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President Joe Biden will travel to Portsmouth next week, the White House confirmed Wednesday.
Biden is expected to travel to Portsmouth on Tuesday, April 19, but not much more is known about the visit at this time. A spokesperson for Sen. Maggie Hassan said the senator is expected to appear with Biden during his trip to the Granite State, but no further details were available Wednesday night.
Hassan’s official Twitter account also confirmed Biden’s visit in a tweet Wednesday saying, “ Looking forward to welcoming @POTUS to New Hampshire next week to discuss how the bipartisan infrastructure law will support NH families, small businesses, and our economy.”
Biden is heading to Portsmouth to “discuss the unprecedented investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will Build a Better America and improve the country’s ports and waterways,” according to a White House advisory.
“The President will highlight how these investments will strengthen supply chains, keep goods moving to help lower prices for working families, and enable the U.S. to compete globally,” the advisory said.
Biden last visited New Hampshire in November, when he traveled to Woodstock the day after signing the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal.
First lady Jill Biden traveled to Portsmouth in July 2021 as part of the administration’s “America’s Back Together” tour celebrating the progress the U.S. has made against COVID-19. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/human_interest/pres-biden-to-visit-portsmouth-next-week/article_3b63ae2b-5deb-5dec-8a3a-fd836c8aa235.html | 2022-04-13T22:39:10 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/human_interest/pres-biden-to-visit-portsmouth-next-week/article_3b63ae2b-5deb-5dec-8a3a-fd836c8aa235.html |
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A military drone that apparently flew all the way from the Ukrainian war zone over three European NATO member states before crashing in the Croatian capital was armed with an explosive device, Croatian crash investigators said Wednesday.
The 6-ton Soviet-era aircraft apparently drifted uncontrolled out of Ukraine, crossed into Romania and Hungary before entering Croatia, slamming into a field near a student dormitory early morning on March 10 in Zagreb. About 40 parked cars were damaged in the large explosion, but no one was injured.
Members of the Croatian investigative team told reporters Wednesday that fragments of the drone found at the crash site showed that the device carried an “improvised aircraft bomb” that was filled with unknown type of explosives.
“It was unequivocally established that these were fragments of the OFAB 100-120 air bomb,” said Maj. Mile Tomic. “Both the bomb and its trigger were made in the former USSR.”
The investigators said that they have not yet conclusively determined which side in the war in Ukraine launched the TU-141 drone that was originally used in surveillance missions. But they indicated that the Ukrainians are more like to be behind the launch as “fresh” paint traces of their blue and yellow flag were found on the pieces of the wreckage that also included a red star, the Russian air force marking.
Both Russia and Ukraine have denied launching it.
NATO officials have refused to comment on the incident until an investigation is completed, but the alliance had increased its surveillance flights over countries near the war zone and a pair of US Air Force F-16s were deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Croatia on March 16, taking part in exercises and bolstering NATO’s southeastern flank.
Croatian officials had criticized NATO for what they called a slow reaction to a very serious incident and called into question the readiness of the military alliance’s member states to respond to a possible attack.
NATO said the alliance’s integrated air and missile defense had tracked the object’s flight path. But Croatian officials said the country’s authorities weren’t informed and that NATO reacted only after questions were posed by journalists.
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AP writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed. | https://www.wane.com/news/investigators-drone-that-crashed-in-croatia-carried-a-bomb/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:10 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/investigators-drone-that-crashed-in-croatia-carried-a-bomb/ |
Authorities on Wednesday arrested the man suspected of setting off smoke bombs and shooting 10 passengers in a New York subway car, Mayor Eric Adams said, capping a manhunt that had renewed fears of violence in the city’s transit system.
“My fellow New Yorkers, we got him. We got him,” Adams told a press conference. “We’re going to protect the people of this city and apprehend those who believe they can bring terror to everyday New Yorkers.”
New York Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said the suspect, Frank James, was arrested with the help of a tip following a 30-hour search.
James faces a federal charge of a terrorism attack on mass transportation, officials said.
Police said James, 62, fired a semi-automatic handgun on Tuesday that was later recovered at the scene, along with three extended-ammunition magazines, a hatchet, some consumer-grade fireworks and a container of gasoline.
In addition to those shot, five of whom were in critical but stable condition on Wednesday, 13 other people were injured in a panicked rush to flee the smoke-filled train. All of the victims were expected to survive.
The attack was the latest burst of violence that has plagued the largest U.S. city transit system, and posed a new challenge for Mayor Eric Adams, who has tried to halt declining ridership during the pandemic and ensure public safety.
James was apprehended in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood after being spotted by bystanders who posted pictures of him to social media that alerted police, local media reported.
U-Haul van
The New York Police Department (NYPD) says James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, Wisc., left keys to a rented U-Haul van at the crime scene in the 36th Street station, in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood.
Investigators found a number of social media posts linked to a person named Frank James that mentioned homelessness and Mayor Adams, Sewell said. A YouTube account apparently belonging to James was taken down Wednesday “for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines,” the video platform said.
Attempts by Reuters to reach any of the phone numbers associated with James were unsuccessful.
In an interview with the New York Times, James’ sister, Catherine James Robinson, said he had “been on his own his whole life” and that she was surprised by the incident.
“I don’t think he would do anything like that. That’s not in his nature to do anything like that,” she said.
On Wednesday morning, with the gunman then still at large, New Yorkers went on with their commute, saying the violence would not deter them.
“It was terrible. I was sad; I had to explain it to my daughter,” commuter Matthew Mosk said. “I was lucky I wasn’t on the train because I usually commute around that time.”
Another man riding the subway, Nathan Sandidge, said: “I don’t really have any other option. It’s what we have to do to get to work. So, just kind of roll with whatever we have to deal with.”
Ridership has taken a downturn during the pandemic, dropping from 5.5 million trips per week day to an average of 3.3 million last week. New York has also seen a sharp rise in violent crime, including seemingly random attacks on the subway.
The transit violence has included a number of attacks in which passengers were shoved onto train tracks from platforms, including a Manhattan woman whose murder was seen as part of a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans.
After Tuesday’s attack, Mayor Adams pledged to double the number of officers assigned to subway security. He has prioritized increasing police patrols and expanding mental health outreach programs to combat violence.
The mayor told MSNBC on Wednesday the city was looking at new technologies for metal detectors that would keep people safe while minimizing disruption.
“There are new models that are being used at ball games, ballparks, hospitals, where you’re not stopping to go through your belongings, you simply walk in through a device,” Adams said. | https://www.unionleader.com/wire/national/update-8-new-york-subway-shooting-suspect-arrested-on-mass-transit-violence-charge/article_dc3ba9a8-c40a-5ec0-9aec-693a6194b613.html | 2022-04-13T22:39:17 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/wire/national/update-8-new-york-subway-shooting-suspect-arrested-on-mass-transit-violence-charge/article_dc3ba9a8-c40a-5ec0-9aec-693a6194b613.html |
LONDON (AP) — An Islamic State supporter was given a whole-life sentence Wednesday for stabbing a British lawmaker to death in revenge for his voting in support for airstrikes on Syria.
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, was convicted Monday of murdering Conservative lawmaker David Amess and preparing terrorist acts. A jury deliberated for just 18 minutes before finding him guilty.
“The defendant has no remorse or shame for what he has done — quite the reverse,” Justice Nigel Sweeney told the court. “This is a murder that struck at the heart of democracy.”
Ali stabbed Amess with a carving knife multiple times on Oct.15 while he was meeting with voters at a church hall in the town of Leigh-on-Sea in eastern England. Ali, a London man with Somali heritage, said he targeted Amess because he backed voting for airstrikes on Syria in 2014 and 2015.
The whole-life sentence means Ali will never be eligible for parole, and will likely spend the rest of his days in prison.
Amess’s family said “there is no elation” following the sentencing and described the crime as “beyond evil.”
“We will wake each day and immediately feel our loss. We will struggle through each day for the rest of our lives,” the family said in a statement. “It breaks our heart to know that our husband and father would have greeted the murderer with a smile of friendship and would have been anxious to help.”
Prosecutors described Ali as a committed, fanatical terrorist and said he spent years plotting an attack on British politicians. Counter-terrorism officers at the Metropolitan Police said they had evidence that he carried out reconnaissance around the Parliament building in London weeks before the murder.
During the trial, Ali told the court he took action in the U.K. to help Muslims in Syria because he couldn’t travel to join the Islamic State group. He also said he did not think he did anything wrong.
He added he had expected to be shot and die at the scene, but decided to drop his knife after seeing that the first police to arrive were not armed with guns.
Amess, 69, had been a member of Parliament since 1983. He was pronounced dead at the scene after the stabbing.
The slaying of Amess shook the nation and prompted questions about security protection for lawmakers because they often meet directly with the public. It came five years after Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death by a far-right extremist. | https://www.wane.com/news/is-supporter-given-life-sentence-for-murdering-uk-lawmaker/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:18 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/is-supporter-given-life-sentence-for-murdering-uk-lawmaker/ |
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces on Wednesday shot and killed three Palestinians, including a teenage boy, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, as Israeli troops continued a days-long operation in the occupied West Bank in response to a spate of deadly attacks.
The three deaths, all in separate incidents, were the latest in a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has erupted as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan.
In two cases, the Israeli military said its troops fired at suspects who threw firebombs at soldiers during West Bank operations.
But Palestinian officials said one of the two, lawyer Mohammed Assaf, 34, just happened to inadvertently drive into a battle zone in the northern West Bank town of Beita.
The other was a 14-year-old, killed by Israeli army fire in Husan, a village near Bethlehem, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
The teen’s death is likely to draw international criticism of Israeli military tactics. Earlier this week, the fatal shooting of an unarmed Palestinian woman drew accusations from European officials that the military was using excessive force.
Murad Shtaiwe, a Fatah party spokesman, said Assaf, the lawyer, was driving relatives to school. They passed through an area where clashes were taking place and Assaf was fatally shot, Shtaiwe said.
“What happened today is a new crime,” he said.
Also, the Israeli police said that in a joint security operation with the army and Shin Bet intelligence agency, troops arrested four suspects in the town of Silwad, near Ramallah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20-year-old Omar Muhammad Alyan was killed after he was shot in the chest during the Israeli arrest raid.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 18 others were injured as a result of the Israeli military’s activities. The military said one soldier was lightly wounded in the clashes and that it arrested 15 people in its raids Wednesday.
Israel has sent troops to comb through Palestinians cities and villages in recent days, looking for suspects or accomplices tied to recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Last week, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a packed Tel Aviv bar, killing three and fleeing the scene, sparking an hours-long manhunt that culminated in his killing by police.
That assault, as well as three other attacks elsewhere in Israel in recent weeks, have killed 14 people, the deadliest outburst of bloodshed against Israelis in years.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s office accused Israel of destabilizing the West Bank, saying the situation “has become dangerous and sensitive and is rapidly deteriorating.”
On Wednesday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the Arab state strongly condemned Israel’s West Bank operations and what he called excessive force against Palestinians. Hafez urged in a statement for “containing such growing and accelerating developments,” which could lead to further escalation and mutual violence.
The tensions have escalated as Muslims mark Ramadan, which this year converges with major Jewish and Christian holidays. In the coming week as Passover and Easter commence, tens of thousands from the three faiths are expected to stream into Jerusalem’s Old City, the emotional heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a frequent flashpoint for violence.
Unrest in Jerusalem during last year’s Ramadan escalated into an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian militant groups called on Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Israel to camp out at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque this weekend.
After a meeting with Hamas’s Gaza leader Yehiyeh Sinwar, the factions called for mass protests to break the Israeli restrictions recently imposed on the city of Jenin and said militants in Gaza were on alert “and ready to take the necessary decisions to protect our land, people, and holy sites.”
Israel’s government has sought to lower the flames by moving ahead on its plan to ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during the holy month. But, with two of the attackers in the recent violence from Jenin and the surrounding area, Israel has tightened restrictions on movement in and out of the city.
Jenin is considered a stronghold of Palestinian militants. Israeli forces often come under fire when operating in the area. Even the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank and coordinates with Israel on security matters, appears to have little control.
Israel had made numerous arrests in recent days, and in some cases, Palestinians have protested against the raids. Several Palestinians have been killed in the raids or in response to attacks or attempted attacks.
Late Saturday, Palestinian protesters set fire to a West Bank shrine revered by Jews and smashed part of the the tomb inside. On Wednesday, Israel carried out repairs to the site, known to Jews as Joseph’s Tomb, and a day earlier the military said it arrested a suspect linked to the arson. The military said clashes also broke out nearby as the repairs were underway.
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Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. | https://www.wane.com/news/israeli-forces-kill-3-palestinians-in-raids-in-west-bank/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:25 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/israeli-forces-kill-3-palestinians-in-raids-in-west-bank/ |
IRPIN, Ukraine (AP) — Pounding sounds came from a sixth-floor window, along with the risk of falling glass. For once, it was not destruction in the Ukrainian town of Irpin, but rebuilding. Heartened by Russia’s withdrawal from the capital region, residents have begun coming home, at least to what’s left.
Irpin just weeks ago saw desperate scenes of flight. Terrified residents picked their way across slippery planks of a makeshift bridge after a concrete span was destroyed by Ukrainian forces to slow the Russian advance. But on Monday, a long line of cars waited to cross a recently improvised bridge allowing access between the town and the capital, Kyiv.
The early returnees are among the 7 million Ukrainians displaced inside their country by the war. They are crossing paths with the elderly and others who waited out Russia’s assault in cold, damp basements, numbed by the sounds of shelling, and who have emerged into a landscape of ruined tanks and splintered homes.
In colorful Irpin apartment blocks where cafes and salons are still silent, the first signs of life stir amid the shattered glass and scorched walls. It feels like a turning point, even as police officers with flashlights continue to walk through near-empty buildings, looking for bodies and mines.
The Russians left messages in some apartments, according to photos posted in one building’s social media group and shared with The Associated Press. “Hello from the Russians,” read one taunting note written on a piece of paper. “We didn’t want to, you started the war yourself. Sorry if something is wrong :)”
Another message, left in a child’s bedroom, said, “I fed your fish, princess.” The fish are still alive.
Tenant chat groups now full of questions for Irpin’s returnees about the state of their homes.
Upstairs and down a darkened hallway, Olexiy Planida, 34, worked to place a sheet of plastic over a large window facing a damaged playground. This was his first time home since he fled with his wife, two small children and their dog.
The remains of breakfast, including a half-eaten bowl on a high chair, were where they left them. Nearby, pots of flowers had wilted. A stuffed toy lay amid broken glass.
“It hurts,” Planida said. The Russians broke open all the apartment doors and took a laptop, iPad and jewelry, he said. He’s sure it was the Russians because local thieves pick the locks instead.
“I think for a couple of years it can’t be fixed,” Planida said of Irpin’s homes, many of which have suffered similar damage or worse.
He hopes his children, ages 2 and 4, will never see their home the way it is now. He hopes they’ll never remember the war itself, which he and his wife have tried to explain in the gentlest of terms.
“We’re just talking to them like, ‘Hey, some bad guys came to us,’” he said. “They shouldn’t see such things.” Even he was shocked by the ruins in parts of Irpin and in Bucha nearby.
Down the hallway, Oksana Lyul’ka cleared the broken glass from her living room floor, using work gloves to carry pieces as large as dinner plates.
Just months ago the 28-year-old had returned to Ukraine from Cyprus to start a new life closer to home, and she renovated the apartment. Now the structural damage alone is a concern, along with her missing jewelry.
She had arrived at the apartment an hour earlier. Downstairs, she cried.
She fled Irpin on the second day of the war and moved in with her parents. Now she is based in Kyiv, not so far away.
“We can’t make plans for now,” she said. “Our plan is to win the war, and then we will decide what to do with the apartment. It’s not that important now.”
Because the Russians remain in Ukraine they complicate any real recovery, she said. “We all feel pain and it’s hard and it’s terrible, but people are suffering, people are dying, and this is the main problem.”
Near the slowly reviving bridge linking Irpin to the capital, dozens of cars abandoned by fleeing residents were being placed in rows. Some were burned. Some were smashed.
Some vehicles had the remnants of their owners’ last seconds before giving up and going on foot: a coffee thermos. Face masks. Glove compartments left open, documents scattered.
People have started showing up at the lot to look for what they left behind.
Not all find it. One man sat on the curb, holding two photographs, and wept. His brother was gone.
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David Keyton in Stockholm, Sweden contributed.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wane.com/news/it-cant-be-fixed-in-shattered-irpin-signs-of-homecoming/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:32 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/it-cant-be-fixed-in-shattered-irpin-signs-of-homecoming/ |
TOKYO (AP) — U.S. and Japanese warships, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, are conducting their joint naval exercise in waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula for the first time in five years, in a show of their close military alliance amid growing speculation of North Korea’s missile or nuclear testing later this week.
The U.S. 7th Fleet and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force said Wednesday they conducted a joint naval exercise at the Sea of Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was the first time the U.S. aircraft carrier held the exercise in the area since 2017 and is seen as an apparent attempt to deter North Korea’s provocation.
Defense experts have warned that North Korea may launch another missile or even conduct a nuclear test as early as this week when Pyongyang marks the birth anniversary of its founding leader Kim Il Sung. Tension is rising in the region ahead of an annual joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea.
Japan has also stepped up joint military exercises with its closest ally, the United States, as well as regional partners in recent years amid rising concern over China’s increasingly assertive military actions in the regional seas.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that the ongoing joint exercise is “aimed at strengthening military cooperation between Japan and the United States, and is not keeping in mind a specific country. … We will continue to strengthen deterrence and response capability of the Japan-U.S. alliance and to do utmost for the defense of our country.”
Details of the exercise will be released by the Japanese Defense Ministry “when the situation allows a disclosure.”
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force said its destroyer JS Kongo and JS Inazuma, as well as Japanese F-2 fighters joined USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group “in order to strengthen the capability of Japan-US alliance for effective deterrence and response.”
“Our works contribute to the regional peace and stability,” the Japanese navy tweeted.
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense official said they cannot provide specific dates and locations of the ongoing joint exercise until it’s finished.
Tension has risen in the area over North Korea’s spate of missile tests this year, including its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in more than four years.
Some experts say the North’s recent missile tests were meant to perfect its weapons technology, boost its leverage in future negotiations with the U.S. and secure stronger internal loyalty. They say North Korea could soon conduct another ICBM launch, a launch of a satellite-carrying rocket or a test of a nuclear device in coming weeks. | https://www.wane.com/news/japan-us-hold-navy-drills-off-koreas-amid-nuke-test-worry/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:39 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/japan-us-hold-navy-drills-off-koreas-amid-nuke-test-worry/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s former No. 2 official John Lee said Wednesday he had formally registered his candidacy in the election for the top job after securing 786 nominations to enter the race.
Lee, who resigned as chief secretary last week before declaring he would run for chief executive, is the only candidate formally entered so far for the May 8 vote. He is considered Beijing’s favored candidate and a sign of the central government further tightening its control over the territory.
Lee’s 786 nominations are well over 50% of the 1,454-member Election Committee that will select the next chief executive. The nomination period ends Saturday and the committee will elect the winner by absolute majority.
“It is not easy, as I have been working very hard to explain to various members what my election platform will be like,” Lee told reporters.
He reiterated that he will focus on a results-oriented approach to solve problems, keeping Hong Kong competitive and setting a firm foundation for the development of Hong Kong.
Current Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is not seeking a second term, following a rocky five years in power that spanned the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijing’s rapid and growing influence over the territory.
Hong Kong’s leader is chosen every five years, although the selection process is carefully orchestrated behind the scenes by Beijing. The four chief executives selected since Hong Kong’s handover have all been candidates seen as favored by Beijing.
Lee told reporters Tuesday that enacting Article 23 of the Basic Law — which stipulates that Hong Kong enacts its own security law — will be a “priority.” Enacting such a law was temporarily shelved after mass protests against the government in 2003.
Hong Kong’s own security law should prohibit acts of treason and the theft of state secrets, as well as other offences including secession, sedition and subversion.
Beijing in 2020 imposed its own national security law in Hong Kong. Lee is a staunch advocate of the national security law, which has been used against pro-democracy activists, supporters and media, diminishing freedoms promised to Hong Kong during Britain’s handover to China in 1997.
Lee, 64, rose in the civil service ranks after years in the police force. He previously said he was running for the No. 1 position out of his loyalty and love for Hong Kong, as well as a “sense of duty to the Hong Kong people.”
He also said loyalty was the “basic requirement” to run as a leader of the city — comments made after Hong Kong’s electoral laws were amended last year to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing can hold office.
The new Hong Kong leader will take office on July 1. | https://www.wane.com/news/john-lee-secures-nominations-for-hong-kong-leadership-race/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:46 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/john-lee-secures-nominations-for-hong-kong-leadership-race/ |
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he’s “sincerely thankful” to the U.S. for the new round of $800 million in military assistance.
In his daily late-night address to the nation, Zelenskyy also said he was thankful for Wednesday’s visit by the presidents of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
He said those leaders “have helped us from the first day, those who did not hesitate to give us weapons, those who did not doubt whether to impose sanctions.”
In his telephone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden, Zelenskyy said they discussed the new weapons shipment, even tougher sanctions against Russia and efforts to bring to justice those Russian soldiers who committed war crimes in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also said work was continuing to clear tens of thousands of unexploded shells, mines and trip wires that were left behind in northern Ukraine by the retreating Russians.
He urged those returning to their homes in those towns to be wary of any unfamiliar object and report it to the police.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Biden approves$800M in artillery, helicopters for Ukraine
— Ukraine’s detentionof oligarch close to Putin angers Moscow
— France’s Le Pen warnsagainst sending weapons to Ukraine
— Polish, Baltic presidents visit Ukraine in show of support
— Russia has yet to slow a Western arms express into Ukraine
— Forced into a basementin Ukraine, residents began to die
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukrainefor more coverage
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
LVIV, Ukraine — The detention of fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been met with enthusiasm in Kyiv and irritation in Moscow.
Analysts say Medvedchuk will become a valuable pawn in the Russia-Ukraine talks to end the devastating war that the Kremlin has unleashed on its ex-Soviet neighbor.
Medvedchuk was detained on Tuesday in a special operation carried out by Ukraine’s state security service, or the SBU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuk’s freedom by trading him for Ukrainians now held captive by the Russians.
The 67-year-old oligarch escaped from house arrest several days before the hostilities broke out Feb. 24 in Ukraine. He is facing between 15 years and a life in prison on charges of treason and aiding and abetting a terrorist organization for mediating coal purchases for the separatist, Russia-backed Donetsk republic in eastern Ukraine.
Medvedchuk has close ties with Putin, who is believed to be the godfather of his youngest daughter. His detention has sparked a heated exchange between officials in Moscow and Kyiv.
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KYIV, Ukraine — The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia visited Ukraine on Wednesday and underscored their support for the embattled country.
The presidents of the four NATO countries on Russia’s doorstep saw heavily damaged buildings and demanded accountability for what they called war crimes carried out by Russian forces. The visit was a strong show of solidarity by the leaders of the countries on NATO’s eastern flank, three of them like Ukraine, once part of the Soviet Union.
They traveled by train to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and visited Borodyanka, one of the towns near Kyiv where evidence of atrocities was found after Russian troops withdrew to focus on the country’s east.
“The fight for Europe’s future is happening here,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said, calling for tougher sanctions, including against Russia’s oil and gas shipments and all the country’s banks.
Appearing alongside Zelenskyy in an ornate room in Kyiv’s historical Mariinskyi Palace, the European leaders — Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Estonian President Alar Karis, Poland’s Andrzej Duda and Egils Levits of Latvia — reiterated their commitments to supporting Ukraine politically and with transfers of military aid.
Duda described what is happening not as war but as “terrorism,” saying accountability must extend not just to soldiers who committed atrocities but also those who gave the orders.
“We know this history,” Duda said. “We know what Russian occupation means. We know what Russian terrorism means.”
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has weighed in on growing calls to declare Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide, saying it is “absolutely right” that the term is being used given rampant allegations of war crimes and other human rights violations.
Trudeau made the comments during a news conference Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters that Russia’s conduct in Ukraine appeared to his eyes to be a genocide.
While both North American leaders noted that it will be up to lawyers to determine whether Russia’s actions meet the international standard for genocide, they were nonetheless united in welcoming use of the term.
“It’s absolutely right that more and more people be talking and using the word ‘genocide’ in terms of what Russia is doing,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister went on to list a series of war crimes and human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by Russian forces under the direction of President Vladimir Putin, including deliberate attacks on civilians and the use of sexual violence. Trudeau said they’re attacking “Ukrainian identity and culture.”
Canada has dispatched police investigators to help the International Criminal Court collect evidence to ultimately hold Putin and other Russian leaders to account.
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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved $800 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defenses against an intensified Russian offensive in the country’s East.
Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to coordinate the delivery of the assistance, which he said included artillery systems, artillery rounds, and armored personnel carriers, as well as helicopters.
“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden said the U.S. will continue to work with allies to share additional weapons and resources as the conflict continues.
“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion,” Biden said. “It has helped ensure that Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now.”
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UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says there is no chance at the moment for a humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine, as the United Nations was seeking.
But he told reporters Wednesday that the U.N. has made a number of proposals to Russia on the possibility of local cease-fires, humanitarian corridors, and the evacuation of civilians, “and we are waiting for an answer.”
Guterres sent U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths to Moscow and Kyiv as his special envoy to seek a humanitarian cease-fire, but he said, “at the present moment, a global cease-fire in Ukraine doesn’t seem possible.”
He said the U.N. proposals to Russia are aimed at minimizing “the dramatic impact” of Russia’s war against Ukraine on civilians and include creating “a mechanism” involving Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and eventually other humanitarian bodies to permanently manage local cease-fires, humanitarian access and evacuations to avoid incidents and failures.
As for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported comment Tuesday that negotiations with Ukraine are at a “dead end,” Guterres said, “I will remind you that we are in an Easter period and the Easter period is about resurrection.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian official has rejected Russia’s claims that more than 1,000 Ukrainian troops have surrendered in the besieged southeastern port of Mariupol. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday that 1,026 troops from the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade surrendered at a metals plant in the city.
But Vadym Denysenko, advisor to Ukraine’s Interior Minister, denied the claim in comments to the Current Time TV channel, saying that they haven’t heard anything like that and the battle over the sea port is ongoing.
“According to official data of (Ukraine’s) Defense Ministry and the General Staff, we haven’t heard anything like that,” Denysenko said. “Moreover, I will say … that the battle over the sea port is still ongoing today.”
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PARIS — French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen warned Wednesday against sending any more weapons to Ukraine, and called for a rapprochement between NATO and Russia once Moscow’s war in Ukraine winds down.
Le Pen, an outspoken nationalist who has long ties to Russia and has supported Vladimir Putin in the past, also confirmed that if she unseats President Emmanuel Macron in France’s April 24 presidential runoff, she will pull France out of NATO’s military command and dial back French support for the whole European Union.
Macron, a pro-EU centrist, is facing a harder-than-expected fight to stay in power, in part because the economic impact of the war is hitting poor households the hardest. France’s European partners are worried that a possible Le Pen presidency could undermine Western unity as the U.S. and Europe seek to support Ukraine and end Russia’s ruinous war on its neighbor.
Asked about military aid to Ukraine, Le Pen said she would continue defense and intelligence support.
“(But) I’m more reserved about direct arms deliveries. Why? Because … the line is thin between aid and becoming a co-belligerent,” the far-right leader said, citing concerns about an “escalation of this conflict that could bring a whole number of countries into a military commitment.”
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WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has urged China to use its “special relationship with Russia” to persuade Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan think tank, on Wednesday, Yellen said Beijing “cannot expect the global community to respect its appeals to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the future if it does not respect these principles now.”
Yellen’s speech comes a week before the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington. Her direct appeal to China underscores an increasing frustration that the United States and its allies have with a country that has only deepened its ties with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
“The world’s attitude towards China and its willingness to embrace further economic integration may well be affected by China’s reaction to our call for resolute action on Russia,” she said.
Yellen said that countries that undermine the sanctions the U.S. and its allies have imposed on Russia will face consequences for their actions. Leaving open the question of what the consequences for flouting the sanctions could be, Yellen said Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has “redrawn the contours” of the global economy, which includes “our conception of international cooperation going forward.”
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HELSINKI — European Union nations Finland and Sweden reached important stages Wednesday on their way to possible NATO membership as the Finnish government issued a security report to lawmakers and Sweden’s ruling party initiated a review of security policy options.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 triggered a surge in support for joining NATO in the two traditionally militarily non-aligned Nordic countries, with polls showing a majority of respondents willing to join the alliance in Finland and supporters of NATO in Sweden clearly outnumbering those against the idea.
Finland, a country of 5.5 million, shares the EU’s longest border with Russia, a 1,340-kilometer (833-mile) frontier. Sweden has no border with Russia.
Russia, for its part, has warned Sweden and Finland against joining NATO, with officials saying it would not contribute to stability in Europe. Officials said Russia would respond to such a move with retaliatory measures that would cause “military and political consequences” for Helsinki and Stockholm. One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reasons for invading Ukraine was that the country refused to promise that it would not join NATO.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, speaking Wednesday in Stockholm in a joint news conference with her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson, said Finland is ready to make a decision on NATO “within weeks” rather than months following an extensive debate in the 200-seat Eduskunta legislature.
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GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization slammed the global community Wednesday for its almost singular focus on the war in Ukraine, arguing that crises elsewhere, including his home country of Ethiopia, don’t receive equal consideration, possibly because those suffering aren’t white.
In a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he didn’t know “if the world really gives equal attention to black and white lives,” given that the ongoing emergencies in Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria have garnered only a “fraction” of the global concern for Ukraine.
Tedros said the siege of the Tigray region of Ethiopia by Eritrean and Ethiopian forces was one of the longest in modern history and noted that a recent truce had still not allowed in significant amounts of humanitarian aid. Tedros acknowledged that the situation in Ukraine was globally significant, but questioned if other crises were being accorded enough attention.
“I need to be blunt and honest that the world is not treating the human race the same way,” he said. “Some are more equal than others.”
Tedros noted that there are about 6,000 people living in Tigray with HIV, but authorities have lost track of where they are and that “many of them, we assume they have already died.” Tedros described the situation in Tigray as “tragic” and said he “hopes the world comes back to its senses and treats all human life equally.” He also critiqued the press for its failure to document the ongoing atrocities in Ethiopia, noting that people had been burned alive in the region.
“I don’t even know if that was taken seriously by the media,” he said
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GENEVA — Switzerland is joining a raft of new sanctions targeting people and companies in Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine, including his two adult daughters.
The Federal Council on Wednesday adopted new measures against Russia and Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, that mirror similar measures adopted last week by the European Union. Switzerland, which has long prided itself on its neutrality, is not among the EU’s 27 member states.
Switzerland had already lined up with previous EU sanctions. The fifth and latest package of measures focuses on finance, transport, and trade — notably bans on imports of coal, wood, cement, seafood, and vodka that “serve as important sources of revenue for Russia,” the government said.
An extra 200 people or entities were also sanctioned including Russian oligarchs and their families, as well as Putin’s adult daughters Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova.
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MILAN — Italian energy company ENI said it has a deal to import up to 3 billion cubic meters of liquid natural gas from Egypt this year as Europe seeks to wean itself from Russian natural gas over its invasion of Ukraine.
ENI signed the deal Wednesday with EGAS (Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company), just days after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi secured a deal to increase gas imports from Algeria to help replace the 29 billion cubic meters Italy imports annually from Russia.
The Algeria deal will add up to 9 billion cubic meters of gas by 2023-24 to the 21 billion cubic meters it already receives, with the increased flows starting in the fall. Russia is Italy’s top supplier of natural gas, which is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes and power industry.
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LONDON — The Channel Island of Jersey says it is freezing assets connected to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich estimated to be worth over $7 billion.
The Law Offices Department of Jersey, a tax haven long known for drawing large amounts of foreign direct investment, said Wednesday that the assets being targeted were either located in Jersey, or owned by Jersey-incorporated entities.
It said that police also executed a search warrant Tuesday at addresses suspected to be connected to Abramovich’s business activities. It didn’t provide details.
Abramovich, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been sanctioned by the U.K. government and the European Union. The 55-year-old tycoon has assumed an unofficial role in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the war.
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PRAGUE — The Czech Republic has reopened its embassy in the Ukrainian capital that was closed after Russian troops invaded the country.
The Foreign Ministry said the diplomats have returned to Kyiv and the Czech flag is flying again at the embassy.
It said Wednesday’s move is “one of the steps to show our support for Ukraine.”
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BERLIN — Experts commissioned by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe say they found “clear patterns” of violations of international humanitarian law by Russian forces in Ukraine.
OSCE member countries authorized a study in early March, and the three professors chosen to conduct it — Wolfgang Benedek, Veronika Bílková and Marco Sassòli — were selected by Ukraine.
Their report, issued Wednesday, said that if the Russian forces had respected their obligations “in terms of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack and concerning specially protected objects such as hospitals, the number of civilians killed or injured would have remained much lower.”
The experts found “some violations and problems” in Ukrainian practices, voicing concern about the treatment of prisoners of war.
The report said Russia responded by saying it considered the mechanism under which the experts were appointed “largely outdated and redundant” and declined to appoint a liaison person, referring them to official government statements and briefings.
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LONDON — Britain has announced a new round of sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, targeting 178 individuals who have helped prop up Kremlin-backed breakaway regions in the eastern part of the country.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Wednesday that the sanctions were coordinated with the European Union. The move comes after rocket attacks that targeted civilians in eastern Ukraine.
Those sanctioned include Alexander Ananchenko, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and Sergey Kozlov, the chair of government in the Luhansk People’s Republic. Also targeted are Pavel Ezubov, cousin of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, and Nigina Zairova, executive assistant to Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman.
Truss says Britain is sanctioning “those who prop up the illegal breakaway regions and are complicit in atrocities against the Ukrainian people. We will continue to target all those who aid and abet Putin’s war.’’
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BERLIN — The German government is defending the country’s president after a diplomatic snub by Ukraine.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the largely ceremonial head of state, said Tuesday that his presence apparently “wasn’t wanted in Kyiv.” He said his Polish counterpart had suggested that they both travel to Ukraine along with the presidents of the three Baltic countries.
German newspaper Bild quoted an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat as saying that Steinmeier is not welcome in Kyiv at the moment because he had close relations with Russia in the past. Steinmeier was previously Germany’s foreign minister and recently admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Wednesday she regrets that Steinmeier was unable to visit.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany said Chancellor Olaf Scholz would be welcome, but some German lawmakers said the snub to Steinmeier would complicate that.
Government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner defended Steinmeier, saying that he “has clearly taken a stand on Ukraine’s side.” | https://www.wane.com/news/live-updates-allied-leaders-going-to-meet-with-zelenskyy/ | 2022-04-13T22:39:53 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/live-updates-allied-leaders-going-to-meet-with-zelenskyy/ |
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Migrants in South Africa are living in fear of attacks and even death, Amnesty International said Wednesday, days after a Zimbabwean man was burned to death amid renewed violence against foreigners in some poor neighborhoods of Johannesburg.
Zimbabweans, who make up the largest number of migrants in Africa’s most advanced economy, are mostly targeted, according to the human rights group.
Amnesty International accused South African authorities of “inaction” and “a lack of political will” to stem the wave of anti-migrant violence witnessed in recent weeks.
The violence is driven by vigilante groups who blame foreigners from poorer African countries for South Africa’s rampant unemployment, said the report.
South Africa’s unemployment rate has reached 35%, according to figures released this month by StatsSA. The jobless rate for youths is more than 60%, according to the statistics.
A gang in Johannesburg’s poor Diepsloot township stoned and then burned to death Elvis Nyathi, a Zimbabwean, last week when he failed to produce identity documents showing that he was in the country legally, causing outrage in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Nyathi was one of seven people — two foreigners and five South Africans — who lost their lives “after attacks and counter-attacks by non-state actors” in the past week, said Amnesty International’s report, describing the deaths as “easily preventable.”
Migrants interviewed in the township by Amnesty said they are living in “constant fear” and “feel unsafe” due to constant harassment from both the police and anti-migrant gangs that move around demanding identity documents from migrants, said the group.
“These attacks represent just the latest wave in a rising tide of violence against migrants in South Africa,” said Amnesty, adding that the assaults are not isolated as they “mirror the heavily-orchestrated, anti-migrant attacks” witnessed in other poor townships in Johannesburg in recent months.
A group calling itself Operation Dudula has held anti-foreigner demonstrations in several South African cities in recent weeks.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this week criticized the violence.
“We have seen people being attacked, hurt and even killed because of how they looked or because they have a particular accent,” he said in his weekly letter to the nation, appealing for restraint.
In Zimbabwe, authorities say they are engaging the South African government “at all levels,” while the country’s Parliamentarians called for an end to the attacks.
Once one of Africa’s most prosperous economies, Zimbabwe has battled a debilitating economic downturn over the past two decades that critics attribute to economic mismanagement, corruption and poor governance. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government blames Western-imposed sanctions.
South Africa has said it will no longer renew special permits that allow Zimbabwean migrants to live and work in that country and gave about 250,000 holders of those permits until December this year to apply for regular permits.
It is estimated that as many as 3 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa without proper legal documentation.
Zimbabweans say it is difficult to return home because unemployment is even higher than in South Africa at more than 80%, according to some economists.
“The attacks are deplorable, but they can easily be solved if Zimbabwe fixes its economy,” opposition leader Nelson Chamisa told The Associated Press Wednesday.
“Zimbabweans are forced to run away from their country and live wretched lives elsewhere because they have no future in their own country,” Chamisa said.
Despite the threat of violence in South Africa, many Zimbabweans are still willing to risk sneaking across the border without documentation to try their luck in South Africa to escape the biting conditions at home.
“There is nothing for me here,” said Jonathan Sibanda 21, an unemployed resident of the capital, Harare. “I am willing to take that chance rather than die a slow death here in Zimbabwe.” | https://www.wane.com/news/migrants-to-south-africa-face-threats-says-amnesty-report/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:01 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/migrants-to-south-africa-face-threats-says-amnesty-report/ |
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Armed gangs attacking remote communities in Nigeria’s troubled northwest are now working with extremist rebels who have waged a decade-long insurgency in the country’s northeast, a top government official said Wednesday.
The gunmen and the Islamist rebels are in “an unholy handshake,” Nigeria’s Minister of Information Lai Mohammed told reporters, for the first time confirming a collaboration that security analysts have warned of.
The result of the alliance is the recent deadly train attack near Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, said the minister. Explosives were used to blow up the rail track in that attack in which eight passengers were killed and more than 100 were abducted and remain missing.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with 206 million people, has been battling violence in its troubled north and an alliance between the two groups could worsen the crisis, analysts told The Associated Press.
The security crisis is dominated by two groups: bandits many of whom are formerly herdsmen now carrying arms and Islamic extremist rebels of the Boko Haram group and its breakaway faction the Islamic State in West Africa Province.
The partnership between the groups “might drive further attacks on innocent civilians and state infrastructure,” said Oluwole Ojewale of the Africa-focused Institute of Security Studies, as the extremists move their insurgency beyond the northeast where they had been largely restricted for many years.
With the military already fighting factions of the extremists, Nigeria’s security situation is already “dangerous enough,” said Confidence MacHarry with the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence security firm.
“Adding Boko Haram to the terror problem in the northwest would greatly stretch the security forces to more than its capacity,” said MacHarry.
Nigeria’s security crisis continued Wednesday with the abduction of four female students by an armed gang that attacked their school in northwest Zamfara state and the killing of 23 persons in northcentral Benue state, local authorities said.
“It is becoming increasingly glaring every day that my people are now an endangered species and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere,” Benue governor Samuel Ortom said, repeating his appeal for residents to be allowed to bear arms to “defend themselves.”
The persistent violence, including the killing of more than 100 villagers in the northcentral Plateau state during the weekend, has raised further doubts about the Nigerian government’s ability to restore peace in volatile areas despite having declared the armed gangs as terrorist organizations.
The major problem, though, is “the political will and the will to act,” said security analyst MacHarry. “Boosting the capacity of security services to respond to security crisis is one thing, but actually responding to the crisis is another,” he said.
Responding to such criticisms, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence Bashir Magashi said the government is still in control.
“We are really on top of the situation,” Magashi said. “We are planning hard and we will get it out as soon as possible.” | https://www.wane.com/news/nigeria-says-armed-gangs-in-north-are-working-with-militants/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:08 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/nigeria-says-armed-gangs-in-north-are-working-with-militants/ |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In Ukraine, allegations mount of sexual violence against women by Russian soldiers. In northern Ethiopia, a woman taken to an Eritrean Defense Forces camp was raped by 27 soldiers and contracted AIDS. In Central African Republic the bodies of a woman and two girls were found days after their kidnapping and rape by armed fighters. And in Iraq, 2,800 Yazidi woman and children have been captives of the Islamic State extremist group for eight years, many subjected to sexual violence.
These are some of the examples raised at a U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday on accountability for such acts in conflicts by Pramila Patten, the U.N. special representative on sexual violence in conflict, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, a member of Iraq’s Yazidi religious minority forced into sexual slavery in 2014 who escaped her Islamic State captors.
Patten’s opening words were aimed squarely at the U.N.’s most powerful body, which has approved five resolutions that focus on preventing and addressing conflict-related sexual violence. What do those resolutions mean right now, she asked, for a woman in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar or Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region?
At this time of “great global turbulence marked by multiple crises,” she said, the world has seen “increased militarization, including an epidemic of coups, which have turned back the clock on women’s rights.” And every new war has seen human tragedies “including new waves of war’s oldest, most silences, and least-condemned crime” — sexual violence and rape in those countries and others whose victims “cry out for justice and redress.”
Patten said the gap between commitments by the Security Council, and compliance and reality is evident: The latest U.N. report covering conflicts in 18 countries documents 3,293 U.N.-verified cases of sexual violence committed in 2021, a significant increase of 800 cases compared to 2020. Again, she said, the highest number — 1,016 — were recorded in Congo.
Patten also cited examples in other conflict areas: two women from the Rohingya minority in Myanmar’s Chin state gang-raped by government soldiers resulting in unwanted pregnancies; a woman allegedly raped at gunpoint by Puntland police officer in Somalia where she said “abduction, rape and forced marriage are rampant;” documented cases in Colombia of sexual violence against women ex-combatants and their families; and the torture and killing of a female police officer who was eight months pregnant in Afghanistan’s Ghor province.
The U.N. special representative said the few cases of courts convicting perpetrators “are still the exception that prove the rule of justice denied.” Justice must be delivered in communities as well as courtrooms, and victims must receive reparations to rebuild their shattered lives, she said, stressing that “justice, peace and security are inextricably linked.”
Murad said at moments of global instability — like today’s world shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, a climate crisis and war — issues like conflict-related sexual violence “tend to be pushed aside as though they are somehow secondary to the real issues.” But she said “the truth is these are precisely the moment when protecting, supporting and investing in women and girls should be urgent priorities.”
History shows that when conflict erupts brutality comes to the fore, and “we are seeing this in Ukraine as we speak, with reports of sexual violence that should alarm us.” Later, she told reporters, “my heart is with the people of Ukraine, especially the women and girls out there that are facing this brutality.”
“Sexual violence is not a side effect of conflict,” Murad said. “It is a tactic of war as old as time.”
Last year, a German court convicted an Islamic State member of genocide in a Yazidi girl’s death in a historic verdict, she said. But despite reams of evidence documenting atrocities IS committed against women and girls, she said the extremist perpetrators have faced few, if any, consequences.
Murad said survivors need “more than moral outrage” and urged the Security Council to vote to refer the Islamic State extremist group to the International Criminal Court to be tried for genocide and sexual violence. against Yazidis. In the meantime, she urged other countries to follow Germany’s example and use the principle of universal jurisdiction to try alleged perpetrators for war crimes.
“If you want to establish deterrence, if you want to assure Yazidi women and survivors everywhere that you stand with us, do not delay justice anymore,” she said.
Britain’s Minister of State Lord Tariq Ahmad, who chaired the meeting, joined her in launching “The Murad Code” which aims to tell investigators, journalists and others in the international community how to support survivors of sexual violence by reducing the burden on them and ensuring that their experiences are recorded safely and strengthen the pursuit of justice.
“The pathway to justice must have obstacles removed,” he said. “So ultimately, it’s all about survivors, that they know what their options are. … They have to be the center of our response.” | https://www.wane.com/news/nobel-laureate-demands-justice-for-sexual-violence-victims/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:15 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/nobel-laureate-demands-justice-for-sexual-violence-victims/ |
MIAMI (AP) — Police in Miami arrested a 41-year-old woman in the deaths of her two children, aged 3 and 5, after officers responded to repeated hang-up 911 calls from her apartment where they found their tied-up bodies.
“Come get them, I don’t want them anymore,” Odette Lysse Joassaint told officers who responded to the scene on Tuesday night, according to the arrest report. Police said she appeared to be irrational.
The officers entered the apartment and found a 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. The children were lying in a prone position on the bed with their arms, legs and neck tied, a police report said.
They tried to resuscitate the children until a Miami Fire Rescue crew arrived and pronounced them dead. The woman has been charged with two counts of murder.
Police have not said how many calls were made to 911 or whether she spoke to a dispatcher.
No other details were immediately released. | https://www.wane.com/news/police-find-2-dead-kids-in-miami-apartment-mother-arrested/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:22 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/police-find-2-dead-kids-in-miami-apartment-mother-arrested/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The person who tipped off police to the whereabouts of the man wanted in the Brooklyn subway shooting was the suspect himself, two law enforcement officials say.
Frank R. James called the New York Police Department’s tip line Wednesday to say he was inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Manhattan and to tell authorities to come and get him, the law enforcement officials said. They weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said James was gone by the time officers got to the eatery, but they soon spotted him on a corner nearby.
He was arrested Wednesday afternoon, a day after the rush-hour attack that left 10 people with gunshot wounds.
James was awaiting arraignment Thursday on a federal charge that pertains to terrorist or other violent attacks against mass transit systems. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 62-year-old has an attorney or anyone else who can speak for him. He didn’t respond to reporters’ shouted questions as he was led to a police car.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
The man accused of shooting 10 people on a Brooklyn subway trainwas arrested Wednesday and charged with a federal terrorism offense after a daylong manhunt and a tipster’s call led police to him on a Manhattan street.
Frank R. James, 62, was taken into custody about 30 hours after the carnage on a rush-hour train, which left five victims in critical condition and people around the city on edge.
“My fellow New Yorkers, we got him,” Mayor Eric Adams said.
James was awaiting arraignment on a charge that pertains to terrorist or other violent attacks against mass transit systems and carries a sentence of up to life in prison, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.
In recent months, James railed in online videos about racism and violence in the U.S. and about his experiences with mental health care in New York City, and he had criticized Adams’ policies on mental health and subway safety. But the motive for the subway attack remains unclear, and there is no indication that James had ties to terror organizations, international or otherwise, Peace said.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether James, who is from New York but has lived recently in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, has an attorney or anyone else who can speak for him. A sign taped to the door of James’ Milwaukee apartment asks that all mail be delivered to a post office box.
James, in a blue t-shirt and brown pants with his hands cuffed behind his back, didn’t respond to reporters shouting questions as he was walked from a police station to an unmarked police car a few hours after his arrest.
As terrified riders fled the attack, James apparently hopped another train — the same one many were steered to for safety, police said. He got out at the next station, disappearing into the nation’s most populous city. Police launched a massive effort to find him, releasing his name and issuing cellphone alerts.
They got a tip Wednesday that he was in a McDonald’s in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood, Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said. James was gone when officers arrived, but they soon spotted him on a busy corner nearby.
Four police cars zoomed around a corner, officers leaped out and, soon, a compliant James was in handcuffs as a crowd of people looked on, witness Aleksei Korobow said.
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said authorities “were able to shrink his world quickly.”
“There was nowhere left for him to run,” she said.
The day before, James set off smoke grenades in a commuter-packed subway car and then fired at least 33 shots with a 9 mm handgun, police said.
Police Chief of Detectives James Essig said police were told that after James opened one of the smoke grenades, a rider asked, “What did you do?”
“Oops,” James said, then went on to brandish his gun and open fire, according to a witness account.
At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.
The shooter left behind numerous clues, including the gun, ammunition magazines, a hatchet, smoke grenades, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van. That key led investigators to James.
Federal investigators determined the gun used in the shooting was purchased by James at a pawn shop — a licensed firearms dealer — in the Columbus, Ohio, area in 2011.
The van was found, unoccupied, near a station where investigators determined the gunman had entered the subway system. No explosives or firearms were found in the van, a law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to comment on the investigation and did so on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. Police did find other items, including pillows, suggesting he may have been sleeping or planned to sleep in the van, the official said.
Investigators believe James drove up from Philadelphia on Monday and have reviewed surveillance video showing a man matching his physical description coming out of the van early Tuesday morning, the official said. Other video shows James entering a subway station in Brooklyn with a large bag, the official said.
In addition to analyzing financial and telephone records connected to James, investigators were reviewing hours of rambling, profanity-filled videos James posted on YouTube and other social media platforms as they tried to discern a motive.
In one video, posted a day before the attack, James, who is Black, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed.
“You got kids going in here now taking machine guns and mowing down innocent people,” James says. “It’s not going to get better until we make it better,” he said, adding that he thought things would only change if certain people were “stomped, kicked and tortured” out of their “comfort zone.”
In another video he says, “this nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof and it’s going to die a violent death. There’s nothing going to stop that.”
His posts are replete with violent language and bigoted comments, some against Black people.
Sewell called the posts “concerning” and officials tightened security for Adams, who was already isolating following a positive COVID-19 test Sunday.
Several of James’ videos mention New York’s subways. A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governor’s plan to address homelessness and safetyin the subway system “is doomed for failure” and refers to himself as a “victim” of the city’s mental health programs. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams’ plan to end gun violence.
The Brooklyn subway station where passengers fled the smoke-filled train in the attack was open as usual Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after the violence.
Commuter Jude Jacques, who takes the D train to his job as a fire safety director some two blocks from the shooting scene, said he prays every morning but had a special request on Wednesday.
“I said, ‘God, everything is in your hands,’” Jacques said. “I was antsy, and you can imagine why. Everybody is scared because it just happened.”
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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jim Mustian, Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland. | https://www.wane.com/news/police-hunt-gunman-who-wounded-10-in-brooklyn-subway-attack/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:29 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/police-hunt-gunman-who-wounded-10-in-brooklyn-subway-attack/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The presidents of four countries on Russia’s doorstep visited Ukraine on Wednesday and underscored their support for the embattled country, where they saw heavily damaged buildings and demanded accountability for what they called war crimes carried out by Russian forces.
The visit by the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was a strong show of solidarity by the leaders of the countries on NATO’s eastern flank, three of them like Ukraine once part of the Soviet Union. The three traveled by train to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to meet with their Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and visited Borodyanka, one of the towns near Kyiv where evidence of atrocities was found after Russian troops withdrew to focus on the country’s east.
“The fight for Europe’s future is happening here,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said, calling for tougher sanctions, including against Russia’s oil and gas shipments and all the country’s banks.
Elsewhere, in one of the most crucial battles of the war, Russia said more than 1,000 Ukrainian troops had surrendered in the besieged southern port of Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces have been holding out in pockets of the city. A Ukrainian official denied the claim, which could not be verified.
Russia invaded on Feb. 24 with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly one. But the ground advance slowly stalled and Russia lost potentially thousands of fighters in seven weeks of war. The conflict has killed untold numbers of Ukrainian civilians and forced millions more to flee. The fighting has also rattled the world economy, threatened global food suppliesand shattered Europe’s post-Cold War balance.
A day after he called Russia’s actions in Ukraine “a genocide,” Biden approved $800 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, saying weapons from the west have sustained Ukraine’s fight so far and “we cannot rest now.” The weapons include artillery systems, armored personnel carriers and helicopters.
Appearing alongside Zelenskyy in an ornate room in Kyiv’s historical Mariinskyi Palace on Wednesday, the European leaders — Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Estonian President Alar Karis, Poland’s Andrzej Duda and Egils Levits of Latvia — reiterated their commitments to supporting Ukraine politically and with military aid.
“We know this history. We know what Russian occupation means. We know what Russian terrorism means,” Duda said. He said those who committed war crimes as well as those who gave the orders should be held accountable.
“If someone sends aircraft, if someone sends troops to shell residential districts, kill civilians, murder them, this is not war,” he said. “This is cruelty, this is banditry, this is terrorism.”
An expert report commissioned by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found “clear patterns of (international humanitarian law) violations by the Russian forces in their conduct of hostilities.” The report was written by experts selected by Ukraine and published Wednesday by the Vienna-based organization that promotes security and human rights.
The report said there were also violations by Ukraine, but concluded those committed by Russia “are by far larger in scale and nature.”
Ukraine has previously acknowledged that there could be “isolated incidents” of violations and has said it would investigate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his troops committed atrocities, and on Tuesday insisted Russia “had no other choice” but to invade. He said the offensive aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine and to “ensure Russia’s own security.” He vowed it would “continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.”
He insisted Russia’s campaign was going as planned despite a major withdrawal after its forces failed to take the capitaland suffered significant losses.
Following those setbacks, Russian troops are now gearing up for a major offensive in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces have been fighting since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists’ claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow believes local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.
A key piece of the Russian campaign is Mariupol, which lies in the Donbas and which the Russians have pummeled since nearly the start of the war. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted that the city’s defenders were short of supplies but were “fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city.”
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said 1,026 troops from the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade had surrendered at a metals factory in the city. But Vadym Denysenko, adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, rejected the claim, telling Current Time TV that “the battle over the seaport is still ongoing today.”
It was unclear when the surrender may have occurred or how many forces were still defending Mariupol.
According to the BBC, Aiden Aslin, a British man fighting in the Ukrainian military in Mariupol, called his mother and a friend to say he and his comrades were out of food, ammunition and other supplies and would surrender.
Russian state television on Wednesday broadcast footage that it said was from the port city showing dozens of men in camouflage outfits walking with their hands up and carrying others on stretchers or in chair holds. One man held a white flag on a staff in one hand and the handle of a stretcher in another. In the background was a tall industrial building with its windows shattered and its roof missing, identified by the broadcaster as the Iliich metalworks.
Another Zelenskyy adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, did not comment on the surrender claim, but said in a post on Twitter that elements of the same brigade managed to link up with other Ukrainian forces in the city as a result of a “risky maneuver.”
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said the country is investigating a claim that a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. She said it was possible phosphorus munitions had been used in Mariupol.
Biden said it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russia’s conduct met the international standard for genocide.
French President Emmanuel Macron declined to use the word but said “it has been established that war crimes have been committed by the Russian army.”
An International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes is underway in Ukraine, including into atrocities revealed afterMoscow’s retreat from the Kyiv area, where Ukrainian authorities say more than 720 people were killed, with 403 bodies found in the town of Bucha alone.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who visited Bucha, said in a tweet Wednesday that Ukraine “is a crime scene” and the court must “pierce the fog of war” to determine what has occurred.
Meanwhile at the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there is no chance at the moment for a humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine, as the U.N. was seeking.
Residents in Yahidne, a village near the northern city of Chernihiv, said Russian troops forced them to stay for almost a month in the basement of a school, allowing them outside only to go to the toilet, cook on open fires — and bury those who died in a mass grave.
In one of the rooms, the residents wrote the names of those who perished during the ordeal. The list counted 18 people.
“An old man died near me and then his wife died next,” said resident Valentyna Saroyan. “Then a man died who was lying there, then a woman sitting next to me. … She died as well. Another old man looked so healthy, he was doing exercises, but then he was sitting and fell. That was it.”
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Stashevskyi reported from Yahidne, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wane.com/news/putin-vows-war-will-continue-as-russian-troops-mount-in-east/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:36 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/putin-vows-war-will-continue-as-russian-troops-mount-in-east/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia’s initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching, potentially decisive, battle for Ukraine’s contested Donbas region. Yet the Russian military is making little headway halting what has become a historic arms express.
The U.S. numbers alone are mounting: more than 12,000 weapons designed to defeat armored vehicles, some 1,400 shoulder-fired Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft and more than 50 million rounds of ammunition, among many other things. Dozens of other nations are adding to the totals.
The Biden administration is preparing yet another, more diverse, package of military support possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days, a senior U.S. defense official said Tuesday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. The additional aid is a sign that the administration intends to continue expanding its support for Ukraine’s war effort.
These armaments have helped an under-gunned Ukrainian military defy predictions that it would be quickly overrun by Russia. They explain in part why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army gave up, at least for now, its attempt to capture Kyiv, the capital, and has narrowed its focus to battling for eastern and southern Ukraine.
U.S. officials and analysts offer numerous explanations for why the Russians have had so little success interdicting Western arms moving overland from neighboring countries, including Poland. Among the likely reasons: Russia’s failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skies has limited its use of air power. Also, the Russians have struggled to deliver weapons and supplies to their own troops in Ukraine.
Some say Moscow’s problem begins at home.
“The short answer to the question is that they are an epically incompetent army badly led from the very top,” said James Stavridis, a retired U.S. Navy admiral who was the top NATO commander in Europe from 2009 to 2013.
The Russians also face practical obstacles. Robert G. Bell, a longtime NATO official and now a professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech University, said the shipments lend themselves to being hidden or disguised in ways that can make them elusive to the Russians — “short of having a network of espionage on the scene” to pinpoint the convoys’ movements.
“It’s not as easy to stop this assistance flow as it might seem,” said Stephen Biddle, a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University. “Things like ammunition and shoulder-fired missiles can be transported in trucks that look just like any other commercial truck. And the trucks carrying the munitions the Russians want to interdict are just a small part of a much larger flow of goods and commerce moving around in Poland and Ukraine and across the border.
“So the Russians have to find the needle in this very big haystack to destroy the weapons and ammo they’re after and not waste scarce munitions on trucks full of printer paper or baby diapers or who knows what.”
Even with this Western assistance it’s uncertain whether Ukraine will ultimately prevail against a bigger Russian force. The Biden administration has drawn the line at committing U.S. troops to the fight. It has opted instead to orchestrate international condemnation and economic sanctions, provide intelligence information, bolster NATO’s eastern flank to deter a wider war with Russia and donate weapons.
In mid-March, a Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said arms shipments would be targeted.
“We warned the United States that pumping weapons into Ukraine from a number of countries as it has orchestrated isn’t just a dangerous move but an action that turns the respective convoys into legitimate targets,” he said in televised remarks.
But thus far the Russians appear not to have put a high priority on arms interdiction, perhaps because their air force is leery of flying into Ukraine’s air defenses to search out and attack supply convoys on the move. They have struck fixed sites like arms depots and fuel storage locations, but to limited effect.
On Monday, the Russians said they destroyed four S-300 surface-to-air missile launchers that had been given to Ukraine by an unspecified European country. Slovakia, a NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine, donated just such a system last week but denied it had been destroyed. On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said long-range missiles were used to hit two Ukrainian ammo depots.
As the fighting intensifies in the Donbas and perhaps along the coastal corridor to the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, Putin may feel compelled to strike harder at the arms pipeline, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called vital to his nation’s survival.
In the meantime, a staggering volume and range of war materiel is arriving almost daily.
“The scope and speed of our support to meeting Ukraine’s defense needs are unprecedented in modern times,” said John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary. He said the approximately $2.5 billion in weapons and other material that has been offered to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration is equivalent to more than half of Ukraine’s normal defense budget.
One example: The Pentagon says it has provided more than 5,000 Javelin missiles, which are among the world’s most effective weapons against tanks and other armored vehicles — and can even take down a low-flying helicopter. The missile, shaped like a clunky dumb bell and weighing 50 pounds (23 kilograms), is fired by an individual soldier; from its launch tube it flies up at a steep angle and descends directly onto its target in what its known as a curveball shot — hitting the top of a tank where its armor is weakest.
The Pentagon said Wednesday that an unspecified number of additional Javelins are to be delivered by Thursday, and the U.S. will complete the delivery of 100 armed Switchblade “kamikaze” drones this week.
The specific routes used to move the U.S. and other Western materials into Ukraine are secret for security reasons, but the basic process is not. Just this week, two U.S. military cargo planes arrived in Eastern Europe with items ranging from machine guns and small arms ammunition to body armor and grenades, the Pentagon said.
A similar load is due later this week to complete delivery of $800 million in assistance approved by President Joe Biden just one month ago. The weapons and equipment are offloaded, moved onto trucks and driven into Ukraine by Ukrainian soldiers for delivery.
Kirby said the material sometimes reaches troops in the field within 48 hours of entering Ukraine. | https://www.wane.com/news/russia-has-yet-to-slow-a-western-arms-express-into-ukraine/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:43 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/russia-has-yet-to-slow-a-western-arms-express-into-ukraine/ |
BEIJING (AP) — Shanghai released 6,000 more people from the central facilities where they were under medical observation to guard against the coronavirus, the government said Wednesday, though the lockdown of most of China’s largest city was continuing in its third week.
About 6.6 million people in the city of 25 million were allowed to leave their homes Tuesday, but some were restricted to their own neighborhoods. Some housing compounds also appeared to still be keeping residents locked inside, and no further lifting of restrictions was apparent Wednesday.
Officials warn that Shanghai still doesn’t have its latest surge in cases of the omicron variant under control, despite its “zero-tolerance” approach that has seen some residents confined to their homes for three weeks or longer.
China also requires anyone who tests positive or is a close contact of such a person to spend at least a week in centralized observation centers in pre-fabricated buildings or gymnasiums and exhibition halls to limit the spread of the virus.
The city’s health bureau said Wednesday that 6,044 people had been allowed the day before to leave observation centers and return home, although health monitoring will continue.
The number of newly detected daily cases in the city edged upward to 26,338, all but 1,189 of them in people showing no symptoms. With more than 200,000 total cases, the ongoing outbreak is China’s biggest of the pandemic. But the mass testing has caught many asymptomatic cases, and no deaths have been reported in Shanghai.
The lockdown has led to frustration among residents in Shanghai about running out of food and being unable to get deliveries. Censors have diligently scrubbed such material from social media, while state-controlled outlets describe a successful campaign to provide food and other supplies and counseled residents that “persistence is victory.”
Shanghai is also home to China’s busiest port and main stock market, and concerns have been rising about the lockdown’s economic impact.
Figures released Wednesday showed China’s exports rose 15.7% in March over a year earlier while imports were flat due to disruptions from coronavirus outbreaks.
Customs data show exports rose to $276.1 billion despite anti-virus controls in Shanghai and other industrial centers that caused factories to reduce output. | https://www.wane.com/news/shanghai-releases-more-from-virus-observation-amid-lockdown/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:51 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/shanghai-releases-more-from-virus-observation-amid-lockdown/ |
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — The deployment of South Africa’s military in northern Mozambique has been extended while its role has shifted from aggressively fighting Islamic extremist rebels to a peacekeeping effort, a top general said Wednesday.
About 600 members of the South African National Defence Force have been in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province since October last year and have captured and destroyed several of the extremists’ bases, the chief of the South African mission to Mozambique, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya said Wednesday.
The South African troops are part of a joint regional force of about 1,000 troops sent by the 16-nation Southern African Development Community to support Mozambique in its battle against the rebels. Other countries contributing troops include Angola, Botswana, Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
Rwanda has also deployed about 2,000 troops as part of a bilateral agreement with Mozambique.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday, Gen. Maphwanya said the offensive by the regional force inflicted “massive losses” against the insurgents. The operation destroyed several bases and recovered weapons including grenade launchers, machine guns, AK-47 rifles, vehicles and technological devices, he said.
“During this operation, the SAMIM (SADC Mission in Mozambique) forces faced a strong resistance from the terrorists but were able to inflict fatal casualties and disrupt as well as continue to dominate and pursue the terrorists in the operational area,” said Maphwanya.
Many of the rebels have been forced out of their bases, according to South African National Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Lindile Yam.
“A lot has been done to dislodge them,” said Yam, adding that the insurgents are trying to get local residents to join their effort to establish Islamic Shariah law in northern Mozambique. “They are even recruiting children as young as five years old,” he said.
Since 2017, the insurgency in Mozambique has been blamed for more than 3,000 deaths, with more than 800,000 people displaced and more than 1 million in need of food aid, according to the U.N. World Food Program.
A summit of leaders of southern African countries on Tuesday approved the transition of the regional force to a more stabilization role, after its more combative offensive against the rebels. | https://www.wane.com/news/south-african-army-extends-mission-against-mozambique-rebels/ | 2022-04-13T22:40:59 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/south-african-army-extends-mission-against-mozambique-rebels/ |
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus on Wednesday kicked off an initiative to give women an equal say in any renewed push to reunify the eastern Mediterranean island nation.
Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots, Ersin Tatar, inaugurated the plan at a United Nations compound off the defunct Nicosia airport, which is inside a buffer zone that runs for 180 kilometers (120 miles) across the island.
The meeting didn’t appear to go well. Anastasiades said after the event that he was “sincerely saddened” by Tatar’s “steady intransigence” after repeating his demand for recognition of the breakaway north as a sovereign state on par with the internationally recognized Cyprus government before peace talks can resume.
The hard-right Tatar upended a decades-long, U.N.-endorsed understanding between the two sides that any deal would be on the basis of a federation by insisting on a two-state peace deal. Greek Cypriots say they would never accept any arrangement that would formalize the island’s forced partition.
Anastasiades also said Tatar sidestepped his appeal to curb the steady stream of migrants who arrive in the north and cross the porous buffer zone to apply for asylum and European Union protection in the south.
Efforts to reunify Cyprus and potentially unlock the speedy exploitation of natural gas deposits off the island’s southern coastline to European markets have remained stalled since 2017, when the most recent top-level unity negotiations collapsed amid mutual recriminations as to who was to blame.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots accuse the Greek Cypriots of being unwilling to share power in an envisioned federation. On the other hand, Greek Cypriots fear a bid by Turkey to place the entire island under its control through Ankara’s demands for a permanent troop presence, military intervention rights and a Turkish Cypriot veto at all decision-making levels.
The initiative is hoped to be embraced as a small, but notable step forward in helping revive peace talks. It was set in motion following a U.N. Security Council resolution last year calling for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the peace process.
According to a U.N. statement, a committee made up of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has been given the job of bolstering gender equality will reach out to women’s organizations, youth groups and others for their views on including gender perspectives in a renewed peace drive. | https://www.wane.com/news/split-cyprus-seeks-equal-say-for-women-in-future-peace-talks/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:06 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/split-cyprus-seeks-equal-say-for-women-in-future-peace-talks/ |
If nations do all that they’ve promised to fight climate change, the world can still meet one of two internationally agreed upon goals for limiting warming. But the planet is blowing past the other threshold that scientists say will protect Earth more, a new study finds.
The world is potentially on track to keep global warming at, or a shade below, 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than pre-industrial times, a goal that once seemed out of reach, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
That will only happen if countries not only fulfill their specific pledged national targets for curbing carbon emissions by 2030, but also come through on more distant promises of reaching net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, the study says.
This 2 degree warmer world still represents what scientists characterize as a profoundly disrupted climate with fiercer storms, higher seas, animal and plant extinctions, disappearing coral, melting ice and more people dying from heat, smog and infectious disease. It’s not the goal that world leaders say they really want: 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The world will blast past that more prominent and promoted goal unless dramatic new emission cuts are promised and achieved this decade and probably within the next three years, study authors said.
Both goals of 1.5-degrees and 2-degrees are part of the 2015 Paris climate pact and the 2021 Glasgow follow-up agreement. The 2-degree goal goes back years earlier.
“For the first time we can possibly keep warming below the symbolic 2-degree mark with the promises on the table. That assumes of course that the countries follow through on the promises,” said study lead author Malte Meinshausen, a University of Melbourne climate scientist.
That’s a big if, outside climate scientists and the authors, say. It means political leaders actually doing what they promise
The study “examines only this optimistic scenario. It does not check whether governments are making efforts to implement their long-term targets and whether they are credible,” said Niklas Hohne of Germany, a New Climate Institute scientist who analyzes pledges for Climate Action Tracker and wasn’t part of this study. “We know that governments are far from implementing their long-term targets.”
Hohne’s team and others who track pledges have similarly found that limiting warming to 2 degrees is still possible, as Meinshausen’s team has. The difference is that Meinshausen’s study is the first to be peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal.
Sure, the 2-degree world requires countries to do what they promise. But cheaper wind and solar have shown carbon emissions cuts can come faster than thought and some countries will exceed their promised cuts, Meinshausen said. He also said the way climate action works is starting with promises and then policies, so it’s not unreasonable to take countries at their word.
Mostly, he said, limiting warming to 2 degrees is still a big improvement compared to just five or ten years ago, when “everybody laughed like ‘ha we’ll never see targets on the table that bring us closer to 2 degrees’,” Meinshausen said. “Targets and implemented policies actually can turn the needle on future temperatures. I think that optimism is important for countries to see. Yes, there is hope.”
About 20% to 30% of that hope is due to the Paris climate agreement, but the rest is due to earlier investments by countries that made green energy technologies cheaper than dirty fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, Meinshausen said.
Yet, even if that’s good news, it’s not all good, he said.
“Neither do we have a margin of error (on barely limiting to 2 degrees) nor do the pledges put us on a path close to 1.5 degrees,” Meinshausen said.
In 2018 the United Nations’ scientific expert team studied the differences between the 1.5- and 2-degree thresholds and found considerably worse and more extensive damages to Earth at 2 degrees of warming. So the world has recently tried to make the 1.5 degrees goal possible.
Earth has already warmed at least 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, often considered the late 1800s, so 2 degrees of warming really means another 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than now.
Meinshausen’s analysis “looks good and solid, but there are always assumptions that could be important,” said Glen Peters, a climate scientist who tracks emissions with Global Carbon Project.
The biggest assumption is that nations somehow get to promised net zero carbon emissions, most of them by 2050 but a decade or two later for China and India, said Peters, research director of the Cicero Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, Norway.
“Making pledges for 2050 is cheap, backing them up with necessary short-term action is hard,” he said, noting that for most countries, there will be five or six elections between now and 2050.
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Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.wane.com/news/study-keeping-climate-pledges-limits-warming-to-2-degrees/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:13 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/study-keeping-climate-pledges-limits-warming-to-2-degrees/ |
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss prosecutors are concluding without any charges a decade-long investigation into alleged money laundering and organized crime linked to late former President Hosni Mubarak’s circles in Egypt, and will release some 400 million Swiss francs ($430 million) frozen in Swiss banks.
The office of the Swiss attorney general said Wednesday that information received as part of cooperation with Egyptian authorities wasn’t sufficient to back up the claims that emerged in the wake of Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 that felled Mubarak’s three-decade rule.
A Swiss investigation into claims that banks in Switzerland were used to squirrel away ill-gotten funds had originally targeted 14 people, including Mubarak’s two sons, as well as dozens of other individuals and entities that had assets totaling some 600 million francs frozen.
More than 210 million francs were already released in an earlier phase of the case, which also could not substantiate the allegations, and Wednesday’s announcement means about 400 million more will be “released and returned to their beneficial owners,” the attorney-general’s office said.
The final part of the Swiss investigation centered on five people, it said, without identifying them.
Swiss prosecutors say they didn’t receive a response to a request for information from “commissions” created in Egypt to analyze financial transfers connected to people under investigation in Egypt — notably the Mubarak family, the office said. Mubarak died in 2020, aged 91.
“As a result, in the absence of evidence relating to potential offenses committed in particular in Egypt, it is not possible to show that the funds located in Switzerland could be of illegal origin,” it said. “The suspicion of money laundering cannot therefore be substantiated based on the information available.”
Swiss banks, reputed for their discretion, have been a favored repository over the years for many wealthy foreigners — including Western industrial tycoons, Russian oligarchs, and autocrats and other leaders and their families and cronies in places as diverse as Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Swiss authorities have touted a recent crackdown against money laundering through Swiss banks, but advocacy groups and watchdogs say the effort has not succeeded in completely ending such activities. | https://www.wane.com/news/swiss-to-unfreeze-430m-as-egypt-money-laundering-probe-ends/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:20 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/swiss-to-unfreeze-430m-as-egypt-money-laundering-probe-ends/ |
LONDON (AP) — British consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in 30 years last month, fueled by soaring costs for household energy and motor fuels — the latest grim figures as inflation surges around the world.
Inflation in the United Kingdom accelerated to 7% in the 12 months through March, the highest annual rate since March 1992, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.
The U.K. faces what economists say will be the biggest drop in living standards since the mid-1950s as rocketing energy costs, rising food prices and tax increases overshadow higher wages.
People around the world are feeling the squeeze of inflation as demand rapidly bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine further drove up energy costs and squeezed supply chains.
In the United States, consumer prices last month jumped 8.5% from a year earlier, the fastest pace in more than 40 years, the Labor Department said Tuesday. In the 19 European countries using the euro, inflation surged to 7.5% last month, the fifth consecutive month that it has hit a record high.
In the U.K., the toll of rising rising means disposable household incomes, adjusted for inflation, are expected to drop by 2.2% this year, according to the government’s independent budget adviser.
Household natural gas prices jumped 28.3% over the last year, and electricity prices rose 19.2% as the global economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing worldwide demand for energy.
Prices will continue to rise after Britain’s energy regulator authorized a 54% increase in gas and electricity bills for millions of households that took effect in April.
Transportation costs are also rising, with the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel rising by an average of 30.7% over the past year, the biggest increase since current records began in January 1989, the Office for National Statistics said.
Countries are moving to ease the pain from rising food, fuel and other costs by raising interest rates. The Bank of England has raised raised its key interest rate three times since December, and the U.S. Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark short-term rate last month and is expected to keep raising it, possibly aggressively.
The European Central Bank, meanwhile, has sped up its exit from economic stimulus efforts to combat inflation but has not taken more drastic steps. It meets again Thursday. | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-inflation-rises-at-the-fastest-pace-in-30-years/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:28 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-inflation-rises-at-the-fastest-pace-in-30-years/ |
LONDON (AP) — Scientists are investigating a puzzling spike in liver disease in children across the United Kingdom, including the cause and whether there are any links between the affected youngsters.
The U.K. Health Security Agency said this week that public health personnel are looking into 74 cases of hepatitis, or liver inflammation, detected in children since January.
The usual viruses that cause infectious hepatitis were not found in the cases, and scientists and doctors are considering other possible causes, including COVID-19, other viruses and environmental factors.
While some types of hepatitis are mild and don’t require treatment, other forms of the disease can become chronic and be fatal.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said doctors in other countries should also report potential infections in case the outbreak is not limited to Britain. It said doctors should be on the lookout for children with jaundice and symptoms including vomiting and stomach problems.
The European agency said most cases involved children ages 2 to 5. It said some children had suffered acute liver failure and a “small number have required liver transplantation.” It said there were no travel links between the affected children.
British officials said none of the affected children were vaccinated against the coronavirus, and they ruled out any links to COVID-19 vaccines.
“One of the possible causes that we are investigating is that this is linked to adenovirus infection,” said Dr. Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging Infections at the U.K. Health Security Agency.
Adenoviruses are common viruses that cause problems like pink eye, a sore throat or diarrhea. They are often spread between people and by touching contaminated surfaces.
“The current crop of cases of hepatitis in children under the age of 10 years is very unusual,” Will Irving, a professor of virology at the University of Nottingham, said in a statement.
Adults are much more prone to suffer severe disease from hepatitis, and children are not usually affected, he said.
The public health investigation will likely focus on studying patient samples and trying to find potential toxins or viruses that might be responsible, Irving said. | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-investigating-puzzling-spike-in-liver-disease-in-children/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:35 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-investigating-puzzling-spike-in-liver-disease-in-children/ |
ROME (AP) — A close associate of Pope Francis on Wednesday defended the Vatican’s decision to have a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman carry the cross together during a Good Friday procession that will be presided over by the pontiff.
On Tuesday, both the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Kyiv blasted the choice given Russia’s invasion and war in Ukraine. The women are both nurses who work together at a Rome hospital.
Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Yurash tweeted that he “understands and shares general concern in Ukraine and many other communities about idea to bring together Ukrainian and Russian women” to carry the cross during part of the procession on Friday.
“Now we are working on the issue trying to explain difficulties of its realization and possible consequences,” the ambassador said.
The torchlit procession at at Rome’s Colosseum is a traditional part of the Vatican’s Holy Week observances.
The Vatican didn’t immediately comment.
Responding to the criticism, the Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit priest in Rome who is close to Francis, defended the pairing of the Russian and Ukrainian women for the solemn procession.
“You have to understand one thing” about the pope, Spadaro told Italian state radio network RAI on Wednesday. “He’s a pastor, not a politician.”
Spadaro ventured that the image of the two women carrying the cross together was upsetting “because they represent something that can’t be obtained” now — “peace.”
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who is based in Kyiv and heads the Greek-Catholic church in Ukraine, also denounced the pairing.
“I consider this idea inopportune and ambiguous,” Shevchuk said, adding that it “doesn’t take into consideration the context of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.”
Shevchuk also decried the wording of a meditation that the Vatican had said would be read aloud as the nurses clutch the tall, lightweight cross. It reads, “We want our life back as before. Why all of this? What wrong did we do? Why have you forsaken us? Why have you forsaken our peoples?”
The words, combined with the cross-carrying gesture, “are incomprehensible and even offensive,” the Greek-Catholic prelate said. .
The meditation was scripted based on the experiences of the families of the Russian and Ukrainian women, whose families also plan to participate in the procession, the Vatican has said.
The women, interviewed on Italian state TV earlier in the week, have expressed satisfaction with their role in the procession and stressed their friendship.
The pope did not mention the controversy during his public audience on Wednesday. But he denounced “the armed aggression of these days” as “an outrage against God.”
Francis has pressed for an Easter cease-fire in Ukraine. Easter falls on April 17 for many Christians this year. | https://www.wane.com/news/ukraine-upset-by-vatican-inviting-russian-to-carry-cross/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:43 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/ukraine-upset-by-vatican-inviting-russian-to-carry-cross/ |
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s detention of fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been met with enthusiasm in Kyiv and irritation in Moscow.
Analysts saying Medvedchuk will become a valuable pawn in the Russia-Ukraine talks to end the devastating warthat the Kremlin has unleashed on its ex-Soviet neighbor.
Medvedchuk was detained on Tuesday in a special operation carried out by Ukraine’s state security service, or the SBU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuk’s freedom by trading Ukrainians now held captive by the Russians.
The 67-year-old oligarch escaped from house arrest several days before the hostilities broke out Feb. 24 in Ukraine. He is facing between 15 years and a life in prison on charges of treason and aiding and abetting a terrorist organization for mediating coal purchases for the separatist, Russia-backed Donetsk republic in eastern Ukraine.
Medvedchuk has close ties with Putin, who is believed to be the godfather of his youngest daughter. His detention has sparked a heated exchange between officials in Moscow and Kyiv.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and the country’s former president, posted threats to Ukrainian authorities on the messaging app Telegram, referring to them as “freaks” and warning them to “carefully look around and firmly lock the doors at night.”
Zelenskyy’s advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, in response, called Medvedev a “nobody,” and said his words were “nasty and, as usual, stupid.”
“The friendly relations between Putin and Medvedchuk turn him into a valuable trophy for Kyiv, and in the Kremlin they spark fury and a dangerous desire for revenge,” Volodymyr Fesenko, an analyst at the Penta Center, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “The fate of Medvedchuk will undoubtedly become a subject of bargaining and one of the points of undercover agreements between Kyiv and Moscow.”
Zelenskyy has released a photo of Medvedchuk sitting in handcuffs and wearing a camouflage uniform with a Ukrainian flag patch, in which he looks tired but visibly unharmed.
Medvedchuk’s wife Oksana Marchenko has appealed to Zelenskyy, calling for her husband to be released and given guarantees that “his life would not be in danger.”
“My husband is being persecuted for political reasons against the laws of Ukraine,” Marchenko said.
Medvedchuk is the head of the political council of Ukraine’s pro-Russian Opposition Platform — For Life party, the largest opposition group in the Ukrainian parliament. He is one of its 44 lawmakers in the 450-seat Rada. The activity of his party has been was suspended for the duration of the war at Zelenskyy’s initiative.
“The war automatically turned Medvedchuk into (Russia’s) accomplice, since he personally advised Putin on Ukrainian affairs and directly or indirectly influenced many of the Kremlin’s decisions,” Fesenko said. “Zelenskyy no longer needs to be careful, and by arresting Medvedchuk, he wants to show that he is not afraid of the Kremlin and is ready to bargain, having different cards on the negotiating table.”
Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraine’s national security agency, said Wednesday that the Russian security service, the FSB, had planned to evacuate Medvedchuk, disguised as a Ukrainian serviceman, to Moscow through the disputed territory of Transnistria in Moldova, where Russia has troops stationed.
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Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. | https://www.wane.com/news/ukraines-detention-of-oligarch-close-to-putin-angers-moscow/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:50 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/ukraines-detention-of-oligarch-close-to-putin-angers-moscow/ |
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to resign after being fined for breaking his government’s pandemic lockdown rules, saying he would instead redouble his efforts to strengthen the economy and combat Russian aggression in Ukraine.
London police fined Johnson and other people Tuesday for attending a birthday party thrown for the prime minister at his Downing Street offices on June 19, 2020. The penalty made Johnson the first British prime minister ever found to have broken the law while in office.
Gatherings of more than two people were banned in Britain at the time of the birthday party to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“I understand the anger that many will feel that I, myself, fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government I lead had introduced to protect the public. And I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better,” Johnson said late Tuesday. “And now I feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the British people.”
The fine followed a police investigation and months of questions about lockdown-breaking parties at government offices, which Johnson had tried to bat away by saying there were no parties and that he believed no rules were broken.
Opposition lawmakers demanded Johnson’s resignation, arguing the fines given to him and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak were evidence of “criminality” at the heart of government. The opposition argued that the Downing Street gathering demonstrated that Johnson and his supporters believed the rules don’t apply to them.
On Wednesday, a Conservative member of the House of Lords resigned from his role as justice minister, criticizing “repeated rule-breaking and breaches of criminal law in Downing Street.”
“It is not just a question of what happened in Downing Street, or your own conduct,” David Wolfson wrote in a letter to Johnson. “It is also, and perhaps more so, the official response to what took place.”
While the “partygate” scandal poses a threat to Johnson’s government, the world has changed tremendously since the first reports of the parties surfaced late last year.
Johnson has been a leading figure in marshaling international opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Britain is facing its worst cost-of-living crisis since the 1950s. His supporters are already arguing that whatever the prime minister may have done wrong, now is not time for a leadership contest.
That his Treasury chief also received an undermining fine helps Johnson, since Sunak had been seen as the leading Conservative candidate to succeed Johnson.
But Johnson still faces the possibility of additional fines. He is reported to have attended three other gatherings that the Metropolitan Police Service is still investigating.
He will also have to answer questions about whether he knowingly misled Parliament with his previous statements about the parties, said Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government in London.
“Governments have to realize that they can’t just make laws and then skirt around them and rationalize themselves that it’s all OK because they’re very important people working at the center of government,” Rutter said.
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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. | https://www.wane.com/news/uks-johnson-rejects-calls-to-resign-amid-partygate-fine/ | 2022-04-13T22:41:57 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/uks-johnson-rejects-calls-to-resign-amid-partygate-fine/ |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Black man face-down on the ground was fatally shot in the back of the head by a Michigan police officer, the violent climax of a traffic stop, foot chase and fight over a stun gun, according to videos of the April 4 incident released Wednesday.
Patrick Lyoya, 26, was killed outside a house in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The white officer repeatedly ordered Lyoya to “let go” of his Taser, at one point demanding: “Drop the Taser!”
Citing a need for transparency, the city’s new police chief, Eric Winstrom, released four videos, including critical footage of the shooting recorded by a passenger in Lyoya’s car on that rainy morning.
“I view it as a tragedy. … It was a progression of sadness for me,” said Winstrom, a former high-ranking Chicago police commander who became Grand Rapids chief in March. The city of about 200,000 people is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
Video shows Lyoya running from the officer who stopped him for driving with a license plate that didn’t belong to the vehicle. They struggled in front of several homes while Lyoya’s passenger got out and watched.
Winstrom said the fight over the Taser lasted about 90 seconds. In the final moments, the officer was on top of Lyoya, kneeling on his back at times to subdue him.
“From my view of the video, Taser was deployed twice. Taser did not make contact,” Winstrom told reporters. “And Mr. Lyoya was shot in the head. However, that’s the only information that I have.”
State police are investigating the shooting. Kent County’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Stephen Cohle, said he completed the autopsy but toxicology tests haven’t been finished.
The traffic stop was tense from the start. Video shows Lyoya, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, getting out of the car before the officer approached. He ordered Lyoya to get back in the vehicle but the man declined.
The officer asked him if he spoke English and demanded his driver’s license. The foot chase began soon after, video shows.
Winstrom didn’t identify the officer, a seven-year veteran who is on paid leave during the investigation.
“Me being from Chicago for the last 20 years, I’ve handled many police shootings myself, so I do have a lot of experience in this,” the chief said. “I was hoping to never have to utilize that experience here.”
Video was collected from Lyoya’s passenger, the officer’s body-worn camera, the officer’s patrol car and a doorbell camera. Prosecutor Chris Becker, who will decide whether any charges are warranted, objected to the release but said Winstrom could act on his own.
Becker said the public shouldn’t expect a quick decision.
“While the videos released today are an important piece of evidence, they are not all of the evidence,” he said.
City Manager Mark Washington warned that the videos would lead to “expressions of shock, of anger and of pain.” Some downtown businesses boarded up their storefronts, and concrete barricades surrounded police headquarters.
Lyoya had two young daughters and five siblings, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who spoke to his family.
“He arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence. He had his whole life ahead of him,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said.
More than 100 people marched to Grand Rapids City Hallbefore a City Commission meeting Tuesday night, chanting “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace.”
Winstrom last week said he met Lyoya’s father, Peter Lyoya, and that they both cried.
“I get it as a father. … It’s just heart-wrenching,” the chief told WOOD-TV.
As in many U.S. cities, Grand Rapids police have been occasionally criticized over the use of force, particularly against Black people, who make up 18% of the population.
In November, the Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit over the practice of photographing and fingerprinting people who were never charged with a crime. Grand Rapids said the policy changed in 2015.
A downtown street has been designated Breonna Taylor Way, named for the Black woman and Grand Rapids native who was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, during a botched drug raid in 2020.
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White reported from Detroit. AP reporters Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, contributed to this story. | https://www.wane.com/news/video-michigan-cop-on-black-mans-back-fatally-shot-him/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:04 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/video-michigan-cop-on-black-mans-back-fatally-shot-him/ |
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Florida man linked to dozens of motorized golf cart thefts in the Upper Midwest was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison.
The FBI began investigating Nathan Rodney Nelson in July 2019 after the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in Fargo, North Dakota, asked for help in solving a series of golf cart thefts starting in 2017 in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Nelson, a former Minnesota resident living in Apollo Beach, Florida, was eventually arrested in June 2020 while he was caught trying to steal golf carts from a dealer in Donalsonville, Georgia. He also was carrying pre-printed serial number labels and burglary tools, according to court documents.
Investigators say he stole at least 63 golf carts in seven states, worth at least $283,500.
Nelson would typically steal carts in pairs from rural Midwestern golf courses, usually at night. He sold many of the carts under the alias Mason Weber, at a cost of about $2,500 each, court documents show.
Defense attorney Lorelle Moeckel said in a sentencing memorandum that her client was not able to keep his business going and pay his bills. He came up with the idea to steal golf carts to solve his financial problems and “from there it became easier and easier for him to stray from his long held moral compass.”
Nelson pleaded guilty in December to interstate transportation of stolen property. His sentencing calls for him to serve three years of supervised release and pay back about $14,000. | https://www.wane.com/news/weird/man-gets-2-years-for-multistate-motorized-golf-cart-thefts/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:12 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/weird/man-gets-2-years-for-multistate-motorized-golf-cart-thefts/ |
CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) — Australia and the United States are stepping up diplomatic outreach to the Solomon Islands after China signed a security deal with the South Pacific island nation that could lead to Beijing establishing a military presence there.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday that his minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, had flown to the Solomon Islands the day before for talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on the April 1 security pact the country agreed to with China.
Seselja said he had asked Sogavare to abandon the Chinese agreement.
“We have asked Solomon Islands respectfully to consider not signing the agreement and to consult the Pacific family in the spirit of regional openness and transparency, consistent with our region’s security frameworks,” Seselja said in a statement.
The trip came the same day that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele about Washington’s plan to reopen an embassy in the capital, Honiara.
The announcement of reopening the embassy, which has been closed since 1993, came in February before the security pact came to light, but amid already growing concerns about Chinese influence in the strategically important country.
A Chinese military presence in the Solomon Islands would put it not only on the doorstep of Australia and New Zealand but also in close proximity to Guam, with its massive U.S. military bases.
At the time he announced the embassy’s reopening, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was seeking to increase its influence in the Solomon Islands before China becomes “strongly embedded.”
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the call between Sherman and Manele touched on “our joint efforts to broaden and deepen engagement between our countries,” in addition to the embassy plans, but gave no further details.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian defended Beijing’s cooperation with the Solomons as being based on “the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit” and in line with international law and international practice.
“It is conducive to the social stability and lasting peace and safety of Solomon Islands and will help promote peace, stability and development of Solomon Islands and the rest of South Pacific region,” Zhao told reporters Wednesday at a daily briefing.
“The security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands does not target any third party or work in opposition to the Solomon Islands’ cooperation with other countries, but will complement the exiting regional cooperation mechanism in a positive way,” he said.
He added that other countries “should view this in an objective and reasonable manner, respect the sovereignty and independent decision of China and the Solomon Islands, avoid provoking confrontation and creating division in the region, and do something conducive to regional stability and development.”
According to a draft of the agreement, which was leaked online, Chinese warships could stop in the Solomons for “logistical replenishment” and China could send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomons “to assist in maintaining social order.”
The draft agreement specifies China must approve what information is disclosed about joint security arrangements, including at media briefings.
The Solomon Islands government have said a draft was initialed two weeks ago and that it would be “cleaned up” and finalized soon.
The Solomon Islands government has said it won’t allow China to build a military base there and China has denied seeking a military foothold in the South Pacific, but the pact set off alarm bells among many Western nations.
Since it was signed, two top Australian intelligence officials — Australian Secret Intelligence Service boss Paul Symon and Office of National Intelligence Director-General Andrew Shearer — have met Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
Australia already has a bilateral security pact with the Solomon Islands and Australian police peacekeepers have been in the capital, Honiara, since riots in November.
Morrison said Australia was respectfully and directly communicating with the Solomon Islands on the Chinese security deal.
“The suggestion that somehow, some seem to be making, that the Solomon Islands is somehow under the control of Australia I think is offensive to the Solomon Islands,” Morrison said.
“They are a sovereign nation. I respect their independence and they will make their own decisions about their own sovereignty,” he said.
“What we have been doing is ensuring that they are fully aware of the risks and the security matters that are not only of concern to Australia but islands, Pacific nations across the Pacific,” he added.
Seselja said Australia also welcomed statements from Sogavare that it remains the Solomon Islands’ “security partner of choice, and his commitment that Solomon Islands will never be used for military bases or other military institutions of foreign powers.”
Morrison announced on Sunday that an election will be held in Australia on May 21. He now leads a caretaker government and must consult the opposition on any policy decisions.
Opposition spokeswoman on foreign affairs Penny Wong said the Australian government had failed on the Solomon Islands.
“This is happening on Mr. Morrison’s watch – the warnings have been there for months, the draft agreement public for weeks – but he has failed to front up and explain how Australia is responding,” Wong said in a statement.
“We need to work with the Pacific family and allies to build a region where sovereignty is respected – and where Australia is the partner of choice,” she added. | https://www.wane.com/news/western-pressure-mounts-on-solomons-to-quash-pact-with-china/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:19 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/western-pressure-mounts-on-solomons-to-quash-pact-with-china/ |
LONDON (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization has slammed the global community for its focus on the war in Ukraine, arguing that crises elsewhere, including in his home country of Ethiopia, are not being given equal consideration, possibly because those suffering are not white.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus questioned “if the world really gives equal attention to Black and white lives,” given that the ongoing emergencies in Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria have garnered only a “fraction” of the global concern for Ukraine. He was speaking in a virtual press briefing from Geneva on Wednesday.
Last month, Tedros said there is ”nowhere on earth where the health of millions of people is more under threat” than Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Since a truce was declared in Tigray three weeks ago, about 2,000 trucks should have been able to bring food, medicines and other essentials to the conflict-ridden area, he said. Instead, only about 20 trucks have arrived, said Tedros, a former minister of health in Ethiopia and an ethnic Tigrayan.
“As we speak, people are dying of starvation,” he said. “This is one of the longest and worst sieges by both Eritrean and Ethiopian forces in modern history.”
Tedros acknowledged that the war in Ukraine is globally significant, but asked if other crises are being accorded enough attention.
“I need to be blunt and honest that the world is not treating the human race the same way,” he said. “Some are more equal than others.”
Tedros described the situation in Tigray as “tragic” and said he “hopes the world comes back to its senses and treats all human life equally.” He also critiqued the press for its failure to document the ongoing atrocities in Ethiopia, noting that people had been burned alive in the region. “I don’t even know if that was taken seriously by the media.”
Earlier this year, the government of Ethiopia sent a letterto the World Health Organization, accusing Tedros of “misconduct” after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the country.
The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office “to advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia” and said he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front; Tedros was Ethiopia’s foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country’s ruling coalition. | https://www.wane.com/news/who-chief-focus-on-ukraine-shows-bias-against-black-lives/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:26 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/who-chief-focus-on-ukraine-shows-bias-against-black-lives/ |
GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported to the World Health Organization fell for a third consecutive week, a trend likely helped by the dismantling of testing and surveillance programs.
In its latest weekly report on the pandemic, issued late Tuesday, the U.N. health agency said the more than 7 million new cases reported represented a 24% decline from a week earlier. The weekly worldwide number of COVID-19 deaths, was down 18%, at over 22,000.
WHO said the decreases “should be interpreted with caution” as numerous countries where the virus is starting to subside have changed their testing strategies, meaning far fewer cases are being identified.
New cases and deaths are falling in every region of the world, including the Western Pacific, where a surge of infections has triggered severe lockdown measures in China.
WHO said it was monitoring several mutants of the virus descended from the omicron variant, including some recombined forms of existing omicron subvariants.
In a separate statement, the health organization said scientists in Botswana and South Africa have detected new forms of the omicron variant, labeled as BA.4 and BA.5, but aren’t sure yet if they might be more transmissible or dangerous.
To date, the new versions of omicron have been detected in four people in Botswana and 23 people in South Africa. Beyond Africa, scientists have confirmed cases in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom.
WHO said there was so far no evidence the new sub-variants spread any differently than the original omicron variant.
“There is no cause for alarm with the emergence of the new sub-variants,” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director, said in a statement. “We are not yet observing a major spike in cases, hospitalizations or deaths.”
The agency called on all countries to sequence at least 5% of their COVID-19 samples; many countries, including Britain, Sweden and the United States, recently scrapped their widespread testing programs as the number of severe cases dramatically declined.
Still, the U.S. will soon mark 1 million COVID-19 deaths, and the virus is continuing to cause concern in China.
Officials warn Shanghaistill doesn’t have its latest surge in omicron-involved cases under control despite a “zero-tolerance” approach that has seen some residents confined to their homes for three weeks or longer.
The lockdown has led to frustration among Shanghai residents about running out of food and unable to get deliveries. Censors have diligently scrubbed complaints from social media.
State-controlled outlets describe a successful campaign to provide food and other supplies and counseled residents that “persistence is victory.”
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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wane.com/news/who-covid-cases-and-deaths-fall-for-3rd-consecutive-week/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:33 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/who-covid-cases-and-deaths-fall-for-3rd-consecutive-week/ |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Supreme Court was scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday in a case that will likely determine how extensively absentee ballot drop boxes can be used in the upcoming midterm election where the battleground state’s Democratic governor and Republican U.S. senator are on the ballot.
The court in February barred the use of drop boxesoutside of election clerk offices for the April spring election where local offices such as mayor, city council and school board were decided. But the larger question the court has yet to address is whether to allow the secure ballot boxes going forward in places such as libraries, grocery stores and other locations.
The fight is being closely watched as Republicans push to limit access to absentee ballots following President Joe Biden’s narrow win in Wisconsin over Donald Trump in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson are on the ballot in November.
State law is silent on drop boxes, but the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has told local election officials they can be placed at multiple locations.
A Waukesha County judge ruled in January that the election commission’s guidance was contrary to the law and that the guidance was actually an administrative rule that was invalid because it was not put in place properly. The state Supreme Court will also be deciding whether to let stand the judge’s ruling that prohibited anyone other than the voter from returning an absentee ballot.
The elections commission rescinded its guidance pending the outcome of the court’s ruling.
Advocates for people with disabilities and others argue that restriction makes it more difficult for some voters who have limited mobility, or other physical impairments, from returning their ballots.
Wisconsin’s top elections official testified last year that at least 528 drop boxes were used by more than 430 communities in the presidential election. The popularity of absentee voting exploded during the pandemic in 2020, with more than 40% of all voters casting mail ballots, a record high.
All eyes in Wednesday’s arguments will be on swing Justice Brian Hagedorn, a conservative who sometimes sides with the court’s liberal minority.
In January, Hagedorn sided with liberals and put on hold a lower court’s ruling barring drop boxes outside of clerks’ offices for the February primary. But in February, Hagedorn reversed and sided with the conservative majority in reinstating the lower court’s ruling that put the ban in effect for the April election and beyond pending the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of two Milwaukee voters by the conservative law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. It is opposed by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Wisconsin Faith Voice For Justice and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature have also tried to enact laws limiting the use of absentee ballots, but Evers has vetoed them.
Republicans have made similar moves since Trump’s defeat to tighten access to ballots in other battleground states. The restrictions especially target voting methods that have been rising in popularity and erecting hurdles to mail balloting and early voting that saw explosive growth earlier in the pandemic. | https://www.wane.com/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-to-hear-arguments-on-ballot-boxes/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:40 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-to-hear-arguments-on-ballot-boxes/ |
Which electric tiller is best?
Tilling the soil of your new garden doesn’t have to be as labor-intensive as it used to be, nor does it take an emissions-spewing, gas-powered tiller to get the job done. Electric tillers are just as capable and quieter to boot. Some are even cordless so you can till a garden anywhere you’d like.
The best electric tiller is the Greenworks Cordless Tiller. The lithium-ion battery operates at full power even when nearly empty, and it can till widths of up to 10 inches.
What to know before you buy an electric tiller
Pros and cons of an electric tiller
Electric tillers have a set of pros and cons compared to their gas-powered counterparts.
Pros: Electric tillers are easier to use and much more cost-effective than gas-powered models. They also require less maintenance and operate with less noise.
Cons: The most powerful electric tiller is still outclassed by an above-average gas-powered tiller. Large and tough grounds are possible to till with an electric model but are handled easier and faster by a gas-powered model.
Corded vs. cordless
Some electric tillers run on a battery, while others need to be plugged in.
- Battery-powered models can be used anywhere and you don’t have to worry about cords. However, their batteries only provide enough power to equal an above-average corded model. They’re also more expensive.
- Corded models need access to a power source, and you need to make sure your cord is kept out of the tiller’s way. Any extension cord you use should be thick enough not to melt or restrict power to your tiller. Using extra-long extension cords or chaining cords together is dangerous and power-restricting, so you should consider a battery- or gas-powered model instead if you find yourself far from your power source.
What to look for in a quality electric tiller
Power
Electric tiller manufacturers relate power using one or a combination of methods, all of which have their own ranges.
- Amps: Look for anything 6 amps and above minimum but preferably 10 and above.
- Watts: Look for anything with at least 500 amps.
- Volts: 20 volts is enough for a budget tiller, but anything 36 volts and above is better. If they give amp hours, look for anything with 4 Ah and above.
- Horsepower: Look for anything with at least half a horsepower.
Tines
Tines have shape, number and speed to consider.
- Shape: Most manufacturers use either an L-shaped tine or tines with a slight variation.
- Number: Electric tillers have two to six tines, with more being better.
Speed
Most electric tillers have only one speed, but others have variable speeds to better handle specific soils.
How much you can expect to spend on an electric tiller
Electric tillers typically cost $100-$300, with most costing no more than $200. For anything over $200, you’ll get more power and likely won’t have to deal with a cord.
Electric tiller FAQ
What’s the difference between an electric tiller and an electric cultivator?
A. They’re similar enough that many manufacturers use the terms interchangeably or claim that one tool can do both jobs. In reality, an electric tiller is more powerful than an electric cultivator. Both can chew up and maintain most ground types and hardnesses, but an electric tiller can have enough power to process new ground, which is usually too hard for a cultivator to process.
Are electric tillers powerful enough to till new, hard sod?
A. Depending on the model, yes. Many electric tillers struggle to till new, hard soil, but the best and strongest should be able to manage it, albeit slowly. Comparatively, gas-powered models are more powerful across the board and you rarely need to worry about if they can handle new ground — they’re able to till new ground faster than even the strongest electric tiller.
What’s the difference between front- and rear-line tillers?
A. All electric tillers use front-line tillers, meaning the tines are placed in front of the wheels and pull the tiller forward. Some gas-powered tillers use rear-line tillers, which are placed behind the motor and dragged forward by its power.
What’s the best electric tiller to buy?
Top electric tiller
Greenworks 40-Volt Cordless Tiller
What you need to know: With a tilling depth of up to 5 inches, this powerful model can till almost anything.
What you’ll love: The 40-volt lithium-ion battery provides enough power (and doesn’t wane as it empties) to till anything except the hardest ground. It features a width of 8.25-10 inches with up to 2,000 strikes per minute.
What you should consider: It’s on the pricey side. The battery only lasts for roughly 40 minutes, and a few consumers had issues with the battery not charging as it ages.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top electric tiller for the money
Black and Decker 20-Volt MAX Cordless Tiller
What you need to know: This quality model from a trusted brand is perfect for small jobs.
What you’ll love: It runs on a MAX lithium-ion battery that can till up to 325 square feet of ground on a full charge, and its counter-oscillating tines prevent roots from tangling in the head. It’s Energy Star-certified and has a two-year limited warranty.
What you should consider: The small head is not efficient for anything larger than a small flowerbed or garden. The batteries can take up to eight hours to charge.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
Sun Joe Electric 13.5-Amp Garden Tiller
What you need to know: This corded model is powerful with an extra-wide head.
What you’ll love: It has a tilling depth of up to 8 inches and a tilling width of up to 16 inches with six durable steel angled tines for chewing through almost anything. The handles fold up for space-saving storage and the wheels can be adjusted into three positions.
What you should consider: A few users felt the handles were uncomfortable to use for long periods, and a handful received tillers with missing parts.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which ‘Star Wars’ model kit is best?
“Star Wars” is among the most loved film franchises, spanning 12 feature-length productions across 45 years. Including several television show additions and spin-offs, the trademark is worth an estimated $70 billion.
With such an illustrious history, there is plenty of merchandise for fans to collect. Action figures and memorabilia might top the most-wanted list, but for those who want to get their hands dirty, there are model kits to build. For a real challenge, the amazing Lego “Star Wars” Ultimate Millennium Falcon is sure to keep you busy for hours.
What to know before you buy a ‘Star Wars’ model kit
Different kinds of model kits
“Star Wars” model kits are no different from others, like airplanes, ships or submarines. They are available in different kinds of builds, giving you the option of working in your preferred medium. Lego fans might opt to put together an officially licensed “Star Wars” Lego set, while there are paper-based kits for easier builds and 3D wood puzzles that can be painted when you are done.
The skill level will determine the complexity
Just as the models are available in different build types, so too are the skill level needed for completing them. Generally, the skill level will be indicated on the model’s packaging and should give you a rough indication of how difficult or easy it will be. But the skill level shouldn’t be seen as a deterrent. You might find it more enjoyable to tackle something complex than a build that only consists of a few pieces.
Consider the scale of the model
Inexperienced model builders often don’t realize how large model kits can be. The regular scale measurement won’t mean much to you if it’s based on a fictional object. Since there is no real-world reference point, the kits often indicate the measurements of the completed object. Keep this in mind if you want to display the model or if you have limited space where you live.
What to look for in a quality ‘Star Wars’ model kit
Highly detailed and accurate
Any model kit, no matter if it is “Star Wars” or World War II airplanes, must be highly-detailed to get the full enjoyment from finalizing the construction. The overall shape might be accurate, but it’s the smaller details that will bring a smile to your face. Look for a good-quality model kit that includes finer elements like trimmings, customizable parts and accurate color schemes.
Robust construction materials
It would be terribly unfortunate if you spent countless hours putting the model together, just for it to crumble to the floor from a slight breeze. A good-quality model kit will be made from robust construction materials which won’t fall apart easily. Most sturdy models are made from wood or plastic. Builds made out of paper are relatively stable, but extra needs to be taken to protect them from damage.
Officially licensed product
To ensure that you get the most accurate and high-quality model kits, you must look for kits that are officially licensed by Disney — which owns the “Star Wars” brand. If you buy a product that isn’t officially part of the merchandise, there would be no guarantee as to the authenticity of the detail or quality. Knockoff kits can be much cheaper than licensed items, but it isn’t worth the risk.
How much you can expect to spend on a ‘Star Wars’ model kit
The average price of a “Star Wars” model kit will depend on the medium and the intricacy of the build. An entry-level kit that consists of wood or paper can retail for $20-$40. Highly detailed, larger kits with thousands of pieces can retail for $800-$1,300.
‘Star Wars’ model kit FAQ
Do you need special tools to put the kit together?
A. While there might be some kits that require tools, the majority of model kits these days don’t. That is because the technology behind model kits has evolved to feature click-in or snap-together designs. For Lego builds, the pieces easily stay together.
How long does it take to build a ‘Star Wars’ model kit?
A. That will depend on the complexity of the build and how nimble your fingers are. Larger builds can take around 10-12 hours to complete, while smaller kits should only take a few hours.
What’s the best ‘Star Wars’ model kit to buy?
Top ‘Star Wars’ model kit
Lego “Star Wars” Ultimate Millennium Falcon
What you need to know: It’s going to take more than a few hours and a bunch of friends to complete this massive 7,541-piece kit. With intricate details and seven classic “Star Wars” minifigures, this Millennium Falcon will be the star attraction in any house.
What you’ll love: Any “Star Wars” fan will grab at the chance to tackle this enormous build, that measures 8 inches high, 33 inches long and 22 inches wide. It includes the smallest details to accurately replicate the famous Millennium Falcon, and it comes with minifigures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, C-3PO, an older Han Solo, Rey and Finn. On the inside of the ship, you can put together the seating area, the Dejarik holographic game and the engine room with hyperdrive and console.
What you should consider: This kit is best suited for adults with lots of patience or expert builders.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top ‘Star Wars’ model kit for the money
“Star Wars” Tie Fighter 3D Wood Puzzle and Model Figure Kit
What you need to know: Made from sturdy wood, this iconic Tie Fighter kit can be painted with any colors that you want.
What you’ll love: The puzzle is made from 63 interlocking pieces to create a free-standing model. It comes with step-by-step instructions for assembly and the accompanying booklet delves deep into the history of Tie Fighters, the different variants and notable battles.
What you should consider: The assembled build is relatively small, standing 4.5 inches tall and 3.3 inches wide.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
“Star Wars” Imperial Star Destroyer Paper Model Kit
What you need to know: You’re going to need a delicate touch and steady hands to complete this paper-based model of the infamous Imperial Star Destroyer. It comprises 342 pieces, all held together with the included craft glue.
What you’ll love: Included in the build are step-by-step instructions and a display stand. But the set doesn’t just feature the Star Destroyer, as it also comes with smaller paper models of two Tie Fighters and an Imperial Shuttle.
What you should consider: You’ll need some extra room to display this build, as the Star Destroyer measures 30 inches long, 15.1 inches high and 16.5 inches wide.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/best-star-wars-model-kit/ | 2022-04-13T22:42:55 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/best-star-wars-model-kit/ |
Which steering wheel lock is best?
People tend to feel a close bond to their cars. If your car is damaged or destroyed in an accident, you may feel a great deal of frustration or loss. However, if someone steals your car, it’s far worse. It can feel like a violation, and people who have their car stolen tend to notice they don’t feel as safe or comfortable as before. Luckily, there are ways to deter thieves from targeting your car.
One popular theft deterrent is a steering wheel lock. One of the top steering wheel locks is The Club 1103 LX Series Steering Wheel Lock. It has a universal fit for most steering wheels and is safe against sawing, prying and hammering.
What to know before you buy a steering wheel lock
How a steering wheel lock works
There are a few different steering wheel lock designs available, but they all keep your steering wheel in place and deter thieves from trying to steal your car. Some use telescoping rods, while others lock the entire wheel in place completely. A few designs cover up the wheel entirely or press down on the clutch or brake for extra security.
Locks and keys
Steering wheel locks don’t use a normal lock and key, which experienced thieves can pick open easily. Instead, they use a variety of specialty locks and keys that are difficult or impossible to pick and equally challenging to copy. Most locks include two or three keys. If you need more, you can order them from the manufacturer.
Construction
Most steering wheel locks are made of some kind of steel, though you can also find ones with titanium elements. Many locks have a plastic coating too, which has a few uses. The plastic keeps your steering wheel scratch-free, and the bright color stands out to discourage thieves.
What to look for in a quality steering wheel lock
Size
The size of a steering wheel lock will determine how big of a steering wheel it can fit. It will also dictate how easy it is to store the lock when not in use. Telescoping rod locks are a great choice since they can lock all sizes of steering wheels while still being compact and storable.
Design
Manufacturers typically design steering wheel locks to look intimidating to thieves. The bare steel or bright colors will catch the attention of a potential thief and hopefully stop them from breaking through the door or window.
Hardened points
Some steering wheel locks have a hardened tip on one end, which functions as a window breaker in case of emergencies. Some may include a cap to prevent this tip from breaking or tearing something on accident. If this is a feature you’d like to have, be sure to check the product description for more information.
How much you can expect to spend on a steering wheel lock
Most steering wheel locks cost roughly $30-$50. Some cost as little as $20. The best and most intricate locks usually cost around $60 and can exceed $100.
Steering wheel lock FAQ
Can I make extra keys for my steering wheel lock?
A. Generally speaking, no. Most steering wheel locks use specialty-shaped keys that are either difficult or impossible to copy, even by the best locksmiths. Most manufacturers can send you extras if you request them, but you’ll need to provide information that confirms you are the owner. You’ll likely need to at least pay for the shipping and handling of extra keys.
How secure is a steering wheel lock?
A. It depends on the lock, but they’re usually incredibly secure. Most locks resist common workarounds, such as sawing, hammering or prying with a crowbar. Check reviews to see how others feel about their experience, and check the brand of the product to learn more about their reputation.
What’s the best steering wheel lock to buy?
Top steering wheel lock
The Club 1103 LX Series Steering Wheel Lock
What you need to know: This is an effective steering wheel lock at an affordable price.
What you’ll love: You can secure the lock with one tug. It comes with three laser encrypted keys that locksmiths can’t duplicate. It adjusts easily to fit any wheel and resists common breaking methods, including hammering and Freon combinations. It weighs 4.2 pounds and comes in three colors.
What you should consider: Some consumers complained of a sticky substance coating the lock. Others received units where the lock would not completely lock.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top steering wheel lock for the money
What you need to know: This budget theft deterrent is ideal for light security.
What you’ll love: The steel construction is thick enough to prevent sawing, and installation only takes seconds. It uses a crescent lock cylinder and includes two computer-coded keys. The black and yellow design stands out to thieves, and it only weighs 1.72 pounds.
What you should consider: The design doesn’t prevent airbag theft. It may not fit depending on your car’s combination of wheel size and dashboard height.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Lock for Cars
What you need to know: This steering wheel lock resists most breaking methods, including freon and hammer attacks.
What you’ll love: It fits steering wheel inner diameters between 6.6 and 12.5 inches. The inner hook is padded to prevent damage to the wheel. It includes a hardened window-breaking tip and comes in three colors.
What you should consider: Some consumers had issues with the key becoming stuck in the lock. There are rare reports of the keys failing to unlock the device.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/best-steering-wheel-lock/ | 2022-04-13T22:43:02 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/best-steering-wheel-lock/ |
Which dog food is better: Blue Buffalo or Purina Pro Plan?
Your dog’s diet makes a huge impact on their health and well-being, so choosing the right dog food is important. If you’re stuck between Blue Buffalo dog food and Purina Pro Plan dog food, you might be wondering which is the best option.
As with most things in life, there isn’t a simple answer, so you’ll have to delve deeper and examine the pros and cons. Also, remember that all dogs are different, so the best food for one dog isn’t always the best for another.
Blue Buffalo dog food
Blue Buffalo dog food is touted as a healthy and holistic brand. It contains high-quality ingredients without unnecessary additives. Complete and balanced, it contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy. It’s made in the USA, though from globally sourced ingredients.
You can buy both wet and dry dog food from Blue Buffalo, as well as dog treats. Bags of dry food cost roughly $15-$75, depending on the size and variety, while wet food costs roughly $2-$3 a can.
Blue Buffalo dog food pros
- Blue Buffalo dog food lists meat as the first ingredient, plus it often includes healthy whole grains and vegetables.
- It doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or preservatives and stays away from poultry by-product meal, corn, soy and other filler ingredients.
- You can choose from a range of varieties, including senior dog foods, small breed dog foods and limited ingredient dog foods for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.
- Most dogs find Blue Buffalo foods palatable and you can select from a wide range of formulas or flavors to appeal to picky eaters.
Blue Buffalo dog food cons
- The company sells a range of grain -free dog food, but studies suggest a link between grain-free diets and canine heart disease, so you should avoid them unless your dog has a legitimate grain allergy, which is extremely rare.
- Blue Buffalo has had five dog food recalls, but only three posed a serious risk.
- It doesn’t offer quite as many specialist options as Purina Pro Plan, such as high-performance and sensitive skin formulas.
Best Blue Buffalo dog food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Food
An excellent choice for active dogs, this food is high in protein to give them the energy they need to keep going. Pick one of the versions with healthy whole grains as grain-free formulas may be detrimental to heart health.
Sold by Amazon
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
The perfect kibble for an average dog, you can choose from several formulas to best suit your dog. Options include small bite for dogs who like smaller pieces of kibble and healthy weight for dogs who need to lose eight or who gain weight easily.
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food
This tasty wet food can be fed alone or mixed with kibble. Meat is the first ingredient and it also contains a blend of nutrient-rich veggies.
Purina Pro Plan dog food
Purina Pro Plan dog food is just one kind of dog food from Purina. It’s Purina’s high-end offering, containing better quality ingredients than its other foods. For the most part, it contains quality ingredients, though it does contain some fillers and by-products in some of its lines.
Buyers can choose from a range of formulas, some that suit most dogs and others tailored to need specific needs. It’s at a similar price point to Blue Buffalo, with bags of dry food priced from $15-$70 and cans of wet food around $1.50-$3 each.
Purina Pro Plan dog food pros
- All Purina Pro Plan dry foods and most wet foods contain heart-healthy whole grains.
- This food is made at a facility in the USA, though with ingredients sourced from around the globe.
- There’s only been one recall of Purina Pro Plan food, which suggests the company’s quality control is good.
- You can choose from a wide range of formulas to suit your dog, including small breed, large breed and performance.
Purina Pro Plan dog food cons
- Some formulas contain questionable ingredients, such as poultry by-product meal.
- You’re more likely to find fillers, such as corn gluten meal, in Purina Pro Plan foods compared to Blue Buffalo.
- Purina is owned by Nestle, a company known for unethical practices and which some buyers prefer to avoid.
Best Purina Pro Plan dog food
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Dog Food
A solid all-rounder of a dry food that suits most adult dogs. It has a chicken and rice flavor and comes in a range of bag sizes.
Sold by Amazon, Chewy and PetSmart
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog Food
This carefully formulated food is made using easily digestible ingredients and excludes common allergens, making it perfect for dogs with sensitive skin or stomachs. It contains a prebiotic formula to help digestion.
Sold by Amazon, Chewy and PetSmart
Purina Pro Plan Sport Wet Dog Food
Due to its high protein content, this wet food is suitable for very active dogs and working dogs. It also supports hydration, which is important for dogs who are always on the go.
Should you get Blue Buffalo dog food or Purina Pro Plan dog food?
There’s no clear winner between Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan. Blue Buffalo has more consistently high-quality ingredients, but Purina Pro Plan only contains a small handful of questionable ingredients and not in all its formulas.
Purina has a slightly wider range of options tailored to the specific needs of dogs, but then again, most dogs are fine with a standard adult dog food — plus Blue Buffalo some tailored formulas, such as senior, small breed and large breed foods.
Ultimately, go with whichever option you think will best suit your dog and don’t be afraid to change your mind if your canine companion isn’t thriving on their new food after a reasonable transition period.
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/blue-buffalo-dog-food-vs-purina-pro-plan-dog-food/ | 2022-04-13T22:43:09 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/blue-buffalo-dog-food-vs-purina-pro-plan-dog-food/ |
Which women’s hooded bathrobe is best?
Stepping out of the shower or bath on even a warm day is a chilly experience. No matter how little time it takes to dry off with your towel and put your clothes on, you still get a little cold. With a hooded bathrobe, you can skip both steps and go directly into a warm, soft shell that can also dry your hair.
The best one is the Arus Women’s Hooded Bathrobe. It’s made of cotton from the Aegean region of Turkey for a premium feel.
What to know before you buy a women’s hooded bathrobe
Size and length
Hooded bathrobes typically use the same nomenclature as other clothing — small, medium, large, etc. — but most manufacturers use their own sizing charts. This means one “small” robe may be larger than a different “small” robe, so compare your prospective robe’s chart to your measurements.
You also need to consider the length. Most robes are cut to end just above the knee, at mid-calf or around the ankle. However, length and size don’t always match up, so the arms and width may be sized right for your upper body but your height makes a robe fall outside its intended place. You may need to shop around for a while until you find the right size and length.
Fastening
Most women’s hooded bathrobes are secured with exterior waist ties. Some robes use other methods, such as buttons, zippers or interior waist ties. A few use a combination of methods.
What to look for in a quality women’s hooded bathrobe
Material
Women’s hooded bathrobes are typically made of terry cloth or various types of cotton or synthetics.
- Terry cloth is the same material towels are made from. Bathrobes made this way have all the softness and absorbency of your favorite towels and can be comfortably warm. However, it does lose softness over time.
- Cotton bathrobes are made from a variety of cotton types using a variety of weaves. Some are thin and lightweight, while others are thick and heavy, and they’re available at every price point.
- Synthetic bathrobes are typically made of microfiber polyester. It’s soft, reasonably absorbent and affordable.
Hood
A quality hood on a bathrobe is large enough to fully drape over the head while having the length to not pull down tightly on the head. It should also have enough give so you can ruffle it comfortably across your head to dry your hair.
Pockets
A bathrobe should be comfortable enough for you to want to wear it all over your home. As you move around, you’ll likely want to keep your phone and other items on you. Choose a robe with at least one pocket for this purpose so you can have your hands free for moving a glass of wine and a tray of snacks to the couch.
How much you can expect to spend on a women’s hooded bathrobe
They typically cost $20-$100. Low-cost options cost no more than $20 while most cost $30-$50. The best cost $50-$100, though some luxury designer brands can cost several hundred dollars.
Women’s hooded bathrobe FAQ
How do I wash a women’s hooded bathrobe?
A. That mostly depends on the material. Most are machine-washable, though the tags have specific care instructions. Those that are machine washable can’t always be put in the dryer, so double-check before you accidentally damage your new robe. If you’re truly concerned about damaging it, you can usually have it dry-cleaned.
Can I customize a women’s hooded bathrobe?
A. Yes, though few offer customization and personalization during the order process. Instead, you’ll need to take it to a tailor or even personalize it yourself. Any material can be taken in or let out, but some materials are easier than others to personalize, such as fleece. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a complex material personalized, you just might have to pay extra for it.
What’s the best women’s hooded bathrobe to buy?
Top women’s hooded bathrobe
What you need to know: It feels as premium as its cost. It’s made of Turkish terry cotton for premium softness, breathability and durability.
What you’ll love: The hood is large enough to drape comfortably and not pull on your head, and it has two deep pockets on either side. It’s available in three sizes and eight colors.
What you should consider: It’s among the priciest bathrobes. Some consumers found it a little thin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Top women’s hooded bathrobe for the money
U2Skiin Short Women’s Hooded Bathrobe
What you need to know: Made of polyester fleece for a soft, lightweight feel, it’s short for hot summer days.
What you’ll love: Its hood is loose enough not to tug, and it has a small pocket on either side of the front. It comes in three sizes and 21 designs. It uses an outer and inner tying system.
What you should consider: The short length doesn’t provide enough coverage for chilly nights. A few reviewers had issues finding a size that fit appropriately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
iCreat Women’s Long Hooded Bathrobe
What you need to know: This soft, quality robe is extra-long for freezing winter nights.
What you’ll love: It uses an outer-belt tie system. It has two small pockets on the front and the hood is just large enough not to be too tight. It comes in three sizes and four colors and is made of polyester fleece for warmth and softness.
What you should consider: It’s too long and thick for any climate other than a cold one. It isn’t long enough to be floor length for taller consumers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Egg prices have risen to more than $2.80 per dozen, on average, which is over double their price in March. This doesn’t bode well for Easter celebrations if you normally use painted eggs for decoration or egg hunts.
Instead, consider plastic eggs, which are reusable, save a lot of time and effort and are a vegan-friendly alternative to real eggs.
Why are egg prices rising?
Several factors have combined to lead to the sharply rising cost of eggs. A serious bird flu outbreak has led to the death of many hens. On top of that, the war in Ukraine has resulted in a significant rise in the price of grain used as feed for laying birds — a cost that farmers must pass on to avoid taking a loss. To a smaller degree, pandemic-related supply chain issues are still causing some price increases across the board.
What types of plastic eggs are available?
You’ll find a variety of plastic eggs available. The three main types are fillable, one-piece and realistic.
- Fillable plastic eggs: Most plastic eggs come in two parts that fit together, so you can fill them with small toys or candy. However, some come in one piece, which is the obvious choice if you don’t want to fill them.
- One-piece plastic eggs: These eggs come in one piece, so you can’t fill them. They’re a good choice for decoration or if you want to stick to the same egg hunt rules as you had with real eggs.
- Realistic plastic eggs: Realistic eggs are made to look like chicken eggs and come in white and brown varieties. These are great if you want to decorate them yourself or if you usually don’t paint or dye eggs at Easter.
Are there alternatives to plastic eggs?
If you’re not sold on plastic eggs, you can also buy wooden eggs as a more eco-friendly choice. These either come painted or plain so you can paint or decorate them yourself. This is a great choice if part of your Easter tradition is decorating eggs.
You can also find squishy faux eggs made from a squeezable foam material much like stress balls. These are great for any kids in a throwing phase who can’t be trusted not to launch hard plastic or wooden eggs at other kids or adults.
Best reusable Easter eggs
Prextex Bulk Plastic Easter Eggs
These solid-colored fillable Easter eggs come in a bulk pack of 100, which is ideal for Easter events or anyone planning a large family egg hunt. They’re hinged so the top and bottom parts won’t get separated when kids rip them open to see what’s inside.
Sold by Amazon
Joyin Plastic Printed Bright Easter Eggs
Featuring a printed exterior that resembles hand-painted designs, this is a great choice for anyone who prefers painting eggs rather than dying them. They are fillable, and you get 48 in a pack.
Sold by Amazon
Double Couple White Plastic Eggs
At first glance, these look like white chicken eggs, so they’re a great choice for anyone who would buy real eggs if it weren’t for the price hike. They are paintable and can be used year after year.
Sold by Amazon
Importer AM Pysanky Hand-Painted Polish Wooden Easter Eggs
These beautiful hand-painted wooden eggs are part of a Polish Easter tradition, but you don’t have to be Polish to appreciate their incredible design. They’re on the pricey side, but they’ll last for decades, and you’ll be proud to display them every Easter.
Sold by Amazon
Ufunga Slow Rising Squishy Easter Eggs
Made to look like painted eggs, these delightfully squishy Easter eggs are great alternatives to plastic or wooden eggs. You can choose from packs of 12 or 24.
Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which online web design class is best?
In today’s world, web design is a highly useful skill that can lead to professional growth. If you’re interested in applying your creative skills in a way that’s lucrative and versatile, an online web design course is for you. Many of these courses teach certain aspects of web development as well, which is also profitable.
Udemy’s Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS course is great for anyone starting out.
What to know before you buy an online web design class
Front-end development
Many online courses teach both web development and web design, since they often go hand in hand. Even if you choose to go with a beginner-friendly class, most still include basic development.
Web design is the overall setup and appearance of a website across any device, including mobile phones, tablets and computers. It includes the layout, interface design, graphics or other visuals and overall content of the site. When combined, these elements add to a comprehensive, user-friendly look and feel.
Many online web design classes teach both web design and front-end development, which is ideal for freelancers or anyone else looking to grow professionally. Even though front-end development doesn’t focus on the design aspect as much, it does affect how well the site runs. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn at least the basics, specifically coding and programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Coding
In the past, if you wanted to learn how to design a website, you also had to understand web development; even the artwork and positioning of the text required some knowledge of coding. Today, most popular content management sites, including WordPress, handle the development aspect.
Although it’s possible to design websites without knowing coding or programming, many online web design courses still touch on the basics. For example, one course could teach CSS, which is useful for WordPress since it affects how content is displayed on the site. If the online course only covers the basics, you can also take a supplemental online course, such as JavaScript, to learn more.
Website builders
Many website builders, including Wix and Squarespace, use a drag and drop function that makes it much easier to design a website, even if you don’t have a background in the field. More complex builders, such as WordPress, boast features that offer much more customization and let you use certain coding knowledge.
Certain web design classes teach you how to use specific website builders, while others focus mostly on concepts such as layout or coding. Typically, the ones that focus on website builders don’t cover coding.
What to look for in a quality online web design class
Topics covered
Online web design courses usually focus on the following topics:
- Search engine optimization
- Typography
- Composition
- Graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- Responsive design
- CSS3 and HTML
Courses that also emphasize web development go more in-depth into coding, programming and front-end and back-end development.
Level
Web design courses are multilayered, so choose a level suited to your current skill level. For instance, if you’re new to the subject, select a beginner class that teaches the basics such as layout and color theory. Just remember that one course might consider a topic introductory, while another could view it as intermediate.
Some online courses build upon each other, especially when taught by the same instructor. In this case, it’s a good idea to start with the first class and follow along in order unless you already have a solid understanding of the previous topics.
Course breakdown
Online classes usually come with a syllabus that outlines the course breakdown, including overarching modules and smaller lessons that reinforce key concepts.
For example, a beginner class could have a module on the general structure of websites with related subsections on how to code and use images. Meanwhile, a course made for WordPress design could cover everything from setting up pages and customizing post templates to installing and using plugins.
Many courses also feature assignments, quizzes and other supplemental materials you can download or complete as you learn.
Duration
Udemy, Coursera and similar online education sites list how long it will take to complete a class. The total duration usually includes the readings and videos, but not any assignments that are done outside of class. Most online web design classes are nine to 22 hours.
Certificate
Some courses offer a certificate you can display on LinkedIn, your resume or your new website. To receive a certificate, you might need to purchase the full course or have an active subscription to the platform it’s on.
How much you can expect to spend on an online web design class
A subscription to Coursera costs $59 a month, but you can also get a free seven-day trial. As for Udemy, web design and development courses usually cost $90-$140. Udemy also offers a free seven-day trial followed by a subscription service that costs $29.99 a month. Once you purchase the course, you receive lifetime access to it.
Online web design classes FAQ
Is web design difficult to learn?
A. Web design is a complex subject, but it can be easy to learn if you follow a class that’s laid out well. However, many classes teach you about the different technologies and methods that go along with website design and development. If you’re not technologically savvy, it can be challenging to learn some of the more complex components such as coding and back-end development.
What other skills should I know to be a web designer?
A. Enhance your skills by learning Adobe design software and studying user experience. Also, continue building upon your front-end and back-end development expertise.
What’s the best online web design class to buy?
Top web design class for you to take online
Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS
What you need to know: This is an introductory course that teaches you the basics of design and development.
What you’ll love: It covers the essentials of web design, including HTML and CSS coding, responsive design and SaaS. Plus, it teaches you how to add media to web pages.
What you should consider: The course focuses a lot on back-end development, which can be overwhelming for complete beginners.
Where to buy: Sold by Udemy
Top web design class for you to take online for the money
Introduction to Web Development
What you need to know: Available for free on a trial basis or with a monthly subscription, this course teaches everything from the basics of web design to development.
What you’ll love: This course features 22 hours of content spread across six weeks. It includes several readings, videos and quizzes. It teaches you how to design a site from beginning to end using HTML.
What you should consider: There’s a lot of focus on web development.
Where to buy: Sold by Coursera
Worth checking out
WordPress for Beginners — Master WordPress Quickly
What you need to know: This course is great for anyone who wants to create a website using WordPress.
What you’ll love: It teaches you how to configure a WordPress site to create pages and posts. It is comprised of 107 lectures and has nine hours of content. There’s no coding experience necessary.
What you should consider: WordPress is a robust system, so the course might take longer to complete than listed.
Where to buy: Sold by Udemy
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Best headphones for camping
Getting back to nature can be an amazing way to de-stress. Spending time in the forests of a national park or hiking the Midwestern plains can make you forget about your worries as you take in the sights.
While some prefer to wake up with the call of the mountain chickadee, others center themselves through music. It might seem counterproductive to listen to created sounds rather than nature’s own, but the two go surprisingly well together — if you have the right headphones for camping, that is.
Best wireless headphones
If you’re looking for a great pair of headphones that fit over your ears, this model from Sony is a perfect option. They use some of the best noise-canceling technology available, and through the Edge-AI system, they regulate and change the equalizer according to the music. They’re perfect for camping or hiking as they have a 30-hour battery life, and you can receive calls through the connected Bluetooth function.
Sold by Amazon
SoundCore by Anker Life Q30 Hybrid
To remove the sounds of people talking around you or when you just want to be alone, SoundCore Life Q30 headphones use Anker’s hybrid noise-canceling system that includes dual microphones to block up to 95% of ambient sounds. With large 40-millimeter audio drivers, this pair has a battery life of 40 hours and comes with a 3.5-millimeter cable, even though they’re capable of wireless connectivity.
Sold by Amazon
For Apple loyalists who enjoy camping, there are no better headphones to pack in your bag than the AirPods Max. Available in five colors, they feature active noise cancellation, respond to Siri through voice and provide up to 20 hours of listening time. As they’re wireless, they connect to your device through Bluetooth. No matter what you’re listening to, the Adaptive EQ changes the equalizer depending on the musical style and quality.
Sold by Amazon
Best headphones for running
Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds
If you want to stay in shape while on a camping trip, then you’re probably going to want to get in a run. To listen to music while doing so, you need a great pair of earbuds, and Powerbeats are a good option. They provide you with nine hours of battery life and are completely wireless. The ear hooks are adjustable to ensure a snug fit and they’re reinforced to protect against sweat and water. While they use Apple’s H1 internal chip, they’re compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Sold by Amazon
Available in several colors, these JBudsPRO earbuds stay put no matter how fast you’re running. The Cush Fins at the top of the earbuds fit comfortably into the ear, while three different size silicone tips provide added grip. For sound production, the audio drivers are 11 millimeters and use high-performance titanium for better quality. JBudsPRO have an in-line microphone so you can take and make hands-free calls while camping.
Sold by Amazon
The best choice for Apple fans who want a subtle listening experience, AirPods Pro come with active noise cancellation while still having transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s going on around you. Adaptive EQ automatically tunes the music, while spatial audio with dynamic head tracking makes it sound like the music is all around you. The tips are available in three different sizes and they’re sweat- and water-resistant.
Sold by Amazon
Best affordable headphones
When you go camping, you don’t always want to take the best or most expensive headphones with you. There are plenty of affordable headphones that are perfect for throwing in a backpack and hitting the trail, such as Riff Wireless. They connect to your mobile device through Bluetooth (a wired version is available too), give you 12 hours of battery life and provide two hours of listening from a 10-minute charge. They’re available in four colors and come with a built-in microphone, volume and track control and charge through a USB cable.
Sold by Amazon
Retailing for under $10, these headphones are perfect for camping if you aren’t too concerned about them getting dirty, wet or possibly damaged. The audio drivers measure 33 millimeters and sit inside swiveling ear cups that are covered with soft foam. These headphones aren’t wireless but connect to your mobile device with a 3.5-millimeter jack. If you have an iPhone, don’t forget to pack your Lightning 3.5-millimeter adapter.
Sold by Amazon
For a grab-and-go pair of earbuds, Pro from Philips get the job done. Whether you’re camping or on a hike, the 8.6-millimeter audio drivers produce clear music with no distortion. They feature passive noise cancellation to block out any ambient sounds and connect to your mobile device through a 3.5-millimeter connection. With the in-line microphone and volume controls, you can make and receive phone calls.
Sold by Amazon
With a tangle-free flat cable and foldable ear cups, the Tune 500 are a great pair of headphones to take on a camping trip. Their compact design makes them easy to throw into a backpack or keep around your neck. The 32-millimeter audio drivers incorporate JBL’s Pure Bass technology for crystal-clear sounds, and the padded headband reduces discomfort if you wear them for a long time. They feature an in-line microphone and volume controls that can also be used to activate Google Assistant or Siri.
Sold by Amazon
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Which Ethernet switch is best?
If you’re running several devices with wired Ethernet connections, it’s useful to have a switch. Having an Ethernet switch lets users maintain and modify a home internet network using multiple devices that use a LAN or Ethernet cable to connect to the internet. They can also offer performance benefits such as faster speeds and better overall traffic management.
The TrendNet Ethernet Switch offers five Ethernet ports, operation lights and 10 Gbps on file transfers.
What to know before you buy an Ethernet switch
Needs
Ethernet switches are used to connect to devices using a wired local area network, also called LAN and Ethernet cables. If you want a basic switch for optimizing traffic flow across devices, just about any switch will do, so long as it has the number of ports you want. But specific Ethernet switches may work better than others, depending on your data needs. Some come with upgrade features, including added security, faster speeds or additional power.
Unmanaged vs. managed
The most common type of Ethernet switch is an unmanaged switch. These offer basic traffic flow maintenance and don’t require users to set up parameters. While basic Ethernet switches work for most households, you can also buy upgraded or managed switches for adding a virtual LAN network or Quality of Service controls for managing data bottlenecks. These may be more useful for those using a switch in commercial or professional settings.
Power over Ethernet
Certain devices, such as security cameras, require power and can use the Ethernet cable to get it, rather than a separate power cable or a battery. This is where Power over Ethernet systems come into play. Another upgrade feature found on high-end switches, PoE lets you power devices and connect to the internet through the Ethernet cable. Other devices that often work with PoE switches include printers and media streaming devices.
What to look for in a quality Ethernet switch
Speed
The increased speed across devices offered by an Ethernet switch is the primary selling point for most users. Ethernet switches can support cumulative data speeds across devices of either 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbps, which equals 1 Gbps. Today’s vast majority of switches offer what they call “Gigabit” speeds, or speeds up to 1 Gbps. These can still work with lower-speed devices, and they offer faster speeds from one device to the next than if you just use a router.
Ports
The number of ports on an Ethernet switch determines how many wired connections you can use it to make. While most include around five Ethernet ports, you can also find some with just a few ports, or those with nine or more. Make sure any switch you choose has enough ports to support all the devices you want to use simultaneously.
Lights
While they don’t affect functionality on an Ethernet switch, many buyers prefer those with lights that indicate when certain LAN ports are operational, connected or working at full speed. Those without lights can be significantly more confusing to set up, making it harder to know when devices are active — which can be a total pain when troubleshooting issues.
How much you can expect to spend on an Ethernet switch
A cheap Ethernet switch costs as little as $10. However, most midrange switches run $15-$40, while high-end Ethernet switches for use in professional settings cost $50-$500.
Ethernet switch FAQ
Are Ethernet switches secure?
A. On their own, they aren’t particularly secure. However, there are steps you can take to lock your network down from outsiders. These include creating access passwords and implementing a Secure Shell or other encrypting protocols.
Can Ethernet switches be daisy-chained?
A. Yes, so long as you have fewer than three switches daisy-chained, though it isn’t usually recommended. Some do this to create multiple networks alongside each other, using the same switches. However, it’s almost always best to run Ethernet cables separately, using separate switch chains.
What’s the best Ethernet switch to buy?
Top Ethernet switch
TrendNet Five-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Desktop Ethernet Switch
What you need to know: This powerful five-port Ethernet switch comes at a fair price and offers up to 10 Gbps of data traffic across devices.
What you’ll love: This switch features GreenNet power consumption-reducing hardware and a standby mode for when devices aren’t in use. It also includes lights for when activity is detected, and it has a fan-less design for minimal noise.
What you should consider: Some buyers didn’t find this switch durable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Ethernet switch for the money
Tenda Five-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet Switch
What you need to know: This is a simple, affordable switch with activity lights and all the basics you need to distribute data speeds across multiple devices.
What you’ll love: This unmanaged switch works great for household use, offering up to 1,000 Mbps of data transfer speeds. You can also buy this brand in eight- and nine-port varieties.
What you should consider: This switch stopped working after a short period of use for a few buyers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
TP-Link TL-SG105 Five-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet Switch
What you need to know: This five-port gigabit switch is powerful and mountable, offering upgrade functionality at a reasonable price.
What you’ll love: This switch lets users choose between VLAN and Quality of Service functions. It also has shielded ports, automatic traffic optimization and a fan-less design for low noise levels while active.
What you should consider: Some buyers had trouble keeping the power cable in.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Which Wonder Woman jewelry is best?
Looking to channel your inner Wonder Woman? Maybe you want a pair of earrings that show off the heroine’s signature “W” logo or a bracelet that channels her iconic gauntlets? There are great options when it comes to choosing the jewelry for celebrating Diana, Princess of the Amazons, a.k.a. Wonder Woman.
For a ring that can’t be beat, check out the Alari Design Wonder Woman Crown Ring, which has a timeless design that honors the spirit of Wonder Woman.
What to know before you buy Wonder Woman jewelry
Choosing a style era
While some Wonder Woman jewelry universally represents the superhero, it’s helpful to know which incarnation you’re looking to channel. There are stylistic differences between vintage and contemporary designs, particularly when it comes to comparing the original logo from the 1940s DC comic books to popular Wonder Woman toys and the Gal Gadot films of 2017 and 2020.
The first version of Wonder Woman’s logo was a yellow eagle against a red backdrop, though over the years the eagle has evolved into a golden W against several backdrops, including a red one and a gray one.
Replicas and costume-inspired jewelry
Are you looking for jewelry that celebrates Wonder Woman or emulates her? Jewelry that celebrates Wonder Woman features her logo, color scheme or other recognizable flourishes. Jewelry that emulates Wonder Woman is designed to look like jewelry or armor she wear in the comics or films. Such pieces include Wonder Woman’s golden tiara and extra-strong “gauntlets” that serve as matching bracelets on her wrists or forearms.
Fashion jewelry vs. fine jewelry
Fashion jewelry is not made from precious metals and is less expensive, while fine jewelry uses precious metals like gold, silver or platinum. Fine jewelry costs more and is designed to last longer. There’s lot of both kind of Wonder Woman jewelry, so consider which style and price best suits your needs.
What to look for in quality Wonder Woman jewelry
Signature color scheme
An excellent piece of Wonder Woman jewelry pays close attention to detail, and that means working the superhero’s signature colors into the design. Gold, red and blue are the original colors, though silver is sometimes added.
Recognizable symbols
There are several symbols closely associated with the hero, from the logo on her costume to the star in her tiara. When you look at these symbols, you recognize them immediately.
- Eagle: If you’re going for a more vintage look, the original 1941 Wonder Woman logo was an eagle. Since that logo has evolved over the years, however, this is probably the type of design only a die-hard Wonder Woman fan will notice.
- W: The contemporary W logo, based on the eagle design, is the most easily recognized symbol associated with Wonder Woman. You can still see traces of that eagle in the emblem’s wing-like edges.
- Star: A number of Wonder Woman designs feature a red star in the center of her tiara, and the symbol has been incorporated into a lot of jewelry designed to honor her.
- Tiara point: The triangular point of Wonder Woman’s tiara has become popular in ring designs based on the character and is usually accompanied by a star.
Strong materials
Most Wonder Woman jewelry involves metal, and since she is one of the most indestructible comic characters, you’ll want jewelry that lives up to that standard. Quality metals won’t chip or turn green over time. Gold, silver and stainless steel are especially known for their durability. Silver does tarnish, but can be polished. If metal isn’t the primary material, then the cord is made from something reliable like leather, wax or nylon.
How much you can expect to spend on Wonder Woman jewelry
Wonder Woman fashion jewelry costs $10-$40, while fine jewelry with the same theme costs $50-$1,000.
Wonder Woman jewelry FAQ
Which metals tarnish?
A. Brass, copper, aluminum and silver are more likely to tarnish. Gold can tarnish but does so less noticeably. Cobalt and platinum do not tarnish.
What is an alloy metal?
A. An alloy metal is a material that combines at least one metallic base other non-metallic elements. Alloy metals tend to be strong, affordable and resistant to corrosion. Most fine jewelry is made of alloys rather than pure metal, because pure gold and silver are too soft to stand alone.
What’s the best Wonder Woman jewelry to buy?
Top Wonder Woman jewelry
Alari Design Wonder Woman Crown Ring
What you need to know: This tiara-shaped ring is handmade in sterling silver with a deeply cut star engraved at the top.
What you’ll love: It’s well-crafted with a simple but elegant design. It comes in a wide variety of sizes. It can be engraved on the inside or outside for an additional fee and can be made in other metals, such as gold or bronze, upon request.
What you should consider: The thickest portion of the band is a little under half an inch.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
Top Wonder Woman jewelry for the money
Fandom Emporium Design Wonder Woman Charm Necklace Or Anklet
What you need to know: This necklace or ankle bracelet features a dozen colorful charms with iconic Wonder Woman imagery.
What you’ll love: The charms include Wonder Woman’s shield, sword, lasso, gauntlets and more. There are a wide array of necklace and anklet lengths. It’s made of alloy metals that are nickel-free.
What you should consider: It cannot be returned.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
Worth checking out
Alex and Ani Wonder Woman Expandable Bangle Bracelet
What you need to know: This gold-toned bangle bracelet is 2.4 inches in diameter and a little under an inch in width, with the Wonder Woman “W” logo etched across the surface.
What you’ll love: The details are beautiful and pair well with the metal’s golden shine. The cuff style is a fun callback to Diana’s gauntlets and the size is adjustable.
What you should consider: It might be too big for thinner wrists.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Emily Verona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which back massager for knots is best?
Muscle knots always seem to appear in the most difficult locations to reach, with the back being one of the worst. Massaging them away is usually the best solution, but you can’t reach the knots with just your hands. There are a huge variety of tools you can use instead, including guns, chairs and simple balls.
The best back massager for knots is TheraGun Pro Massage Gun. It includes several massage heads for targeting your back and everywhere else, but can be a challenge to use alone.
What to know before you buy a back massager for knots
Back massager types
There are four types of back massagers that can target knots.
- Manual massagers are good for traveling as they require no power source and are usually small to medium in size. They commonly take the form of balls or tubes but can be nearly any shape. For targeting knots, you need to place the massager on the ground or against a wall and press yourself into it in order to feel the benefits.
- Handheld massagers also take a few forms. Many look like showerheads or guns. These models usually have the widest range of features, such as heating and variable vibration strength. Some are easy to target knots on your own, though others may require another pair of hands to target the knot for you.
- Pillow massagers aren’t the best at targeting specific knots — instead, they target a small area of the back and soothe that area.
- Seat massagers come in a wide range of qualities. Some cheap models just vibrate the whole back, while better ones use multiple rolling balls to target your back area of choice, including a specific knot. Many also massage your neck while they’re at it.
Power source
Back massagers are either battery-powered or plug into an outlet.
- Battery-powered massagers are the easiest to operate since they have no cord to deal with. However, the quality of the battery varies greatly. Some can take hours to charge and only operate for 15 minutes, while others chew through disposable batteries. The best use rechargeable batteries that last for at least 30 minutes.
- Outlet-powered massagers don’t ever die in the middle of a session, but if the cord is short or oddly placed, it can be difficult to wield.
What to look for in a quality back massager for knots
Heat
Better back massagers have heat settings to soothe knots away while they’re targeted, with some including variable heat settings.
Timer
Over-massaging a knot is just as bad for it as ignoring it, so some back massagers have programmable timers to prevent such a thing from happening.
Variable vibration
Quality back massagers are able to decrease or increase their vibration power to treat knots of varying sizes and intensities.
How much you can expect to spend on a back massager for knots
Back massagers for knots can cost anywhere from $10-$1,000, and sometimes more. Basic manual massagers typically cost $50 or less, while the average powered massager usually costs $50-$150. The best massagers cost $150-plus.
Back massager for knots FAQ
Should I use a back massager on bare skin or over my clothes?
A. Most back massagers can be used on either bare skin or clothing with minimal changes in effect and operation. That said, it’s always best to wear thin clothing or none at all when using a back massager so your muscles can be better targeted. Some consumers have issues with their clothing causing chafing if they use a back massager. Others find skin-to-massager contact uncomfortable. Experiment to see which is most comfortable for you.
Can I use a back massager after back surgery?
A. Yes, but you need to give your doctor precise details of your back massager and how you intend to use it so they can tell you whether it’s safe. Without your doctor’s approval, never use a back massager after surgery.
Which type of back massager is easiest to aim?
A. Most back massagers are more than capable of targeting any stretch of your back. However, manual massagers can be tricky to properly place, and gun massagers can require someone else to aim it to hit certain spots. Seat massagers are the easiest to use solo, but most cover the whole back or a small zone rather than pinpointing one knot.
What’s the best back massager for knots to buy?
Top back massager for knots
What you need to know: This massager is powerful and treats any knot, not just those in your back.
What you’ll love: It’s among the most powerful massage guns, and it includes six swappable heads designed to target specific areas all over the body. The arm can rotate 90 degrees to more easily target specific areas, and it uses rechargeable batteries that can last for up to five hours.
What you should consider: It’s expensive. Some settings and head combinations are powerful enough to cause damage if used incorrectly. You may need help to treat your back.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Therabody
Top back massager for knots for the money
4Kor Fitness Ultimate Massage Ball
What you need to know: This manual massager is good for working out the occasional knot.
What you’ll love: It’s among the largest massage balls, with a 4.75-inch diameter. It’s made of thermoplastic rubber for durability and has a unique tread pattern to better grip your skin and clothing for increased control, and provide increased deep tissue massage performance.
What you should consider: A few consumers thought the ball was too hard and caused more pain rather than relieving it. It takes some effort to press it into your back.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Snailax Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager with Heat
What you need to know: This seat covers your entire back and neck at once.
What you’ll love: It can be placed into almost any chair to turn it into a massage chair, and it can also be used on couches. It can be set to target either the upper or lower back, entire back or a specific target area.
What you should consider: It’s a little pricey. Shorter people will need to add cushions in order to be positioned properly for full coverage.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Which blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff is best?
If you need to monitor your blood pressure, it’s imperative to have the proper equipment to measure accurately. Not having a cuff that fits appropriately will lead to inaccurate results, which can be life-threatening. Some blood pressure monitors can use extra-large cuffs purchased after the fact, but buying the monitor and cuff together is simpler and more cost-effective.
The best combination is the Life Source Upper-Arm Blood Pressure Monitor With Extra-Large Cuff. It fits biceps up to 23.6 inches in circumference.
What to know before you buy a blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff
Automatic vs. manual
Most blood pressure monitors outside of a doctor’s office are automatic, constricting and taking readings at the touch of a button. This is because it’s surprisingly complex to get an accurate reading using a manual monitor. They take more accurate readings, but it takes significant training and practice for medical staff to be able to use them correctly. Unless you have the training, always choose an automatic monitor.
Cuff size
Most cuffs included with a blood pressure monitor are one-size-fits-all, which is typically too small for those with extra-large arms. Most product descriptions state the circumferences the included cuff is sized for — simply measure your bicep and compare.
Extra-large cuffs usually fit biceps up to 17-18 inches in circumference, though some go as large as 24 inches. If your arm is larger than this , you may need to search harder for specialty medical gear.
What to look for in a quality blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff
Speed
Taking a blood pressure reading can be uncomfortable, which is why searching for one that requires less time is preferred. The best typically need 20 seconds or less to get a reading while the worst can take more than a minute.
Alerts
It can be difficult to understand what all the numbers mean on a blood pressure monitor. That’s why some include alert systems that explicitly tell you if your blood pressure is too high or low. More advanced monitors also check your heartbeat and alert you if they detect an irregular beat. Don’t rely solely on your monitor, though — if it gives you an alert, always double-check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Multi-user
Some blood pressure monitors can save and track the results of more than one user at once.
How much you can expect to spend on a blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff
Basic blood pressure monitors with extra-large cuffs can cost as little as $20-$40, though most cost $50-$80. More feature-rich models can cost $100 or more.
Blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff FAQ
What are the best practices for getting accurate readings?
A. Here’s what to do:
- Read and carefully follow your monitor’s instructions.
- Sit in a backed chair with your feet firmly on the ground and your arms by your side.
- Don’t exercise or consume cigarettes or coffee within 30 minutes of your planned reading.
- Take your readings as close to the same time as possible each day.
- Take three readings one minute apart from the others for an average.
Are at-home blood pressure monitors less reliable than those found in doctors’ offices?
A. It’s difficult to generalize as there are so many blood pressure monitors. The best way to gauge reliability is by comparing a reading from your at-home monitor to a reading taken by your doctor. At-home and doctors’ office monitors both need to be calibrated every few years to ensure they’re still giving accurate results, meaning both have the opportunity to be unreliable.
What’s the best blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff to buy?
Top blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff
Life Source Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor With Extra-Large Cuff
What you need to know: This has one of the largest included cuffs.
What you’ll love: Its cuff fits bicep circumferences of 16.5-23.6 inches and its accuracy has been clinically validated. It can store up to 60 readings and has a five-year warranty on the monitor and a two-year warranty on the cuff.
What you should consider: It doesn’t read and display as many data points as other monitors. Amazon doesn’t allow returns of this monitor, so make sure your arm and the cuff sizes line up.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Staples
Top blood pressure monitor with extra-large cuff for the money
Yuwell Blood Pressure Monitor With Extra-Large Upper Arm Cuff
What you need to know: This is good for those who need to keep a more casual eye on their blood pressure.
What you’ll love: The included cuff fits bicep circumferences of 8.8-17.7 inches. It takes a huge variety of readings and reads them out with an American-accent voice. It can store up to 99 readings and is certified by the Food and Drug Administration.
What you should consider: A few consumers had issues with readings that were higher than they should be, with follow-up readings showing a more accurate result.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is easy to use and packed with data points.
What you’ll love: The included cuff fits bicep circumferences of 8-17 inches. The large LCD screen is backlit for easy reading in any light and it only takes 30 seconds for a reading to be taken. It can also store separate readings for two people.
What you should consider: A few consumers reported readings that were slightly higher than what was accurate. Others had issues with the buttons not responding on occasion.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/medical-supplies-equipment-br/best-blood-pressure-monitor-with-extra-large-cuff/ | 2022-04-13T22:44:07 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/medical-supplies-equipment-br/best-blood-pressure-monitor-with-extra-large-cuff/ |
Which fonio flour is best?
Fonio is the gluten-free super grain native to Africa that you didn’t know you needed. These cultivated grains are related to millet and are a staple of North African cuisine. They come in either white or black varieties. Fonio is prized for its deeply nutritious value and often served at celebratory events. When the whole grain is milled, the resulting flour is an excellent flour substitute for baked goods and savory dishes alike.
On its own, this “seed of the universe” has a mild nutty taste and adds a punch of nutrition to your food. Yolele Fonio Flour has a fine texture and is a great place to start exploring this versatile baking ingredient.
What to know before you buy fonio flour
Intended use
If you want to find a gluten-free flour substitute that is high in protein but works in a variety of applications, fonio is a great choice. For baked goods, make sure that the flour is light and easy to blend. This will help keep textures correct as you substitute it for traditional flours. For thickening, and for cooking that requires less finesse, a coarser blend works well.
Correct substitutions
Fonio flour is heavier than some other traditional gluten-free flour substitutes, such as rice flour or tapioca starch. It works best in place of heavier flours such as wheat or buckwheat.
Keep in mind that the final product of recipes that only use fonio flour may have a denser texture than you are used to.
Nutritional benefits
Fonio flour has a low glycemic index and works in paleo, vegan and keto diet plans. It is high in fiber and protein; this may aid in weight loss as it keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time.
What to look for in quality fonio flour
Non-GMO
The flour you buy should be made from non-GMO grains. This ensures that organic growing and harvesting practices are followed.
Finely milled
The last thing you want is a gritty texture in your exquisite baked goods. Look for flour that is finely milled to reduce grit in the final product.
No fillers
Look for an ingredient list with just one ingredient. Your flour should not include any fillers, binders or other unnecessary ingredients.
How to use fonio flour
- Origin: Seek out products sourced in Africa. Even if the grain is milled in the U.S., this is how you know the flour is authentic and of high quality.
- Measurement: Measure flour with the fluff-scoop-level technique. Use a spoon to fluff it, then scoop it into your measuring cup and use a knife to level.
- Grind it: Consider purchasing whole fonio grains and using a mortar and pestle (or heavy-duty food processor) to make your own fresh flour. This also lets you control its texture — very fine for lighter applications such as pastry, and coarse for muffins or quick bread.
- Cook it: If you want to experiment with the fonio grain itself, cook as you would rice, using a 2-to-1 ratio of water to fonio.
How much you can expect to spend on fonio flour
The harvesting process is labor-intensive, and fonio flour can be expensive. Expect to spend $10-$20 per pound.
Fonio flour FAQ
What is the difference between white and black fonio?
A. White fonio is also known as “hungry rice” across Europe. It is the most common variety found outside of Africa and is often used to efficiently feed populations at risk of starvation.
Black fonio is grown in Benin, Nigeria and Togo, and is less commonly exported to other regions. It has a nutritional profile similar to that of white fonio.
How do you use fonio flour?
A. For people who are avoiding gluten or who simply want to add more nutrition to their diet, fonio flour is a great option. The grain can be used in the same way as you would use quinoa or rice, but the flour is great for thickening soups and sauces. It’s perfect in:
- Breads
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- Muffins
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Smoothies
Substitute fonio for a heavier flour such as wheat or buckwheat when baking, or use a 1-to-1 ratio of fat to fonio flour to create a thickening roux or slurry for soups, stews and sauces.
What’s the best fonio flour to buy?
Top fonio flour
What you need to know: The mild flavor is perfect for those just starting to explore this ancient grain.
What you’ll love: It is fine-milled and has a mild, slightly sweet taste. It’s made from non-GMO fonio harvested in Africa. It has no fillers and is packed with protein, fiber and healthy amino acids. It’s vegan.
What you should consider: For gluten-free baking, adding too much fonio flour can result in very dry baked goods. Be sure to increase hydration accordingly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top fonio flour for the money
Shipetaukin Multipurpose Fonio Flour
What you need to know: This protein-packed flour is mild and light — good for baking, especially.
What you’ll love: It’s non-GMO and free of all fillers or additional ingredients. Each quarter cup has 2 grams of protein. It is sourced in West Africa but packed in the U.S.
What you should consider: Although it is the cheapest option per pound, it’s a hefty price tag to try a new product.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: Adventurous cooks will appreciate the opportunity to try three new flours at once.
What you’ll love: This bundle includes fonio flour, plus cassava and tapioca. Each is made only from their respective grains, and all are kosher, vegan and gluten-free.
What you should consider: If you just want to try fonio, pass this by. But at the price it’s a great way to expand your cooking repertoire.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Comparing lump charcoal and briquettes
One of the most heated debates in all of grilling is whether to use lump charcoal or briquettes. There are die-hard proponents on both sides, which makes sense since each has its benefits and drawbacks. Lump charcoal is carbonized wood without any impurities, which is why purists love it. Briquettes are often made with additives that let them burn longer and more consistently, making them easier for the average home griller.
Lump charcoal
Lump charcoal is wood that has been burned down to its purest form. It goes through a carbonization process called charring where it is burned in a low-oxygen environment to get rid of moisture, sap and other impurities. What’s left is pure carbon, ideal for grilling and barbecuing foods without imparting any unwanted flavors.
Lump charcoal pros
There are many things to like about lump charcoal.
- Quick lighting: It lights easily, without the need for lighter fluid, and burns hot and fast. This makes it perfect for meats you want to cook at very high heats or get a heavy sear on.
- No chemical flavor: The lack of impurities means that it will impart a nice smoky flavor to your foods without giving it any kind of chemical taste. This also results in it burning cleanly and leaving behind minimal ash in your charcoal grill.
- Responds fast: Lump charcoal fires respond quickly to added oxygen, so you can easily control the temperature if your grill has adjustable air vents. (Be careful not to give it too much oxygen, as it can quickly get so hot it burns your food.)
Lump charcoal cons
If you have never cooked with lump charcoal before, it can take some getting used to. It burns much quicker than briquettes, so you’ll need to periodically add more charcoal if cooking food for a long period. It also tends to be more expensive, so it may not be the right choice for those on a tight budget.
Best lump charcoal
Fogo Super Premium Oak Restaurant-Quality Lump Charcoal
This is designed to bridge the gap between the cooking times of lump charcoal and briquettes. It consists of pieces 4 inches or longer, so it burns longer than many other charcoals, yet still lights easily and can reach high temperatures for heavy searing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
Best lump charcoal for the money
Jealous Devil All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
It’s made from dense South American hardwoods so it can burn hotter and longer than many other lump charcoals. This makes it a good choice for both high-temperature searing and low, slow barbecuing. It burns with little popping and sparks and leaves behind only a small amount of ash.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Briquettes
If you go to your neighborhood store and buy the first bag of charcoal you see, more than likely briquettes are what you will get. These small, squarish blocks are what come to mind when most people picture charcoal.
Briquettes are often made from a combination of sawdust and other wood byproducts, compressed together with additives to help them maintain their shape, light easier and burn longer and more consistently. The move to purer forms of fuel has carried over into the briquette world, though, and now you also can find some made from carbonized wood and little else.
Briquette pros
One of the main advantages briquettes offer over lump charcoal is consistency. A company’s briquettes always come in the same shape and size, so you know exactly how long they will burn. This also makes them easy to stack when making your fire.
Briquettes tend to burn longer than lump charcoal, which makes them ideal for large cuts of meat that require low, slow cooking. They also are more affordable.
Briquette cons
There are some downsides to briquettes you should consider before reaching for a bag.
They can be difficult to light without a charcoal chimney or lighter fluid. Because of that, many manufacturers sell some briquettes pre-infused with a chemical that helps them light quicker and easier. It is important to wait until these briquettes are entirely gray before you start cooking your food, or they can impart a noticeably chemical taste.
Their additives mean they don’t burn as cleanly, either. Most leave behind a large pile of ash, so expect more cleanup than when using lump charcoal.
Best briquettes
Kingsford Professional Competition Briquettes
Grill masters know to turn to Kingsford’s competition briquettes when they need fuel that will burn at a consistent temperature for a long time. They are ready to grill on after about 10 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long before you can start cooking, and they are made using one of Kingsford’s lowest-ash formulas.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best briquettes for the money
Royal Oak Natural Organic Premium Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes
This is popular because it is both sustainably sourced and organic, so you can feel good about using it for a couple of reasons. That it’s affordably priced and gives food a nice smoky flavor are just bonuses.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
Should you buy lump charcoal or briquettes
The answer depends entirely on what you feel is most important. If you want the purest smoky flavor from your food and nothing else, and you don’t mind the learning curve that comes along with achieving a consistent fire with lump charcoal, it is probably the right option.
On the other hand, if you want something affordable, consistent, and easy to use, and you don’t mind not being able to create as heavy a sear on your foods, briquettes are the way to go.
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Brett Dvoretz writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/lump-charcoal-vs-briquettes-which-is-better/ | 2022-04-13T22:44:21 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/lump-charcoal-vs-briquettes-which-is-better/ |
Best dog selfie sticks
It’s natural that you want to take selfies with your pup to have a record of the good times you have together, but dogs won’t always play ball — or would rather be playing with balls than posing for a selfie.
If you’re sick of filling your camera roll with endless photos of you with your dog looking the other way or appearing uninterested, you need help. With the right advice, you’ll soon learn how to take the perfect selfie with your dog.
Don’t force your dog to take a selfie with you
You might want to record a nice moment for posterity or get more likes on Instagram, but your dog doesn’t care about any of that. That doesn’t mean you should never take a selfie with your pooch, but don’t force it — stop if they seem stressed out. After all, you want to capture a pleasant memory, not a time when your dog was getting annoyed with you for sticking a phone in their face.
You’ll usually get better results after a play session with their favorite ball or at other times when they’re relaxed, happy and curious, rather than when they’re napping or engaged in something else.
Go to your dog rather than bringing them to you
If your dog gets stressed, impatient or fidgety when you ask them to pose for a selfie, try entering their space instead of bringing them into yours. For instance, if your dog’s standing out in the yard, soaking up some rays, kneel down next to them and get a quick snap of the two of you together. Your dog probably won’t even notice what you’re doing, or you might capture a sweet unstaged moment as your dog greets you.
Use natural lighting for pet selfies
All dogs are beautiful, but the right lighting will make them look just as good in a photo as they do in three dimensions. Natural lighting will capture your dog’s coloring and the texture of their coat better than artificial light, so switch off those overhead lights and position yourself near a window, or head outside.
Turn off the flash
Natural lighting is ideal, but even bright artificial lights are far better than using a flash. Photos generally look better without flashes, which tend to wash out their subjects and cause red eyes. More importantly, a flash can startle dogs and hurt their eyes, so you should always avoid it in pet photography. Make sure you have the flash turned off before you take a photo with your dog.
Consider burst mode when taking selfies with your dog
Dogs are notoriously fidgety when taking photos, so you might press the shutter button at the perfect moment, only for your dog to move right away, leaving your image a blurred mess. You’ll usually get better results by using your phone’s burst mode, which takes multiple photos in quick succession. This way, you should get a good photo even if your dog moves mid-snap.
Avoid distractions for your dog
Let’s face it, dogs are easily distracted. It’s not fair to expect your canine companion to pose patiently for a photo with all kinds of distractions around them. If there are other dogs to greet at the dog park, squirrels to chase or delivery drivers to bark at, let your pup do their thing and choose a different time to take a selfie with them.
Resort to bribery to get the perfect selfie with your dog
There’s no shame in bribing your dog to take a selfie with you. A liberal dose of treats sweetens the deal for most dogs. Small training treats, such as Zuke’s Mini Naturals, are ideal because you can ply your pup with lots of them without adding too many extra calories to their diet.
Use treats to encourage your dog to sit and wait, take a selfie or two, then give them another treat as a reward for sitting still. If you have someone else with you, ask them to hold a treat just beyond the camera to keep your dog’s attention while you snap a selfie.
If your dog isn’t food motivated, you can reward them with a play session instead. For example, if they know they’ll get to play with their favorite tug toy after a selfie session, it will build positive associations so your dog will eventually look forward to selfie time.
Use a dog selfie stick
Think about using a dog selfie stick to capture the perfect picture of your pup. These devices aren’t really selfie sticks, as such — you could more accurately describe them as selfie tools.
You clip them on top of your phone and they can hold treats or toys, or have built-in toys. This captures your dog’s attention while you get a selfie — the perfect solution if your dog is usually staring off to one side or looking at the floor in selfies, rather than looking even remotely in the direction of the camera.
Best dog selfie sticks
Get your dog’s attention with a squeaking tennis ball for a happy, engaged face in every shot.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Fred Howligans Woofie Pet Selfie Tool
One end of this tool attaches to the top of your phone while the other holds a treat of your choice — the perfect way to get the attention of a food-motivated dog.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Consisting of a flexible arm with a clip on the end to hold a favorite treat or toy, it easily helps you get a decent selfie with your pup.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which squat rack is best?
A squat rack is the single-most effective piece of fitness equipment for building strength and muscle. Whether you’re new to lifting weights or looking to take your workouts to the next level, a squat rack can dramatically alter your routine by enabling a huge variety of exercises.
This bedrock piece of equipment is a big commitment. So choosing the right one for your home or gym depends on available space and your fitness goals. In general, the best squat rack for home-gym users is the Fitness Gear Pro Half Rack.
What to know before you buy a squat rack
What a squat rack is
Squat racks are metal stands designed to support the weight of a fully loaded barbell. They’re used to perform a number of Olympic weightlifting exercises, from squats to presses. While bare-bones models feature a single two-pronged stand on which you rest a barbell, more elaborate squat racks include safety pins, weight-storage pins and pull-up bars.
Exercises you can perform using a squat rack
Primarily used to perform their namesake compound movement, a squat rack’s simplicity can be used for numerous Olympic lifts and isolation exercises. With a rack alone, you can perform overhead presses, bent-over rows, front and back squats, lunges, curls and shoulder shrugs.
With the addition of an adjustable bench, users can bench press in the neutral, incline or decline position. And if you have the right floor or pads, a squat rack can be used for deadlifts, Pendlay rows and other floor-based exercises.
Olympic vs. standard weights
Squat racks are designed to hold Olympic barbells and weights. An Olympic barbell is about 45 pounds, 7.2 feet in length and 1 inch in diameter with 2-inch diameter end sleeves. Olympic weights are divided into 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 pounds. Each plate has a 2-inch diameter hole.
Contrary to their name, standard weights and barbells are not standardized. Barbells can vary dramatically in length and diameter and are usually not compatible with Olympic racks. Likewise, the weights’ increments, materials and sizes depend on the manufacturer. The only consistent factor is that they usually have a 1-inch diameter hole, which makes them too small for Olympic barbell sleeves.
Squat rack vs. power rack
These days, squat racks have dramatically improved upon the simple two-pronged stand. This makes them similar to power racks, which are metal cages used to perform the same lifts. Because of this, the only real advantage of a power rack is enhanced safety thanks to their structural rigidity.
What to look for in a quality squat rack
Design
- Squat stand: This is the simplest design. It has two vertical bars supported by horizontal bracing so you can rest a loaded barbell. They might not come with safety pins to catch the bar if you fail a lift. These take up the least space.
- Half rack: These are half of a power rack, so they’re a little sturdier than a stand, and bigger. They also usually come with safety pins and weight-storage pins, and their height allows for a built-in pull-up bar.
- Standard squat rack: These take up the most space. They have two static safety bars at about hip height that connect to an angled, triangular cage with numerous fixed barbell holders. These racks are the least likely to tip, and usually come with plenty of weight storage capacity. Their only downside is their lack of adjustability.
- Combo rack: Often sold by brands with standard-weight sets, these are designed to maximize exercise potential. In addition to vertical bars, they can feature safety bars, benches, pull-down and leg supports. If you’re a purist, combo racks can prove unwieldy and obstructive when trying to perfect form.
Size
Squat racks take up a lot of room. If you’re outfitting your home gym, you need to take the rack’s entire footprint into account. A squat stand is the safest bet, but depending floor space and ceiling height, you might be able to get away with a standard squat rack or half rack.
In addition to space, commercial and brick-and-mortar gyms should focus on the fitness ecosystem. Half racks and squat racks are the best choices, as each type has significant weight-storage capacity to support other pieces of equipment throughout the gym.
Weight limit
Verify its loaded capacity before purchasing a squat rack. Most can hold 400-600 pounds, including the barbell. For novice and intermediate home gym users, this should be more than enough for years of incremental progress. Advanced lifters and gym owners should look to half racks, or even power racks, which hold more weight (often up to 1,000 pounds).
How much you can expect to spend on a squat rack
Squat racks represent a significant investment. Simple stands cost between $150-$250, and a standard rack or half rack can cost as much as $300-$1,000.
Squat rack FAQ
What fitness routines use a squat rack?
A. Squat racks fit into just about any fitness regimen. They’re especially popular among power lifters who use them for hypertrophy or strength-training exercises. A squat rack can also be used for CrossFit, bodybuilding or high-intensity interval training.
Do squat racks come with barbells and weights?
A. Most racks require you to purchase the barbell and weights separately.
What’s the best squat rack to buy?
Top squat rack
What you need to know: With its small footprint, this sturdy half rack is great for home gyms without a lot of space.
What you’ll love: Weightlifters of all levels can get a lot of use out of this rack’s 600-pound capacity. Its safety pin and barbell holders are adjustable, and the top cross bar features separate grips for chin- and pull-ups. You also have ample weight plate storage potential with three posts on either side that can hold 180 pounds each.
What you should consider: Its feet don’t have any knobs for resistance bands.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Top squat rack for the money
What you need to know: This squat stand covers all of the basics for home users on a budget.
What you’ll love: The rack has a condensed design, so it’s easy to tuck into a cramped room. You get an angled multi-grip pull-up bar at the top, anchor points for resistance bands and two storage posts for weights.
What you should consider: This isn’t the best rack for heavy lifters, as it can only hold 300 pounds and the safety pins are on the shorter side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Sunny Health and Fitness Power Zone Half Rack Heavy-Duty Performance Power Cage
What you need to know: This fully loaded half rack has something to target every muscle group.
What you’ll love: With a whopping 1,000-pound weight limit, it’s tough to max this rack out. Not only does it come with three adjustable pull-up bars, but also resistance-band knobs at the bottom for warmups and isometric exercises. Both the barbell holder and safety pins are fully adjustable, and this rack can be paired with a number of accessories to maximize your workout options.
What you should consider: It’s bulky and poorly suited for low ceilings.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which are best: trail running shoes or hiking boots?
There are plenty of ways to stay active and improve your cardiovascular health. Some people prefer to hit the trails for either a leisurely walk in the woods, while others like to pick up the pace and run along the trail. Both of these activities can improve your health, and they get you out into nature, which has its own benefits.
But if you’re looking to be more active on hiking trails, you need to find what type of shoe is right for your particular adventure. Trail running shoes have a tread level appropriate enough to grip more than just a paved road. Hiking boots, however, offer a thicker, more durable support and are often waterproof.
Trail running shoes
Trail running shoes are low-top shoes used for running longer distances with sudden elevation level changes. They grip well on uneven and winding running trails in the wilderness. These shoes allow you to focus on the cardio aspect of trail running. Several shoe companies make models that fit both men and women comfortably.
Trail running shoes pros
Trail running shoes have excellent traction and are very comfortable. They keep your feet firmly gripped to the trail, no matter the terrain. These shoes also offer some arch support and fit just below the ankle to provide full range of motion. You can run confidently on sidewalks, streets or gravel trails in this style of shoe.
Trail running shoes cons
These shoes are meant for running on well-maintained hiking trails, so if you intend to go off-road, you will want something different. And while they are weather-resistant, very few are waterproof. Furthermore, if you run somewhere with tall grass or other high foliage, grass and leaves can get into your shoes easily due to the low-top style.
Best trail running shoes
These trail running shoes are perfect for women who need an all-terrain grip. They have rubber soles and are weather-resistant.
Sold by Amazon
This model is ideal for those who like running on all kinds of terrain. You can move comfortably across streets or trails in these lightweight, cushioned shoes.
Sold by Amazon
Saucony Versafoam Excursion Tr13
These have a triangular-lugged outsole to provide traction that you need on various terrains. They have a cushioned sole that allows you to run comfortably for short and long distances.
Sold by Amazon
Hiking boots
Hiking boots are designed to be sturdy, durable and maintain plenty of traction on the hiking trail. They have additional support in the heel and ankle to keep you steady. There are several hiking boots models for men and women that allow you to move throughout various environments with ease. Hiking boots tend to have a bit more support and coverage, specifically due to the mid- to high-tops that cover your ankle bone and keep debris out of the boot. These features protect your feet and help prevent injury both on and off the trail.
Hiking boots pros
The benefit of using hiking boots is that they provide a lot of protection for your feet. With these boots, you can walk through puddles, snow, mud and even venture a bit off-trail. They come up high enough on the foot and ankle to keep out grass, dirt and small rocks. Hiking boots are also typically waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about wet socks and potential blisters if it starts to rain on your hike.
Hiking boots cons
This style of boot is very heavy-duty. And they may weigh too much if you are just going on a level park trail or walking on paved roads. Furthermore, since they are not running shoes, they do not allow you the same kind of full-range mobility that low-top shoes provide.
Best hiking boots
Keen Women’s Voyageur Mid Hiking Boot
These shoes feature a sturdy design and use mesh and leather to keep your feet dry. They work well in all kinds of terrain, including mud, rocks and uneven surfaces.
Sold by Amazon
These hiking boots have synthetic soles and can be used both on and off the trails. Many users reported these had excellent arch support, too.
Sold by Amazon
Keen Men’s Targhee II Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
These are comfortable to wear for long-distance hikes, and some users have said that they helped with foot pain. They are durable and useful for all terrains.
Sold by Amazon
Columbia Men’s Redmond Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
These hiking shoes use Omni-grip technology, which holds great traction on any surface. You can wear them in rocky, rough conditions or on a clear-cut path.
Sold by Amazon
Should you get trail running shoes or hiking boots?
It depends on how active you plan to be. If you want to run for long distances on designated trails, you will get the most use out of trail running shoes. However, if you want to start hiking in the woods or in the mud, you will need hiking boots. They are both useful for their own particular adventure.
If you are trying to decide between hiking or trail running, consider your current fitness and wellness level as well as your goals. Both hiking and trail running are great for your health, but trail running requires a bit more agility and coordination. If you want to get into nature and hike, moving at a slower pace through the woods might be a better match. Either way, both shoe styles can provide you with the right amount of grip and support that you’ll need on the trail.
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Erica Redding writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/footwear-br/trail-running-shoes-vs-hiking-boots/ | 2022-04-13T22:44:43 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/footwear-br/trail-running-shoes-vs-hiking-boots/ |
Which Funko Pop bobblehead is best?
Funko Pop has thousands of figurines to collect and display, not to mention a handful of different types of figurines. The most playful type is a Funko Pop bobblehead. The little ones are perfect for adding to your desk for a little lighthearted fun, while the big ones can be an entertaining centerpiece.
The best Funko Pop bobblehead is Funko Pop Marvel: Dancing Groot Bobblehead. Put on some music and give this bobblehead a tap to relive the famous “Guardians of the Galaxy” post-credits scene.
What to know before you buy a Funko Pop bobblehead
Funko Pop bobblehead types
Funko Pop bobbleheads come in a few forms and sizes.
- Standard bobbleheads are similar to Funko’s vinyl figurines, being that they’re roughly 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide, save for their necks being attached to the spring that lets them bobble.
- Oversized bobbleheads are just that — oversized. Most are somewhere from 6-10 inches tall and have varying widths.
- Deluxe bobbleheads are large, extravagant pieces. They take a character and pair it with something connected to them that they often sit on or stand beside.
- Ride bobbleheads are halfway between a standard and a deluxe Pop. They’re typically the same size as standards but are depicted riding something rather than having the bobble be paired to a body.
Source material
If the source material you’re passionate about is even slightly known to pop culture, it’s likely that Funko has made a bobblehead of it. Major pop culture properties from Disney like Marvel and “Star Wars” are common, as are figurines from many popular TV shows, including “Game of Thrones” and “The Office.”
What to look for in a quality Funko Pop bobblehead
Boxed vs. unboxed
Funko Pop bobbleheads are packaged in boxes bearing the character’s name, the source that they come from, authenticating information and the mold they come from. Whether you remove them or keep them in the box has a huge bearing on several factors.
- Boxed bobbleheads are more valuable to collectors and resellers. The box preserves the condition of the bobblehead and proves it’s an authentic Funko Pop. Always purchase an authenticated boxed bobblehead if you want to ensure it’s a quality purchase.
- Unboxed bobbleheads are less valuable, but they’re more enjoyable to enthusiasts who just like the character. The head can be bobbled, it’s easier to display, kids can play with them, etc. If an unboxed bobblehead is purchased from a secondary market, it may be noticeably inauthentic and low-quality.
Chase variants
Some Funko Pop bobbleheads have rare chase variants that are more valuable than the base bobblehead. These variations are often minimal, but you can’t specifically order them. They only have a small chance of inclusion when purchasing the original model online.
How much you can expect to spend on a Funko Pop bobblehead
Basic Funko Pop bobbleheads cost just over $11. Most cost $15-$30, with some of the larger or harder-to-find bobbleheads costing more. Secondary market bobbleheads can cost hundreds.
Funko Pop bobblehead FAQ
How should I clean a Funko Pop bobblehead?
A. This depends on whether or not it’s still in the box. Boxed Funko Pop bobbleheads only require a brief dusting at least once a month to stay clean. Unboxed bobbleheads also require dusting, but it must be as gentle a dusting as possible. Being too rough can damage the springs responsible for the bobble, making the head lie skewed to the side rather than remaining upright.
What’s the best method for tracking my Funko Pop bobblehead collection?
A. There are dozens of methods for tracking your Funko Pop collection, bobbleheads and all, from digital trackers online to manually updating a spreadsheet. The official Funko app is one of the better online trackers, but if you’re serious about collecting, it’s worth experimenting until you find an organizational system that works best for you.
What do the numbers on the top right of the box mean?
A. The number relates to the order in which a given Funko Pop in a specific line was produced. For example, in the Marvel line of Funko Pops, there have been hundreds of rounds of productions, with any number of Pops produced in each round. So, an upper right number of 11 means that Pop was part of the eleventh round of Pops produced in the Marvel line.
What’s the best Funko Pop bobblehead to buy?
Top Funko Pop bobblehead
Funko Pop Marvel: Dancing Groot Bobblehead
What you need to know: This is a cute bobblehead for Marvel fans and plant lovers.
What you’ll love: Marvel fans will love being able to bob along with this bobblehead for a fun and stress-relieving break from work and other hassles. The top of Dancing Groot has just enough space to be converted into a miniature planter.
What you should consider: A few consumers were unhappy with the stability of the base, reporting it to be too top-heavy to always safely bobble.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Funko Pop bobblehead for the money
Funko Pop Marvel: Deadpool as Bob Ross
What you need to know: This is a clever pop culture intersection as a bobblehead.
What you’ll love: The figurine is stable and balanced, making it easy to tap the bobblehead without knocking it over. The Deadpool and Bob Ross combination is perfect for Marvel fans, especially for Marvel historians looking to remember one of the original “Deadpool” film’s best ad spots.
What you should consider: A few consumers received damaged boxes, which is devaluating for collectors.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Funko Pop Deluxe Mandalorian: The Mandalorian & The Child on Bantha
What you need to know: This is an excellent centerpiece for “Star Wars” fans.
What you’ll love: This is among the more detailed Funko bobbleheads available — the fur of the bantha, the armor details of the Mandalorian and the cute Grogu attached to the back. The Tatooine sand base is stable enough to tap the bobblehead without risking it tipping over.
What you should consider: It takes up a large amount of space, both in-box and out. There are some rare reports of missing jetpacks on the Mandalorian.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-funko-pop-bobblehead/ | 2022-04-13T22:44:51 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-funko-pop-bobblehead/ |
Which Kevin Minion toy is best?
“Despicable Me” was a hit when it came out, due partially to the adorable Minion characters, and the Minions are still popular, thanks to the movie’s sequels and spinoffs. Kevin is the tall Minion with two eyes and many people’s favorite character.
If you or your kid want a Kevin Minion toy, you can’t go wrong with the Just Play 15-Inch Plush Kung Fu Kevin, which is decked out in goggles, gloves and a yellow jumpsuit.
What to know before you buy a Kevin Minion toy
Types of Kevin Minion toys
- Plush: These are popular display items, and their smooth material makes them fun to squeeze and cuddle. Sometimes, they play sounds or music when you press them. Although they’re soft, Minion plush toys often feature plastic goggles.
- Action figure: These may have movable arms and legs. Most feature one of the many wacky props they use in the movies, such as the fart gun, freeze ray or a banana.
- Collectible: These are used as display pieces and don’t have movable arms and legs. Funko Pops are the most popular Minion collectibles.
Age recommendations
The recommended age range for Minion plush toys is 3 and up, as they don’t contain small pieces or sharp edges. Although the plastic goggles may eventually fall off, they don’t pose a choking hazard. Small action figures are best suited for children 5 and older.
Batteries
Most Minion toys don’t require batteries, though they may be included with those that require them for operation. Many interactive toys require AA batteries and eventually require replacements. Small action figures require LR44 batteries.
Kevin’s personality
In the “Minions” spinoff movie, Kevin is the leader of the trio. He loves to tease other Minions and is frequently seen in golf attire. He isn’t known for being particularly smart. Like all Minions, Kevin lives to find a master to serve.
Kevin Minion toy size
Kevin toys come in a variety of sizes. Many Kevin plush toys are 7-12 inches tall, while some are up to 20 inches tall. Kevin action figures are 4-6 inches tall. Some toy sets include numerous tiny Minions less than 1 inch tall.
Ease of cleaning
Kids get their toys dirty if they play with them daily. You can clean action figures and collectibles with a damp washcloth or moist towelette. You can use the washer and dryer for many plush toys, but you should use the cold and light settings. Still, it’s usually best to use a damp washcloth and spot clean plush toys.
What to look for in a quality Kevin Minion toy
Accurate design
The Minions have a specific style. Officially licensed toys are usually the best designed. Still, several third-party manufacturers produce great toys. Quality Minion toys capture the personality of the character.
Features
The Minions have numerous gadgets they use, many of which come with the toys. Toys with gadgets that light up, make sound effects and fire projectiles are ideal. Some Minion toys include interactive expressions or remote-controlled roller skates. Several Minion toys, such as the Action Assortment figures, interact with each other.
Outfits
Although Kevin’s classic overalls are great, he’s known for wearing numerous costumes in the movies. Kevin’s yellow kung fu outfit is a popular choice. Many Kevin toys show him wearing pilot’s outfits, golfer outfits and more.
Durability
Durability is essential when buying plush toys. Cheaply made plush toys can rip, and the material they’re stuffed with may pose a choking hazard. Children are rough on action figures, so you’ll want a sturdy toy with arms and legs that won’t break off easily.
How much you can expect to spend on a Kevin Minion toy
Most Kevin Minion toys cost $10-$20.
Kevin Minion toy FAQ
Is Kevin the most popular Minion?
A. Kevin, Stuart and Bob are the three most recognizable Minions. Kevin’s leadership role in the spinoff movie made him quite popular.
What language do the Minions speak?
A. The Minions’ language is a mixture of English, Spanish, French, gibberish and food references.
How do you know if a Minion toy is durable?
A. In many cases, the materials aren’t listed in the product description. The best way to determine a toy’s durability is by reading product reviews.
What’s the best Kevin Minion toy to buy?
Top Kevin Minion toy
Just Play 15-Inch Plush Kung Fu Kevin
What you need to know: This plush showcases Kevin in one of his most popular costumes.
What you’ll love: It stands nearly 16 inches tall and is soft but durable. The arms are posable. The hard plastic goggles are securely attached to the plush material.
What you should consider: The goggles make it top-heavy.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Kevin Minion toy for the money
Minions: Rise of Gru Kevin Action Figure
What you need to know: This action figure features a flamethrower that fires pretend flames at the press of a button.
What you’ll love: It’s compatible with numerous other figures, including the Wild Rider RC vehicle. The welding mask is removable. It features posable arms.
What you should consider: The legs don’t move.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Just Play Minions: The Rise of Gru Small Plush Pilot Kevin
What you need to know: This plush dresses Kevin in his captain’s jacket and cap.
What you’ll love: The plush stands 9 inches tall. The embroidered eyes and mouth look excellent. It’s soft and durable.
What you should consider: The uniform isn’t as cuddly as the rest of the toy.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-kevin-minion-toy/ | 2022-04-13T22:44:58 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-kevin-minion-toy/ |
Best kids kneepads for skating
Skating is a rough-and-tumble activity. And beginners are prone to lots of spills. One way to ensure your child is safe tearing it up on the asphalt is with the proper protective gear. This means pads — especially kneepads. Not only do they protect sensitive bones and joints, but they also inspire the confidence necessary to improve as a skater.
Which kneepads you choose depends on your child’s age and ability. There are plenty of cool designs to excite all ages to skate safely.
Skating with kneepads
Purpose of kneepads
Kneepads are pieces of safety equipment designed to slide over or strap around each knee. Used for a number of extreme sports, they protect the vulnerable ligaments and bones in your knees from strain and impact.
Types of skating that require kneepads
Wheeled action sports involve lots of falls, especially if you’re learning tricks. Skateboarding is one of the world’s most popular action sports, but if your child instead loves roller skating or blading, they should also wear pads. Likewise, any kid who enjoys longboarding or just cruising around should have them, too. Impacts while falling are a given, but longboarding and cruising can lead to wicked road rash that kneepads can prevent.
Other protective gear
While kneepads are crucial, a safe skater should also have the following:
- Elbow pads: These work like kneepads, protecting your arm’s major ligaments and bones from strain and impact.
- Wrist pads: When falling our instincts tell us to catch ourselves with our hands. But by stiffening our wrists, we risk breaking a number of bones. Wrist pads provide a protective, supportive barrier to this sensitive area by covering the palms and preventing flexion. They not only protect against broken hand bones and wrists, but also nasty scrapes.
- Helmet: A helmet is the number-one piece of safety equipment to protect against head trauma. Look for a helmet with a multi-directional impact protection system. These are some of the safest helmets out there.
Choosing the right kneepads
A good pair of kneepads fits comfortably without restraining your child’s range of motion. To get the sizing right, it should account for their weight and leg size.
Overall size
Kneepads use alpha sizing, which corresponds to the wearer’s weight.
- Small: Under 125 pounds.
- Medium: 125-150 pounds
- Large: 150-180 pounds
- Extra-large: Over 180 pounds
You’ll also find pads sized according to the “child, youth and adult” spectrum. Child sizes typically fit age 5 and under, youth 5-10 and adult 10 and up.
Center circumference
This measures the diameter of your child’s leg from the center of their kneecap. To get the center circumference accurately, try using a soft tape measure or a piece of string you can mark and measure when laid flat.
- Junior: Universal sizing for under 12 inches
- Small: 12-14 inches
- Medium: 14-16 inches
- Large: 15-17 inches
- Extra-large: 17-20 inches
Hard vs. soft shell
Choosing between a hard- and soft-shell kneepad depends on the level of protection you’re after. While soft-shell pads are more comfortable, they won’t provide enough protection in case of a big fall.
For kid skaters, hard-shell pads are your best bet. These are reinforced with foam padding to provide superior protection against big impacts and abrasion. They can be a little bulky, so make sure you size right. Opt for straps so you can adjust them easily and wear them over clothing.
Best kneepads for kid skaters
Best kneepads for young kids
BoneShieldz Youth Cruiser 3000 Multi-Sport Protective Set
This complete set of pads has your little skater covered from wrists to elbows to knees. With black sleeves, metallic gray hard shells and red accents, your kid will feel like a superhero rocking their matching set. The adjustable straps and lightweight design help with comfort and breathability. These are also available in pink for toddlers with discerning taste.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Available in a fun array of colors, this complete set of pads is sized for little ones but is cool enough for big kids who love to shred. These plastic hard-shell pads are padded with airy foam and secured with comfortable elastic straps, making them great for long rides.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best kneepads for youth
Bosoner Kids/Youth Protective Gear Set
Bosoner upgrades their kids pads for youth users who take bigger and harder falls. This full set of heavy-duty hard-shell pads provide ample coverage over sensitive areas with a shock-absorbing design that distributes impact forces away from the center cap. You have your choice of seven colors.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
DBX Youth Inline Protective Set
This full set of pads is designed to cover your kid’s knees and elbows above and below the olecranon and patella. They come in a sleek black design with foam padding and a mesh layer to wick moisture. They’re great for older youth skaters who want to upgrade to more serious, adult-like pads.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Best kneepads for teens
Gonex Skateboard Protective Gear Set
This full set of pads should fit most teens. You have your choice between all-black and pink-and-black pads. The studded hard-shell design is particularly adept at absorbing big falls when skating vert ramps. You can wear them as a sleeve for extra support, or strapped over clothing for maximum comfort.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
JBM Adult/Child Kneepads Elbow Pads Wrist Guards 3 In 1 Protective Gear Set
This set comes in five mature yet trendy colorways for older skaters who want the protection of an adult set but don’t want to settle for plain old black. Though they only come in two sizes, they’re adjustable for comfort, and the large shell bubbles not only provide ample room to grow, but can also take a beating. Most teens and tweens fit in the adult size.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/which-kneepads-are-best-for-kid-skaters/ | 2022-04-13T22:45:05 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/which-kneepads-are-best-for-kid-skaters/ |
Civics class, community service for voting fraud suspects
THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — Two men from a sprawling retirement community in Florida will have to enter a pretrial intervention program, perform community service and attend adult civics classes in exchange for deferred prosecutions on their charges of voting more than once in the 2020 election.
Charles Barnes and Jay Ketcik, both from The Villages area, must perform 50 hours of community service each and get a grade of C or better in the adults civics class, according to court records filed last week.
In exchange, State Attorney William Gladson will defer prosecuting them on charges of casting more than one ballot in an election.
The men were among four people from the Republican stronghold of The Villages retirement community arrested late last year and early this year on voter fraud charges.
During the last legislative session, Republican lawmakers passed an election police bill pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate, who justified its need by citing unspecified cases of fraud. DeSantis echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen from him.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ | 2022-04-13T22:46:08 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ |
Toyota recalls 460,000 vehicles for stability control glitch
Published: Apr. 13, 2022 at 4:25 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 460,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a software problem that can inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system.
The automaker says that when the vehicles are restarted, the software in rare cases may not automatically switch the system into the “on” mode. That can disable the system.
The recall covers 2020 to 2022 models including the Toyota brand’s Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid. Also included are the LS500h, LX600, NX350h, and NX450h-plus from the Lexus luxury brand.
Dealers will update software on the skid control computer to fix the problem.
Owners will be notified by mid-June.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ | 2022-04-13T22:46:15 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ |
‘You don’t want this feeling’: 3-year-old killed by stray bullet while lying in bed
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - Devin Page Jr. had just started preschool, loved playing with his siblings and loved his family.
“He was a great, a very smart, intelligent 3-year-old. He was always happy, you know he loved the dance, he loves school, he loves green, he loves trucks, he loves everything,” his mother, Tye Toliver, told WAFB.
On Tuesday night, bullets flew through his window and killed him in his sleep.
“Until it happens to you, until the gun is shot at your house, you know, until the bullets come through your window, you don’t get involved. You have nothing to say,” his grandmother, Cathy Toliver, said. “But you don’t want this feeling that we have right now. You don’t want the feeling of knowing that you’ll never see your grandbaby or your son again. You don’t want that feeling.”
The family said they tried to leave their house after hearing gunshots nearby several nights in a row.
“After the first couple of weeks I was trying to move out because of the neighbors because of the drama, it was always fighting. they were shooting at each other with guns,” Tye Toliver said.
But the mother was told she would have to pay thousands to move.
“I try to stick it out, now that I stick it out, this is the outcome of what happened - my son got killed,” Tye Toliver said.
Neighbors said this street was not always like this.
“When I hear these shootings, I roll over on the floor and get down on the floor, scared to death,” neighbor Hattie Scales said.
The people who live on the street want the violence to stop.
“I want something to be done. I want the killers firsthand, I want justice for my son,” Tye Toliver said.
“It’s the only way we’re going to find strength right now is by the grace of God and with family and friends. you’ve got to keep hope alive and we are going to continue to fight for our grandson,” Cathy Toliver said.
A memorial balloon release will be held at Sherwood Park on North Sherwood Forest Drive Saturday, April 16 at 3 p.m.
The family has also set up a GoFundMe to cover his funeral expenses. You can donate to it by clicking here.
Copyright 2022 WAFB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/you-dont-want-this-feeling-3-year-old-killed-by-stray-bullet-while-lying-bed/ | 2022-04-13T22:46:21 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/13/you-dont-want-this-feeling-3-year-old-killed-by-stray-bullet-while-lying-bed/ |
A first look inside Space Perspective's plans for a floating space lounge experience
The so-called "King of Miami" hospitality is taking his talents to new heights and giving a whole new meaning to flying first-class.
"In my industry, it is all about touching points. This gives a new ‘touching point’ to capture that guest," said Groot Hospitality CEO Dave Grutman.
Grutman is an entrepreneur known for being part of Miami’s hottest nightlife and restaurants. Now, he’s designing a new spot billed as the world's first space lounge..
"We are part of the design for the culinary, the way the service is going to happen, the sequence of service, the atmosphere, the vibe, the energy…but it is space, and I am definitely not getting into the capsule design that is for sure," Grutman said.
Grutman has signed with Space Perspective, a tourism company, to serve as their "experience curator."
A rendering of what Space Perspective's lounge could look like. Photo via Space Perspective.
His vision? He wants to create a luxury balloon ride that will serve Neptune-themed drinks at the edge of space. Grutman said the entire capsule will be designed for comfort with reclining seats, LED lighting, and a view unlike anything on Earth.
"It is not just going into a space experience, it's when you splashdown in the ocean and the yacht that picks you up … what that experience is going to be like," Grutman said.
Space Perspective said flights are not expected to start until 2024. It's not inexpensive; flights start at $125,000 a person, and apparently, 600 tickets have already been booked.
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"You know, listen, I see a lot of opportunities. This one when it came across my desk I said, this is something we have to do," Grutman said. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/a-first-look-inside-space-perspectives-plans-for-a-floating-space-lounge-experience | 2022-04-13T22:47:25 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/a-first-look-inside-space-perspectives-plans-for-a-floating-space-lounge-experience |
A 35-year old New York City man is facing a tax fraud and other charges after he was arrested for operating an illegal Bitcoin ATM business that he marketed towards individuals engaged in criminal activity, according to the district attorney's office.
Alvin L. Bragg, district attorney for New York City, announced the indictment presented against Robert Taylor on Wednesday.
Taylor, according to prosecutors, operated Bitcoin kiosks in at least 46 locations in New York City, mostly in laundromats, as well as locations in New Jersey and Miami.
Allegedly, between 2017 and 2018, he converted more than $5.6 million of his customers’ cash into Bitcoin while charging a fee of between 10% and 20% for the promise of anonymity. Court documents say that unlike licensed Bitcoin ATMs and cryptocurrency exchanges, Taylor's kiosks did not require customers to provide any identification or other “know your customer” information before making deposits.
According to court documents, Taylor advertised on his social media account the aspect of anonymity of his machines, at one point telling a customer “we never ask for ID or have a camera that takes a pic of your face.”
Furthermore, it is alleged that customers were discouraged from using other bitcoin companies unless “you like having your ID and pic taken.” According to court documents, when one customer complained about his high fees, Taylor replied on social media, “Bro we gotta maintain everyone’s privacy. It’s worth the money.”
Surveillance records gathered during the investigation allegedly revealed that Taylor's business attracted individuals involved in criminal activity, including drug sales and credit card theft.
News
Search warrants executed at Taylor's Manhattan penthouse and more than 20 locations that housed his kiosks allegedly resulted in the recovery of $250,000 in cash from his apartment, as well as $44,000 in cash from the kiosks.
Court documents said that forensic analysis of the kiosks showed that $5.6 million in cash was deposited into them between September 2017 and November 2018, generating more than $590,000 in fees, from which about $160,000 were deposited into Taylor's personal bank accounts. However, Taylor only claimed income of about $3,000 on his 2017 tax returns, and a loss of $140,000 on his 2018 tax returns.
Additionally, according to court documents cited by prosecutors, Taylor and his businesses did not have a money transmission license from the New York State Department of Financial Services or the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or a virtual currency business license from DFS. According to DFS regulations, anyone operating a Bitcoin kiosk business must have a license.
Taylor is charged with multiple counts of operating an unlicensed money transmission business, criminal tax fraud in the third degree, and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.
Attorney information for Taylor was not immediately known. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-man-indicted-in-citywide-illegal-bitcoin-atm-operation-da/3645061/ | 2022-04-13T22:47:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-man-indicted-in-citywide-illegal-bitcoin-atm-operation-da/3645061/ |
Can you bring a gun through airport security? TSA again finding more guns at Florida airports
ORLANDO, Fla. - Nearly 200 guns have been confiscated at airport security checkpoints in Florida so far this year, according to the Transportation Security Administration, and most have been found at Orlando International Airport, Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Tampa International.
According to TSA rules, guns are not allowed in carry-on luggage. Guns can be included in checked luggage, but have to be "properly packed and declared at check-in," which means unloaded and locked in a hard case.
TSA said it has seen an increase in people attempting to bring unloaded and loaded guns in their carry-on luggage.
"Whether or not they had nefarious intent, accidents happen and tragedies could result," said TSA spokesperson Sari Koshetz in a written statement.
Last Friday, a man tried to bring a Taurus 9mm gun loaded with a dozen rounds through Orlando International, TSA said. Days later, a man allegedly tried to bring a Beretta through Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Of the 200 guns confiscated in Florida, 40 were found at Orlando International, 36 at Ft. Lauderdale, 26 at Tampa, and 17 at Jacksonville International.
TSA said Orlando, Tampa, and Ft. Lauderdale airports are typically in the top 10 or 11 airports where passengers attempt to bring guns through.
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Penalties can include fines of up to $13,910 regardless if someone is arrested or not, TSA said. Passengers could also lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they're part of that program. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/can-you-bring-a-gun-through-airport-security-tsa-issues-warning-for-travelers-at-florida-airports | 2022-04-13T22:47:31 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/can-you-bring-a-gun-through-airport-security-tsa-issues-warning-for-travelers-at-florida-airports |
Volusia County School Board abruptly fires its superintendent
The Volusia County School Board voted Tuesday to fire its superintendent, effective immediately.
In a 3-2 vote, superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz was voted out of his position.
Fritz previously announced that he did not intend to renew his contract with the district and planned to leave by December.
However, one of the board's members, Jamie Haynes, made a motion to fire Fritz immediately.
Why? What happened?
"During the break, Dr. Fritz made it very clear to me that he does not want to be here by his actions," said board member Ruben Colon during the meeting. "I do not believe that our employees should be subject to what I was just subject to minutes ago."
When asked by FOX 35, Colon would not elaborate on what was said during the conversation, but said it was clear that Dr. Fritz wanted to leave his position.
"And so it was for that reason, despite not having been at that point in the discussion, why I opted to support that motion," Colon said.
Board member Carl Persis voted against the motion.
"This was something that to me wasn’t necessary," he said in an interview with FOX 35 following the meeting.
He was caught off-guard by the vote, he said. Apparently, before the board meeting there were discussions about an exit strategy and a leadership transition regarding the superintendent role, he said.
"I like things to be deliberate, carefully planned, thought out," he said.
"Nobody wants change, but sometimes it's necessary. And I will tell you that when I was hired here, I was asked to make change. And I think we've done that," Dr. Fritz said before walking out of the meeting.
Rachel Hazel, the human resources manager, will serve as interim superintendent.
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The board hopes to have a permanent replacement named by July 1. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/volusia-county-school-board-abruptly-fires-its-superintendent | 2022-04-13T22:47:37 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/volusia-county-school-board-abruptly-fires-its-superintendent |
Are parents hearing bad info on NJ’s sex/gender curriculum standards?
New Jersey education leaders and many others are applauding the directive issued by Gov. Phil Murphy that calls on the state Department of Education to review updated student learning standards and provide clarification on what age-appropriate guidelines look like for subjects including gender identity and sexual orientation.
Many parents and politicians have voiced concerns this week about the standards, and how they will be integrated into classroom instruction in New Jersey public schools beginning next fall.
Lots of misinterpretation
Rich Bozza, the executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, said “the governor’s idea to get information I think is very important right now because there have been some misinterpretations of what has happened with the standards.”
Some Republican lawmakers have voiced fears that the standards would open the door to children in kindergarten, first and second-grade getting lessons about different sexual issues that could include graphic detail.
Sen. Edward Durr, R-Gloucester, went one step further on Tuesday, announcing he is sponsoring a measure that would prohibit schools from making any mention of gender identity and sexual orientation until at least seventh grade.
Bozza pointed out that as different school districts decide how best to present their physical education and health classes to their students, there is a requirement for them to consult with representatives of the community.
Get the right information out
“There really is an obligation to get out the correct information, for the superintendent of schools and the board of education, in particular, to say here’s what we’re doing in our community, here’s how we’re developing a curriculum,” said Bozza.
He noted it’s up to each individual school district “to promulgate the curriculum that responds to the state standards and certainly there can be conversations in districts by community members of different points of view.”
State Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-Union, said the fact that Murphy wants to slow down the implementation of the new standards is a positive step.
He also said it’s vital to get community members involved.
“Let’s get parents at the table, let’s get psychologists at the table and then you can make a determination on what to teach and when to teach,” he said.
“You always want to talk to the parents, parents are still in charge, you want to psychologists who have dealt with children, who have a specific expertise in child psychology.”
Bozza said if parents have questions or concerns about curriculum issues they should go to their local school district and “talk with the superintendent, talk with the board of education so that what that district is indeed doing can get out, and I think they would be comforted when they find out what the reality is.”
He added once that happens, “people realize that the perceptions that are out there that something really extreme is happening is indeed not happening.”
David Matthau is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at david.matthau@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/are-parents-hearing-bad-info-on-njs-sexgender-curriculum-standards/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:04 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/are-parents-hearing-bad-info-on-njs-sexgender-curriculum-standards/ |
Cindy Williams shares a great ‘Shirley & Ron Howard’ NJ story
Schlemiel, Schlimazel, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!
Cindy Wiliams, a.k.a. Shirley from "Laverne & Shirley" will be coming to the Bucks County Playhouse April 23-24 with a one-woman show called "Me Myself and Shirley."
Best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, best friend of Penny Marshall's Laverne DeFazio on the iconic sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," Williams's show, according to the press release, will "chronicle the stories, the secrets, the embarrassing moments, and the highs and lows of her life in Hollywood".
She also has a great "Jersey" story, which she told me on New Jersey 101.5, you can listen On-Demand starting at 1:01:15
"It involves Ron Howard and Sissy Spacek and our adventure in Vinland," says Williams.
"We were doing a movie of the week called 'The Migrants' with Cloris Leachman, Ed Lauter, and we got the van one night having the day off. Ron and I wanted to go for a drive because we'd never been to New Jersey. Sissy wanted to go but she was tired and sat in the back and laid down."
"We headed toward Atlantic City," says Williams. "We got there ending up in a place called the 'LaBue Lodge.' We were totally mesmerized by that. Then we figured we better get back home and we quickly got lost."
"So, we're out in the woods it seemed like and we find this bar and these guys come shooting out of the door they're having this big argument," says Williams. "All we wanted to do was ask for directions back to Vineland."
"We both got out of the car and we asked as innocent as we could and we said, 'Excuse us, could you please tell us how to get back to Vineland?'"
"And they stopped their little fistfight and told us, 'You go out here, you make a left, and then you make a jug handle at the first turn.' And we're nodding our heads and we get back in the car pulling out of the parking lot and Ron turns to me and asks, 'So what's a jug handle?'"
How many takes did you have to deck Ron Howard in that Happy Days episode?
"Ron talks about that with great pride," says Williams. "We only did it once. He always talks about how that punch looks so real."
How happy were Happy Days?
"Happy Days was very happy, they were just a wonderful cast, a wonderful team."
As for Laverne and Shirley
"We had that on our set," says Williams. "Penny (Marshall) and I are both Italian and we locked horns now and then. They (Happy Days) were right next door to us and they did this one thing at a cast party where they filmed the cast of Happy Days putting their ears up to the door to listen to Penny and I squabble."
For tickets to see "Me Myself and Shirley" click here.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev.
You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting . Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/cindy-williams-shares-a-great-shirley-ron-howard-nj-story/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:11 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/cindy-williams-shares-a-great-shirley-ron-howard-nj-story/ |
How slow should you go through construction zones on NJ roads?
When lanes are closed for construction, paving, or painting on interstate highways in New Jersey, typically a lower speed limit is posted for the "work zone" -- for instance, 50 miles an hour in a span that is usually 65.
But what about roadside work being done on a smaller state highway, or a 35 mph residential road? How much should drivers slow down as they pass through those areas?
"Reducing a speed in a work zone is a regulatory action, and it's reserved for long-term projects that include changes to roadway configuration, lane shifts, or lane closures," Joe Bertoni, New Jersey Department of Transportation deputy commissioner, said.
And that action is governed not by New Jersey, but by the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, according to information provided to New Jersey 101.5 by NJDOT.
In general, the MUTCD limits work zone speed limits to 10 miles an hour slower than usually posted, or 15 in certain cases, but only for projects taking up a mile or more.
That doesn't cover a singular utility worker up in a bucket, working on a power line, or landscapers trimming back tree branches.
So, Bertoni said, the best thing to do is be aware.
"Anytime you approach a work zone, whether it be a large or small work zone, you should proceed with caution and obey all posted construction signage," he said.
Driving through construction at the normal speed limit is never advisable, according to NJDOT, but taking it 10, 15, or 20 miles per hour slower is up to a motorist's discretion if a specific, temporary limit is not visible.
"It really, really comes down to using common sense, paying attention to your surroundings, paying attention to the activities that are occurring on the roadway," Bertoni said.
As far as personal injury or property damage caused by a driver disregarding the caution signaled by orange cones, penalties for such incidents are determined and doled out by law enforcement.
Bertoni said the overriding rule that applies in these situations corresponds to a well-known New Jersey driving law: Slow down and move over.
"We would like to bring to the attention of motorists to slow down through work zones and move over for first responders," he said. "Working together, we can make our highways safer for all."
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/how-slow-should-you-go-through-construction-zones-on-nj-roads/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:17 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/how-slow-should-you-go-through-construction-zones-on-nj-roads/ |
Judi Franco of NJ 101.5 wins prestigious Gracie Award for talented women in media
New Jersey 101.5 midday host Judi Franco didn't know what to expect when her boss called her into a meeting on Wednesday morning.
It was a surprise announcement — heard live on the air — that she was a 2022 recipient of the prestigious 47th annual Gracie Awards, given to talented women in television, radio and digital media.
It brought tears to her eyes. But it didn't leave her speechless.
"I thought I was getting fired!" she replied with the trademark irreverence that's endeared her to listeners of the "Dennis & Judi" show for more than 20 years. (Townsquare Media Senior Vice President of Programming Kurt Johnson and Chief Operating Officer Erik Hellum, who broke the news to Franco, assured her that, no, she wasn't canceled.)
Franco this year joins the likes of Melissa McCarthy, Kelly Clarkson, Elle Fanning, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Tamron Hall and Melissa Harris‐Perry in getting the honor.
“We are thrilled that Judi Franco’s impressive career is being recognized with a Gracie Award," Townsquare Media Trenton-Princeton Market President Brian Lang said. "Judi is an authentic and unique talent that knows how to create relevant engaging content for her on-air and online audience."
Becky Brooks, president of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, said the awards recognize "remarkable projects by and about inspirational women."
“We are honored to shine a spotlight on these women, whose stories have driven cultural awareness, offered entertainment that has made us laugh, cry, and everything in between," Brooks said. "This year, we will be returning to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and are delighted to return to an in-person format so that we can properly celebrate together.”
The Gracies celebrate talent and programming created by, for and about women in radio, television, and digital medias. Honorees are selected in national, local and student markets.
For a complete list of winners, click here.
The awards will be presented May 24 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. | https://nj1015.com/judi-franco-gracie-award/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:23 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/judi-franco-gracie-award/ |
New Jersey comedians remember Gilbert Gottfried
I was so shocked and so saddened at the death of Gilbert Gottfried. I wasn't close to him and didn't know him the way some did, but I did work with him on a few shows over the years and he was always a great guy to work with. So sweet and polite before and after the show.
When he took the stage he was a completely different person, fearless and one of the few comics left who could make you laugh until your sides hurt.
Gilbert was the farthest thing from political correctness and I loved him for it. He would go out of his way to remind you of how outrageous the joke he just said was by repeating it with emphasis almost as if to say "Did you hear what I just said?"
We heard and we laughed and we loved the comedy and the person that was/is Gilbert Gottfried.
I'm wondering if he's telling St. Peter "The Aristocrat" joke so he can get into heaven in time for the Easter Show. Salute Gilbert!
Uncle Floyd and Gilbert and I performed at The Broadway Theatre in Pittman in April, 2019. Uncle Floyd Joined me on my show to talk about Gilbert, you can listen On-Demand starting at 1:30:30 , I also asked my comic friends for their thoughts on Gilbert:
"I worked with Gilbert a lot. We were on the Cosby show together. He was a dear man and we're going to miss him tremendously," he said.
Floyd once filled in for Gilbert.
"Gilbert had a show in the 80's on the USA Network called 'Up All Night with Gilbert Gottfried.' He had to go to the hospital for some kind of surgery so he had me fill in for two consecutive weeks, two Saturday nights. That's how much he thought of me and I think the world of him, his comedy, his heart was in the right place."
"A funny very sweet guy. One of a kind he will be missed".
"When I was a baby comic, I worked at a Chinese restaurant in Paramus and the booker said that one of the shows had Gilbert on it who was relatively unknown at the time, but within the comedy community already known. I sat and watched the show and said "Wow that's not like anything I have seen in my life. He was fearless, fearless. When you're a comic, fearless is good to aim for and very funny. So rest in peace Gilly, they'll never be another one like you."
"Gilbert was a kind gentleman with huge voice and a huge heart - his material was everyday man thoughts and put it on the plate - loud and direct …..sorry for his family- they will feel his loss greatly….."
"I worked with him many times in 1993, I was his opening act. He was the only entertainer that did his entire act with his eyes closed, it kind of made you listen closer. Then he would you with some punch line that was always just off the wall."
"Extremely sad news, he's definitely a comedic icon, and his voiceover for our flag was probably the most memorable voiceover of any kind it will definitely be missed I only work with him a couple of times and I didn't know him very well but he was always a very nice guy."
"Gilbert was truly one of a kind. A comics’ comic, a friend, a family man & an outlaw all rolled up into one hilarious, diminutive, Jewish man."
"I worked with him a bunch of times and loved watching him perform. He was fearless and liked making the audience uncomfortable with his bizarre and dark humor. Such a shame that he is no longer with us."
"He was one of the great guys in comedy. A tragic loss for the industry."
"Gilbert is an international celebrity. I was so privileged to work with him so many times, and ultimately call him my friend. His irreverence will never be matched."
Gene Nagel Owner of the Comedy Cove in Springfield:
"He was a gentle soul off stage. It was almost like he had a switch on him to become the stage persona he was. For such a slight physical man he was a giant when he took the stage. My favorite was his opener "You came to see Gilbert Gottfried. OK, now go home."
"Gilbert was a comic's comic. I had the opportunity and the privilege to work with him six times during my career, me, a comic nobody, never made me feel that way. He was a kind individual offstage very accommodating and very reserved very different from the persona that he brought on stage with him and he always made you laugh until your sides hurt."
"This was a man who achieved more fame than most, but never forgot where he came from because he LOVED performing stand-up. He also deserves credit for being an INCREDIBLE businessman. Every reality or game show that became a part of pop culture, you can rest assured that Gilbert would be on. He constantly grew his fan base, and those people would come out in droves to see him perforitm. My condolences to his family, friends, many fans, and all of the comics that I know adored him as much as I did."
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev.
You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting . Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/new-jersey-comedians-remember-gilbert-gottfried/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:29 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/new-jersey-comedians-remember-gilbert-gottfried/ |
MONTVALE — A 19-year-old Ramsey man has been arrested and charged with making terroristic threats.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced that on Tuesday, Luke Natoli used technology to anonymize his "caller ID" when placing a telephone call to a Bergen County high school official, claiming that he was going to bring a gun to a sport's practice Tuesday afternoon.
An investigation found that Natoli's alarming phone call was a hoax.
Detectives found him in Poughkeepsie, New York, later that day and charged him with second-degree false public alarm, third-degree terroristic threats, and the petty disorderly person's offense of harassment.
Natoli was remanded to the Dutchess County, New York jail pending extradition to Bergen County.
Jen Ursillo is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at jennifer.ursillo@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey
A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.
From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.
Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the
American Hiking Society.
If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.
Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.
You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.
Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.
If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.
Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.
I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions: | https://nj1015.com/ramsey-nj-man-charged-with-phoning-terror-threat-to-school/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:36 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/ramsey-nj-man-charged-with-phoning-terror-threat-to-school/ |
The best bookstores across New Jersey, according to our listeners
When I was in college there was a small bookstore downtown called DJ Ernst Books. At the end of the semester freshman year, one of our professors took us downtown to visit the bookstore and bought us each a book. I ended up visiting DJ Ernst bookstore throughout my four years. Sometimes to pick up a book, other times to just chat with the owner Hommer. He had an old-school cash register, and a lot of the books were in old milk crates.
I would always go in looking for Edgar Allan Poe books because he would carry original copies. Some of the bindings on the books you would find in his store were so beautiful you would buy them just to have.
There is a feeling of joy I feel when I enter a bookstore. A feeling of endless possibilities and worlds to dive into and get lost in. Looking at all the books displayed, all demanding your attention. If I don’t walk in with an idea of what I’m looking for, I end up just looking for a cover that calls my name.
Once I find something that catches my eye, I’ll flip to a random page in the book, and give it a read. If I find myself wanting to read more, then it’s a book I want to take home.
New Jersey is home to a ton of local bookstores, including second-hand bookstores. I asked our listeners and readers for their favorite bookstores in New Jersey, check out their suggestions
Amy Flynn
Old Book Shop, Morristown
Ally McHugh
Old Book Shop in Morristown, an amazing selection of used books as well as postcards, photos, sheet music
Amy Wekselman
Indigo in Short Hills Mall
Tiffany Kung
WORD Bookstore in Jersey City!
Kristen Gray
WORD in Jersey City
Brady Beach Dillon
WORDS in Maplewood
John S Spot
Words in Maplewood
John S Spot
Chatham Bookseller
Jay Luschenat
Montclair Book Center can't be beat.
Nino Beattie
Little Boho bookshop in Bayonne
Jen Cody
Boho book shop in Bayonne. The owner is the sweetest woman and very knowledgeable.
Christina Bonito
Symposia in Hoboken
Ali Gillis
The Book Barn in Denville!
Ruth Roberto
Broad Street Books in Branchville
Phoebe Yankowski
Bookends in Ridgewood
Noreen Moran
Sparta Book Store. Very welcoming atmosphere. Wonderful people.
Amanda Holbert Haas
Sparta book store!!! They are wonderful! Friendly, helpful and cheerful!
Jamie Oksenhorn
Bookworm in Bernardsville! They are the best and have wonderful recommendations. Any book they don’t have, they get in right away.
Ryan C Pidor
Cindelle's Bookstore in Plainfield
Karen Lawler Pascale
Panoply in Lambertville
Jay Luschenat
Act 2 Books in Flemington.
Karen Meyer Yowell
Act 2 Books in Flemington
Christine Hagin
Here’s the Story in Union, great store and Joe is amazing, he will get anything you need!
Nikki Schreiber
Here’s the Story in Union! The owner, Joe, is super nice and knowledgeable! I won a grant for Holocaust related books for my classroom and he helped me compile a great list!
Jocelyn Hawkes
Here's The Story Bookstore! Right here in Union!
Anne Murdoch Sutton
The Frenchtown Bookshop
Elizabeth Ray
I like The Book Trader in Clark
Kearny Sheila
The Cape Atlantic Book Co in Cape May doesn’t look particularly charming or inspiring, but I’ve NEVER walked out empty-handed (make of that what you will)
Jennifer Clegg
Second Time Books in Rancocas Woods, Mount Laurel Township
Kearny Sheila
Hands down Asbury Book Co-operative in Asbury Park
Dayna Frieman Stein
Asbury Book Cooperative
Dayna Frieman Stein
River Road Books in Fair Haven
Kristina
Love love love LBI Book Swap in beach haven! Multiple visits every year!
Wrong Daddy
Booktowne in Manasquan
Jennifer Ziegler
Black Dog Books in Lafayette NJ.
Robert Weinstein
Two of my favorite places for purchasing books are the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library (including the book sales sponsored by Friends of MAPL) and the AAUW (Freehold) annual book sale. Admittedly, they're not commercial bookstores -- but your people should be reminded that there are additional local, NJ resources that offer books for sale AND that support local activities and scholarships. Lots of variety without resorting to online sales. | https://nj1015.com/the-best-bookstores-across-new-jersey-according-to-our-listeners/ | 2022-04-13T22:51:42 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/the-best-bookstores-across-new-jersey-according-to-our-listeners/ |
The Hermits Peak Fire has grown rapidly into a 6,276-acre blaze northwest of Las Vegas, N.M., driven by gusts as strong as 70 mph through Tuesday night.
The wildfire, which resulted from a prescribed burn gone awry a week ago, is now more than triple the size it was late Tuesday, making it 50 percent bigger than the 2020 Medio Fire that charred 4,000 acres.
The Hermits Peak Fire spread east six miles as high winds hampered firefighting efforts on the ground and in the air.
The extreme winds kept aircraft grounded, preventing them from dousing flames with retardants and water.
Ground crews have worked to build defenses around the southern, eastern and northern edges of the fire in an effort to shield communities from potential spread, U.S. Forest Service officials said.
A dozen small communities near the fire have been evacuated as of Wednesday with 11 more on standby.
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Police are investigating a deadly shooting that killed two people, including a 16-year-old boy, that took place near a playground at the Overlook at Monroe apartment complex in Sanford.
At a press conference Wednesday, Bianca Gillett, a spokesperson for the Sanford Police Department, said the department received multiple calls around 3:30 p.m. reporting a shooting with possible injuries.
Cops found two young males with several gunshot wounds at the scene. The two victims were taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead, Gillett said at a press conference.
One of the victims was identified as a 16-year-old. The second victim is believed to be close to his age but has not yet been identified, Gillett said.
Latest Breaking News
Police have one person of interest in custody and are seeking information on multiple individuals who left the scene. Though a motive is unclear, preliminary investigations indicate the shooting is possibly related to drugs, Gillett said.
The shooting took place just feet away from a children’s playground in the rental complex, near Willner Circle and State Route 46.
This is a developing story.
arabines@orlandosentinel.com | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-sanford-shooter-crime-overlook-monroe-several-injured-20220413-ftvclvmzvvbi5erckz5ixomd7a-story.html | 2022-04-13T23:04:26 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-sanford-shooter-crime-overlook-monroe-several-injured-20220413-ftvclvmzvvbi5erckz5ixomd7a-story.html |
The arrest of a man accused of shooting 10 people inside a Brooklyn subway station was a huge relief for New Yorkers who were afraid to take public transit, but anxiety lingers for many straphangers concerned for their safety.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says approximately 160,000 fewer people used the transit system compared to the day before Frank James allegedly filled an N train car with smoke and fired 33 shots on the train and 36th Street platform during Tuesday's morning rush. That's a drop of 5% in ridership while law enforcement searched for the suspect who was at large for more than 24 hours.
Following the attack, authorities said cameras inside the subway station where the shooting took place were not functioning, hindering the initial search for the suspect.
However, other cameras at nearby Kings Highway station were rolling that morning and they captured James attempting to swipe his MetroCard at the turnstile and eventually entering the subway through an emergency exit.
To illustrate to riders that the subway is safe, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said there was more than enough video evidence to help the NYPD make an arrest.
"We have 600 cameras on the line just in Brooklyn, over 10,000 in the system, way, way up from where it was a couple years ago. So we have a lot of video," Lieber said.
Top officials like Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell took the subways following the shooting to also assure commuters that the trains are safe, but public confidence won't return overnight, said NYU urban studies professor Sarah Kaufman.
"There’s a perception it’s a lot worse than it is, but that certainly has an impact," Kaufman said.
The subway's ridership is also still trying to recover from the blow of the pandemic. Typical daily subway ridership fell from 5.5 million riders to less than a tenth of that. On Monday, estimated ridership was 3.1 million, according to the MTA.
Even as the gunman was still on the loose Wednesday morning, commuters like Ana Marrero were on their way again.
“You have to be more vigilant of your surroundings. But scared? No,” said Marrero, who has taken the subway to work for 30 years. “You think of the tragedy and the people that were hurt, but you have no other choice and do what you have to do.”
In Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, several riders said they prayed for safety as they returned to the 36th Street station, reopened a day after the shot-up trained pulled into it.
“I didn’t want to come to work today,” said Jonathan Frias, a construction worker, “but I had to.”
Dan Dzula, who lives four blocks from the station, stayed home Tuesday after receiving an alert on his phone about the shooting. The next day, he encountered a crowded yet quiet platform on his commute into Manhattan.
“It’s a little spooky,” Dzula said. "I have to be here and I want to. No one likes feeling threatened.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul posted a photo on social media showing her riding a train after the shooting, and Mayor Eric Adams pledged to increase patrols in subway stations.
“We know that this hurts the mindset of many New Yorkers who are afraid of what happened, but we’re a resilient city. We've been here before,” Adams told MSNBC on Wednesday. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-ridership-fell-5-after-brooklyn-subway-shooting/3645164/ | 2022-04-13T23:04:35 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-ridership-fell-5-after-brooklyn-subway-shooting/3645164/ |
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office has refiled involuntary manslaughter charges against three men in connection with the sinking of a tourist boatthat killed 17 people in 2018.
The vehicle, known as a duck boat, sank during a storm shortly after it entered Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas were killed. Fourteen people survived.
On April 5, Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship dismissed first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges against Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a manager on duty when the boat sank.
Two days later, Schmitt refiled 17 involuntary manslaughter charges against each of the men. McKee also faces 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
“As I’ve said previously, my Office is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of the 17 people that were tragically killed in 2018 — that’s why we re-filed the charges in this case," Schmitt said in a statement Wednesday.
Prosecutors said the tourist boat went into the lake despite warnings of storms in the area. The boat sank after it was swamped by waves caused by the winds.
Attorneys for the three defendants have argued that the men were not aware of the severity of the storm and did not intentionally put their passengers in danger. When he dismissed the charges, Blankenship said there was no evidence the men knew about the strong winds associated with the storm.
U.S. & World
When the criminal charges were filed last year, an affidavit from an investigator said McKee ignored concerns about an approaching storm when he took the boat onto the lake. Lanham and Baltzell were accused of failing to communicate weather conditions and to stop operations after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.
The duck boats, which operate on land and water, were a longtime popular attraction in the tourist town of Branson. The ride closed down after the tragedy and the boats have not returned to the lake. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/charges-refiled-in-missouri-boat-sinking-that-killed-17/3645200/ | 2022-04-13T23:04:47 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/charges-refiled-in-missouri-boat-sinking-that-killed-17/3645200/ |
Los Angeles police were asking for the public's help Wednesday in search of people who may have been victimized by an actor arrested on suspicion of engaging in "online sexually explicit communication with a minor.''
Joseph Gatt, 50, of Los Angeles, was arrested at his home April 6 by detectives from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Gatt's acting credits include "NCIS: New Orleans,'' "Game of Thrones," "Thor" and "Star Trek Into Darkness," according to IMDb, which listed his age as 47.
Detectives served a search warrant at Gatt's home in the area of 3rd Street and La Jolla "after they received information that Gatt had been engaged in online sexually explicit communication with a minor across state lines,'' according to an LAPD statement.
Gatt was arrested on a felony warrant for "contact with a minor for sexual offense,'' police said. Details of his alleged crime were not released.
The Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force includes more than 100 federal and local affiliate agencies that detect and investigate child predators that use the Internet as a means to contact children or deal in child sexual abuse material.
U.S. & World
Anyone who may have been victimized by Gatt was urged to call Detective Denos Amarantos at 562-624-4027. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-247. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or use the website www.lacrimestoppers.org. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/la-actor-ncis-got-arrest-sexually-explicit-communication-with-minor/3645124/ | 2022-04-13T23:04:53 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/la-actor-ncis-got-arrest-sexually-explicit-communication-with-minor/3645124/ |
Toyota is recalling about 460,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a software problem that can inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system.
The automaker says that when the vehicles are restarted, in rare cases the software may not automatically switch the system into the “on” mode. That can disable the system, which uses a computer to individually brake wheels to help drivers keep control.
The recall covers vehicles from the 2020 to 2022 model years including the Toyota brand's Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid. Also included are the LS500h, LX600, NX350h, and NX450h-plus from the Lexus luxury brand.
Dealers will update software on the skid control computer to fix the problem. Owners will be notified by mid-June. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/recall-alert/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-for-stability-control-glitch/3645215/ | 2022-04-13T23:04:59 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/recall-alert/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-for-stability-control-glitch/3645215/ |
2022 NBA Playoffs: First round bracket, schedule, TV info originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The NBA playoffs will begin during the month of April for the first time in three years.
But before the action officially kicks off, the league has to settle some unfinished business: determining the final two seeds in each conference. For the third straight year, the NBA is hosting a play-in tournament to round out the postseason picture.
The Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves already locked up the No. 7 seeds on Tuesday, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. However, not all hope is lost for the Cavs and Clippers. They now await the winner of Wednesday night’s games between the Spurs and Pelicans and the Hawks and Hornets to compete for the eighth and final seed in the their respective conferences.
Here’s all the information about the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
When does the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs start?
The first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs begins on April 16, one day after the conclusion of the third annual play-in tournament.
Sports
The four teams that advance past the play-in tournament face a quick turnaround as they gear up for a best-of-seven series in the first round.
What teams are in the 2022 NBA playoffs?
The regular season concluded with 20 teams still in the mix for an NBA championship. Come April 15, that field will be narrowed down to 16 with the end of the play-in tournament.
The current list of teams are:
Eastern Conference
- Miami Heat (53-29)
- Boston Celtics (51-31)
- Milwaukee Bucks (51-31)
- Philadelphia 76ers (51-31)
- Toronto Raptors (48-34)
- Chicago Bulls (46-36)
- Brooklyn Nets (44-38)
- Cleveland Cavaliers* (44-38)
- Atlanta Hawks* (43-39)
- Charlotte Hornets* (43-39)
Western Conference
- Phoenix Suns (64-18)
- Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)
- Golden State Warriors (53-29)
- Dallas Mavericks (52-30)
- Utah Jazz (49-33)
- Denver Nuggets (48-34)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36)
- Los Angeles Clippers* (42-40)
- New Orleans Pelicans* (36-46)
- San Antonio Spurs* (34-48)
* = still in the play-in tournament
Seeds No. 7 through No. 10 from each conference are competing in the play-in tournament from April 12 to 15, with two spots in the first round on the line. The play-in tournament, first introduced in a minor format in the 2020 Orlando bubble, is designed to favor the two highest seeds (No. 7 and No. 8), who previously would have automatically qualified for the first round. They only have to win once to advance to the first round, whereas seeds No. 9 and No. 10 have to win twice to keep playing.
The complete play-in tournament schedule is available here.
What is the schedule for the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs?
The first round begins April 16.
The games fall in a 2-2-1-1-1 format with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary). Meanwhile, games 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary) go to the lower seed.
The complete bracket is below:
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Miami Heat vs. No. 8 seed from Play-In Tournament
Game 1: Sunday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: April 19, time and streaming TBD
Game 3: April 22, time TBD (ESPN)
Game 4: April 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 26 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 28 (if necessary)
Game 7: April 30 (if necessary)
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Game 1: Sunday, April 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: April 20 at 7:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 23, time TBD (ESPN)
Game 4: April 25, time and streaming TBD
Game 5: April 27 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 29 (if necessary)
Game 7: May 1 (if necessary)
No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Chicago Bulls
Game 1: Sunday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 4: April 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: April 27 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 29 (if necessary)
Game 7: May 1 (if necessary)
No. 4 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Game 1: Saturday, April 16 at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: April 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 4: April 23 at 2:00 P.M. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 25 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 28 (if necessary)
Game 7: April 30 (if necessary)
Western Conference
No. 1 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 8 seed from Play-In Tournament
Game 1: Sunday, April 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: April 19 at 10:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 22, time TBD (ESPN)
Game 4: April 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 26 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 28 (if necessary)
Game 7: April 30 (if necessary)
No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Saturday, April 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: April 19, time and streaming TBD
Game 3: April 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 23, time and streaming TBD (ESPN)
Game 5: April 26 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 29 (if necessary)
Game 7: May 1 (if necessary)
No. 3 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 6 Denver Nuggets
Game 1: Saturday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: April 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 21 at 10:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: April 27 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 29 (if necessary)
Game 7: May 1 (if necessary)
No. 4 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
Game 1: Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: April 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 3: April 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 4: April 23 at 4:00 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 25 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 28 (if necessary)
Game 7: April 30 (if necessary) | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/2022-nba-playoffs-first-round-bracket-schedule-tv-info/3645174/ | 2022-04-13T23:05:06 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/2022-nba-playoffs-first-round-bracket-schedule-tv-info/3645174/ |
HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The man suspected to be responsible for the theft of numerous catalytic converters was arrested by Hanover police. He joins two previously arrested suspects, who were taken into custody in late March.
According to the sheriff’s office, Kristopher M. Williams, of Henrico, was located, arrested and charged with multiple crimes in connection to the “theft of numerous catalytic converters.”
The Charges:
- Grand Larceny – Felony (x2)
- Conspiracy to Commit a Felony – Felony (x2)
- Vandalism – Felony (x2)
- Trespassing and Possession of Burglary Tools – Felony | https://www.wric.com/news/crime/hanover-arrests-suspected-catalytic-converter-bandit/ | 2022-04-13T23:08:42 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/crime/hanover-arrests-suspected-catalytic-converter-bandit/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia’s new health commissioner says he doesn’t see indoor mask mandates returning anytime soon as COVID-19 cases slightly rise and other areas reinstate their rules.
Concern over the spread of BA.2, an omicron subvariant that data shows is more contagious than the original, has led some areas to make changes. This week, Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to announce the return of its public indoor mask mandate due to an uptick in cases.
BA.2 has become the dominant strain in the United States and now makes up roughly 68% of new cases in Virginia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of April 13, Virginia is reporting a seven-day average of virus cases of 1,115. The average was under 700 new cases a day at the start of the month.
Despite a slight increase, health officials and researchers have pointed to a decline in hospitalizations in Virginia and a decline in deaths on average since March.
“Right now we don’t have a protocol for going back to the mask mandate and don’t foresee that,” Dr. Colin M. Greene, Virginia’s Health Commissioner, said during a Tuesday meeting for the Virginia Department of Health’s Advisory Council on Health Disparity and Health Equity.
The University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute, which has conducted modeling of COVID-19, shared in its latest weekly update on April 8 that “models suggest that BA.2 may cause a minor surge in Virginia.” But the institute stressed that there is no sign of any rapid growth.
While Dr. Greene didn’t reject the potential for reinstating COVID-19 rules imposed during the height of the pandemic, saying Tuesday that health officials can’t predict what will come next.
“But as of right now, we’re moving forward to a plan where we’ll deal with covid in a way that’s consistent with more traditional disease prevention measures,” Greene said.
Dr. Greene was not available for an interview Wednesday, according to a VDH spokesperson. | https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/return-of-indoor-mask-mandates-unlikely-says-new-va-health-commissioner/ | 2022-04-13T23:08:48 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/return-of-indoor-mask-mandates-unlikely-says-new-va-health-commissioner/ |
Bryson DeChambeau will have surgery on his left hand, which he injured in February, according to a member of his management team.
The surgery is scheduled for later this week to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand he sustained while playing Ping-Pong at the Saudi International. He withdrew from the Asian Tour event and took more than a month off before returning to competition.
“We look forward to a smooth recovery and rehab process. Bryson looks forward to returning as soon as he is cleared to do so,” said Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau’s manager.
DeChambeau failed to advance out of pool play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and he missed the cut at the Texas Open and the Masters following rounds of 76-80.
At Augusta National, DeChambeau said he was swinging at about “80 percent” and confirmed that surgery on his hand was an option.
“I can’t go all out. I can’t do any speed training sessions. I can’t practice for excessive hours like I have to [be able to] figure stuff out,” said DeChambeau, who also is dealing with a minor tear in his left labrum.
According to one longtime PGA Tour trainer, the recovery period for surgery on the hamate bone is 10-12 weeks, which would make next month’s PGA Championship unlikely. June’s U.S. Open, which DeChambeau won in 2020, would be a more likely target for a possible return to competition, depending how his surgery goes.
Sports Illustrated first reported DeChambeau's pending surgery. | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/bryson-dechambeau-have-surgery-fractured-left-hand-timetable-return-uncertain | 2022-04-13T23:08:57 | 1 | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/bryson-dechambeau-have-surgery-fractured-left-hand-timetable-return-uncertain |
Davis Love III said Wednesday that the succession plan for U.S. team captains is in flux after Phil Mickelson’s controversial remarks cast doubt on his future viability.
Speaking ahead of the RBC Heritage, where Love celebrated his 58th birthday and announced two assistant captains for the upcoming Presidents Cup, Love was asked why one of his newly appointed vice captains, Fred Couples, was never asked to lead the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
“Fred’s good in the locker room, in a practice round, as a captain – I thought he would have been a great Ryder Cup captain,” Love said. “He could still be Ryder Cup captain.
“We may have to fill a gap somewhere now. Our order is kind of messed up right now. So maybe Fred would be a great home game [captain] in New York.”
Love presumably was alluding to the ongoing drama involving Mickelson, who was widely assumed to be the next home captain for the Americans in 2025 at Bethpage Black, given his massive popularity in New York. But Love’s answer seems to indicate that Mickelson has either been removed from the leadership’s succession plan, or the powers-that-be are waiting for his next move. Mickelson is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence from the game following disparaging remarks that he made about both the PGA Tour and the Saudis.
Zach Johnson will lead the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team in Italy. The 2025 captaincy decision likely wouldn’t be made for about 20 months.
Love was also asked about what role Tiger Woods will play for the Americans at Quail Hollow this fall, when they look to win for the 12th time in 14 matches. Woods, who played his first official event in 17 months at last week’s Masters, was a playing captain for the 2019 matches at Royal Melbourne.
“Any role he wants,” Love said of Woods’ involvement, before adding: “Whatever he wants to do.”
Woods served as an assistant captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2017 Ryder Cup. Like Mickelson, he also has special ties to Bethpage Black, having won the U.S. Open there in 2002. | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/davis-love-iii-says-us-succession-plan-kind-messed-right-now | 2022-04-13T23:09:03 | 1 | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/davis-love-iii-says-us-succession-plan-kind-messed-right-now |
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra sent shockwaves through collegiate golf Wednesday when he announced he will return to Oklahoma State as a fifth-year senior for the 2022-23 season.
“I am convinced that an additional year of hard work in Stillwater will allow me to continue to grow academically and personally, which will only prepare me better for the PGA Tour and my professional career,” Lopez-Chacarra said in a statement released on social media. “That said, I look forward to teeing it up for the Pokes again next season.”
This news was particularly surprising because Lopez-Chacarra found himself third in the most recent edition of the PGA Tour University ranking.
The top five players in PGA Tour U after the 2022 spring season will receive:
- Korn Ferry Tour membership and exemptions into all open, full-field events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division-I National Championship through the end of the regular season
- Exemption into Final Stage of the current season’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament
- Exemption onto a PGA Tour international tour the following year
Lopez-Chacarra’s lead over University of Oklahoma’s Logan McAllister, who occupied fourth place, was roughly 92 points. For context, the gap from McAllister to ninth-place Alex Fitzpatrick is also 92 points.
Lopez-Chacarra will be eligible for PGA Tour U again next season, and his points will be accrued from both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
The Oklahoma State star has won twice this spring, with victories at the Amer Ari Invitational in Hawaii, which included a final-round 62, and the National Invitational Tournament last month in Tucson.
Lopez-Chacarra will look to lead the second-ranked Cowboys to a national championship later this season at Grayhawk. | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/oklahoma-state-star-eugenio-lopez-chacarra-forfeit-pga-tour-u-status-return-fifth-year-senior | 2022-04-13T23:09:09 | 1 | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/oklahoma-state-star-eugenio-lopez-chacarra-forfeit-pga-tour-u-status-return-fifth-year-senior |
Civics class, community service for voting fraud suspects
THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — Two men from a sprawling retirement community in Florida will have to enter a pretrial intervention program, perform community service and attend adult civics classes in exchange for deferred prosecutions on their charges of voting more than once in the 2020 election.
Charles Barnes and Jay Ketcik, both from The Villages area, must perform 50 hours of community service each and get a grade of C or better in the adults civics class, according to court records filed last week.
In exchange, State Attorney William Gladson will defer prosecuting them on charges of casting more than one ballot in an election.
The men were among four people from the Republican stronghold of The Villages retirement community arrested late last year and early this year on voter fraud charges.
During the last legislative session, Republican lawmakers passed an election police bill pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate, who justified its need by citing unspecified cases of fraud. DeSantis echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen from him.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:10 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ |
Elementary school teacher arrested for possession of ecstasy, police say
OCALA, Fla. (Gray News) – An elementary school teacher in Florida has been taken into custody for possession of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly, after school administrators noticed her acting strangely during school hours, according to police.
The School Resource Officer at Hammett Bowen Elementary School in Ocala told the Marion County Sheriff’s Office he was notified by school administrators Tuesday about first-grade teacher Hiromi Adams. They reportedly told him she was exhibiting concerning behavior, and she was sent to the school’s clinic for a health checkup.
Other teachers reportedly said they had seen Adams going toward the bathroom before leaving the school and believed she may have been attempting to hide something in the bathroom before leaving.
The SRO and school administrators conducted a search of the bathroom, which is also used by students.
During the search, the SRO found a pill bottle with Adams’ name on it. The contents of the pill bottle included a red straw, half of a green pill and a small plastic baggie of green powder. When it was tested, police say the powder proved to be MDMA.
Adams was found off-campus by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy and placed under arrest. When police searched Adams’ person, they said they also found Suboxone.
Adams was then taken to the Marion County Jail.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/elementary-school-teacher-arrested-possession-ecstasy-police-say/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:18 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/elementary-school-teacher-arrested-possession-ecstasy-police-say/ |
Police: Man arrested for sexually assaulting disabled teen over four-year period
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN/Gray News) - Police in Nebraska have arrested a man for sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled teen over the course of several years.
KOLN reports Lancaster County deputies were called to a Lincoln-area school on Tuesday following a report from a student who said they’d been sexually assaulted by someone they knew.
Police said the teenager was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center, and a search warrant was then produced to inspect a man’s home.
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said the teen explained to investigators that the assaults had been happening over the last three to four years.
Police searched a 53-year-old man’s home before arresting him Tuesday evening. Sheriff Wagner said the man is a convicted felon and had two firearms in his home.
The man was arrested for first-degree sexual assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult, strangulation and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Wagner said the 53-year-old had been arrested in Texas back in 2005 for indecency with a child but the charge was later dismissed in 2006.
KOLN reports it is not releasing the name of the man arrested to better protect the teen’s identity.
Copyright 2022 KOLN via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/police-man-arrested-sexually-assaulting-disabled-teen-over-four-year-period/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:25 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/police-man-arrested-sexually-assaulting-disabled-teen-over-four-year-period/ |
Saginaw Catholic Diocese investing more in school district
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - The Saginaw Catholic Diocese making a major investment into their school district.
After years of closing schools, the Dioceses hopes this could be a step in the right direction.
Bishop Robert Gruss is on a mission to grow and expand schools in the Saginaw Catholic Diocese.
The initiative is called “Our Catholic Schools: Centered in Christ, Committed to Excellence.”
It will focus on four key areas.
“Part of this whole new initiative is really to take a look at our Catholic identity, enrollment, marketing, and the governance of our catholic schools so that we as a total diocese that can really lift up our Catholic schools. Across the Diocese,” Gruss said.
The Diocese has 12 schools, including three high schools, with more than 2,000 students.
To support the growth initiative, Bishop Gruss will expand the Catholic school office and create two new positions.
For Krista Willertz, principal of All Saints Middle and High School in Bay City, the initiative is very exciting.
“It means that we can draw more students in maybe some students who couldn’t afford a Catholic education and it should be available to everyone that opportunity. And so, it means that our teachers can get a little bit better salary, which is wonderful, and it helps us to attract those young up and coming teachers from college,” Willertz said.
The initiative is in its early stages, but the diocese plans to appoint a council to support the office of Catholic schools. That body will work in collaboration with school boards and committees to address retention and recruitment of school staff and faculty.
“We have a lot of wonderful, dedicated staff, and they have been there for sometimes 2030 years and to know that their time and energy and work is appreciated with a little bit of boost in salary, is great,” Willertz said.
“I am a strong proponent of Catholic education because I see it firsthand. The difference that it makes in the lives of our young people. So, I want all of our people to know that I’m a strong supporter for our Catholic schools all across the diocese and we’re going to do everything we can to lift them up and help them succeed and thrive,” Gruss said.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/saginaw-catholic-diocese-investing-more-school-district/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:31 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/saginaw-catholic-diocese-investing-more-school-district/ |
Showers and storms continue tonight, rapid clearing & windy Thursday
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - Showers and thunderstorms have been around at various points today, thankfully staying below severe limits and it’s looking like our severe threat will remain fairly low the rest of the evening.
Even with all the clouds and rain, we have managed some warm temperatures with many areas reaching well into the 60s and even touching 70 in spots.
Our luck with those warm temperatures will run out tomorrow, and the wind will pick up quite a bit. However, we’re expecting a good amount of sunshine to accompany those conditions, which should help take some of the sting off of those.
This Evening & Overnight
Similar to earlier today, we do expect a bit of a break after the current round of showers around at 5 PM comes to an end. Rain chances won’t be zero until the next round, but will be much more spotty, rather than a widespread swath of rain.
If you have plans this evening, keep tabs on the rain with our Interactive Radar.
Our last round of the evening is around Chicago at 5:30 PM and should start rolling in closer to 8-11 PM. This round is the one we expected to have the best chance to produce severe weather yesterday, although a low chance, and it looks like that threat remains low for the same reasons we cited on Tuesday. A late night arrival time, plus much of our available storm energy being used up by rounds of rain this afternoon, will make getting a severe thunderstorm an uphill battle.
As always, we’ll play these situations conservatively and watch for any severe weather, but they’re not likely.
Overnight lows will settle into the 30s and 40s, but it will take awhile to get there. We’re still expecting to be in the 50s and 60s around midnight before the cold front comes through. Our wind will pick up as that approaches, with a southerly wind turning westerly around 10 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts near 30 to 35 miles per hour.
Thursday
The rain is expected to depart Mid-Michigan completely by 7-8 AM, and rapid clearing to mostly sunny skies should follow.
That sunshine should help us recover into the 40s and 50s for afternoon highs, but coming along with that sunshine will be a strong southwesterly wind that will be sustained around 15 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts between 40 to 50 miles per hour possible.
With that in mind, Wind Advisories have been issued for 10 AM to 8 PM for the entire TV5 viewing area. Be sure to secure any loose objects you may have around the yard, or secure your trash bins if Thursday is trash day. Our wind is expected to diminish into Thursday night, but will remain breezy into Friday.
We should continue to see dry weather Thursday night, with overnight lows settling in the lower to upper 30s.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/showers-storms-continue-tonight-rapid-clearing-windy-thursday/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:37 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/showers-storms-continue-tonight-rapid-clearing-windy-thursday/ |
Toyota recalls 460,000 vehicles for stability control glitch
Published: Apr. 13, 2022 at 5:25 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 460,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a software problem that can inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system.
The automaker says that when the vehicles are restarted, the software in rare cases may not automatically switch the system into the “on” mode. That can disable the system.
The recall covers 2020 to 2022 models including the Toyota brand’s Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid. Also included are the LS500h, LX600, NX350h, and NX450h-plus from the Lexus luxury brand.
Dealers will update software on the skid control computer to fix the problem.
Owners will be notified by mid-June.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ | 2022-04-13T23:09:43 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ |
Citrus growers squeezed by inflation
At Riverfront Packing Company in Gifford, President Dan Richey opens a giant cooler to look over the last batches of this years grapefruit harvest.
His product is shopped around the world to European and Asian markets.
"We had a good season, the crop was excellent. The internal quality and flavor was very good," said Richey.
The problem though, is there's not enough fruit overall.
Richey said the recent spike in the cost of orange juice is purely a supply and demand issue, “Citrus greening most recently, urban encroachment and hurricanes. They’ve all contributed to a decline in the citrus volume.”
The citrus crop is reaching lows not seen in decades.
The latest USDA forecast predicts 42.6 million boxes of citrus this year, down from 52.8 million last year.
Just 20 years ago, Florida produced around 287 million boxes of citrus.
Despite declining yields, Richey said there are rising costs for the grower from cartons to shipping, "We’re seeing a doubling in the cost of fertilizer, right when we start to fertilize. We’re seeing a doubling in the cost of diesel."
Richey said they can’t necessarily pass on all their added expenses to the consumer.
“There is a glass ceiling on what the price point can be for consumers to take away... we’re aware of that,” he said.
But with a product still in high demand despite all of the challenges, Richey said the citrus industry will survive, "Things will be a little different. We are not going away. We are very optimistic about the future."
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Civics class, community service for voting fraud suspects
THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — Two men from a sprawling retirement community in Florida will have to enter a pretrial intervention program, perform community service and attend adult civics classes in exchange for deferred prosecutions on their charges of voting more than once in the 2020 election.
Charles Barnes and Jay Ketcik, both from The Villages area, must perform 50 hours of community service each and get a grade of C or better in the adults civics class, according to court records filed last week.
In exchange, State Attorney William Gladson will defer prosecuting them on charges of casting more than one ballot in an election.
The men were among four people from the Republican stronghold of The Villages retirement community arrested late last year and early this year on voter fraud charges.
During the last legislative session, Republican lawmakers passed an election police bill pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate, who justified its need by citing unspecified cases of fraud. DeSantis echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his reelection was stolen from him.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ | 2022-04-13T23:11:14 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/civics-class-community-service-voting-fraud-suspects/ |
Elementary school teacher arrested for possession of ecstasy, police say
OCALA, Fla. (Gray News) – An elementary school teacher in Florida has been taken into custody for possession of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly, after school administrators noticed her acting strangely during school hours, according to police.
The School Resource Officer at Hammett Bowen Elementary School in Ocala told the Marion County Sheriff’s Office he was notified by school administrators Tuesday about first-grade teacher Hiromi Adams. They reportedly told him she was exhibiting concerning behavior, and she was sent to the school’s clinic for a health checkup.
Other teachers reportedly said they had seen Adams going toward the bathroom before leaving the school and believed she may have been attempting to hide something in the bathroom before leaving.
The SRO and school administrators conducted a search of the bathroom, which is also used by students.
During the search, the SRO found a pill bottle with Adams’ name on it. The contents of the pill bottle included a red straw, half of a green pill and a small plastic baggie of green powder. When it was tested, police say the powder proved to be MDMA.
Adams was found off-campus by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy and placed under arrest. When police searched Adams’ person, they said they also found Suboxone.
Adams was then taken to the Marion County Jail.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/elementary-school-teacher-arrested-possession-ecstasy-police-say/ | 2022-04-13T23:11:24 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/elementary-school-teacher-arrested-possession-ecstasy-police-say/ |
Exotic car buyers taken for ride by Boca Raton auto group
Several automobile buyers in Boca Raton are out nearly half a million dollars after they purchased exotic cars from an auto group that has now disappeared. Two lawsuits have been filed against the company, which has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
For many people, it's their dream car. So Frederick Hall was in disbelief when he went to pick up his Lamborghini from Excell Auto Group in Boca Raton last week and it wasn't there.
"I located the Lamborghini on the internet, and I purchased via a sales person at the dealership," Hall told WPTV Contact 5.
Hall said it cost him more than $400,000, which he paid in full.
After the sale, Hall wanted the group's body shop to do some maintenance work on the car and that's when it disappeared.
"I'm working with detectives and trying to find out exactly where my car is," Hall said.
He said no one at the body shop had answers. Two days later, Excell Auto Group's owner, Scott Zankl, filed for bankruptcy, claiming they owe between $10 million and $50 million to their creditors.
"There's a scam going on here, literally," Hall said.
Excell Auto Group is now facing two lawsuits that were both filed last week. One was filed by their landlord and creditor Auto Wholesale of Boca. The second lawsuit was filed by Prestige Luxury Cars.
According to the lawsuits, Prestige and Excell "formed a joint venture whereby Prestige would pay for the acquisition of exotic cars located by Excell."
Prestige had provided $1.3 million to Excell, where cars were acquired and resold at a profit. According to the documents, Excell wrote two checks to Prestige. Both bounced.
"I think what's going to have to happen is a forensic investigation on accounting and accountability for where finances and funds were heading to," Hall said.
Boca Raton police confirm to WPTV that they are investigating several complaints against the auto group.
One of those complaints is from Chad Zakin.
"I've never felt so violated in my life," Zakin said.
Zakin told Contact 5 he dropped his car off at Excell for an appraisal a few months ago but never agreed to a sale.
"On Monday, driving by, I saw the front of his dealership full of police cars, so I pulled in and realized all the cars are missing and vanished," Zakin said.
One of those vanished cars was his Lamborghini. He discovered Excell sold the car without his permission for about $400,000. He hasn't received a penny.
Contact 5 left a message with Zankl. He hasn't returned any calls.
"It's going to be a real big involvement of a lot of owners, cars, probably previous owners, and we'll have to see where it lies," Hall said.
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Homebuyers moving to St. Lucie Co. for affordable prices
As home prices keep soaring, a record number of buyers are now seeking out more affordable markets, according to a new study from real estate firm Redfin.
Redfin said Wednesday that 32.3% of homebuyers in the first quarter looked to move to different areas, saying more affordable areas were their only option.
In South Florida, that home buyer migration is apparently moving north to places like Port St Lucie.
"Home prices here are very cheap. It's slow-paced, not as much traffic," said Lisette Sanchez.
She, her husband and two young children bought a house and moved from Broward County to the Tradition neighborhood this year.
"A few neighbors have moved up here as well from Hollywood from Palm Beach, and they said the same thing," Sanchez said. "They came for the house, for the prices."
Real estate agents in St. Lucie County said they are seeing a steady pace of buyers coming up on Interstate 95.
Zillow's home value index for Port St Lucie is listed at $371,000, compared to the $440,000 home value index for Palm Beach County.
"Anything here about 2,000 square feet, you can buy for $450,000 would cost you almost double in Palm Beach County," said Sonsire Gonzalez, a real estate agent in Port St Lucie.
She specializes in new construction homes.
"I even offer to help them in Palm Beach, but oftentimes it's just out of their price range, so they're coming here. It's a great city and has a lot to offer," Gonzalez said.
Home values are rising in Port St. Lucie but thousands of new homes are being built. Real estate experts say for now there is inventory for buyers, something in very short supply in Palm Beach County.
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Loxahatchee nurse with eggs from 50 chickens saving money at grocery store
Inflation is affecting our grocery bills and with Easter coming up, finding affordable eggs is challenging. However, friends are turning to a Loxahatchee woman to help their bottom line.
Every morning, Kim Bass checks on her dozens of chickens and they each have a name.
"That's Uno, because he's the only one that hatched,” said Bass. “We hatched him and his daddy over there is Willie Nelson."
Some call Bass the "chicken whisperer."
"A few years ago, my father-in-law always had them for a long time," she said. "I thought it would be fun and it would be great for the grandkids to have like little baby chickens to learn the process of how they grow."
But having a farm of chickens has turned into friends asking to buy eggs. The cost to buy eggs is up compared to last year.
"I supply my close friends and my family with eggs,” said Bass. “But if I get too many, I sell them to other friends and that's been happening lately. And everybody at my job has been asking me for them."
Bass, however, does not sell eggs to the general public.
"The eggs are organic, and free range, my chickens are outside every day, so they are really healthy” she said. “They actually don't look like the store-bought eggs."
Bass says the farm-fresh eggs also taste different from eggs found in the grocery store.
"People ask me all of the time, the eggs are all different colors, do they taste different,” she said. “To me they don't taste different from each other, they definitely taste different from the store-bought eggs."
Bass also grows vegetables for her family and her friends say they want to do the same.
"They want to move out to the country, so that they can grow their own things,” she said. “We actually have a garden as well, and our kids grow their own things in their yard even though they live in town they still do that."
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/loxahatchee-nurse-with-eggs-50-chickens-saving-money-grocery-store/ | 2022-04-13T23:11:42 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/loxahatchee-nurse-with-eggs-50-chickens-saving-money-grocery-store/ |
Police: Man arrested for sexually assaulting disabled teen over four-year period
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN/Gray News) - Police in Nebraska have arrested a man for sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled teen over the course of several years.
KOLN reports Lancaster County deputies were called to a Lincoln-area school on Tuesday following a report from a student who said they’d been sexually assaulted by someone they knew.
Police said the teenager was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center, and a search warrant was then produced to inspect a man’s home.
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said the teen explained to investigators that the assaults had been happening over the last three to four years.
Police searched a 53-year-old man’s home before arresting him Tuesday evening. Sheriff Wagner said the man is a convicted felon and had two firearms in his home.
The man was arrested for first-degree sexual assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult, strangulation and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Wagner said the 53-year-old had been arrested in Texas back in 2005 for indecency with a child but the charge was later dismissed in 2006.
KOLN reports it is not releasing the name of the man arrested to better protect the teen’s identity.
Copyright 2022 KOLN via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/police-man-arrested-sexually-assaulting-disabled-teen-over-four-year-period/ | 2022-04-13T23:11:48 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/police-man-arrested-sexually-assaulting-disabled-teen-over-four-year-period/ |
Toyota recalls 460,000 vehicles for stability control glitch
Published: Apr. 13, 2022 at 5:25 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 460,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a software problem that can inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system.
The automaker says that when the vehicles are restarted, the software in rare cases may not automatically switch the system into the “on” mode. That can disable the system.
The recall covers 2020 to 2022 models including the Toyota brand’s Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid. Also included are the LS500h, LX600, NX350h, and NX450h-plus from the Lexus luxury brand.
Dealers will update software on the skid control computer to fix the problem.
Owners will be notified by mid-June.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ | 2022-04-13T23:11:56 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/13/toyota-recalls-460000-vehicles-stability-control-glitch/ |
By ADAM GELLER, CARLA K. JOHNSON and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
On the deadliest day of a horrific week in April 2020, COVID took the lives of 816 people in New York City alone. Lost in the blizzard of pandemic data that’s been swirling ever since is the fact that 43-year-old Fernando Morales was one of them.
Two years and nearly 1 million deaths later, his brother, Adam Almonte, fingers Morales’ bass guitar and visualizes him playing tunes. In a park overlooking the Hudson River, he recalls long-ago days tossing a baseball with Morales.
“When he passed away it was like I lost a brother, a parent and a friend all at the same time,” says Almonte, 16 years younger than Morales, who shared his love of books, video games and wrestling, and worked for the city processing teachers’ pensions.
If losing one person leaves such a lasting void, consider all that’s been lost with the deaths of 1 million.
In the next few weeks the U.S. toll from the coronavirus will likely surpass that once unthinkable milestone.
The pandemic has left an estimated 194,000 children in the U.S. without one or both of their parents. It has deprived communities of leaders, teachers and caregivers. It has robbed us of expertise and persistence, humor and devotion.
Through wave after wave, the virus has compiled a merciless chronology of loss — one by one by one.
When it began, the threat hadn’t yet come into focus. In February 2020, an unfamiliar respiratory illness started spreading through a nursing home outside Seattle, the Life Care Center of Kirkland.
Neil Lawyer, 84, was a short-term patient there, recovering after hospitalization for an infection. When he died of COVID-19 on March 8, the U.S. toll stood at 30.
Lawyer, born on a Mississippi farm to parents whose mixed-race heritage subjected them to bitter discrimination, was the family’s first college graduate.
Trained as a chemist, he lived and worked in Belgium for more than two decades. Fellow expats knew him for his devotion to coaching baseball and for his rich baritone.
After Lawyer — known to family as “Moose” — and his wife retired to Bellevue, Washington, he and other family members would serenade couples at their weddings in an ensemble dubbed the Moose-Tones.
Last October, when one of his granddaughters married, the Moose-Tones went on without him.
“He would have just been beaming because, you know, it was the most important thing in the world to him late in life, to get together with family,” his son David Lawyer says.
___
By late spring of 2020 the pandemic seemed to be loosening its grip, until governors moved to reopen their states and deaths spiraled again.
Luis Alfonso Bay Montgomery had worked through the pandemic’s early months, piloting a tractor through the lettuce and cauliflower fields near Yuma, Arizona. Even after he began feeling sick in mid-June, he insisted on laboring on, says Yolanda Bay, his wife of 42 years.
By the time Montgomery, 59, was rushed to a hospital, he required intubation.
He died on July 18, a day that saw the U.S. toll surpass 140,000. And for the first time since they’d met as teenagers in their native Mexico, Bay was on her own.
Driving past the fields her husband plowed, she imagines him on his tractor.
“It’s time to get rid of his clothes, but …,” she says, unable to finish the sentence. “There are times that I feel completely alone.
___
On December 14, 2020, cameras jockeyed for position as the nation’s first COVID vaccine was administered to a New York nurse. But the vaccines had arrived too late to save a fellow caregiver, Jennifer McClung.
At Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama, staffers knew McClung, a longtime dialysis nurse, as “Mama Jen.” She took new nurses under her wing, and some nights woke up crying with worry about her patients.
In November, McClung, 54, and her husband, John, also a hospital worker, both tested positive. She died hours before the vaccination campaign began and the U.S. toll passed 300,000.
Today, a decal with a halo and angel’s wings marks the place McClung once occupied at a third-floor nurses’ station. In her mother, Stella Olive’s kitchen, a digital picture frame displays a steady stream of pictures and videos of the daughter she lost.
“I can hear her laugh. I can hear her voice,” McClung’s mother says. “I just can’t touch her. It is the hardest thing in the world.”
___
Even when the delta wave ebbed, the toll continued to rise.
Last September, as Sherman Peebles, a sheriff’s deputy in Columbus, Georgia, lay in the hospital, the U.S. toll topped 675,000, surpassing the number of Americans killed by the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago. He died the following day.
In addition to his work as a lawman, the 49-year-old Peebles spent every Saturday manning a barber chair at his best friend Gerald Riley’s shop.
Riley still arrives at the barber shop each Saturday expecting to see Peebles’ truck. At day’s end, he thinks back to the routine he and his friend of more than 20 years always followed.
“I love you, brother,” they’d tell one another.
How could Riley have known those would be the last words they’d ever share?
___
The doctors and nurses were fighting for their lives.
So every evening through the spring of 2020, Larry Mass and Arnie Kantrowitz opened the windows to thank them, joining New York’s symphony of air horns and raucous cheers.
Mass worried about his partner, whose immune system was weakened by medication after a kidney transplant. For months, Kantrowitz, a retired professor and noted gay rights activist, took refuge on their couch.
But it wasn’t enough. Arnie Kantrowitz died of complications from COVID on January 21, as the toll moved nearer to 1 million.
Kantrowitz’s papers, in the collection of the New York Public Library, preserve a record of his activism. But the 40 years he shared with Mass can only live in memory.
On days when news headlines leave Mass feeling angry about the world, he reaches out to his missing partner. What would Kantrowitz say if he were here?
“He’s still with me,” Mass says. “He’s there in my heart.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/a-million-empty-spaces-chronicling-covids-ruthless-us-toll/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:39 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/a-million-empty-spaces-chronicling-covids-ruthless-us-toll/ |
There are reports that Russia may be planning to use — or, according to unverified reports from local officials in Mariupol, might have already used — chemical weapons as part of its offensive in eastern Ukraine. The Biden administration has already set up a Tiger Team of national security officials to consider options in the event this happens; now is the time for these discussions to become more public.
We’ve traveled this road before, badly. In August 2012, Barack Obama publicly warned the Bashar Assad regime in Syria against employing chemical weapons. “A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized,” he said. “That would change my calculus.”
It didn’t. The following year, reports emerged that Assad had begun using chemical weapons, culminating in a sarin gas attack in a suburb of Damascus. Obama hesitated, fearing a wider war. The British Parliament voted against taking military action in Syria. Congressional Republicans switched overnight from hawkish interventionists to skeptical isolationists. Vladimir Putin intervened with a face-saving offer to get Assad to voluntarily divest himself of his chemical arsenal.
The Obama administration crowed that it had achieved the best possible result. But it later came to light that Assad had not given up his full arsenal, and he continued to use chlorine gas against his adversaries without consequence. Putin consolidated his alliance with Assad, eventually leading to the introduction of Russian forces in Syria in 2015.
And it served as a predicate for Russia’s seizure of Crimea a few months later. Obama’s hesitance in Syria “was decisive,” former President François Hollande of France recently told my colleague Roger Cohen. “Decisive for American credibility, and that had consequences. After that, I believe, Mr. Putin considered Mr. Obama weak.”
This is not a scenario the Biden team can afford to repeat. What should the administration do?
Make only promises it intends to keep.
Syria’s use of chemical weapons was a military, humanitarian and international-norms crisis. Obama’s red line turned it into a crisis of American credibility — one whose consequences were much farther-reaching than anything that happened in Syria.
The U.S. response should be asymmetric.
President Joe Biden issued a veiled threat to Putin when they met last June in Geneva, by mentioning the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline: “I looked at him. I said, ‘Well, how would you feel if ransomware took on the pipelines from your oil fields?’ ” That was fair warning.
Bring maximum diplomatic pressure to bear on Germany and other European states to end oil and gas imports from Russia.
According to one estimate, those sales provide the Kremlin with $1 billion a day. Berlin remains the weakest link in the effort to create an effective sanctions regime against Russia. This position, craven now, will become morally untenable for Germany if Russia starts gassing Ukrainians. It should lead to the immediate removal of all Russian financial institutions from the SWIFT transaction system to make payments for oil and gas almost impossible.
Tear apart Russia’s supply chains.
This is the project of Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, who has been looking at ways to disrupt the Kremlin’s military supply chains. It should move beyond this to every sector of the Russian economy, by automatically forbidding any company doing business in Russia to also do business in the United States and, hopefully, Europe.
Arm Ukraine with offensive weapons.
“If Putin turns out to have used chemical weapons — a favorite M.O. of his, from poisoning political opponents to supporting their use in the Syrian battlefield — the West needs to respond aggressively,” the former NATO commander Adm. James Stavridis wrote me Tuesday. “Assuming these weapons would be delivered by air, it raises the ante in giving the Ukrainians even more tools to run an effective no-fly zone, including MIG-29 fighters and possibly other platforms and drones with anti-air capability.”
Target Belarus.
The Biden administration is leery of direct confrontation with Russia. It should be much less restrained in going after the Kremlin’s puppet regime. Turning off the lights in Minsk for a day would be a useful shot across the bow as the dictator Alexander Lukashenko ponders joining the Kremlin’s military effort.
Expect the worst.
“He has no compunction against really horrific activity,” another former top American military commander told me about Aleksandr Dvornikov, Russia’s new theater commander. “That’s what he did in Aleppo.” One of the hallmarks of Assad’s use of chemical weapons is that he began to use them in discreet ways but grew bolder over time. The effect, the former officer warned, could be a “cumulative Srebrenica,” referring to the 1995 Serb massacre of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Bosnia.
Plan for a long war.
Make sure we can provision Ukraine with the weapons it needs for at least a year. Begin to train Ukrainian forces in advanced Western combat systems. Prepare to wall off Russia from the global economy for a decade.
We may not be able to stop Putin from using chemical weapons, but we can still avoid the fatal mistake we made a decade ago with Assad. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/bret-stephens-what-do-we-do-if-putin-uses-chemical-weapons/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:45 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/bret-stephens-what-do-we-do-if-putin-uses-chemical-weapons/ |
How do you stop people from stealing copper wire from street lights?
St. Paul Public Works installed tamper-proof screws on light pole bases and used other methods to try to make wire inaccessible, but thieves have still found ways to get to the wire by resorting to battery-powered tools.
If they’re frustrated enough, they’ve used sledgehammers to access wires and even vehicles to knock over light poles — “then we have even more damage to contend with and even maybe an emergency situation,” St. Paul traffic operations division manager Joe Spah told the City Council Wednesday.
Another strategy: The city marks wires with “City of St. Paul,” however thieves remove the markings so they can sell them.
“For everything we try to do, there’s an action in response and then we’re trying to deal with that response,” Spah said. “And so it’s kind of a cat and mouse game.”
With wire theft costing St. Paul Public Works nearly $295,000 last year, compared with about $105,000 in 2020, city workers and officials are continuing to look for creative solutions.
Among other measures:
- The city plans to try out theft-monitoring devices on street lights that would sent a notification when wires are cut.
- When new street lights are being installed, Public Works is trying some different design approaches to how wire is put in the ground. This was done on Ayd Mill Road.
- The Parks and Recreation Department has used pole designs that limit access to wires.
REPEATED THEFTS IN SOME AREAS
There are ways the public can help, including reporting street lights that aren’t working by filling out a form at stpaul.gov/streetlights and dialing 911 if they see suspicious activity around street lights, such as people who appear to be “working” but no city of St. Paul vehicle is in the area.
Beyond the costs, City Council President Amy Brendmoen underscored that there are parts of the city “that are perpetual victims of wire theft, which leaves areas unlit and unsafe.”
The green on the map shows street lights maintained by Parks and Recreation that are known to have been targeted for wire theft and the orange shows street lights that are the responsibility of Public Works that have been struck by thieves. Some locations have been the subject of multiple wire thefts.
Areas that are not highly residential and that are less heavily traveled at night — such as Phalen Boulevard, Johnson Parkway, Shepard Road and Warner Road — are places where wire thieves go because “there’s not a lot of eyes on those areas,” said St. Paul Police Senior Cmdr. Kurt Hallstrom.
The thefts can also be difficult to keep up with — there are places where city workers have replaced stolen wire two to three times before it’s stolen again a week later, Spah said.
RISING RATE FOR SCRAPPED COPPER
Copper wire theft from street lights is not a new issue, but it hasn’t happened “to the degree that we’re seeing it right now,” Spah said. It’s a problem nationally and the most common target of copper theft is air conditioning units.
The amount of money that people could get from selling copper to scrapyards was fairly consistent from 1960 to the mid-2000s. But since then the rate has sharply increased and also fluctuated, Spah pointed out. In 2008, the rate was about $1.29 for a pound of scrapped copper, it was just over $2 per pound last year and is currently at nearly $5 a pound, according to Spah.
“We don’t have a direct correlation of number of thefts to actual price,” Spah said. But he noted that thefts typically subside over the winter — it’s more difficult to steal wire when it’s frozen in the conduit — and there was not a reprieve from thefts this past winter.
St. Paul has looked at alternatives to copper wiring, but different types of metals are also attractive to thieves. Though the city has switched to some smaller wires that have about half the amount of copper as the traditional size, thieves “don’t hesitate to take it,” Spah said.
The city has also examined whether solar power could be an option for street lighting, but it doesn’t currently meet the city’s lighting needs and there are infrastructure challenges.
SOLVING PROBLEM RATHER THAN BUDGETING FOR LOSS
Thieves get into light poles and cut the wires, then go back later to pull the wires out, Hallstrom said.
“We’ve actually stopped quite a few people that are in the proximity of the light poles,” he said. “… In these areas, you can see for a mile in either direction, so when they see a car coming, they put down their tools … and then they walk away.”
If police don’t catch them in the act, it’s difficult to prove someone’s involvement in wire theft, and therefore to make an arrest or seek criminal charges, Hallstrom said.
The nearly $300,000 cost to Public Works from last year doesn’t reflect the full picture — it’s what the department was able to fix and replace in a year because it’s a non-budgeted expense. The numbers also don’t include the costs of wire thefts from street lights in city parks, which are the responsibility of Parks and Recreation.
“I know that we would rather solve this problem than budget for the loss,” Brendmoen said. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/how-to-stop-wire-heists-from-street-lights-st-paul-plans-to-try-theft-monitoring-devices-varies-how-wire-is-installed/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:45 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/how-to-stop-wire-heists-from-street-lights-st-paul-plans-to-try-theft-monitoring-devices-varies-how-wire-is-installed/ |
Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks knew he was out of sync from the onset of his start Wednesday.
Rushing to the plate. No fastball command. It all quickly put Hendricks in a tough spot. Five of the first Pittsburgh Pirates reached base against Hendricks. Three scored on a home run he surrendered to outfielder Ben Gamel.
Hendricks’ outing didn’t get much better from there, putting the Cubs in a bad spot en route to a 6-2 loss at PNC Park.
Hendricks and catcher Willson Contreras turned to his secondary pitches in hopes they would be more effective than his fastball. That didn’t work either.
“It’s just trying to find that timing,” Hendricks said. “Nothing’s looking the same, everything’s looking different coming out of your hand. It’s not tracking, it’s not on the right lines. So you’re trying to find it — find your timing, focus on the glove, get the ball down, that kind of thing. But everything was up. Nothing was playing off of each other.”
Too many pitches were balls out of hand, and it wasn’t just one pitch type. He struggled to command all four in his repertoire — four-seam fastball, sinker, changeup and curveball. Pirates hitters weren’t challenged enough around the zone, and they capitalized on his misses.
Contreras believes they followed the scouting report right away instead of doing a better job getting Hendricks’ fastball established.
“During the game, we’re trying to get him back on track, but sometimes the feeling is not there and you’ve got to battle with what you have,” Contreras said. “I think the pitch selection wasn’t the best.”
Hendricks tried to use warmup pitches before each inning to tweak something and get on track. Nothing seemed to pan out. The second inning was Hendricks’ only clean frame, getting a groundout and two strikeouts. That mojo didn’t last long, however. The Pirates tacked on two runs in the third on Kevin Newman’s two-run triple off the right-field wall.
“Sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t, and today it definitely didn’t,” Hendricks said. “Everything was out of whack.”
Hendricks’ four walks were his most since June 21, 2018. It tied his career high, previously done six times.
The Cubs’ best chance to overcome Hendricks’ rough outing came in the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out to bring up Contreras, who hit a 435-foot solo home run in his first at-bat. Contreras turned on an inside fastball but hit into an inning-ending double play.
Bench coach Andy Green took over in the second inning for manager David Ross, who was under the weather.
“He’s going to make 30-plus starts for us this year if everything goes according to plan in the regular season, so he’s not going to have it every single time out, especially when you talk about a quick spring and what guys have been through,” Green said of Hendricks. “It was just one of those days where he just wasn’t settled, and you run into that from time to time.”
After delivering a vintage performance opening day, Hendricks didn’t make it out of the fourth Wednesday, pulled after Newman’s triple. Hendricks’ 3⅔ innings — in which he allowed six runs on seven hits — were eerily reminiscent of his April 2021 and the struggles he battled during the final two months of the season too.
Even Hendricks acknowledged how Wednesday was very similar to his career-worst season last year and his bad parts of spring training.
“When it’s good I was giving myself more time over the rubber,” Hendricks said. “I was doing it out of the stretch especially, just pulling off, being way too quick. Not establishing the fastball, walks, bad walks, and just bad pitches over the middle of the plate.”
The focus shifts to making sure Wednesday’s performance doesn’t snowball into his next start and beyond. His outing will look much different if it becomes a one-off aberration rather than the beginning of April struggles Part 2. That means resetting between now and his next start Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks wants to get back to simplifying things and locate his fastball at the bottom of the zone, which was a focal point during camp. Essentially he doesn’t want to try to do too much. The Cubs need this to be the type of bad start that nearly every pitcher experiences occasionally. Their rotation looks a lot different if Hendricks isn’t right.
“I don’t know if I was doing too much to get out of it, but I know what it is to establish it,” Hendricks said. “Put in the work and put the right focus in this week.”
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/kyle-hendricks-hopes-a-bad-start-in-the-chicago-cubs-6-2-loss-is-a-one-off-everything-was-out-of-whack/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:45 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/kyle-hendricks-hopes-a-bad-start-in-the-chicago-cubs-6-2-loss-is-a-one-off-everything-was-out-of-whack/ |
A memorial service for Washington County Attorney Pete Orput will be held in June, family members said Wednesday.
Orput, of Stillwater, died April 3, less than two weeks after learning he had stomach cancer. He was 66.
A celebration of his life will be 4-8 p.m. June 8 at La Pointe Events in Somerset, Wis., where family, friends and colleagues will be invited “to share his memory and join in a final farewell to a beloved husband, father and friend,” family members wrote in a statement released by the Washington County Attorney’s office.
Orput’s term was set to expire at the end of the year.
Since Orput’s death, Brent Wartner, First Assistant Washington County Attorney under Orput, has been leading the department.
The Washington County Board is expected to meet in the next few weeks to discuss the process regarding Orput’s replacement.
“We have not had any discussions yet regarding the process or options,” Washington County Administrator Kevin Corbid said Wednesday. “The board’s first priority was to support the family and the staff in his office.”
First elected county attorney in 2010, Orput announced in January that he would not seek another term after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year and a half earlier. He said he planned to retire at the end of the year.
RELATED: Pete Orput on Parkinson’s diagnosis, Derek Chauvin and the 1927 Yankees
He told the Pioneer Press in January that serving the people of Washington County “has been the highlight of my career.” | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/memorial-for-washington-county-attorney-pete-orput-set-for-june/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:47 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/memorial-for-washington-county-attorney-pete-orput-set-for-june/ |
PHILADELPHIA — It wasn’t the cleanest baseball game the Mets will play this year. But the Amazin’s offense overcame their bullpen headache, managing to leave their first road trip of the year on a high note.
Pete Alonso, Wednesday’s designated hitter for the Mets, had a banner day at the plate — one he enjoyed for the first time since his rookie season. His productive afternoon wound up being the difference for the club.
“I thought we did an excellent job of pouring it on all day,” said Alonso, who has nine RBI in two games as DH so far this year. “That’s what it takes to win these tough divisional games.”
Alonso drove in five of the Amazin’s eight runs in the Mets’ 9-6 win over the Phillies on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. He crushed a three-run home run in the sixth inning, giving the Mets a seven-run lead at the time, and went 3-for-5 with two doubles. Wednesday was the first time Alonso collected five or more RBI since Aug. 15, 2019 in Atlanta.
The Mets (5-2) head back to Queens after a successful trip against their division rivals. The team will enjoy an off-day on Thursday, before the home opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday at Citi Field.
“We played so extremely well this road trip, and I’m just so excited to play in front of Mets fans,” Alonso said. “It’s going to be a fun year and I can’t wait to get back to Citi.”
Though it seemed like Alonso busted open the game, the Phillies cut the Mets lead from 8-1 to 8-5 after a productive couple of innings against New York’s relievers. Sean Reid-Foley, Joely Rodriguez and Adam Ottavino combined to give up four earned runs on three hits and allowed three walks in the sixth and seventh.
So, the Mets’ seven-run lead diminished to a save situation, requiring their Mets closer in a game he had no business entering just a few innings prior. Edwin Diaz allowed a leadoff home run to Bryce Harper in the ninth, but then he retired the side to shut the door on the Phillies for the second straight game.
Max Scherzer’s second start of the year was laborious, but he battled his way through five innings and limited the Phillies’ damage. Kyle Schwarber, who has a career 1.106 OPS in 32 games against the Mets, went hitless in the three-game series.
“Our guys pitched him really well,” manager Buck Showalter said.
Mets pitchers combined to stifle his at-bats; Schwaber went 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts.
“When I needed to, I made big pitches, when runners were on base,” Scherzer said. “Together, we navigated that lineup pretty well.”
Scherzer walked Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos in the first inning, putting himself in an early jam. But he managed to escape by striking out Jean Segura and inducing a groundout to Didi Gregorius. Though he settled down for the next two innings, his fourth inning was again a bit of a slog as he allowed a run on three hits.
But part of Scherzer’s speciality, and part of why he’s a once-in-a-generation pitcher, is his ability to prevent an inning from snowballing. So he dug deep, and grinded through his second outing of the season much the same way he did in his first.
Scherzer said the hamstring issue that materialized in spring training is finally 100% behind him. The veteran right-hander said he actually had his right leg underneath him on Wednesday, so he was trying to adjust to his returned, full strength.
“We’ve done all the good things here to start the season,” Scherzer said. “We’re doing good things on the mound, we’re doing good things at the plate. That’s how you win ballgames, playing team baseball, when everyone plays well together. That’s what it takes to consistently win – getting good pitching, good hitting and good fielding. When you get all three of those firing together, that’s when you can rattle off series.”
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/pete-alonso-leads-mets-to-series-win-in-philly-with-3-run-homer-5-rbi/ | 2022-04-13T23:14:59 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/pete-alonso-leads-mets-to-series-win-in-philly-with-3-run-homer-5-rbi/ |
By ROBERT BURNS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia’s initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching, potentially decisive, battle for Ukraine’s contested Donbas region. Yet the Russian military is making little headway halting what has become a historic arms express.
The U.S. numbers alone are mounting: more than 12,000 weapons designed to defeat armored vehicles, some 1,400 shoulder-fired Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft and more than 50 million rounds of ammunition, among many other things. Dozens of other nations are adding to the totals.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved another $800 million worth of military assistance, including additional helicopters and the first provision of American artillery.
These armaments have helped an under-gunned Ukrainian military defy predictions that it would be quickly overrun by Russia. They explain in part why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army gave up, at least for now, its attempt to capture Kyiv, the capital, and has narrowed its focus to battling for eastern and southern Ukraine.
U.S. officials and analysts offer numerous explanations for why the Russians have had so little success interdicting Western arms moving overland from neighboring countries, including Poland. Among the likely reasons: Russia’s failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skies has limited its use of air power. Also, the Russians have struggled to deliver weapons and supplies to their own troops in Ukraine.
Some say Moscow’s problem begins at home.
“The short answer to the question is that they are an epically incompetent army badly led from the very top,” said James Stavridis, a retired U.S. Navy admiral who was the top NATO commander in Europe from 2009 to 2013.
The Russians also face practical obstacles. Robert G. Bell, a longtime NATO official and now a professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech University, said the shipments lend themselves to being hidden or disguised in ways that can make them elusive to the Russians — “short of having a network of espionage on the scene” to pinpoint the convoys’ movements.
“It’s not as easy to stop this assistance flow as it might seem,” said Stephen Biddle, a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University. “Things like ammunition and shoulder-fired missiles can be transported in trucks that look just like any other commercial truck. And the trucks carrying the munitions the Russians want to interdict are just a small part of a much larger flow of goods and commerce moving around in Poland and Ukraine and across the border.
“So the Russians have to find the needle in this very big haystack to destroy the weapons and ammo they’re after and not waste scarce munitions on trucks full of printer paper or baby diapers or who knows what.”
Even with this Western assistance it’s uncertain whether Ukraine will ultimately prevail against a bigger Russian force. The Biden administration has drawn the line at committing U.S. troops to the fight. It has opted instead to orchestrate international condemnation and economic sanctions, provide intelligence information, bolster NATO’s eastern flank to deter a wider war with Russia and donate weapons.
In mid-March, a Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said arms shipments would be targeted.
“We warned the United States that pumping weapons into Ukraine from a number of countries as it has orchestrated isn’t just a dangerous move but an action that turns the respective convoys into legitimate targets,” he said in televised remarks.
But thus far the Russians appear not to have put a high priority on arms interdiction, perhaps because their air force is leery of flying into Ukraine’s air defenses to search out and attack supply convoys on the move. They have struck fixed sites like arms depots and fuel storage locations, but to limited effect.
On Monday, the Russians said they destroyed four S-300 surface-to-air missile launchers that had been given to Ukraine by an unspecified European country. Slovakia, a NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine, donated just such a system last week but denied it had been destroyed. On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said long-range missiles were used to hit two Ukrainian ammo depots.
As the fighting intensifies in the Donbas and perhaps along the coastal corridor to the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, Putin may feel compelled to strike harder at the arms pipeline, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called vital to his nation’s survival.
In the meantime, a staggering volume and range of war materiel is arriving almost daily.
“The scope and speed of our support to meeting Ukraine’s defense needs are unprecedented in modern times,” said John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary. He said the approximately $2.6 billion in weapons and other material that has been offered to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration is equivalent to more than half of Ukraine’s normal defense budget.
One example: The Pentagon says it has provided more than 5,000 Javelin missiles, which are among the world’s most effective weapons against tanks and other armored vehicles — and can even take down a low-flying helicopter. The missile, shaped like a clunky dumb bell and weighing 50 pounds (23 kilograms), is fired by an individual soldier; from its launch tube it flies up at a steep angle and descends directly onto its target in what its known as a curveball shot — hitting the top of a tank where its armor is weakest.
The Pentagon said Wednesday that an unspecified number of additional Javelins are to be delivered by Thursday, and the U.S. will complete the delivery of 100 armed Switchblade “kamikaze” drones this week.
The specific routes used to move the U.S. and other Western materials into Ukraine are secret for security reasons, but the basic process is not. Just this week, two U.S. military cargo planes arrived in Eastern Europe with items ranging from machine guns and small arms ammunition to body armor and grenades, the Pentagon said.
A similar load is due later this week to complete delivery of $800 million in assistance approved by Biden just one month ago. The weapons and equipment are offloaded, moved onto trucks and driven into Ukraine by Ukrainian soldiers for delivery.
Kirby said the material sometimes reaches troops in the field within 48 hours of entering Ukraine. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/russia-has-yet-to-slow-a-western-arms-express-into-ukraine/ | 2022-04-13T23:15:05 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/russia-has-yet-to-slow-a-western-arms-express-into-ukraine/ |
By PAUL J. WEBER and ACACIA CORONADO
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday defied intensifying pressure over his new border policy that has gridlocked trucks entering the U.S. and shut down some of the world’s busiest trade bridges as the Mexican government, businesses and even some allies urge him to relent.
The two-term Republican governor, who has ordered that commercial trucks from Mexico undergo extra inspections as part of a fight with President Joe Biden’s administration over immigration, refused to fully reverse course as traffic remains snarled.
The standoff has stoked warnings by trade groups and experts that U.S. grocery shoppers could soon notice shortages on shelves and higher prices unless the normal flow of trucks resumes.
Abbott announced Wednesday that he would stop inspections at one bridge in Laredo after reaching an agreement with the governor of neighboring Nuevo Leon in Mexico. But some of the most dramatic truck backups and bridge closures have occurred elsewhere along Texas’ 1,200-mile border.
“I understand the concerns that businesses have trying to move product across the border,” Abbott said during a visit to Laredo. “But I also know well the frustration of my fellow Texans and my fellow Americans caused by the Biden administration not securing our border.”
Abbott said inbound commercial trucks elsewhere will continue to undergo thorough inspections by state troopers until leaders of Mexico’s three other neighboring states reach agreements with Texas over security. He did not spell out what those measures must entail.
At the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, where more produce crosses than any other land port in the U.S., truckers protesting Abbott’s order had effectively shut down the bridge since Monday. But Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials said the protests had concluded and commercial traffic had resumed.
Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel García joined Abbott in Laredo, where backups on the Colombia Solidarity Bridge have stretched for three hours or longer. Garcia said Nuevo Leon would begin checkpoints to assure Abbott they “would not have any trouble.”
Abbott said he was hopeful other Mexican states would soon follow and said those states had been in contact with his office. On Tuesday, the governors of Coahuila and Tamaulipas had sent a letter to Abbott calling the inspections overzealous.
“This policy will ultimately increase consumer costs in an already record 40-year inflated market — holding the border hostage is not the answer,” the letter read.
The slowdowns are the fallout of an initiative that Abbott says is needed to curb human trafficking and the flow of drugs. Abbott ordered the inspections as part of “unprecedented actions” he promised in response to the Biden administration winding down a public health law that has limited asylum-seekers in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to the inspections, Abbott also said Texas would begin offering migrants bus rides to Washington, D.C., in a demonstration of frustration with the Biden administration and Congress. Hours before the news conference in Laredo, Abbott announced the first bus carrying 24 migrants had arrived in Washington.
During the last week of March, Border Patrol officials said the border averaged more than 7,100 crossings daily.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki called Abbott’s order “unnecessary and redundant.” Trucks are inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents upon entering the country, and while Texas troopers have previously done additional inspections on some vehicles, local officials and business owners say troopers have never stopped every truck until now.
Cross-border traffic has plummeted to a third of normal levels since the inspections began, according to Mexico’s government. Mexico is a major supplier of fresh vegetables to the U.S., and importers say the wait times and rerouting of trucks to other bridges as far away as Arizona has spoiled some produce shipments.
The escalating pressure on Abbott, who is up for reelection in November, has come from his supporters and members of his own party.
The Texas Trucking Association, which has endorsed Abbott, said that the current situation “cannot be sustained.”
John Esparza, the association’s president, said he agrees with attempts to find a remedy with Mexico’s governors. But he said if talks take long, congestion could overwhelm bridges where inspections by Texas are no longer being done.
“The longer that goes, the more the impact is felt across the country,” Esparza said. “ It is like when a disaster strikes.”
The slowdowns have set off some of widest backlash to date of Abbott’s multibillion-dollar border operation, which the two-term governor has made the cornerstone of his administration. Texas has thousands of state troopers and National Guard members on the border and has converted prisons into jails for migrants arrested on state trespassing charges.
Critics question how the inspections are meeting Abbott’s objective of stopping the flow of migrants and drugs. Asked what troopers had turned up in their truck inspections, Abbott directed the question to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
As of Monday, the agency said it had inspected more than 3,400 commercial vehicles and placed more than 800 “out of service” for violations that included defective brakes, tires and lighting. It made no mention of whether the inspections turned up migrants or drugs.
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Associated Press reporters Acacia Coronado. Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/texas-keeping-most-truck-inspections-despite-border-gridlock/ | 2022-04-13T23:15:11 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/13/texas-keeping-most-truck-inspections-despite-border-gridlock/ |