temperatures, recent studies have suggested.
“There’s a constant risk in warmer climates,” Kyle remarked.
The amoeba itself can’t be specifically targeted with current treatments either, leading to a fatality rate of 97%. In fact, Kyle only knows of four known cases in the U.S. where patients survived, and “maybe” seven globally.
“I’m not convinced that were any further along in getting better treatment,” Kyle told Nexstar of the current antifungal and antibiotic cocktails that are currently used. “But If people can get diagnosed earlier, even with the suboptimal treatments that we have, they have a better chance of survival.”
To that end, Kyle, and the families of some of the victims, are hoping to spread awareness of the disease. He and his colleagues have also worked to identify what they believe is a biomarker that can help doctors diagnose infection earlier than previously possible, but their test is not yet FDA-approved.
“Most tests use cerebral spinal fluid, but we don’t have to have that,” he told Nexstar. “We can use blood or even urine. In our analyst studies, we can detect it three or four days before symptoms develop. I’m pretty excited.”
Preventing infection in the first place is currently the best course of action, he added.
“Raising awareness helps. But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,” he said. “It’s incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.”
People can also take precautions by avoiding bodies of warm freshwater, and especially refraining from jumping or diving into such waters, which increases the risk of having contaminated water forced into the nose. He also recommends using nose plugs, keeping your head above the surface, and properly cleaning and chlorinating wading pools, swimming pools and spas (or opting for salt-water pools or spa facilities).
Parents should also know that children are at the highest risk of infection, but likely for no other reason than that they’re more prone to be more active in the water.
“It’s difficult to define the risk,” Kyle said. “But think of it like a lightning storm. Everybody knows not to walk outside in a lightning storm with a golf club in their hands. But many parents don’t know the risk that their kids might be open to.” | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:42 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ |
How to Watch the Wings vs. Aces Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 30
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:28 AM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
A pair of the WNBA's best scorers take the court -- A'ja Wilson (fifth, 20.8 points per game) and Arike Ogunbowale (third, 21.9) -- when the Las Vegas Aces (22-2) host the Dallas Wings (14-10) on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network and BSSW.
Watch live WNBA games without cable on all your devices with a seven-day free trial to Fubo!
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on the Aces or Wings with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use our link for the best new user offer, no promo code required!
Wings vs. Aces Game Info
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Arena: Michelob ULTRA Arena
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Rep your team with officially licensed Wings gear! Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, and much more.
Key Stats for Wings vs. Aces
- Dallas' 86.0 points per game are 7.3 more points than the 78.7 Las Vegas allows to opponents.
- The Wings are 10-2 when they shoot higher than 42.2% from the field.
- Dallas is making 29.6% of its shots from three-point distance, which is 4.0 percentage points fewer than the 33.6% Las Vegas' opponents are averaging on the season.
- The Wings are 5-2 when shooting over 33.6% as a team from three-point range.
- Las Vegas and Dallas rebound at around the same rate, with Las Vegas averaging 4.8 fewer rebounds per game.
Wings Recent Performance
- The Wings are putting up 88.1 points per contest in their previous 10 games, which is 2.1 more than their average for the season (86.0).
- While Dallas is scoring 86.0 points per game in 2023, it has bettered that mark over its previous 10 games, producing 88.1 a contest.
- Over their last 10 games, the Wings are making 5.7 threes per game, 0.9 fewer threes than their season average (6.6). They have a better three-point percentage over their last 10 contests (30.5%) compared to their season average (29.6%).
Wings Injuries
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/wings-vs-aces-wnba-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:42 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/wings-vs-aces-wnba-live-stream-tv/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from the hospital Saturday evening.
To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, Ward is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 97 games.
Earlier this season, Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. The ball hit Feltner on the back right side of his head, and he fell to the ground. He lay on his stomach as two members of the Rockies athletic training staff aided him. He was able to get on his feet and walked off the field with the assistance of the two trainers.
While it isn’t clear if Feltner will return this season — he was placed on the 60-day injured list after the May incident — he told reporters he does not “want to rule it out.” | https://wgntv.com/news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:43 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ |
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Cardi B throws microphone at concertgoer who hurled drink at her onstage in Las Vegas
Cardi B threw her microphone at a concertgoer who hurled their drink at her while she was performing in Las Vegas on Saturday.
A viral video of the incident shows someone in the audience at Drai’s Beachclub hurling the contents of their drink cup directly at the “I Like It” rapper, who flinches upon getting splashed before chucking her mic at the concertgoer. Cardi B can be seen shouting from the stage at the person who targeted her as security guards closed in on them.
The Grammy winner was performing her hit song “Bodak Yellow” at Drai’s Beachclub when she got sprayed. She is among a growing number of musicians — including Bebe Rexha, Kelsea Ballerini, Drake, Steve Lacy and Harry Styles — who have recently been hit by projectiles onstage.
This is a developing story.
Drake got real with a fan who threw a vape at him during a concert in Brooklyn, saying the person had ‘some serious life evaluating to do’ after the toss.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-07-30/cardi-b-microphone-throw-video-las-vegas | 2023-07-30T18:03:46 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-07-30/cardi-b-microphone-throw-video-las-vegas |
The ‘Barbie’ bonanza continues at the box office, ‘Oppenheimer’ holds the No. 2 spot
NEW YORK (AP) — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
“Barbie,” the pink-infused pop sensation, has seen remarkably sustained business following its year-best $162 million opening. Its ticket sales dipped only 43%.
“Barbie” has also outpaced Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” to notch the best first two weeks in theaters of any Warner Bros. release. It’s rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie” has made at least $20 million.
“Oppenheimer,” from Universal Pictures, again landed in second place with an estimated $46.2 million. It, too, held especially strong in its second weekend, with sales decreasing just 44%. Nolan’s three-hour drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million thus far.
With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to a film industry still recovering ground it lost during the pandemic, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. Its domestic total stands at $139.2 million.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/the-barbie-bonanza-continues-at-the-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-the-no-2-spot/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:46 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/business-news/the-barbie-bonanza-continues-at-the-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-the-no-2-spot/ |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — NYC Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch said food-related businesses will have to put their garbage in containers starting Tuesday.
Tisch also said there has been a decrease in rat complaints across the city. Watch the full interview in the video player. | https://pix11.com/news/politics/pixonpolitics/new-trash-rules-for-food-businesses-start-this-week/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:46 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/politics/pixonpolitics/new-trash-rules-for-food-businesses-start-this-week/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A teenager was charged Sunday after speeding past a Wake County deputy and then crashing his car.
It happened early Sunday, about 12:30 a.m., on 401 North.
The 17-year-old driver passed the deputy at a "high rate of speed," and the deputy attempted to stop him.
The driver refused to pull over and eventually crashed into another car on Simpkins Road off Fayetteville Road.
The teen was taken to the hospital as a caution. A man inside the car that he struck was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The teen driver was charged with felony speed to elude.
The sheriff's office said this is an active investigation and additional charges are pending.
ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Raleigh and in your neighborhood | https://abc11.com/teen-driver-charged-wake-county-speeding-police-chase/13573498/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:46 | 1 | https://abc11.com/teen-driver-charged-wake-county-speeding-police-chase/13573498/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Facebook users still have a few weeks to claim their piece of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay to resolve a lawsuit. Ex-Facebook users can get in on the action too, as long as they meet a few criteria.
The main requirement is that you had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time.
Even people who deleted their Facebook account qualify – they’re just likely to see a smaller payout. How big your check ends up being depends in part on how long your account was active.
People have until Aug. 25, 2023 to file a claim, either online or by mail.
After the deadline passes, a judge will need to give the settlement final approval. That hearing is set for Sept. 7.
If the settlement gets the final OK, it’s not yet clear when the payments will be sent out – but you might not need to wait for a check in the mail. When submitting your claim, you can fill out your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or direct deposit info to get your payment sent straight to your account.
It’s also not clear how much each eligible recipient will get. Legal fees and administrative costs need to be deducted first. The remaining amount will be divvied up among eligible Facebook users, but we don’t know how many people have submitted a claim.
We asked Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts, to help us estimate a figure. He broke down all the factors that go into calculating the size of a class action lawsuit payment, and said that based on similar cases he estimated the higher end of payments might be in the “triple digits.” Many more people will likely receive less than $100, he estimated.
Earlier this year, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming Facebook allowed users’ personal data to be shared with third parties, the most famous being Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:48 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Four people are dead and two are hospitalized after two separate crashes on Saturday. Both incidents are connected to an annual air show in Wisconsin, according to officials.
The first crash happened shortly after 9 a.m. A T-6 Texan aircraft crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, where the Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual fly-in convention, EAA AirVenture.
Both people aboard the aircraft died, according to EAA officials.
A few hours later, a Rotorway 162F helicopter and ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter collided in mid-air at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flight line at Wittman Regional Airport, killing two and injuring two others. Both of the injured are in stable condition, according to EAA.
The Oshkosh Fire Department said one of the aircraft landed on top of a parked plane, but did not clarify which.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both accidents and has not provided a cause for either.
“Naturally, with the mid-air collision, somebody was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” EAA director of communications Dick Knapinski said. “How that occurred and why that occurred is what the NTSB will investigate and, from then, lessons will be learned as to what aviators can do to keep themselves safer.”
The investigation will likely take months to reach its conclusion.
“NTSB investigations typically take between a full year to 18 months to complete,” Knapinski explained. “They will have a preliminary investigation within the next week or so and then put out those findings. But the probable cause will probably take a year or more to determine by the board.”
The factors the NTSB will examine in its investigations include weather conditions, pilot experience, aircraft condition, flight pattern, and communication between ground and flight operations to determine the cause, which could be pilot error, a mechanical issue, or another reason, according to Knapinski. He described the weather as “mild” and likely not a contributing factor.
“Having accidents like this in the singular is very rare,” he said. “Having two fatal accidents take place on the same day is exceedingly rare.”
These are not the first incidents regarding aircraft at or en route to EAA this week. On Thursday, a single-engine plane bound for EAA AirVenture crash-landed in a cornfield in Green Lake County, hospitalizing two people.
On Tuesday, Knapinski said there was a “forced landing” east of the north/south runway at EAA AirVenture. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured.
Last Saturday, a single-engine ERCO Ercoupe headed to EAA AirVenture crashed in Fond du Lac County, injuring the pilot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:49 | 0 | https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ |
Colombia's Linda Caicedo scores clutch Women's World Cup goal after health scare
Caicedo scored in the 52nd minute of the win
Colombian soccer player Linda Caicedo bounced back from a scary moment at practice earlier in the week to lift her squad to a 2-1 win over Germany at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
Caicedo broke the scoreless tie in the second half of the match with a goal in the 52nd minute. Colombia had the 1-0 lead until Alexandra Popp scored on a penalty in the 89th minute. Somehow, Manuela Venegas put one past Merle Frohms in the seventh minute of extra time.
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"This is something historic for us. We've been feeling the whole time the backing from the fans from our country," Colombia assistant coach Angelo Marsiglia said. "Today we were playing as a home team."
Caicedo had a health scare earlier in the week when she dropped to the ground, holding her chest in a practice session. Team officials said it was fatigue and days later she was celebrating one of the biggest goals for Colombia in the tournament.
Caicedo was credited with a goal on Tuesday in a 2-0 win over South Korea.
"Linda Caicedo is a fantastic player. We knew that before the World Cup," Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg said of the 18-year-old Real Madrid star. "We needed to be very attentive.
"It was a good goal. I have to admit that. But we definitely should be better. We should keep ball."
Caicedo did need some medical attention in the 84th minute and was checked by trainers. She got up and started walking to the bench but, after signaling she was OK, she went back onto the field and continued the match.
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Germany now needs a win over South Korea to stay alive in the tournament. Colombia has Morocco on its docket to move on to the knockout stage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/colombias-linda-caicedo-scores-clutch-womens-world-cup-goal-health-scare | 2023-07-30T18:03:49 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/colombias-linda-caicedo-scores-clutch-womens-world-cup-goal-health-scare |
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Plaintiffs in voting rights case urge judges to toss Alabama’s new congressional map
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Voting rights activists are returning to court to fight Alabama’s redrawn congressional districts, saying state Republicans failed to follow federal court orders to create a district that is fair to Black voters.
Plaintiffs in the high-profile redistricting case filed a written objection Friday to oppose Alabama’s new redistricting plan. They accused state Republicans of flouting a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it” and enacting a map that continues to discriminate against Black voters in the state.
A special three-judge panel in 2022 blocked use of the the state’s existing districts and said any new congressional map should include two districts where “Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority” or something close. That panel’s decision was appealed by the state but upheld in June in a surprise ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which concurred that having only one Black-majority district out of seven — in a state where more than one in four residents is Black — likely violated federal law.
The plaintiffs in the case, represented by the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and other groups, asked the three-judge panel to step in and draw new lines for the state.
“Alabama’s new congressional map ignores this court’s preliminary injunction order and instead perpetuates the Voting Rights Act violation that was the very reason that the Legislature redrew the map,” lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the case wrote.
The new map enacted by the Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature maintained one-majority Black district but boosted the percentage of Black voters in the majority-white 2nd Congressional District, now represented by Republican Rep. Barry Moore, from about 30% to 39.9%
Lawyers representing plaintiffs in the case wrote Friday that the revamped district “does not provide Black voters a realistic opportunity to elect their preferred candidates in any but the most extreme situations.” They accused state Republicans of ignoring the courts’ directive to prioritize a district that would stay under GOP control “pleasing national leaders whose objective is to maintain the Republican Party’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Alabama has maintained the new plan complies with the Voting Rights Act, and state leaders are wagering that the panel will accept their proposal or that the state will prevail in a second round of appeals to the Supreme Court. Republicans argued that the map meets the court’s directive and draws compact districts that comply with redistricting guidelines.
The state must file its defense of the map by Aug. 4. The three judges have scheduled an Aug. 14 hearing in the case as the fight over the map shifts back to federal court.
The outcome could have consequences across the country as the case again weighs the requirements of the Voting Rights Act in redistricting. It could also impact the partisan leanings of one Alabama congressional district in the 2024 elections with control of the U.S House of Representatives at stake.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that Alabama’s new map is a “brazen defiance” of the courts.
“The result is a shameful display that would have made George Wallace—another Alabama governor who defied the courts—proud,” Holder said in a statement.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/political-news/plaintiffs-in-voting-rights-case-urge-judges-to-toss-alabamas-new-congressional-map/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:52 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/political-news/plaintiffs-in-voting-rights-case-urge-judges-to-toss-alabamas-new-congressional-map/ |
(KTLA) – A security guard at a nightclub was killed after being brutally beaten by a large mob in Hollywood early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers responded to the Dragonfly Hollywood nightclub in the 6500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Wilcox Avenue around 2 a.m. on reports of a group of 10 people attacking one person, police said.
“The victim was working at this nightclub, and a large group – for unknown reasons – confronted that security guard, causing him to fall into the street,” said LAPD West Bureau Homicide Division Detective Samuel Marullo. “At which time the group advanced and kicked and stomped him to death.”
Police are still investigating whether the fight began inside the club and spilled onto the street or if it began outside entirely.
Video from the scene captured first responders attempting life-saving measures on the security guard, only identified as a male in his 30s, as he was lying in the street.
Dragonfly Hollywood was still open and full of patrons at the time of the security guard’s death. According to the club’s social media, it was hosting its weekly Signature Saturdays event, with Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley headlining the festivities.
The club also hosts an event on Sundays called Sunday Night Fever, but it is unclear whether that event will be postponed following the security guard’s death.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to contact the LAPD immediately. | https://wgntv.com/news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:55 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ |
Sports radio host fired after 'Barbie' comments to female TV reporter
Don Geronimo's remarks initially led to the station being barred from training camp
A Washington, D.C.-based sports radio host was fired on Saturday following comments he made about a female TV reporter who was covering the Washington Commanders.
Don Geronimo, whose real name is Michael Sorce, made the comments toward WUSA9 reporter Sharla McBride. The remarks led to the Commanders barring iHeartMedia – the parent company of WBIG Radio – from the team’s training camp facilities in Ashburn, Virginia, on Friday.
"Hey look, Barbie's here. Hi, Barbie girl," Geronimo shouted toward McBride while on air on Thursday. "I'm guessing she's a cheerleader."
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Geronimo was with co-host Crash Young when the remarks were made. Later in the broadcast, Geronimo saw McBride again and mentioned that she was the woman Young had thought was "tight."
"Yah. I screamed tight when she was.…" Young said before being cut off.
Geronimo added that he thought she was a "cheerleader."
After a couple of days, the radio station decided to part ways with Geronimo. iHeartMedia signed a three-year partnership with the Commanders in 2022.
"After an internal review, Don Geronimo is no longer an employee of WBIG," iHeartMedia’s D.C. Region president Aaron Hyland said in a statement to The Washington Post. "We take matters of this nature very seriously and this behavior does not align with our core values."
COLTS OWNER RULES OUTS TRADE FOR JONATHAN TAYLOR DESPITE REQUEST FROM STAR RB: REPORT
McBride said she was "hurt" by the comments that were made.
"When I heard the comments made about me on the radio show, I felt incredibly insulted and embarrassed," she told ESPN. "In my 17 years as a professional journalist, I have never been disrespected in such a blatant manner while trying to do my job. Their words were sexist and misogynistic. No woman should experience this in the workplace, and I appreciate the Commanders' swift response in handling this matter."
According to WUSA9, new team owner Josh Harris and team president Jason Wright were extremely upset over the ordeal.
"We have worked hard to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected in our workplace, and we took swift action when we learned that an employee of our partner iHeart made sexually disparaging remarks to and about a member of the media while she was broadcasting live from training camp yesterday," a team spokesperson told the station on Saturday.
Geronimo tweeted he wasn’t going to comment on the situation.
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"At this time I will not be providing comment on the events of the last few days. I am consulting with my advisers as to my options moving forward, including an accurate reflection of the situation," he wrote on Sunday. | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sports-radio-host-fired-barbie-comments-female-tv-reporter | 2023-07-30T18:03:55 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sports-radio-host-fired-barbie-comments-female-tv-reporter |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from the hospital Saturday evening.
To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, Ward is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 97 games.
Earlier this season, Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. The ball hit Feltner on the back right side of his head, and he fell to the ground. He lay on his stomach as two members of the Rockies athletic training staff aided him. He was able to get on his feet and walked off the field with the assistance of the two trainers.
While it isn’t clear if Feltner will return this season — he was placed on the 60-day injured list after the May incident — he told reporters he does not “want to rule it out.” | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:57 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ |
4 found clinging to hull of overturned boat off New Jersey rescued, taken to NJ hospital
SANDY HOOK, N.J. (AP) — Four people found clinging to the hull of an overturned boat off New Jersey were rescued and taken to a hospital, authorities said.
Coast Guard officials in New York say Coast Guard crews and New York police and fire units were deployed to the area off Sandy Hook after receiving a distress call over VHF Channel 16.
Petty Officer Logan Kaczmarek told the Asbury Park Press that rescue crews found a floating debris field of items from the boat. They then found the four people at about 2:15 a.m. Sunday holding onto the floating hull near the Romer Shoal Light Station about 2½ nautical miles (4.6 kilometers) from the tip of Sandy Hook.
Crews from Station Sandy Hook pulled two people from the water while the other two were rescued by New York fire crews. All four were taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch; there was no immediate word on their condition. Coast Guard officials didn’t immediately release information about the type of vessel or the reason it capsized.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/4-found-clinging-to-hull-of-overturned-boat-off-new-jersey-rescued-taken-to-nj-hospital/ | 2023-07-30T18:03:58 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/4-found-clinging-to-hull-of-overturned-boat-off-new-jersey-rescued-taken-to-nj-hospital/ |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — New NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Counterterrorism and Intelligence Rebecca Weiner talks about being the first woman to hold the title, the role technology plays in thwarting threats, and the biggest threat to NYC.
Watch the full interview on PIX on Politics in the video player. | https://pix11.com/news/politics/pixonpolitics/on-the-record-with-nypd-deputy-commissioner-of-counterterrorism-and-intelligence-rebecca-weiner-first-woman-to-hold-the-position/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:00 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/politics/pixonpolitics/on-the-record-with-nypd-deputy-commissioner-of-counterterrorism-and-intelligence-rebecca-weiner-first-woman-to-hold-the-position/ |
Poland's PM reportedly warns Russian mercenary group Wagner forces moving closer to NATO country's border
Mateusz Morawiecki accuses Russian Wagner mercenaries, Belarus of staging 'hybrid warfare' to possibly usher migrants across Poland's border
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki reportedly warned Saturday that a group of about 100 Russian Wagner mercenaries were moving through Belarus closer to Poland’s border.
Poland, both a member of the European Union and NATO, has accused Belarus of wielding "hybrid warfare" in facilitating illegal migration at the Polish border, suggesting Minsk has encouraged migrants to fly into Belarus under the false promise of easy access to the European Union, the BBC reported.
During a press conference at an arms factory in Gliwice, southern Poland, where Leopard tanks used by the Ukrainian army are being repaired, Morawiecki said about 100 Wagner mercenaries had moved close to the Suwalki Gap, according to The Associated Press. The region is a strategic stretch of Polish territory situated between Belarus and Kaliningrad, a Russian territory separated from the mainland. The Suwalki Gap also runs along Poland’s 60-mile-long border with fellow European Union member state Lithuania.
Morawiecki claimed that the mercenaries might falsely present themselves as Belarusian border guards to help migrants move across to the EU.
"Now the situation becomes even more dangerous," Morawiecki said, adding that "this is certainly a step toward a further hybrid attack on Polish territory."
Thousands of Russian mercenaries have reportedly relocated to Belarus since last month’s short-lived rebellion orchestrated by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who made his first public sighting since the failed-coup just days ago while attending an Africa summit in Russia celebrating the Niger coup.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a conversation last weekend that he would keep the Wagner mercenaries in central Belarus.
WAGNER GROUP: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RUSSIAN MERCENARY GROUP IN UKRAINE
"They are asking to go west... to go on a trip to Warsaw," Lukashenko told Putin, referencing Poland’s capital city. "But of course, I am keeping them in central Belarus, like we agreed."
Poland’s Interior Ministry said Thursday that Poland, Lithuania and Latvia could make the joint decision to shut down their borders with Belarus should incidents with Wagner mercenaries unfold on the frontier.
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The Poland-Belarus border has already been a tense place for a couple of years, ever since large numbers of immigrants from the Middle East and Africa began arriving. Poland's government has accused Russia and Belarus of using the migrants to destabilize Poland and other EU countries and has responded by building a high wall along part of its border with Belarus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/world/polands-pm-reportedly-warns-russian-mercenary-group-wagner-forces-moving-closer-nato-countrys-border | 2023-07-30T18:04:01 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/world/polands-pm-reportedly-warns-russian-mercenary-group-wagner-forces-moving-closer-nato-countrys-border |
(KTLA) – A security guard at a nightclub was killed after being brutally beaten by a large mob in Hollywood early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers responded to the Dragonfly Hollywood nightclub in the 6500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Wilcox Avenue around 2 a.m. on reports of a group of 10 people attacking one person, police said.
“The victim was working at this nightclub, and a large group – for unknown reasons – confronted that security guard, causing him to fall into the street,” said LAPD West Bureau Homicide Division Detective Samuel Marullo. “At which time the group advanced and kicked and stomped him to death.”
Police are still investigating whether the fight began inside the club and spilled onto the street or if it began outside entirely.
Video from the scene captured first responders attempting life-saving measures on the security guard, only identified as a male in his 30s, as he was lying in the street.
Dragonfly Hollywood was still open and full of patrons at the time of the security guard’s death. According to the club’s social media, it was hosting its weekly Signature Saturdays event, with Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley headlining the festivities.
The club also hosts an event on Sundays called Sunday Night Fever, but it is unclear whether that event will be postponed following the security guard’s death.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to contact the LAPD immediately. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:03 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ |
GARY, Ind. — An 18-year-old man is dead after he went missing Saturday near Miller Beach in Gary, according to Indiana Conservation Officers.
Just before 3 p.m., emergency personnel were called to Miller Beach to look for a missing man in Lake Michigan.
Around 6 p.m., someone on the beach noticed the man and crews recovered his body.
His identity hasn’t been released.
Search efforts were hampered due to winds and up to six-foot waves that created rip currents, conservation officers said.
An investigation into the incident is still ongoing. | https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/18-year-old-man-found-dead-after-going-missing-in-lake-michigan-in-northwest-indiana/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:03 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/18-year-old-man-found-dead-after-going-missing-in-lake-michigan-in-northwest-indiana/ |
Two people killed after shots fired blocks from University of Florida campus
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Gunshots rang out in a crowd early Sunday, killing two people in the city that is home to Florida’s flagship university, authorities said.
Police officers had been conducting crowd control in downtown Gainesville, Florida, in a commercial corridor several blocks from the University of Florida campus when they heard gunshots, the police department said in a post.
The post didn’t disclose how many people were shot but said two of the shooting victims later died from their injuries. Police were seeking the public’s help for any information on the shootings.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/two-people-killed-after-shots-fired-blocks-from-university-of-florida-campus/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:04 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/news/us-world-news/two-people-killed-after-shots-fired-blocks-from-university-of-florida-campus/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Have you ever found yourself at a crosswalk, waiting for the walk sign to appear as traffic buzzes by. And even though you press the crosswalk button – maybe multiple times – it seems to take forever for the light to change in your favor.
While some slow-changing stop lights just need you to tell them you’re there, some crosswalk signals don’t care how many times you press the crosswalk button – it’ll change when it’s ready.
Let’s explain.
It’s not exactly clear when and where the first walk/don’t walk signs were installed, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Records show it likely occurred in the 1930s, and they were much like they are today.
“When it was on, all traffic approaching the intersection stopped so pedestrians could cross the streets in all directions, including diagonally,” the DOT writes. One early system gave pedestrians 20 seconds to cross the street every 100 seconds. Another gave pedestrians the walk signal while traffic moving in the same direction had a green light.
About three decades later, crosswalk buttons began appearing. They were intended to allow vehicle traffic to continue moving smoothly until a pedestrian came along rather than frequently stopping traffic for nobody.
Today, many of those buttons are useless.
In Austin, Texas, for example, most of the downtown intersections have walk indicators that are part of the normal traffic cycle, the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department told Nexstar. This means pedestrians don’t have to push a button at all (however, outside of downtown Austin, almost all signals do have buttons).
In San Francisco, there are 1,286 traffic signals operated by the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency, 610 of which have a version of a pedestrian push button, a spokesperson told Nexstar.
At just 264 of those, pedestrians need to press a button to get a ‘walk’ signal to cross some or all of the streets at the intersection. San Francisco has 490 signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signal buttons – which verbally tell pedestrians what streets they’re on and when to cross – at 143 intersections, those buttons are also used to activate a walk signal at some or all of the crosswalks, a spokesperson explains.
Few work in Boston as well, where city officials told the Boston Globe there is too much vehicular and foot traffic to let one person influence the whole traffic light setup. Only about 100 of the roughly 1,000 pedestrian buttons in New York City work, according to reports. High costs of removing some of the non-working buttons prompted city officials to leave them in place, The New York Times reported, prompting many to find themselves pushing a useless button.
In addition to the impacts the buttons can have on interrupting traffic, some cities have cited their required maintenance when opting to abandon them.
Crosswalk signals that are actuated, meaning they are triggered by a pedestrian hitting the button or loop detectors, generally require more upkeep, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Still, actuated signals could be beneficial “where vehicle and pedestrian volumes vary considerably throughout the day.”
While some cities may leave you confused about whether the crosswalk button actually works, San Francisco has placed signs at intersections that require you to hit the button.
Unless you’re instructed not to push the crosswalk button, it’s likely in your favor to press the button to get the ‘walk’ signal. If you find yourself waiting for an extended period of time, you can cross the street when safe to do so. You can also report a walk signal that should be functioning but isn’t to your city, sometimes by calling 311 if your community uses that number. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:06 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ |
Angels outfielder Taylor Ward placed on IL with facial fractures after being hit in head
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from hospital Saturday evening.
Before Sunday’s game, Angels manager Phil Nevin said Ward did not have vision damage. Surgery is an option for Ward, but no decision has been made. It was not clear when Ward would be able to return to California. The Angels play a three-game series at Atlanta this week before returning home Thursday to host Seattle.
To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, Ward is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 97 games.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-placed-on-il-with-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:10 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-placed-on-il-with-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.
“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.
“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.
Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.
“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],” he said.
Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic organism responsible for the infection, is primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, but also hot springs, improperly chlorinated pool water, improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe.
This brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring within another one to 18 days of the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most infections tend to occur between June and September, but cases outside of these months are not entirely unheard of, Kyle said.
N. fowleri is also found in higher concentrations in warmer, smaller bodies of freshwater, but the organism can be found in pretty much any freshwater lake, including cooler, clearer waters, Kyle said. There was even a case in 2016 in which a teenager contracted a fatal infection of N. fowleri after going whitewater rafting — an activity generally undertaken in less-risky colder waters.
The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time.
And climate change, as scientists have observed, is already having an impact on the temperature of the world’s freshwater lakes. The quality and color of the water can also change due to warming temperatures, recent studies have suggested.
“There’s a constant risk in warmer climates,” Kyle remarked.
The amoeba itself can’t be specifically targeted with current treatments either, leading to a fatality rate of 97%. In fact, Kyle only knows of four known cases in the U.S. where patients survived, and “maybe” seven globally.
“I’m not convinced that were any further along in getting better treatment,” Kyle told Nexstar of the current antifungal and antibiotic cocktails that are currently used. “But If people can get diagnosed earlier, even with the suboptimal treatments that we have, they have a better chance of survival.”
To that end, Kyle, and the families of some of the victims, are hoping to spread awareness of the disease. He and his colleagues have also worked to identify what they believe is a biomarker that can help doctors diagnose infection earlier than previously possible, but their test is not yet FDA-approved.
“Most tests use cerebral spinal fluid, but we don’t have to have that,” he told Nexstar. “We can use blood or even urine. In our analyst studies, we can detect it three or four days before symptoms develop. I’m pretty excited.”
Preventing infection in the first place is currently the best course of action, he added.
“Raising awareness helps. But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,” he said. “It’s incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.”
People can also take precautions by avoiding bodies of warm freshwater, and especially refraining from jumping or diving into such waters, which increases the risk of having contaminated water forced into the nose. He also recommends using nose plugs, keeping your head above the surface, and properly cleaning and chlorinating wading pools, swimming pools and spas (or opting for salt-water pools or spa facilities).
Parents should also know that children are at the highest risk of infection, but likely for no other reason than that they’re more prone to be more active in the water.
“It’s difficult to define the risk,” Kyle said. “But think of it like a lightning storm. Everybody knows not to walk outside in a lightning storm with a golf club in their hands. But many parents don’t know the risk that their kids might be open to.” | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:12 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Facebook users still have a few weeks to claim their piece of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay to resolve a lawsuit. Ex-Facebook users can get in on the action too, as long as they meet a few criteria.
The main requirement is that you had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time.
Even people who deleted their Facebook account qualify – they’re just likely to see a smaller payout. How big your check ends up being depends in part on how long your account was active.
People have until Aug. 25, 2023 to file a claim, either online or by mail.
After the deadline passes, a judge will need to give the settlement final approval. That hearing is set for Sept. 7.
If the settlement gets the final OK, it’s not yet clear when the payments will be sent out – but you might not need to wait for a check in the mail. When submitting your claim, you can fill out your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or direct deposit info to get your payment sent straight to your account.
It’s also not clear how much each eligible recipient will get. Legal fees and administrative costs need to be deducted first. The remaining amount will be divvied up among eligible Facebook users, but we don’t know how many people have submitted a claim.
We asked Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts, to help us estimate a figure. He broke down all the factors that go into calculating the size of a class action lawsuit payment, and said that based on similar cases he estimated the higher end of payments might be in the “triple digits.” Many more people will likely receive less than $100, he estimated.
Earlier this year, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming Facebook allowed users’ personal data to be shared with third parties, the most famous being Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:18 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ |
(The Conversation) – Rivers have been the lifeblood of human civilization throughout history, and yet we know surprisingly little about what lives in many of them – including the giant creatures that prowl their depths.
While we know the biggest animal in the ocean is the blue whale and the largest marine fish is the whale shark, the identity of the world’s largest freshwater fish species long remained a mystery.
Until 2022, that is, when fishers in Cambodia caught a giant freshwater stingray in the remote reaches of the Mekong River.
Weighing an astounding 661 pounds, the stingray surpassed by 15 pounds a giant catfish caught in Thailand in 2005 that had previously been considered the unofficial record holder.
The discovery marked a milestone in fish biologist Zeb Hogan’s more than two-decade quest to study and protect giant freshwater fish. As a group, these megafish are among the most endangered animals on the planet.The world’s largest freshwater fish confirmed so far is a stingray caught in the Mekong River.
Before releasing the female ray back into the river, Hogan’s research team put an acoustic tracker on her. She has been sending back clues about stingrays’ elusive behavior ever since.
Colossal catfish and gargantuan gars
In a new book, “Chasing Giants: In Search of the World’s Largest Freshwater Fish,” Hogan and I tell the troubling story of the 30 or so fish species that live exclusively in rivers and lakes and can grow to more than 200 pounds or at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.
Found on all continents except Antarctica, they are a wonderfully weird bunch of creatures, from colossal catfish and carp to gargantuan gars.
But freshwater vertebrate populations have declined over the past five decades at twice the rate experienced by species within terrestrial or marine ecosystems. Megafish numbers in particular fell by a shocking 94%, according to one study of more than 200 large freshwater species.
One of the largest species, the Chinese paddlefish, is believed to have gone extinct sometime in the 2000s. “This is a fish that had been on Earth for more than 100 million years before disappearing in a flash,” says Hogan, who used to host National Geographic’s “Monster Fish” television show and now leads a University of Nevada, Reno, research project I am involved with called Wonders of the Mekong, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The importance of very large fish to freshwater ecosystems has been woefully understudied. Many giant freshwater fish are apex predators that can have profound effects on the ecosystems in which they live by keeping their prey populations in check and maintaining biodiversity.
What’s killing off the megafish
The decline of giant freshwater fish is due to human impacts, such as overfishing, dam building and climate change.
Large fish are disproportionately targeted by fishing. Since many of these species are slow to mature, they may never reach the age to reproduce. Dam building is another major threat, because large fish often need to make long migrations to complete their life cycles, and a new dam can block their migration paths.
In the Mekong, where more giant fish species are found than in any other river, climate change is causing more severe droughts and disrupting the monsoon seasons that govern the river’s essential flood regime.
There are signs that interest in freshwater species is gaining momentum, including increasing calls to explicitly include freshwater ecosystems in the 30×30 initiative, a global effort to set aside 30% of land and sea area for conservation by 2030. So far, however, conservation efforts to protect endangered giant freshwater fish species are mostly regional.
Alligator gars and sturgeon make a comeback
Although the outlook for most giant fish remains grim, some species, like the air-breathing arapaima in South America, may be bucking the trend.
The arapaima, a torpedo-shaped giant that can grow to lengths of more than 12 feet, has long been overharvested by fishers in the Amazon, where it’s known as the Amazonian cod. But stricter fishing regulations introduced by Indigenous communities appear to have led to populations’ rebounding in many places.
In the United States, the alligator gar, another air-breathing megafish, was once largely considered a “trash fish” thought to devour game fish, so it was systematically exterminated from much of its southern range. But then scientists began to study the species and found it was an important contributor to ecosystem functions. Today, alligator gar populations have bounced back in rivers like the Trinity in Texas.
A similar case involves the lake sturgeon, one of the few true freshwater sturgeons, whose populations in Wisconsin have benefited from long-term conservation efforts and science-driven management that includes strictly regulated seasonal recreational fishing.
Protecting the giants of the Mekong
Back in Cambodia, our Wonders of the Mekong project is raising public awareness about the plight of the megafish, and we are working closely with local fishers to encourage them to protect threatened species.
In an example of those efforts’ paying off, fishers in early 2023 caught a Mekong giant catfish weighing more than 200 pounds. Instead of killing it and selling the meat for a sizable profit, the fishers decided to release the fish in an elaborate ceremony in which it was sprinkled with flowers before it was let go.
In recent months, our project has also reintroduced into the Mekong rare giant catfish that were captured as young fish and raised in Cambodia, and giant barb, another critically endangered megafish species that historically has grown to 600 pounds.
While giant freshwater stingray numbers have plummeted in other parts of its native Southeast Asian range, the population appears to be relatively robust in the upper stretches of the Mekong River in Cambodia where the record ray was discovered. Data collected from that female, and reported in a study I co-authored, shows it is staying in much the same location, leading researchers to believe the area could be an important refuge for the stingrays and possibly other megafish.
Long-standing plans by the Cambodian government to build two large dams on this section of the river appear to have been scrapped, at least for now. At the end of 2022, the government instead put forth a proposal to turn the biodiverse stretch of the river, which is also home to a critically endangered population of Irrawaddy river dolphins, into a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While the record stingray is big, it might not be the largest of this species of ray in the Mekong. Local fishers speak of rays growing up to 200 pounds heavier.
It’s also possible the giant stingray is not the largest freshwater fish species. Research on the arapaima, for example, suggests it could grow as big, or even bigger, in places like Guyana. But, as Hogan says, “It’s not about finding the biggest fish. It’s about learning more about these amazing creatures to figure out how to better protect them.” | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/in-search-of-the-wonderfully-weird-giants-lurking-in-earths-rivers/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:24 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/in-search-of-the-wonderfully-weird-giants-lurking-in-earths-rivers/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from the hospital Saturday evening.
To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, Ward is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 97 games.
Earlier this season, Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. The ball hit Feltner on the back right side of his head, and he fell to the ground. He lay on his stomach as two members of the Rockies athletic training staff aided him. He was able to get on his feet and walked off the field with the assistance of the two trainers.
While it isn’t clear if Feltner will return this season — he was placed on the 60-day injured list after the May incident — he told reporters he does not “want to rule it out.” | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:30 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ |
(KTLA) – A security guard at a nightclub was killed after being brutally beaten by a large mob in Hollywood early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers responded to the Dragonfly Hollywood nightclub in the 6500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Wilcox Avenue around 2 a.m. on reports of a group of 10 people attacking one person, police said.
“The victim was working at this nightclub, and a large group – for unknown reasons – confronted that security guard, causing him to fall into the street,” said LAPD West Bureau Homicide Division Detective Samuel Marullo. “At which time the group advanced and kicked and stomped him to death.”
Police are still investigating whether the fight began inside the club and spilled onto the street or if it began outside entirely.
Video from the scene captured first responders attempting life-saving measures on the security guard, only identified as a male in his 30s, as he was lying in the street.
Dragonfly Hollywood was still open and full of patrons at the time of the security guard’s death. According to the club’s social media, it was hosting its weekly Signature Saturdays event, with Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley headlining the festivities.
The club also hosts an event on Sundays called Sunday Night Fever, but it is unclear whether that event will be postponed following the security guard’s death.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to contact the LAPD immediately. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:36 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ |
(AP) – A woman from New Hampshire who works for a nonprofit organization in Haiti and her young daughter have been reported as kidnapped as the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” in the country and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave there amid growing security concerns.
Alix Dorsainvil, a nurse for El Roi Haiti, and her daughter were kidnapped on Thursday, the organization said in a statement Saturday. El Roi, which runs a school and ministry in Port au Prince, said the two were taken from campus. Dorsainvil is the wife of the program’s director, Sandro Dorsainvil.
“Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family,” El Roi president and co-founder Jason Brown said in the statement. “Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus.”
A State Department spokesperson said in a statement Saturday it is “aware of reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti,” adding, “We are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and our U.S. government interagency partners.”
In its advisory Thursday, the department said that “kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens.”
It said kidnappings often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed.
Earlier this month, the National Human Rights Defense Network issued a report warning about an upsurge in killings and kidnappings and the U.N. Security Council met to discuss Haiti’s worsening situation.
WMUR-TV reported that Dorsainvil is from Middleton, New Hampshire, and went to Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, which has a program to support nursing education in Haiti.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Alix chose to get involved in this type of service work,” Regis College president Toni Hays told the station. “She was amazing. She was passionate, she was compassionate.” | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/us-mother-daughter-reportedly-kidnapped-in-haiti-do-not-travel-advisory-issued/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:42 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/us-mother-daughter-reportedly-kidnapped-in-haiti-do-not-travel-advisory-issued/ |
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader on Sunday in the country’s northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers’ convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. “Such crimes cannot be justified in any way,” he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
“There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been “martyred” and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers’ convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at the city’s mosque at police headquarters in February this year.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar’s main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman’s party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Daily Top Stories
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
“Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones,” Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
“I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground,” he said. “We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones.”
___
Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad contributed from Islamabad. | https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-pakistan-bomb-political-rally-20230730-zkeji5dmrbbl7btsfg4qhwwrhq-story.html | 2023-07-30T18:04:46 | 0 | https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-pakistan-bomb-political-rally-20230730-zkeji5dmrbbl7btsfg4qhwwrhq-story.html |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — The New York City area is getting a much-needed break from the heat and humidity Sunday.
Lingering clouds will make way for more sunshine during the afternoon. High temps are expected to be below normal for this time of the year, from the low 70s to the mid-80s.
No air conditioning will be needed tonight, expect clear skies and temps in the 60s across the five boroughs.
Conditions are expected to remain pleasant for the next few days. The high temps will remain in the 80s, and humidity will be on the lower side through the middle of the week.
There could be some rain throughout the day Monday. More showers are expected by the end of the week. | https://pix11.com/weather/ny-nj-forecast-heat-and-humidity-finally-break-temps-in-the-80s/ | 2023-07-30T18:04:48 | 1 | https://pix11.com/weather/ny-nj-forecast-heat-and-humidity-finally-break-temps-in-the-80s/ |
WATCH: Officers pull unconscious man from burning car
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 12:12 PM CDT|Updated: 53 minutes ago
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (CNN) – Dramatic video out of Texas caught the moment officers pulled a man from a burning car.
Police in White Settlement, Texas, said they responded to a report of a car hitting a pole early Saturday morning.
The responding officers found two people in the car.
The driver was able to get out safely, but a male passenger was unconscious and unable to get out.
Officers quickly pulled the man from the burning car until medics could arrive.
The driver and passenger were taken to a hospital and are expected to survive.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/07/30/watch-officers-pull-unconscious-man-burning-car/ | 2023-07-30T18:06:02 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/07/30/watch-officers-pull-unconscious-man-burning-car/ |
How to Watch the Orioles vs. Yankees Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 30
The Baltimore Orioles and Ryan Mountcastle will square off against the New York Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this game and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
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Orioles vs. Yankees Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Time: 7:10 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Orioles rank 14th in MLB play with 122 home runs. They average 1.2 per game.
- Baltimore's .417 slugging percentage ranks 10th-best in MLB.
- The Orioles' .248 batting average ranks 17th in the majors.
- Baltimore has the No. 11 offense in MLB action, scoring 4.8 runs per game (502 total runs).
- The Orioles' .316 on-base percentage is 19th in baseball.
- The Orioles' 8.3 strikeouts per game rank 11th in baseball.
- The nine strikeouts per nine innings put together by Baltimore's pitching staff ranks 11th in MLB.
- Baltimore's 4.19 team ERA ranks 15th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- The Orioles average baseball's 19th-ranked WHIP (1.302).
Yankees Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Yankees rank sixth in Major League Baseball with 144 home runs.
- Fueled by 292 extra-base hits, New York ranks 18th in MLB with a .404 slugging percentage this season.
- The Yankees have a team batting average of just .230 this season, which ranks 29th among MLB teams.
- New York has scored 454 runs (4.4 per game) this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.
- The Yankees have an on-base percentage of .302 this season, which ranks 26th in the league.
- The Yankees are one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking seventh with an average of 8.1 strikeouts per game.
- New York strikes out 8.8 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 13th in MLB.
- New York pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.86 ERA this year, fifth-best in baseball.
- The Yankees have a combined 1.239 WHIP as a pitching staff, fifth-lowest in MLB.
Orioles Probable Starting Pitcher
- The Orioles are sending Dean Kremer (10-4) to the mound for his 22nd start of the season. He is 10-4 with a 4.59 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings pitched.
- The righty last appeared on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
- Kremer is looking to record his 11th quality start of the year in this game.
- Kremer has put together 17 starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in two of his 21 appearances this season.
Yankees Probable Starting Pitcher
- Luis Severino (2-4) will take to the mound for the Yankees and make his 12th start of the season.
- The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed eight hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
- He has earned a quality start three times in 11 starts this season.
- Severino has pitched five or more innings in two straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- He has finished one appearance without allowing an earned run in 11 chances this season.
Orioles Schedule
Yankees Schedule
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-30T18:06:09 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ |
Updated July 30, 2023 at 1:02 PM ET
KHAR, Pakistan — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader on Sunday in the country's northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers' convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. "Such crimes cannot be justified in any way," he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
"There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs," he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been "martyred" and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers' convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at the city's mosque at police headquarters in February this year.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar's main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
"Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones," Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
"I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground," he said. "We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people | 2023-07-30T18:07:24 | 0 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people |
A New Hampshire nurse and her child were kidnapped in Haiti late last week, according to the humanitarian organization El Roi Haiti.
Alix Dorsainvil works as a community health nurse for El Roi Haiti and is also married to the group's founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince.
In a statement posted to its website on Saturday, El Roi Haiti said Alix and the couple's child were taken Thursday morning from the organization's campus near Port-au-Prince.
"Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family," the group said. "Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus."
El Roi Haiti is a Christian organization that operates a K-12 school for Haitian children and offers a variety of other programs, including adult education, vocational instruction and discipleship training.
Alix Dorsainvil is originally from New Hampshire, but had been living in Haiti and operating a children's clinic for El Roi Haiti, according to a promotional video on the organization's website.
"Haitians are such a resilient people. They're full of joy and life and love," she said in the video. "I'm so blessed to be able to know so many amazing Haitians."
El Roi Haiti said it was working with its "partners and trusted relationships" to get Alix and her child returned safely, and said it was "grateful for the outpouring of prayers, care, and support for our colleague."
A State Department spokesperson told NPR that the administration is aware of reports that two U.S. citizens had been kidnapped in Haiti.
"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the spokesperson said.
The State Department is in regular contact with Haitian authorities, the spokesperson added, and is continuing to work with them and other U.S. government interagency partners.
Unrest in Haiti has worsened lately, with gangs controlling much of the country including the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The National Human Rights Defense Network said earlier this month that deadly violence and kidnappings have been surging in Haiti, with at least 75 people killed and 40 abducted between May and mid-July, the Associated Press reported.
In 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, kidnappers abducted a group of 17 missionaries on their way back from helping to build an orphanage. Five of the missionaries were later released, while 12 would eventually escape their captors.
On July 14, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution asking the secretary-general to provide some possible options to "enhance the security situation" in Haiti, including a possible U.N. peacekeeping force.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti | 2023-07-30T18:07:30 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/national-world-news/national-world-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti |
University of Notre Dame
Elizabeth M. Fesko, of Dyer, has been named to the Dean's List in the University of Notre Dame's First Year of Studies for outstanding scholarship during the Fall 2022 semester.
Monmouth College
Several area students have been named to the honor list at Monmouth College.
They include Xandru Borst of Schererville, Mason Martisauskas of Merrillville, and Jaydon Wilbon of Crown Point.
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa has honored 2,007 students who were named to the dean's list for the Spring 2023 semester.
Region students named to that list include Desiree Holmes of DeMotte, a Junior majoring in Management BS;
People are also reading…
Maria Ramos of Dyer, a Sophomore majoring in Allied Health BS;
Elise Gluth of Highland, a Junior majoring in Nursing BSN;
Alissa Schutz of Valparaiso, a Sophomore majoring in Political Science BA;
SUNY Oneonta
Samantha Henderson, of Valparaiso, was one of more than 1,100 SUNY Oneonta students who earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2023 semester. Henderson is studying Music Industry at SUNY Oneonta.
Trine University
Two Region students are among t hose who have completed degree requirements from Trine University for the end of the first summer 2023 term.
They include Martine Bullock of Merrillville, completing a degree in Grad Cert Elementary Education Pedagogy, and Tiffany Larkins of Gary, completing a degree in Grad Cert Elementary Education Pedagogy.
Phi Kappa Phi
Karisa Candreva of Crown Point has been awarded a Fellowship worth $8,500 by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
She is one of 62 recipients nationwide to receive the fellowship.
She received a bachelor's degree in natural resources and environmental management from Ball State University. As a Phi Kappa Phi Fellow, Candreva will pursue a Juris Doctor in natural resources and environmental law at Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
Spokane Falls Community College
Michael Marquez, of Lansing, has earned a place on the Spokane Falls Community College honor roll for Spring quarter 2023.
. | https://www.nwitimes.com/education-roundup/article_96f49e44-2ca2-11ee-985c-4f6d4d0354ac.html | 2023-07-30T18:07:31 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/education-roundup/article_96f49e44-2ca2-11ee-985c-4f6d4d0354ac.html |
If there ever was a time when Americans maintained an intrinsic level of trust in institutions such as government, the press and even the financial system, this time is long over. The demise of institutional trust, whatever it may have once been, was clearly accelerated by the COVID pandemic when information itself came to be viewed as a function of establishment control.
I don’t remember a time when “authoritative” information so clearly conflicted with personal observation. What is now becoming “common knowledge” about so many topics, seems nowhere near the “official narrative” provided at the time. These are indeed confusing times.
So, it’s not surprising to me that the level of concern, and yes, even fear, over the Federal Reserve’s recent roll out of the FedNow program is causing so much buzz online. I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t get a message or phone call about this program and its links to the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) concept. Because the FedNow program launched this month, I thought now would be a good time to provide a little rational analysis as well as some pros and cons.
People are also reading…
First, to make this easy, FedNow is not a CBDC. A CBDC is a currency concept based on a blockchain technology similar to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. FedNow is an updated payment settlement system, kind of like an evolved version of the ACH and wire transfers we are all familiar with. According to the Fed, FedNow will enable payments more quickly and securely than existing systems. Um, OK.
This to me sounds like a solution in search of a problem. As someone who has worked in the financial industry for 30 years, I do not perceive speed of settlement and payment delivery as major challenges, and as far as security goes, most financial wickedness involves human beings, and as long as there are humans, there will be security risks, so I remain unconvinced that FedNow will really reduce financial fraud and crimes, but I remain open minded.
Let’s reiterate, despite the drama on TikTok, FedNow is not a CBDC, but it does, however, provide the systemic foundation for a CBDC system later on, so let’s explore this concept some more.
Most of the world’s central banks are exploring using blockchain technology to create a version of the Central Bank Digital Currency concept. The purported potential advantages of this type of currency are again, speed of payments and higher levels of security as well as improved efficiency in settling international transactions. Proponents of the CBDC concept, and I don’t really know who is considered a “proponent,” also say CBDCs will drive innovation in the financial services space creating new opportunities to bring more people around the world into the financial system. Once again, innovation always presents potential, but these supposed advantages sound just a bit abstract to me, because with these advantages comes the flip side that is driving the online conspiracy blogs completely wild.
While the concept is a bit complicated, one touted consistent advantage of blockchain technology is every transaction using a blockchain currency creates a permanent digital footprint, stored in the code of the currency itself, that can be used to validate the currency, the parties and counter parties of the transaction, and the nature and details of the transaction. This is truly amazing technology, and the potential applications and benefits are clear for many types of uses.
The concern, however, emerges when we think about this type of information being made available to a central bank, and by osmosis a government. Not only are the privacy implications staggering, but the list of potential abuses of a system based on blockchain is also long. While one of the attributes many users of cryptocurrency find attractive is the decentralized nature of the transaction system, the opposite can also be implemented with blockchain currencies, where instead of decentralization, the system is based on total centralization.
The conspiracy theories about a theoretical CBDC system, which are probably largely valid, is that the currency itself and all transactions using it can not only be completely tracked and monitored indefinitely, but also completely controlled by the issuer of the CBDC and not the actual owner, or more accurately, the possessor, of the currency. Or said simply, the government or central bank may be able to turn off the money in your bank account.
At a time when trust in institutions has gone the way of the dinosaurs, the purported disadvantages of CBDCs just aren’t going to fly. When weighing the recognized pros and cons of CBDCs, in my opinion the scale is not even close. This concept simply presents to much centralization and societal risk.
The good news is, CBDCs are still very theoretical. FedNow is not a CBDC, and there will be much debate before CBDCs are adopted. Please stay informed on this debate, form opinions and make your opinions known when the opportunity arises.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. The economic forecasts set forth in this material may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. Cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency-related products can be volatile, are highly speculative and involve significant risks including: liquidity, pricing, regulatory, cybersecurity risk, and loss of principal.
Marc Ruiz is a wealth advisor and partner with Oak Partners and registered representative of LPL Financial. Contact Marc at marc.ruiz@oakpartners.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. | https://www.nwitimes.com/mind-on-money-central-bank-digital-currency-isnt-here-yet-but-stay-informed/article_171d443a-2cbd-11ee-86b9-732b8f868a98.html | 2023-07-30T18:07:31 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/mind-on-money-central-bank-digital-currency-isnt-here-yet-but-stay-informed/article_171d443a-2cbd-11ee-86b9-732b8f868a98.html |
The body of an 18-year-old man was recovered from Lake Michigan off the Lake County shore Saturday after a three-hour search hampered by high waves and rip currents.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to Miller Beach in Gary after the man was reported missing at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, according to the Indiana Department Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement.
"Multiple agencies with dive teams responded to the scene to search," DNR said. "Search efforts were hampered due to a north wind, with three- to six-foot waves creating dangerous rip currents in the area."
A beachgoer observed a body in the at approximately 6 p.m., three quarters of a mile from where the man was last seen, DNR said. "A recovery was made, and the victim was pronounced dead on scene."
Indiana conservation officers are continuing their investigation of the incident and had not released the name of the victim by mid-day Sunday, awaiting notification of the man's family before doing so.
10-mile stretch of Interstate 65 closed for six hours due to semi rollover, ISP says
Crown Point man dead after Saturday morning crash, police say
Former Crown Point teacher sentenced for sexual relationship with student
New $34.7 million Kankakee Welcome Center aims to wow with wind turbine blades, bison and other wonders
Region shooting declared homicide, victim identified
Miner-Dunn and Schoop's featured on NBC Chicago's Food Guy
Driver dies in fiery crash at area dragstrip, officials say
Underground Railroad history to be unearthed in Northwest Indiana
Porter County man accused of having sex with 2 underage girls nabbed years after charges filed
Woman dies, 6 people hospitalized after boat hits Chicago breakwall
New hotel adds to Crown Point's growing business district
Armed, intoxicated motorcyclist leads Portage police on a 100-mph chase, report says
Cleveland-Cliffs reports $356 million second-quarter profit
Man arrested in wake of Portage bank robbery; department cooperation, technology credited
Region woman guilty of murdering, dismembering husband, forcing kids to help, prosecutor says
GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Carolyn Mosby's family receives a plaque honoring the iconic lawmaker.
Molly DeVore, The Times
Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome gives hitting advice at the Still Got Game Foundation clinic at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary on Tuesday.
Noah Bortle, The Times
Gary native and former MLB pitcher LaTroy Hawkins helps with fielding ground balls at the Still Got Game Foundation clinic at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary on Tuesday.
Noah Bortle, The Times
Former Gary RailCat and Major League Baseball player Tim Byrdak shows children pitching mechanics at the Still Got Game Foundation baseball clinic at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary on Tuesday.
Noah Bortle, The Times
Good Hospitality Services and Beacon Hill Development host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel in Crown Point. Good Hospitality Services President Jeff Good addresses the gathering Thursday.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Good Hospitality Services and Beacon Hill Development host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel in Crown Point.
John J. Watkins, The Times
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday.
Molly DeVore, The Times
Mr. Pierogi (Tony Panek) makes his appearance Friday at Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Former Mr. Pierogi Matt Valuckis rides the route Friday at Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Members of The Dance Connection perform Friday at Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch has her buscia outfit adjusted by Donna Watson Friday at Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
John J. Watkins, The Times
The crowd hits 119th Street Friday at Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Sgt. Sarita Titus leads a session on how to use body cameras Friday at the Gary Police Department. The cameras will equip the 80 members of the patrol division.
Lizzie Kaboski, The Times
Gary police Lt. Greg Wolf secures his body camera to his bulletproof vest as Sgt. Jamel Martin and Officer Francisco Carrillo watch Friday at the Gary Police Department.
Lizzie Kaboski, The Times
Kankakee Sands is raising money for an outdoor pavilion with education signage and two bison viewing platforms.
Molly DeVore, The Times
Trevor Edmonson, the Kankakee Sands site manager, said the bison help with Kankakee Sand's prairie restoration efforts.
Molly DeVore, The Times
Colette Herald-Lambert, a Crown Point Library youth services assistant, reads “When I Grow Up,” by Julie Chen during storytime
John J. Watkins, The Times
Children pet Crown Point Police K-9 Valor during a recent storytime with the Crown Point Library at Bulldog Park.
John J. Watkins, The Times
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/body-of-man-recovered-from-lake-michigan-in-gary-saturday-evening/article_13c8cc62-2ef9-11ee-ad4a-5fbeb615cb33.html | 2023-07-30T18:07:33 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/body-of-man-recovered-from-lake-michigan-in-gary-saturday-evening/article_13c8cc62-2ef9-11ee-ad4a-5fbeb615cb33.html |
How to Watch the Orioles vs. Yankees Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 30
The Baltimore Orioles and Ryan Mountcastle will square off against the New York Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this game and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
Bet with theKing of Sportsbooks and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers! Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles vs. Yankees Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Time: 7:10 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Orioles rank 14th in MLB play with 122 home runs. They average 1.2 per game.
- Baltimore's .417 slugging percentage ranks 10th-best in MLB.
- The Orioles' .248 batting average ranks 17th in the majors.
- Baltimore has the No. 11 offense in MLB action, scoring 4.8 runs per game (502 total runs).
- The Orioles' .316 on-base percentage is 19th in baseball.
- The Orioles' 8.3 strikeouts per game rank 11th in baseball.
- The nine strikeouts per nine innings put together by Baltimore's pitching staff ranks 11th in MLB.
- Baltimore's 4.19 team ERA ranks 15th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- The Orioles average baseball's 19th-ranked WHIP (1.302).
Yankees Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Yankees rank sixth in Major League Baseball with 144 home runs.
- Fueled by 292 extra-base hits, New York ranks 18th in MLB with a .404 slugging percentage this season.
- The Yankees have a team batting average of just .230 this season, which ranks 29th among MLB teams.
- New York has scored 454 runs (4.4 per game) this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.
- The Yankees have an on-base percentage of .302 this season, which ranks 26th in the league.
- The Yankees are one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking seventh with an average of 8.1 strikeouts per game.
- New York strikes out 8.8 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 13th in MLB.
- New York pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.86 ERA this year, fifth-best in baseball.
- The Yankees have a combined 1.239 WHIP as a pitching staff, fifth-lowest in MLB.
Orioles Probable Starting Pitcher
- The Orioles are sending Dean Kremer (10-4) to the mound for his 22nd start of the season. He is 10-4 with a 4.59 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings pitched.
- The righty last appeared on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
- Kremer is looking to record his 11th quality start of the year in this game.
- Kremer has put together 17 starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in two of his 21 appearances this season.
Yankees Probable Starting Pitcher
- Luis Severino (2-4) will take to the mound for the Yankees and make his 12th start of the season.
- The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed eight hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
- He has earned a quality start three times in 11 starts this season.
- Severino has pitched five or more innings in two straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- He has finished one appearance without allowing an earned run in 11 chances this season.
Orioles Schedule
Yankees Schedule
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-30T18:07:41 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ |
How to Watch the Orioles vs. Yankees Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for July 30
The Baltimore Orioles and Ryan Mountcastle will square off against the New York Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Sign up for Fubo to watch this game and make sure you don't miss any of the action all year long!
Bet with theKing of Sportsbooks and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers! Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles vs. Yankees Live Stream, TV Channel and Game Info:
- Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Time: 7:10 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Orioles rank 14th in MLB play with 122 home runs. They average 1.2 per game.
- Baltimore's .417 slugging percentage ranks 10th-best in MLB.
- The Orioles' .248 batting average ranks 17th in the majors.
- Baltimore has the No. 11 offense in MLB action, scoring 4.8 runs per game (502 total runs).
- The Orioles' .316 on-base percentage is 19th in baseball.
- The Orioles' 8.3 strikeouts per game rank 11th in baseball.
- The nine strikeouts per nine innings put together by Baltimore's pitching staff ranks 11th in MLB.
- Baltimore's 4.19 team ERA ranks 15th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- The Orioles average baseball's 19th-ranked WHIP (1.302).
Yankees Batting & Pitching Performance
- The Yankees rank sixth in Major League Baseball with 144 home runs.
- Fueled by 292 extra-base hits, New York ranks 18th in MLB with a .404 slugging percentage this season.
- The Yankees have a team batting average of just .230 this season, which ranks 29th among MLB teams.
- New York has scored 454 runs (4.4 per game) this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.
- The Yankees have an on-base percentage of .302 this season, which ranks 26th in the league.
- The Yankees are one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking seventh with an average of 8.1 strikeouts per game.
- New York strikes out 8.8 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 13th in MLB.
- New York pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.86 ERA this year, fifth-best in baseball.
- The Yankees have a combined 1.239 WHIP as a pitching staff, fifth-lowest in MLB.
Orioles Probable Starting Pitcher
- The Orioles are sending Dean Kremer (10-4) to the mound for his 22nd start of the season. He is 10-4 with a 4.59 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings pitched.
- The righty last appeared on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
- Kremer is looking to record his 11th quality start of the year in this game.
- Kremer has put together 17 starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in two of his 21 appearances this season.
Yankees Probable Starting Pitcher
- Luis Severino (2-4) will take to the mound for the Yankees and make his 12th start of the season.
- The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed eight hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
- He has earned a quality start three times in 11 starts this season.
- Severino has pitched five or more innings in two straight games and will look to extend that streak.
- He has finished one appearance without allowing an earned run in 11 chances this season.
Orioles Schedule
Yankees Schedule
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-30T18:07:51 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-vs-yankees-mlb-live-stream-tv/ |
Tornado causes damage to Martell after Saturday storm
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 12:02 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A strong bow echo created an EF-1 tornado in southeast Nebraska Saturday morning.
The incident happened at around 8:18 a.m.
According to official documents, the incident affected parts of Martell.
Officials said The tornado had estimated peak winds of 110 mph. The tornado`s width was 100 yards wide and a little more than a quarter mile long.
According to National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley, the tornado uprooted and snapped trees, caused roof and siding damage, and tore the roof off a BnB that was attached to a large barn.
No people were injuries due to the incident.
Copyright 2023 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/30/tornado-causes-damage-martell-after-saturday-storm/ | 2023-07-30T18:08:12 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/30/tornado-causes-damage-martell-after-saturday-storm/ |
(Green Car Reports) — GM brought back the Chevrolet Bolt EV this week—as a future affordable EV product peg for the company’s product plan.
While the timeline is yet to be disclosed for the revamped Bolt EV, the timeline for the current Bolt EV disappearing from dealerships remains confirmed.
In April, GM disclosed that it would discontinue the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV at the end of 2023, as production winds down at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan. GM had already committed that plant to produce the Chevrolet Silverado EV and other large electric trucks on its Ultium platform.
“Drawing on various Ultium and Ultifi technological advancements will help GM bring this popular model back to market on an accelerated timeline,” GM said Tuesday, confirming that the future Bolt EV won’t carry over its existing propulsion tech.
Future Bolt EV won’t be all-new
The automaker also suggested that not everything on the Bolt EV will be new. GM noted that it “will execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program with significantly lower engineering expense and capital investment by updating the vehicle with Ultium and Ultifi technologies and by applying our ‘winning with simplicity’ discipline.”
Ultium is the broad trade term applying to GM battery and electric propulsion families, and Ultifi is the term applying to its EV software, so this simply means that the future Bolt EV won’t carry forward with its present-generation LG Chem cells. Those cells had been the focus of a very costly, large-scale recall that appears to have been worth the effort, leaving customers satisfied and loyal to the brand and nameplate.
GM had no incentive to carry the current Bolt EV’s battery tech forward anyhow.
“We’re already on the road to delivering a 60% cost reduction compared to the Bolt EV with the next generation of Ultium,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in 2021, of tech set to arrive mid-decade, as part of a statement touting the automaker as one of the few to have an EV that’s as affordable as the Bolt family.
Did GM ever actually kill the Chevy Bolt EV?
GM executives had already hinted to Green Car Reports and other outlets that while future electric small cars might be in the works, those vehicles wouldn’t use the same large-format Ultium pouch cells that GM planned to deploy on everything from the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV on up to big trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV and Chevy Silverado EV.
Likewise, GM and Honda announced in April 2022 that they were working together on a joint architecture for affordable EVs—one that would use “next-generation Ultium battery technology,” according to GM.
At that time, those compact EVs were set to arrive for 2026. It’s hard to imagine GM working on multiple compact EV platforms outside China, so this week’s announcement likely signals that the project has been pulled ahead—perhaps like how the automaker managed to accelerate development of the Cadillac Lyriq.
GM may have provided some of the answer to what comes next. Earlier this year the company clarified that it might include the flexibility of cylindrical cells in future EVs, as part of its Ultium tech but not as part of the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture. That was made clearer this April with the announcement of a joint venture between GM and Samsung SDI that will mass-produce cylindrical cells for GM products starting in 2026.
The lower-profile cells would help answer the dimensional challenges that make those large-format cells harder to package within a small car or beneath the floor of a low-profile vehicle.
Bolt EV’s manufacturing dilemma
While the Bolt EV’s Michigan plant shifts to electric truck production later in the year, the automaker doesn’t have other immediate options for U.S. manufacturing. GM vacated its Lordstown, Ohio, plant that used to assemble compact cars and is located near the Ultium LLC cells facility. It’s now under the ownership of Foxconn, which will likely assemble the $29,900 Fisker Pear urban EV there.
Meanwhile, demand for the Bolt EV surges, and GM will face a gap in its lineup after the end of the year. Of the 36,024 EVs GM delivered in the first half of 2023, just 2,365 were of its new-generation Ultium EVs. The remaining 33,659 were Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
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In its update for investors earlier this week, CEO Barra pointed to the Bolt as one of its most in-demand vehicles, at or under a 10-day supply in dealer inventory.
“Actually, we can’t build enough Bolts right now,” Barra said to Wolfe Research analyst Rod Lache. | https://www.wjhl.com/automotive/whether-gm-killed-the-chevy-bolt-ev-or-not-its-returning-soon/ | 2023-07-30T18:08:37 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/automotive/whether-gm-killed-the-chevy-bolt-ev-or-not-its-returning-soon/ |
The Biden White House has tried to present itself as being above the fray of day-to-day squabbles, but increasingly, it’s jumping in, bashing the GOP and other critics at every opportunity.
The administration didn’t miss a chance this week to hammer Republicans over Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) floating that the House would move towards an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. They were quick with memos and statements to criticize the GOP attacks as a “clown carousel” and the idea of pursuing impeachment as “baseless.”
And the White House issued a scathing rebuke of Fox New host Greg Gutfeld, who said that Jews captured and tortured during the Holocaust survived by having skills and being useful, calling out his comments as a “dangerous, extreme lie.”
The new levels of punchy rhetoric preview the White House messaging strategy going into 2024, which is to fight back and call out what they consider extreme.
It’s a shift from their previous attitude, which was to let what they considered to be Republican chaos speak for itself.
“The cost is too expensive, both short and long term, to let them operate in a vacuum without showing that one, we know how to fight; two, that we will fight; three, we fight with facts and not with some flaming lies of information,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist.
Early in Biden’s presidency, the White House was careful not to weigh in on controversial comments from the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), hoping to avoid elevating her words and giving the far-right congresswoman more of a platform.
When McCarthy was struggling in January to get enough votes to be Speaker of the House, they sat back and watched it unfold.
Biden gently knocked the vote series at the time, saying “it’s a little embarrassing it’s taking so long,” but also added, “that’s not my problem.” The White House had also insisted that Biden would not “insert himself” into the election, which ended up taking 15 ballots for McCarthy to finally clench enough votes.
But this week, when the Speaker signaled that the House could move forward with an impeachment inquiry, the White House came out with multiple statements and highlighted quotes from fellow Republicans in his conference pushing back on the idea.
It also released a memo about Republicans’ slams against the president overall, reflecting the Biden argument that the GOP is stepping up attacks on Hunter Biden and talk of impeachment because the economy is getting stronger and is now a less effective avenue for attack.
Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court Wednesday, where his plea deal was put on hold by a judge who questioned the scope of the agreement.
The White House this week touted “Bidenomics” after GDP numbers showed surprisingly strong economic growth. It rebuked GOP lawmakers for not embracing the data, pointing to Fox Business anchor Cheryl Casone, who said on Thursday, “There goes that recession talk, right?”
“Even Fox Business is welcoming today’s blockbuster economic growth numbers, the latest in a long line of proof points that Bidenomics is delivering for middle class families,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo. “That’s because this strong growth report is objectively good news for the American people, which elected officials should support regardless of their political party.”
In the past, the White House has called out what it deemed antisemitism, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in particular has spearheaded the effort against hatred towards Jewish Americans. The rebuke of Gutfeld was particularly notable, considering it called the conservative media voice’s comments insulting to the memory of people who suffered the Holocaust.
Over the last week, Vice President Harris has taken over attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, over changes his administration has made over the way slavery is taught in his state. She quickly traveled to Jacksonville to deliver remarks over his recent moves.
And press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has turned Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) into an almost-daily punching bag, chastising him for blocking military promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
Democrats argue that it’s significant the White House is getting punchier and not relying on the Biden reelection campaign to do it for them.
“I think the reason why it’s so important that it comes from the White House is because Joe Biden is a president for all people, and that White House works for all people,” Seawright said. “It helps weed out some of the foolishness, because I don’t think we can afford at this moment to let false information go unchecked or go numb to bad or false information for the sake of political gain.”
Another Democratic strategist argued the White House has picked its spots well, seeking to highlight when Republicans are fixated on issues that don’t resonate with most moderate voters. The strategist pointed to the GOP’s fixation on Hunter Biden as an example of something that is unlikely to move many mainstream voters.
Democratic communications strategist Katie Grant Drew noted the window for moving legislation closes early in election cycles so it “makes sense” the White House is preparing for 2024.
“They know they’re going to have to defend against Republicans’ insatiable appetite for investigations and impeachments, and the best defense is a good offense,” said Drew, a principal at Monument Advocacy. “When top Republicans continue to spout controversial rhetoric and spend time on divisive issues that the vast majority of Americans don’t agree with, the White House is going to use those moments to illustrate to the American people how extreme today’s Republican Party has become.”
Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist think tank Third Way, said Biden and his team are wisely both selling their own victories and highlighting Republican dysfunction.
Ultimately, though, Kessler argued the 2024 election will be decided by broader issues such as the economy, something the White House has leaned into with its recent messaging.
“This election is going to come down to the middle. The middle ideologically, the middle of the country geographically, and the middle class,” Kessler said. “These are places where Biden’s got to win.” | https://www.wjhl.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ | 2023-07-30T18:08:43 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/hill-politics/white-house-takes-the-gloves-off-ahead-of-2024/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Four people are dead and two are hospitalized after two separate crashes on Saturday. Both incidents are connected to an annual air show in Wisconsin, according to officials.
The first crash happened shortly after 9 a.m. A T-6 Texan aircraft crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, where the Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual fly-in convention, EAA AirVenture.
Both people aboard the aircraft died, according to EAA officials.
A few hours later, a Rotorway 162F helicopter and ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter collided in mid-air at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flight line at Wittman Regional Airport, killing two and injuring two others. Both of the injured are in stable condition, according to EAA.
The Oshkosh Fire Department said one of the aircraft landed on top of a parked plane, but did not clarify which.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both accidents and has not provided a cause for either.
“Naturally, with the mid-air collision, somebody was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” EAA director of communications Dick Knapinski said. “How that occurred and why that occurred is what the NTSB will investigate and, from then, lessons will be learned as to what aviators can do to keep themselves safer.”
The investigation will likely take months to reach its conclusion.
“NTSB investigations typically take between a full year to 18 months to complete,” Knapinski explained. “They will have a preliminary investigation within the next week or so and then put out those findings. But the probable cause will probably take a year or more to determine by the board.”
The factors the NTSB will examine in its investigations include weather conditions, pilot experience, aircraft condition, flight pattern, and communication between ground and flight operations to determine the cause, which could be pilot error, a mechanical issue, or another reason, according to Knapinski. He described the weather as “mild” and likely not a contributing factor.
“Having accidents like this in the singular is very rare,” he said. “Having two fatal accidents take place on the same day is exceedingly rare.”
These are not the first incidents regarding aircraft at or en route to EAA this week. On Thursday, a single-engine plane bound for EAA AirVenture crash-landed in a cornfield in Green Lake County, hospitalizing two people.
On Tuesday, Knapinski said there was a “forced landing” east of the north/south runway at EAA AirVenture. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured.
Last Saturday, a single-engine ERCO Ercoupe headed to EAA AirVenture crashed in Fond du Lac County, injuring the pilot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ | 2023-07-30T18:08:49 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/4-killed-in-2-separate-aircraft-crashes-near-wisconsin-air-show/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Have you ever found yourself at a crosswalk, waiting for the walk sign to appear as traffic buzzes by. And even though you press the crosswalk button – maybe multiple times – it seems to take forever for the light to change in your favor.
While some slow-changing stop lights just need you to tell them you’re there, some crosswalk signals don’t care how many times you press the crosswalk button – it’ll change when it’s ready.
Let’s explain.
It’s not exactly clear when and where the first walk/don’t walk signs were installed, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Records show it likely occurred in the 1930s, and they were much like they are today.
“When it was on, all traffic approaching the intersection stopped so pedestrians could cross the streets in all directions, including diagonally,” the DOT writes. One early system gave pedestrians 20 seconds to cross the street every 100 seconds. Another gave pedestrians the walk signal while traffic moving in the same direction had a green light.
About three decades later, crosswalk buttons began appearing. They were intended to allow vehicle traffic to continue moving smoothly until a pedestrian came along rather than frequently stopping traffic for nobody.
Today, many of those buttons are useless.
In Austin, Texas, for example, most of the downtown intersections have walk indicators that are part of the normal traffic cycle, the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department told Nexstar. This means pedestrians don’t have to push a button at all (however, outside of downtown Austin, almost all signals do have buttons).
In San Francisco, there are 1,286 traffic signals operated by the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency, 610 of which have a version of a pedestrian push button, a spokesperson told Nexstar.
At just 264 of those, pedestrians need to press a button to get a ‘walk’ signal to cross some or all of the streets at the intersection. San Francisco has 490 signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signal buttons – which verbally tell pedestrians what streets they’re on and when to cross – at 143 intersections, those buttons are also used to activate a walk signal at some or all of the crosswalks, a spokesperson explains.
Few work in Boston as well, where city officials told the Boston Globe there is too much vehicular and foot traffic to let one person influence the whole traffic light setup. Only about 100 of the roughly 1,000 pedestrian buttons in New York City work, according to reports. High costs of removing some of the non-working buttons prompted city officials to leave them in place, The New York Times reported, prompting many to find themselves pushing a useless button.
In addition to the impacts the buttons can have on interrupting traffic, some cities have cited their required maintenance when opting to abandon them.
Crosswalk signals that are actuated, meaning they are triggered by a pedestrian hitting the button or loop detectors, generally require more upkeep, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Still, actuated signals could be beneficial “where vehicle and pedestrian volumes vary considerably throughout the day.”
While some cities may leave you confused about whether the crosswalk button actually works, San Francisco has placed signs at intersections that require you to hit the button.
Unless you’re instructed not to push the crosswalk button, it’s likely in your favor to press the button to get the ‘walk’ signal. If you find yourself waiting for an extended period of time, you can cross the street when safe to do so. You can also report a walk signal that should be functioning but isn’t to your city, sometimes by calling 311 if your community uses that number. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ | 2023-07-30T18:08:55 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/are-you-wasting-your-time-pressing-crosswalk-buttons/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.
“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.
“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.
Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.
“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],” he said.
Naegleria fowleri, the microscopic organism responsible for the infection, is primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, but also hot springs, improperly chlorinated pool water, improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe.
This brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring within another one to 18 days of the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most infections tend to occur between June and September, but cases outside of these months are not entirely unheard of, Kyle said.
N. fowleri is also found in higher concentrations in warmer, smaller bodies of freshwater, but the organism can be found in pretty much any freshwater lake, including cooler, clearer waters, Kyle said. There was even a case in 2016 in which a teenager contracted a fatal infection of N. fowleri after going whitewater rafting — an activity generally undertaken in less-risky colder waters.
The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time.
And climate change, as scientists have observed, is already having an impact on the temperature of the world’s freshwater lakes. The quality and color of the water can also change due to warming temperatures, recent studies have suggested.
“There’s a constant risk in warmer climates,” Kyle remarked.
The amoeba itself can’t be specifically targeted with current treatments either, leading to a fatality rate of 97%. In fact, Kyle only knows of four known cases in the U.S. where patients survived, and “maybe” seven globally.
“I’m not convinced that were any further along in getting better treatment,” Kyle told Nexstar of the current antifungal and antibiotic cocktails that are currently used. “But If people can get diagnosed earlier, even with the suboptimal treatments that we have, they have a better chance of survival.”
To that end, Kyle, and the families of some of the victims, are hoping to spread awareness of the disease. He and his colleagues have also worked to identify what they believe is a biomarker that can help doctors diagnose infection earlier than previously possible, but their test is not yet FDA-approved.
“Most tests use cerebral spinal fluid, but we don’t have to have that,” he told Nexstar. “We can use blood or even urine. In our analyst studies, we can detect it three or four days before symptoms develop. I’m pretty excited.”
Preventing infection in the first place is currently the best course of action, he added.
“Raising awareness helps. But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,” he said. “It’s incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.”
People can also take precautions by avoiding bodies of warm freshwater, and especially refraining from jumping or diving into such waters, which increases the risk of having contaminated water forced into the nose. He also recommends using nose plugs, keeping your head above the surface, and properly cleaning and chlorinating wading pools, swimming pools and spas (or opting for salt-water pools or spa facilities).
Parents should also know that children are at the highest risk of infection, but likely for no other reason than that they’re more prone to be more active in the water.
“It’s difficult to define the risk,” Kyle said. “But think of it like a lightning storm. Everybody knows not to walk outside in a lightning storm with a golf club in their hands. But many parents don’t know the risk that their kids might be open to.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:01 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/brain-eating-amoeba-will-the-warming-climate-bring-more-cases/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The FBI has issued arrest warrants and released disturbing details in the armed home invasion and kidnapping of an elderly North Carolina couple and the theft of more than $150,000 of their cryptocurrency in April.
The incident took place at gunpoint at the couple’s home the morning of April 12 after thieves allegedly posed as construction workers and forced their way into the home, according to the Durham Police Department and the FBI.
According to an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar’s WNCN, the incident began when two men, dressed as construction workers, came to the victims’ home around 7:30 a.m. The duo claimed they would be inspecting pipes for damage and told the husband they would be “walking around the house.”
After a few minutes, the pair knocked on the door again and the wife answered the door. The suspects, who allegedly both had guns, then pushed their way inside.
“The men restrained and zip-tied the husband’s hands and the wife’s hands,” the FBI complaint said.
A man armed with a pink gun showed the wife it was loaded by opening the cylinder and then dragged her into a bathroom by her legs, the criminal complaint said.
The husband was taken to his Apple iMac and forced at gunpoint to log in and install a remote desktop application called AnyDesk. A person on the phone with a thief already knew “details about the account without being told,” the FBI complaint said.
The FBI believes the husband’s email account was compromised in the past, allowing the thieves to learn the details ahead of the trip to Durham and the home invasion.
The suspects were able to transfer $156,853 worth of cryptocurrency during the next 45 minutes, the FBI said. Before leaving, the thieves allegedly smashed the couple’s cellphones and the iMac.
The elderly couple managed to get out of their home and ask neighbors to call 911 for help. The pair suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, Durham police said.
The arrest warrants released Thursday for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping indicate two West Palm Beach, Florida, men are wanted — Jarod Gabriel Seemungal and Remy Ra St. Felix.
According to the FBI criminal complaint filed the same day, the suspects began targeting retirees who had cryptocurrency as early as February. The accused men even had the license plate number for the husband’s car, authorities said. A third man is also named in the criminal complaint, but no arrest warrant was issued for him as of Thursday.
Messages sent between those involved identified actual cryptocurrency amounts and their locations, the criminal complaint said. One suspect had a photo of the husband’s North Carolina driver’s license in his email account, according to the FBI.
The two suspects also discussed in internet messages how potential victims “have so much” money in accounts that it would be “retirement licks” — the FBI explained in the complaint that “licks” is slang for a robbery.
The thieves apparently rented a car in Florida and visited the Millennium Hotel in Durham a couple of days before the actual robbery, according to the complaint. Video from a home near the victims’ showed the thieves’ BMW SUV “conducting surveillance” at the couple’s home each of the three days before the alleged kidnapping, the FBI said.
The FBI also noted that a person driving a similar vehicle purchased costumes — a clipboard, reflective vest, sunglasses and a pair of khaki pants — at a nearby Walmart that allowed the suspected thieves to get into the victims’ home. Both suspects were seen on surveillance video from the store.
Additional details about potential victims wasn’t immediately available. As of Sunday, authorities have not said whether either man is in custody. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:07 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Facebook users still have a few weeks to claim their piece of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay to resolve a lawsuit. Ex-Facebook users can get in on the action too, as long as they meet a few criteria.
The main requirement is that you had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time.
Even people who deleted their Facebook account qualify – they’re just likely to see a smaller payout. How big your check ends up being depends in part on how long your account was active.
People have until Aug. 25, 2023 to file a claim, either online or by mail.
After the deadline passes, a judge will need to give the settlement final approval. That hearing is set for Sept. 7.
If the settlement gets the final OK, it’s not yet clear when the payments will be sent out – but you might not need to wait for a check in the mail. When submitting your claim, you can fill out your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or direct deposit info to get your payment sent straight to your account.
It’s also not clear how much each eligible recipient will get. Legal fees and administrative costs need to be deducted first. The remaining amount will be divvied up among eligible Facebook users, but we don’t know how many people have submitted a claim.
We asked Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts, to help us estimate a figure. He broke down all the factors that go into calculating the size of a class action lawsuit payment, and said that based on similar cases he estimated the higher end of payments might be in the “triple digits.” Many more people will likely receive less than $100, he estimated.
Earlier this year, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming Facebook allowed users’ personal data to be shared with third parties, the most famous being Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:13 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/facebook-settlement-checks-can-you-still-get-a-payment-if-you-deleted-your-account/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man died at a Disney Resort in Orlando on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call around 5:30 a.m. regarding an unresponsive person at Disney’s Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Orange County Medical Examiner determined Vanden Boom fell from a hotel room balcony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The fall was ruled as accidental.
Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to Nexstar’s request for comment.
The death remains an ongoing investigation.
Last fall, an 83-year-old man died after riding the Tomorrowland Authority PeopleMover at Disney World. Authorities said he experienced a “cardiac event,” and his death was “deemed natural” by medical officials.
Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland, accusing park employees of laughing at a 66-year-old disabled woman who fell while getting off the Jungle Cruise ride in 2021 and later died. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:19 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from the hospital Saturday evening.
To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, Ward is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI in 97 games.
Earlier this season, Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. The ball hit Feltner on the back right side of his head, and he fell to the ground. He lay on his stomach as two members of the Rockies athletic training staff aided him. He was able to get on his feet and walked off the field with the assistance of the two trainers.
While it isn’t clear if Feltner will return this season — he was placed on the 60-day injured list after the May incident — he told reporters he does not “want to rule it out.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:25 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/mlb-player-suffers-facial-fractures-after-being-hit-in-head-by-91-mph-pitch/ |
(KTLA) – A security guard at a nightclub was killed after being brutally beaten by a large mob in Hollywood early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers responded to the Dragonfly Hollywood nightclub in the 6500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Wilcox Avenue around 2 a.m. on reports of a group of 10 people attacking one person, police said.
“The victim was working at this nightclub, and a large group – for unknown reasons – confronted that security guard, causing him to fall into the street,” said LAPD West Bureau Homicide Division Detective Samuel Marullo. “At which time the group advanced and kicked and stomped him to death.”
Police are still investigating whether the fight began inside the club and spilled onto the street or if it began outside entirely.
Video from the scene captured first responders attempting life-saving measures on the security guard, only identified as a male in his 30s, as he was lying in the street.
Dragonfly Hollywood was still open and full of patrons at the time of the security guard’s death. According to the club’s social media, it was hosting its weekly Signature Saturdays event, with Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley headlining the festivities.
The club also hosts an event on Sundays called Sunday Night Fever, but it is unclear whether that event will be postponed following the security guard’s death.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to contact the LAPD immediately. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:31 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/nightclub-security-guard-allegedly-beaten-to-death-in-hollywood-police/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro police are working to identify a driver after a pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed in a hit-and-run crash along Dickerson Pike early Sunday morning.
The crash happened around 3:15 a.m. in the 3800 block of Dickerson Pike.
Metro police reported that 37-year-old Uoli Mejia Primero, who was six months pregnant, was crossing Dickerson Pike when she was hit by a vehicle traveling south. The driver did not stop and fled the scene.
She was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center where she and her unborn child died.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run vehicle/driver is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.
No additional information was immediately released. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/pregnant-woman-unborn-baby-killed-in-hit-and-run-crash-on-dickerson-pike/ | 2023-07-30T18:09:37 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/pregnant-woman-unborn-baby-killed-in-hit-and-run-crash-on-dickerson-pike/ |
President Joe Biden is publicly acknowledging one of his seven grandchildren for the first time.
His son Hunter Biden fathered a child named Navy with an Arkansas woman named Lunden Roberts in 2018. The two parents were embroiled in a paternity and child support lawsuit until June 2023, when they settled.
Hunter Biden had initially denied that he was the father. However, Roberts said in court filings that a paternity test “established with scientific certainty” that he was.
In a statement on July 28, 2023, Joe Biden referenced Navy for the first time.
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“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” the president said in the statement. “This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
A source familiar with the situation told NBC News on July 28 that the Bidens “are — and have been — giving Hunter and Lunden the space and time to figure things out.”
Navy joins a cadre of six other Biden grandchildren, some of whom are in the public eye and others who are not.
The Biden Administration
President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and his administration
So who is in the next generation of Bidens? Here’s a breakdown, from oldest to youngest.
Naomi Biden
Naomi, 29, is the daughter of Biden’s son Hunter Biden and his first wife, Kathleen, whom he divorced in 2017.
Naomi is named after Joe Biden’s 1-year-old daughter with his first wife, Neilia, both of whom were killed in a 1972 car accident that his sons, Beau and Hunter, survived as young boys.
Naomi is the unofficial documentarian of the grandchildren, often sharing photos of them together on Instagram.
She graduated from Columbia Law School in May 2020 after earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where her father was also a graduate. Joe Biden gave a keynote speech at the Columbia Law School virtual graduation.
She would go on to get married on the White House's South Lawn on Nov. 19, 2022 to Peter Neal.
“Congratulations Naomi and Peter! We love you,” the official Twitter account of first lady Jill Biden tweeted of the event.
Finnegan Biden
Finnegan, 22, is Naomi’s younger sister, the second-oldest of Hunter Biden’s children with ex-wife Kathleen. She is named after Biden’s mother, Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Finnegan, who died at 92 in 2010.
Finnegan has followed in her older sister’s footsteps in attending the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in May 2021.
She joined her grandmother Jill Biden at King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023.
Maisy Biden
Maisy is the youngest of Hunter Biden’s three daughters with his former wife.
She attended Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where she played multiple sports and became close friends with Sasha Obama, the younger daughter of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
The girls were basketball teammates growing up on a squad that was once coached by President Obama, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“Her best friend is Sasha Obama,” Biden said during a 2019 rally in Iowa. “Barack and Jill and the whole family, we had a whole get-together (for their high school graduation).”
Both Maisy Biden and Sasha Obama graduated high school in 2019.
Maisy Biden went on to follow in her older sisters' footsteps by attending University of Pennsylvania and graduated in May 2023.
Natalie Biden
Natalie, 18, is the older child of Biden’s late son, Beau Biden, and his widow, Hallie. Beau died of brain cancer at 46 in 2015.
In a candid conversation with Jenna Bush Hager in 2021, Natalie Biden opened up about her favorite holiday to spend with her famous family.
“Thanksgiving is, I think, all of our favorite holiday,” Natalie said. “Maisy and I and my grandpa and my uncle and my dad, we used to do the polar bear plunge in Nantucket in November.”
“And it was always crazy because they would have to bring all the divers and swimmers and Secret Service for my pop, and it’s me and Natalie and him holding hands like sprinting into the water,” Maisy Biden added.
Natalie Biden graduated from high school in Delaware in May 2023. The Associated Press reports she will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.
Robert Hunter Biden II
Robert Hunter, 17, who is named after his uncle, is the younger child of Beau and Hallie Biden.
He hasn’t been in the public eye much, but popped up in the video of the grandchildren reciting the Pledge of Allegiance that was shown during the August 2020 Democratic National convention.
Navy Roberts
Navy is the daughter of Hunter Biden and Alabama woman Lunden Roberts. She was born on Aug. 28, 2018, according to a post by Roberts to Instagram.
As mentioned above, the two parents settled a settled a child support dispute in June 2023.
In a statement on July 28, 2023, President Joe Biden publicly acknowledged Navy for the first time.
Beau Biden
The youngest of the grandchildren was born when Hunter Biden and his second wife, Melissa Cohen, welcomed Beau in 2020.
The younger Beau Biden made his first public appearance at the age of 8 months old during the January 2021 inauguration of his famous grandfather. Baby Beau Biden was held by his parents as they walked an abbreviated parade route amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Later that day, the president was pictured sharing a sweet moment with Beau, holding him and giving him a kiss after a full day of inauguration ceremonies.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/biden-administration/who-are-joe-bidens-grandchildren-heres-a-breakdown/4549013/ | 2023-07-30T18:10:22 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/biden-administration/who-are-joe-bidens-grandchildren-heres-a-breakdown/4549013/ |
Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to speak to about 1,2000 Republican members and activists at the Lincoln Day dinner in Iowa Friday as part of his two-day bus tour where his campaign focuses on derailing former President Donald Trump.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis has touted Florida's new public school curriculum on Black history, a topic that has stirred political controversy across the country.
"I think it's very clear that these guys did a good job with those standards," DeSantis said. "It wasn't anything that was politically motivated. These are serious scholars."
The new curriculum includes instructions for students to learn how African Americans “developed skills” while enslaved “which, in some instances could be applied for their personal benefit.”
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"That particular provision about the skills, that was in spite of slavery, not because of it," the governor added. "The AP course has made that same point, other courses have made that same point."
Some opponents to the changes said this language “waters down” a dark period in our country’s history.
According to state documents and officials, a 13-member group was formed from a pool of 40 applicants to set the new standards. The search for these members started in August 2022.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Florida Department of Education said the group consisted of “educators and academics including nominations from the Commissioner’s African American History Task Force.”
But Dr. Donna Austin, one of at least 10 members of the task force says several members were left in the dark about the updates, until they were already finalized.
During a trip to Jacksonville, in an effort to assail Republican efforts to overhaul educational standards, Vice President Kamala Harris said extremists want to “replace history with lies."
“How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization?” Harris asked.
While she did not mention DeSantis by name, she instead referred to the state's “so-called leaders.”
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is also running for president in 2024, has also spoken out against DeSantis for supporting the new standards.
“What slavery was really about was separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was just devastating,” Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, told reporters on Thursday after a town hall in Ankeny. “So I would hope that every person in our country — and certainly running for president — would appreciate that.”
“People have bad days," Scott added. "Sometimes they regret what they say. And we should ask them again to clarify their positions.”
Other language that has drawn the ire of some educators and education advocates includes teaching about how Black people were also perpetrators of violence during race massacres.
That language says, “Instruction includes acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans but is not limited to 1906 Atlanta Race Riot, 1919 Washington, D.C. Race Riot, 1920 Ocoee Massacre, 1921 Tulsa Massacre and the 1923 Rosewood Massacre.”
Florida has shifted to the right under DeSantis' leadership. As governor, he's signed legislation on a number of education issues, such as banning drag shows at schools and imposing new requirements for transgender bathroom use.
In 2022, he signed what he called the Stop WOKE Act, which limits how race can be taught in school and which the governor used to attack critical race theory — a subject he has described as “crap.” The law essentially says students can’t be made to feel guilty about their race because of injustices of the past.
Critics said the law was DeSantis’ attempt to suppress an accurate account of Black history. The law is being challenged in court.
“The full measure of African American history is not a hand-picked Rosa Parks here and a Martin Luther King Jr. there,” said Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell, who is Black. “It is the sweeping collection of stories spanning several centuries, the lessons of cruelty and inhumanity interwoven in the determination of a people to live and breathe free. It is as much Florida’s story as the nation’s story and it needs to be fully told.”
Earlier this year, the DeSantis administration rejected a College Board Advanced Placement course on African American history, which DeSantis said was “indoctrination.” | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/desantis-faces-backlash-after-defending-new-black-history-academic-standards-on-the-campaign-trail/4548915/ | 2023-07-30T18:10:28 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/desantis-faces-backlash-after-defending-new-black-history-academic-standards-on-the-campaign-trail/4548915/ |
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit Donald Trump filed against CNN in which the former U.S. president claimed that references in news articles or by the network's hosts to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election as "the Big Lie" was tantamount to comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
Trump had been seeking punitive damages of $475 million in the federal lawsuit filed last October in South Florida, claiming the references hurt his reputation and political career. Trump is a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination in what is his third run for the presidency.
U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump, said Friday in his ruling that the former president's defamation claims failed because the references were opinions and not factual statements. Moreover, it was a stretch to believe that, in viewers' minds, that phrase would connect Trump's efforts challenging the 2020 election results to Nazi propaganda or Hitler's genocidal and authoritarian regime, the judge said.
"CNN's use of the phrase 'the Big Lie' in connection with Trump's election challenges does not give rise to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people," the judge wrote in his decision.
Email messages seeking comment were sent to Trump's attorneys in South Florida and Washington. Email messages seeking comment also were sent to CNN attorneys in Atlanta and South Florida.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/national-politics/2023-07-30/a-federal-judge-has-dismissed-trumps-defamation-case-against-cnn-over-the-big-lie | 2023-07-30T18:10:38 | 1 | https://www.wlrn.org/national-politics/2023-07-30/a-federal-judge-has-dismissed-trumps-defamation-case-against-cnn-over-the-big-lie |
Updated July 30, 2023 at 1:02 PM ET
KHAR, Pakistan — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader on Sunday in the country's northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers' convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. "Such crimes cannot be justified in any way," he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
"There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs," he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been "martyred" and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers' convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at the city's mosque at police headquarters in February this year.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar's main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
"Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones," Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
"I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground," he said. "We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people | 2023-07-30T18:10:44 | 1 | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-07-30/a-bombing-at-a-political-rally-in-pakistan-has-killed-at-least-40-people |
A New Hampshire nurse and her child were kidnapped in Haiti late last week, according to the humanitarian organization El Roi Haiti.
Alix Dorsainvil works as a community health nurse for El Roi Haiti and is also married to the group's founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince.
In a statement posted to its website on Saturday, El Roi Haiti said Alix and the couple's child were taken Thursday morning from the organization's campus near Port-au-Prince.
"Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family," the group said. "Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus."
El Roi Haiti is a Christian organization that operates a K-12 school for Haitian children and offers a variety of other programs, including adult education, vocational instruction and discipleship training.
Alix Dorsainvil is originally from New Hampshire, but had been living in Haiti and operating a children's clinic for El Roi Haiti, according to a promotional video on the organization's website.
"Haitians are such a resilient people. They're full of joy and life and love," she said in the video. "I'm so blessed to be able to know so many amazing Haitians."
El Roi Haiti said it was working with its "partners and trusted relationships" to get Alix and her child returned safely, and said it was "grateful for the outpouring of prayers, care, and support for our colleague."
A State Department spokesperson told NPR that the administration is aware of reports that two U.S. citizens had been kidnapped in Haiti.
"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the spokesperson said.
The State Department is in regular contact with Haitian authorities, the spokesperson added, and is continuing to work with them and other U.S. government interagency partners.
Unrest in Haiti has worsened lately, with gangs controlling much of the country including the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The National Human Rights Defense Network said earlier this month that deadly violence and kidnappings have been surging in Haiti, with at least 75 people killed and 40 abducted between May and mid-July, the Associated Press reported.
In 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, kidnappers abducted a group of 17 missionaries on their way back from helping to build an orphanage. Five of the missionaries were later released, while 12 would eventually escape their captors.
On July 14, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution asking the secretary-general to provide some possible options to "enhance the security situation" in Haiti, including a possible U.N. peacekeeping force.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti | 2023-07-30T18:10:50 | 1 | https://www.wlrn.org/npr-breaking-news/npr-breaking-news/2023-07-30/a-new-hampshire-nurse-and-her-child-have-been-kidnapped-in-haiti |
A heat advisory is in place for the Tampa Bay area on Sunday and will be in effect until 7 p.m.
The following counties will be affected:
- Citrus
- DeSoto
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Manatee
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Sarasota
High temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s, however, the heat index is expected to be up to 110°F at times.
The heat index measures how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual temperature.
HEAT ADVISORY | The NWS has issued a Heat Advisory today with forecast heat indices up to 110°. Be safe while you enjoy your Sunday, but especially if you have to work in this heat! pic.twitter.com/tid0GNooSn
— Jason Adams (@JasonAdamsWFTS) July 30, 2023
According to the National Weather Service, when the heat index is between 103-110°F, heat cramps or heat exhaustion are likely, and heat stroke is possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Related Story: Heat stroke warning signs, symptoms
The NWS said heat index values forecasted and measured are actually for shady spots, and in direct sunlight, the heat index value can increase by up to 15°F.
The Florida Department of Health provides these general tips for staying safe in the heat:
- Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. It is also a good idea to wear a hat or to use an umbrella.
- Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.
- Slow down and avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day – morning hours between 4 and 7 a.m.
- Stay indoors when possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.
- Be a good neighbor. Check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
- Don’t forget your pets. Make sure they have access to water, ventilation and shade. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/weather/heat-advisory-issued-for-tampa-bay-area-sunday-index-up-to-110-f-at-times | 2023-07-30T18:11:52 | 1 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/weather/heat-advisory-issued-for-tampa-bay-area-sunday-index-up-to-110-f-at-times |
Everything to know about the Blue Dasher
Many, if not most, animals rely on camouflage as a defense mechanism from predators, and many times, the colors utilized can be quite dull. However, many winged insects, particularly those in the Order Odonata (comprised of Dragonflies and Damselflies), can be stunning with the vast array of colors exhibited. One such species of dragonfly that fits that bill is the Blue Dasher.
The Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a medium-sized dragonfly that can achieve body lengths of 1¾ inches and a wingspan of just over 2 inches. Like other insects, it has three body parts: the head, the thorax (what the wings and legs are attached to), and the abdomen. Like many other species of dragonflies, this species is sexually dimorphic in appearance, meaning males and females can be differentiated from each other by coloration and overall build. In adult male Blue Dashers, the thorax is colored a vibrant blue and is adorned with black and yellow stripes. The powder-blue colored abdomen tapers slightly posteriorly while the head has a white face and metallic green eyes. The thorax of adult females looks like that of the male, but the abdomen, rather than being blue, has the same pattern as the thorax and is much blunter than the males. The head lacks the white face, and the eyes are red. The wings are mostly clear with the outer half with a brownish tint, and the six legs are black in coloration.
When perched this species will hold their wings open horizontally at a slight downward angle. This is one of the many ways to differentiate “true” dragonflies and damselflies as the latter will sit with their wings held together, upright, and closed over the abdomen.
As far as dragonflies go, this variety has a widespread distribution. It can be observed throughout the continental United States except for the Great Basin region of the upper Rocky Mountains, as well as southern Canada and northern Mexico. It prefers to reside in areas with permanent or at least semipermanent water sources; it is obviously more common in areas with wetlands, streams, creeks, and rivers.
All dragonflies are predatory insects feeding primarily on flies, mosquitoes, and other small flying insects. Blue Dasher may eat up to 10% of their body weight in a day, which equates to it eating literally hundreds of smaller insects daily. It hunts from a perching position, “dashing” through the air to obtain its prey, hence the common name of Dasher. It will not perch in one spot too long, instead moving frequently to better its chances of feeding. It can be quite aggressive in obtaining its perch, fighting off other Blue Dashers as well as other varieties of dragonflies. The more aggressive individuals are the ones who have a higher success rate of survival.
Blue Dashers, like other dragonflies, are a key indicator on the health of an ecosystem. As habitats decrease, so do the populations of dragonflies. And with the sheer number of insects that just one individual can consume in a day, it is apparent the importance that these flighted creatures play in our environment.
Michael Price is owner of Wild About Texas, an educational company that specializes in venomous animal safety training, environmental consultations and ecotourism. Contact him at wildabouttexas@gmail.com. | https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/opinion/editorials/2023/07/30/everything-to-know-about-the-blue-dasher/70479858007/ | 2023-07-30T18:12:02 | 0 | https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/opinion/editorials/2023/07/30/everything-to-know-about-the-blue-dasher/70479858007/ |
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Céline Boutier carded a 4-under 67 in the third round of the Évian Championship on Saturday to increase her lead to four shots going into the final day.
The 29-year-old Boutier aims to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“I didn’t start that good to be honest. I missed the first three greens but got a good break on 2 and was able to chip in. Then I just had really good chances on the two par-fives, seven and nine, and was able to take advantage of that,” said Boutier, who had a bogey on the 12th hole in a round of five birdies.
“I was just trying to focus on making, hitting a good shot, and if I happen to have a birdie opportunity, I hit a solid putt. It was definitely positive and felt pretty good to start very good on the front.”
Boutier’s closest challenger is Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 68 on Saturday after rounds of 70 and 67.
“Hopefully I will get more birdies tomorrow. It was good iron shots and distance control,” Hataoka said. “Also I was good too with my putting stroke, so I was really comfortable. Tomorrow is another new day, and I want to enjoy the next 18 holes.”
Minjee Lee of Australia and Brooke Henderson of Canada are joint-third, a shot behind Hataoka.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ | 2023-07-30T18:12:02 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ |