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Early autism detection at U of SC offers help and hope to families
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Megan and Justin Force of Spartanburg, know firsthand the challenges and obstacles that parents of autistic children face. They are parents of three- bright and beautiful kids. Wrenley, Wilder, and 6 year old, Wyatt.
Wyatt, their oldest child was diagnosed with autism after years of observation as a toddler.
“Two and a half years, that’s what it took to get the diagnosis,” Megan said in an interview with WIS. “There are certain things that are not available to that child without a diagnosis.”
And that’s why earlier detection of autism is the focus of research at the Early Social Development and Interaction Lab at the Institute for Mind and Brain at U of SC.
Dr. Jessica Bradshaw is the director of the Lab. “We’re interested in pinpointing and identifying what happens really early say - in the first months before infants are even able to communicate, to see what might predict autism,” Bradshaw said.
The Force family is one of 100 families participating in a study that will track infants through the first few years of life.
Researchers are charting developmental progress, through regular visits and a battery of tests.
Wyatt’s sister Wrenley, who is 6 months old is enrolled in the study.
”Autism we know is in part genetic,” Dr. Jennings said. “So that’s a big reason why we study infant siblings of children with autism.”
The Force family volunteered to be a part of the program, and they say it’s been very helpful, as the researchers share their findings with the parents with each visit.
The Forces also say they appreciate the sense of community in the program.
”It’s scary in the sense that you don’t want bad news.” Justin Force said. “But then again, having an autistic child already, we know that early intervention is key.”
Dr. Bradshaw agrees. “We know, based on research that earlier interventions lead to better developmental outcomes for kids with autism,” she said.
Researchers watch and record the interactions between mom and baby, an as that connection and that engagement with a caregiver offers clues.
And they track eye movements to see how the child responds to stimuli. What they see, even as early as a few months old can be critical in getting an early diagnosis and getting a potentially autistic child the help they need sooner.
The program is accepting new participants for their ongoing study. To find out more-- head here: https://www.esdilab.com/participate.html
U of SC is also hosting a virtual talent show for the autism community, open to all children and teens across the state. For more information head here: https://www.esdilab.com/autisms-got-talent.html
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/early-autism-detection-u-sc-offers-help-hope-families/
| 2022-04-08T04:15:54
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FDA warns of raw oysters potentially contaminated with norovirus
(Gray News) – The Food and Drug Administration is working with Canadian food and health agencies to investigate a multi-state outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters from British Columbia.
The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in at least 13 states, the FDA confirmed.
These states include:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- New York
- Oregon
- Texas
- Washington
The FDA says oysters can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems.
Food contaminated with norovirus may also look, smell and taste normal.
Norovirus can infect people of all ages, and the most common symptoms of infection are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Additional symptoms can include fever, headache and body ache.
These symptoms will usually develop 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. People typically recover from norovirus in one to three days.
To protect yourself from norovirus infection, the FDA urges you to avoid eating raw oysters in any of the locations listed above. If you have any of the products, the agency recommends throwing them away or returning them to the distributor.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:00
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Fellow sisters in Louisiana pray for abducted nun’s safe return
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Grays News) - Marianite Sister Suellen Tennyson, 83, was abducted from a parish in Yalgo, Burkina Faso, Africa, where she had been stationed as a missionary since 2014, according to officials with the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Many across the globe and locally in the Greater New Orleans area are coming together in prayer for Sister Tennyson.
Sister Tennyson attended high school at the former Academy of the Holy Angels. She served at the former St. Cecilia Catholic Church in the Marigny and at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church. She also did work for the Archdiocese of New Orleans as the Vicar for Religious.
The Marianite sisterhood is in disbelief after learning about her disappearance.
Sister Ann Lacour, the Marianite Congregational Leader currently stationed in France, said Sister Tennyson was taken in the middle of the night on Tuesday, April 5, by 10 armed hijackers.
“In her night clothes. No shoes, no glasses, no medication, no phone. And she was blindfolded,” Sister Lacour said.
Now she is working with investigators in Paris, Rome, and Burkina Faso.
“The U.S. Embassy of Burkina Faso calls us at least twice a day,” said Sister Lacour. “They definitely want to keep this alive and want this to end as soon as possible.”
As do those who know her best; her family and friends back home in New Orleans, like Marianite Sister Marjorie Hebert.
“We’re doing our part to cooperate trusting that all of this is going to ultimately bring Suellen home safely. And home for Suellen right now is Burkina Faso,” said Sister Hebert.
She said Sister Tennyson lived in the Yalgo parish of Burkina Faso since 2014, serving as support to medical staff in the community. Those close to her describe Sister Tennyson as the face of compassion.
“That call to her was there. It came late in her Marianite vocation but that’s firm to her. So that’s her home,” she said. “When she left to go there back in 2014, she made it very clear to us that love her and cherish her friendship; ‘I’m gonna work there. I’ll die there. And I’ll be buried there.’”
Now they are carrying hope in their hearts -- hope that she is protected and hope that she is safe.
“We truly truly believe she will be found and we do believe. We’re holding on to that and God’s great grace she’ll be ok,” said Sister Lacour.
The Marianite congregation believes in the power of prayer, and they are asking those who pray to pray for Sister Suellen’s safety and release from her captives.
Copyright 2022 WVUE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:07
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‘I see barren fields’: Ukrainian Civil Society leaders discuss wartime agriculture disruptions
Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) hosted an event discussing the war in Ukraine and what it means for global food security.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Known as the breadbasket of Europe, Ukraine is one of the top exporters of grain in the world.
The ongoing war is expected to cut trade drastically. Some economists fear the war will disrupt the global food chain, leading to famine in parts of the East and higher domestic commodity costs.
“Ukraine basically exports to a number of countries in North Africa and the Middle East,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who told Gray DC his department is monitoring the situation. “These are developing countries. These are countries that rely a great deal on that wheat supply to be able to feed their people.”
Wheat growers in the U.S are already facing high operating costs and drought conditions. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) says it’s unlikely the U.S will be able to fill any gap that might be created by the war.
“Even if America does everything we can to grow more wheat, it’s not going to be enough to replace what comes through the Black Sea right now,” said Marshall.
During a Wednesday press conference, Marshall and fellow GOP Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) discussed the issue with members of the Ukrainian Civil Society.
Ukrainian Military volunteer Maria Berlinska says Russia is using food as a quiet weapon, starving residents into submission and targeting farmland and agriculture infrastructure.
“We have less and less fields, and we have less and less opportunities,” said Berlinska.
During the discussion, she pleaded for additional aid in the form of weapons, sanctions, and international pressure on Russia.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:14
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Jan. 6 trial of former Virginia officer continues with testimony from man who called him “dad”
Jacob Fracker said he once called Thomas Robertson “dad,” and Robertson called him “son.” The two were together inside the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - It’s day two in the trial of former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson. He’s charged with six crimes related to his alleged actions on and after the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Dramatic moments inside the courtroom in the final hours today as Jacob Fracker, Robertson’s former co-defendant, takes the stand to testify against Robertson.
Jacob Fracker said that he used to call Thomas Robertson “dad”, and said Robertson would call him “son.”
Now, he’s testifying against Robertson after taking a plea deal for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
A picture that prosecutors used in their original charging document shows Fracker on the left, and Robertson on the right, inside of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, according to prosecutors.
Fracker testified Wednesday that Robertson invited him, and planned the trip to the Capitol. Fracker also said on that day, he was hyped up and wanted to see the results of 2020 election overturned.
The defense said in its opening statements that Robertson only went into the Capitol because they said Fracker got too excited and ran in first. They argue that Robertson was only trying to find Fracker and leave.
During his testimony, Fracker told the court that he did lose sight of Robertson before entering the Capitol. Fracker said he and Robertson were reunited in a room below the Capitol Rotunda known as the crypt, where they took pictures and began singing and clapping with a crowd.
He said Robertson never told him that his only goal was to retrieve him, and that Robertson was just as excited as he was once they left the Capitol.
Fracker told the court that he and Robertson discussed a potential next civil war on the ride back home to Virginia.
Fracker’s testimony still is not done. Robertson’s defense is expected to cross-examine Fracker when court is back in session on Thursday morning.
Robertson’s lawyer told the judge tonight that Robertson may testify when the defense presents its case tomorrow.
The judge told lawyers that he wants to hear closing arguments on Friday.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:21
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3rd day of deliberations ends with no verdict yet in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The third day of deliberations ended Wednesday without a verdict in a trial that centers on a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker urged jurors to keep their thoughts about the case private when away from the courthouse.
“We’re obviously at a delicate time,” he said. “You’re in the midst of deliberations. You now know a lot more about the case than you ever expected to know and a lot more about each other’s views than you ever expected to know.”
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with a kidnapping conspiracy. Three of them also face additional charges, including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely an explosive.
The trial has covered 18 days since March 8, including 13 days of testimony.
Prosecutors said the conspiracy against Whitmer was fueled by anti-government extremism and anger over her COVID-19 restrictions. The men trained with a crudely built “shoot house” to replicate her vacation home in September 2020, according to testimony.
Fox and Croft, traveled to Elk Rapids, Michigan, that same weekend to see the location of the governor’s lakeside property and a nearby bridge, evidence showed. Harris and Caserta have been described as “soldiers” in the scheme.
Another man, Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty, said the goal was to get Whitmer before the fall election and create enough chaos to create a civil war and stop Joe Biden from winning the presidency.
Defense lawyers attacked the government’s investigation and the use of a crucial informant, Dan Chappel. They claimed Chappel was the real leader, taking direction from the FBI and keeping the group on edge while recording them for months.
Croft is from Bear, Delaware, while the others are from Michigan.
Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the plot, though she referred to “surprises” during her term that seemed like “something out of fiction” when she filed for reelection on March 17.
She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case.
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Find AP’s full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
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White reported from Detroit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:28
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Kit Kat debuts blueberry muffin flavor for limited time
(Gray News) - Kit Kat fans are getting a new flavor inspired by a classic baked good without even turning on an oven.
The Hershey Company unveiled its limited-edition Blueberry Muffin Kit Kat flavor on Wednesday.
This new flavor creation is a blueberry muffin-flavored creme with tastes of fresh and cooked blueberries, plus a cake batter-like muffin flavor with graham cookie pieces folded into the bar, according to Hershey.
“Our product creators have such passion for deciding which flavor Kit Kat should take on next and making sure it delivers for our fans,” said Dan Williard, brand manager of Kit Kat. “Kit Kat Blueberry Muffin has already become one of our favorites. It has all the taste of a freshly baked blueberry muffin, but no baking required.”
The blueberry muffin flavor becomes the latest in the brand’s growing portfolio of flavors. Hershey has previously released Kit Kat Duos Strawberry and Dark Chocolate, Thins Hazelnut and Lemon Crisp flavors.
Hershey representatives said the blueberry muffin flavor would be available nationwide at retailers starting this month.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:35
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Lexington County men arrested in child sex abuse cases
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Two Columbia men are facing 14 charges in a child sex abuse case. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said Jordan Keith Agee, 22, and Michael Dewayne Elkin, 52, both of West Columbia were arrested.
The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests. Both cases are unrelated but the charges are related to sexual exploitation of minors.
Investigators said Elkin sent a sexually explicit image to someone he believed was a minor and encourage them to send him explicit material.
Agee was arrested on March 30, 2022 after a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Agee is accused of producing, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material.
He is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, first degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment on each count; four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count; and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.
Elkin is charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, first degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment; and one count of attempted disseminating obscene material to a person under age eighteen, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/lexington-county-men-arrested-child-sex-abuse-cases/
| 2022-04-08T04:16:42
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LOOK: 11-foot hammerhead shark washes up on beach
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WPLG) – An 11-foot female hammerhead shark was found on a Florida beach.
The shark washed up on the sands of Pompano Beach overnight, and early morning beachgoers said they experienced a range of emotions regarding the creature, from wonderment to heartbreak.
Beach residents said the shark was close to the shoreline early in the morning, but was moved out of the water with a Bobcat so it wouldn’t be carried back out to sea.
After hearing reports of the shark, scientist Hannah Medd came out to the beach to collect samples.
“It might have to do with post-release mortality, which means this species in particular gets a little stressed out when it’s caught,” she said. “It fights really hard.”
Medd said the adult hammerhead’s untimely death may be connected to an encounter with fishermen, with the frazzled shark swimming onto shore to escape capture.
“There is some fishing line in her gills and, from earlier pictures, there was a large hook in the side of her mouth, which indicates she was probably involved in fishing,” Medd said.
Nearby construction crews used equipment to move the shark away from beach crowds before scientists can collect more samples. She’ll then be removed and buried.
Some beachgoers stared in excitement at the rare site while others realized the heartbreaking reality of what led to the creature’s death.
“You never want to see an animal this big lying on the beach,” beachgoer Kevin Nosal said. “This is 11 feet long and over 500 pounds, and it’s a female, so it’s always sad when a female passes.”
Copyright 2022 WPLG via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:48
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Louisiana mom accused of sending child to day care with meth, Xanax
OUACHITA PARISH, La. (KNOE) - Louisiana State Police said they arrested a woman accused of accidentally sending her child to day care with various drugs in the child’s lunch bag.
According to an arrest report, it happened Tuesday in Ouachita Parish. Authorities said a state trooper received a call from a day care regarding a child dropped off by Jennifer Wise, 35.
The report states that a search of the bag revealed about one gram of methamphetamine, five and a half clonazepam pills, and half a bar of Xanax.
Wise was located at her home. She reportedly told police that she had misplaced the drugs and had been looking for them.
State police said she also told investigators she had an “eight ball” of meth in her room. Investigators said they searched the room and found about nine grams of meth, and scales and baggies they said are commonly used in the distribution of drugs.
Police said she admitted to buying all of the drugs for $75 the day prior.
She was booked at Ouachita Correctional Center on six different drug charges, four of which are felonies, including possession with intent to distribute.
Copyright 2022 KNOE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:16:55
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Man charged with attempted murder after dousing woman in gasoline and lighting her on fire
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A man has been arrested after dousing a woman in gasoline and lighting her on fire, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Keitrick Stevenson, 41, is charged with attempted murder after being accused of approaching a victim with a plastic pitcher full of gasoline at a home on the 1000 block of Prescott Road in Columbia on March 21.
According to deputies, Stevenson singled out the victim before throwing the gasoline, and as she ran away, he then threw several matches at her.
The victim was caught on fire by Stevenson and fell down before being rushed to an area hospital.
The plastic pitcher used in the crime helped investigators find Stevenson because they were able to determine he purchased it at a nearby Family Dollar store that same day, along with matches.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department says the victim remains a patient at the burn center.
According to Sheriff Lott, Stevenson is an extremely violent repeat offender.
“This isn’t our first run-in with Mr. Stevenson. We arrested him for stabbing a man to death in 2006. He did time for that and got out only to try and kill someone else,” Lott said.
Lott said during a press conference Wednesday that Stevenson has a total disregard for human life.
Stevenson was arrested without incident at a home in Blythewood Tuesday morning by the Midlands Gang Fugitive Task Force and RCSD Special Response Team.
Stevenson is being held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/man-charged-with-attempted-murder-after-dousing-woman-gasoline-lighting-her-fire/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:02
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Man comes home to find tornado damage after taking wife off life support
WETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) - A man in Alabama came home to find his house severely damaged by a tornado after taking his wife off life support at the hospital earlier that day.
Frank Senn’s wife fell down the stairs and broke her neck two weeks ago, severing her spinal cord. Eventually, doctors told him there was nothing else they could do for his wife, and the decision was made to take her off life support Tuesday.
Senn said his wife has not yet passed away but will spend her remaining days off life support at a care facility.
“My world is gone,” Senn said.
Senn had been at a hospital in Birmingham for days staying by his wife’s side. Then he came home to find his property in Wetumpka destroyed.
Officials confirmed at least one tornado touched down in Wetumpka on Tuesday with a path of damage 11 miles long. Senn believes that tornado directly hit his property.
The siding of his home has been damaged, and his barn, boat and Camaro were flattened by trees.
“The barn was a two-story barn from 1944, but it looks like a tornado took care of it,” Senn said, pointing to the roof of his barn now missing.
After facing the heartbreak of removing his wife from life support, Senn now faces another battle – cleaning up after the storm.
Senn’s family said it has been a really difficult time, and they are asking for prayers. If you would like to help him financially, you can send money to his Cash App account $rangerfarms.
Copyright 2022 WSFA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:17:09
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Judge acquits man of misdemeanors in Capitol riot trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday acquitted a New Mexico man of misdemeanor charges that he illegally entered the U.S. Capitol and engaged in disorderly conduct after he walked into the building during last year’s riot.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden issued the verdict from the bench after hearing testimony without a jury in the case against Matthew Martin. McFadden, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, acquitted Martin of all four counts for which he was charged.
McFadden said it was reasonable for Martin to believe that outnumbered police officers allowed him and others to enter the Capitol through the Rotunda doors on Jan. 6, 2021. The judge also said Martin’s actions were “about as minimal and non-serious” as anyone who was at the Capitol that day.
Martin is the third Capitol riot defendant whose case has been resolved by a trial. He is the first of the three to be acquitted of all charges that he faced. The first two Capitol riot trials ended with convictions, although McFadden acquitted one of those defendants of a disorderly conduct charge after a bench trial last month.
In the same courthouse where Martin was acquitted, a fourth trial continued on Wednesday for a former Virginia police officer who is charged with storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer. Jurors heard testimony from the fellow officer, who pleaded guilty to a riot-related charge and agreed to be a witness for prosecutors.
Martin, whose bench trial started Tuesday, testified that a police officer waved him into the building after the riot erupted. A prosecutor dismissed that testimony as “nonsense.”
The judge, however, said video shows two police officers standing near the Rotunda doors and allowing people to enter as Martin approached. One of the officers appeared to lean back before Martin placed a hand on the officer’s shoulder as a possible sign of gratitude, the judge said.
McFadden described Martin’s testimony as “largely credible.” The judge said it was not unreasonable for him to believe that officers allowed him to enter the Capitol, even though alarms were blaring and broken glass was strewn about the floor.
Martin was charged with four misdemeanor counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
The judge said Martin appeared to be a “silent observer of the actions of others.” McFadden didn’t find any evidence that Martin intended to disrupt Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Dozens of Capitol riot defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced, but Martin is the first to testify at a trial. His acquittal could embolden others to gamble on a bench trial, although McFadden so far is the only judge to preside over one and decide a case.
Martin said he “went with the flow” as he approached the Capitol and testified that he saw a police officer wave him into the building. Martin remained inside the Capitol for about 10 minutes after entering the building through the Rotunda doors, according to prosecutors.
Martin said he “enjoyed the day” of the riot.
“It was a magical day in many ways,” he testified on Tuesday before adding, “I know some bad things happened.”
“You understand that police officers died?” Justice Department prosecutor Michael Romano asked Martin.
At least nine people died in the riot or its aftermath. One officer died after he collapsed hours after being sprayed with bear spray and other officers who tried to quell the riot died by suicide in the months following the attack.
Prosecutors said Martin, an engineer, worked for a government contractor at the National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and held a top-secret security clearance on Jan. 6. Martin said he actually worked at a different facility in Los Alamos.
Defense attorney Dan Cron said Martin saw another person shake a police officer’s hand after entering the Capitol. Martin placed his hand on an officer’s shoulder “as a gesture of thanks and of good will,” Cron said.
Romano, the Justice Department prosecutor, said Martin joined the mob in crowding police officers who were trying to disperse the crowd. The prosecutor said Martin knew that he wasn’t allowed to be in the Capitol.
“The idea that he thought he had permission to do that is nonsense,” Romano said.
Other riot defendants have claimed police waved them in or said they could enter.
McFadden presided over a bench trial last month for Cuoy Griffin, a county official in New Mexico. The judge on March 22 convicted Griffin of illegally entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct.
On March 8, a jury decided the first Capitol riot trial by convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the Capitol with a holstered handgun.
After Martin’s acquittal Wednesday, a jury in a different courtroom heard a second day of testimony for the trial of former Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officer Thomas Robertson. The town fired Robertson and another officer, Jacob Fracker, who joined him at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy charge and agreed to testify against somebody who was his mentor and a father figure.
“I absolutely hate this,” Fracker said. “I’ve always been on the other side of things, the good guys’ side so to speak.”
Fracker testified that he and Robertson both believed the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from Trump. Fracker said they both wore gas masks as they joined a mob in storming the Capitol.
Asked why he went to the Capitol that day, Fracker said he wanted to play a part in overturning the election results.
“I felt like we had maybe been heard by whoever it was we needed to be heard by,” Fracker said.
He said he has grown ashamed of his actions on Jan. 6.
“That’s not the person I am,” he said. “I wasn’t raised like that.”
Fracker is due to be cross-examined by one of Robertson’s lawyers on Thursday.
Prosecutors plan to call two more witnesses, a police officer and FBI agent. A defense attorney said Robertson may testify. Jurors could hear attorneys’ closing arguments as soon as Friday.
More than 770 people have been charged with riot-related federal crimes. Over 240 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, and over 140 of them have been sentenced.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/man-who-testified-his-capitol-riot-trial-awaits-verdict/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:15
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/man-who-testified-his-capitol-riot-trial-awaits-verdict/
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PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN says he never talked business with his son.
Maybe he didn’t.
Maybe that Ukrainian gas company paid Hunter Biden half a million dollars because he has unique business skills that no one else noticed.
It’s possible.
But unlikely.
Now a Justice Department investigation may tell us whether Hunter is a sleazy opportunist who broke the law and whether his father knew, or even helped.
But equally revealing is the arrogance and bias the reporting on Hunter’s laptop revealed among wide swaths of media and big tech gatekeepers.
Even today, most will not admit they were wrong.
The New York Post broke the laptop story near the end of the presidential campaign. The story was explosive, of course, and the media pile-on intense. Some piled on Hunter Biden, but more piled on the New York Post. They questioned the authenticity of the hard drive and the timing and accuracy of the story.
Twitter blocked the story from even being shared. Facebook hid the story. Politico said it might be “Russian disinformation.” A Washington Post column called it “laughably weak.” A New York Times piece labeled it “farcical retread of the Russian hack-and-leak operation that helped torpedo Hillary Clinton’s presidential aspirations.” The story was mocked and buried.
Now, a year and a half later, the Post and Times admit that major parts of the story were accurate.
Do you know what they haven’t said?
“Sorry. We cannot stand the idea of another Trump term, so we didn’t report on bad things Democrats did.”
The Washington Post finally wrote that the way the media handled the story was an “opportunity for a reckoning.” But then they spent the rest of their editorial making excuses for their mistakes.
No one was fired.
No one was suspended.
No policy was changed.
This is nothing new. For months, Facebook blocked any mention of the theory that COVID-19 may have been leaked from a lab. Most media sneered that it was “fake news.” The Washington Post called it “a fringe theory.” The New York Times, a “conspiracy theory.” PolitiFact rated it “Pants on Fire!”
Only when the Biden administration said there might have been a lab leak did Facebook drop its censorship.
Did Facebook say, “Sorry? We shouldn’t censor such important discussion?”
No.
Did we see apologetic commentaries on CNN and MSNBC?
I must have missed them.
Maybe none of this is a big deal to you, but it’s a big deal to me.
I make my living posting videos on digital platforms. I made two videos that suggested fears about climate change are overblown.
I didn’t say climate change isn’t real.
I didn’t say it won’t cause problems. In fact, I said it’s already caused problems.
But because I said the fear might be overblown, Facebook’s climate-activist “fact-checkers” make sure fewer people see my work.
I once got millions of views on Facebook. Not anymore.
Nothing I’d said in my climate videos was wrong. In one case, Facebook’s own fact-checker admitted that I didn’t get any facts wrong. Still, Facebook continues to smear my work as “partly false.”
They even quote me saying something I never said!
Yet even after I point that out, Facebook will not make a correction.
Facebook, Twitter, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NBC, Poynter Institute “fact-checkers” and most of the elite media are now part information-sharers, part leftist interest groups.
I’m neither Democrat nor Republican. I don’t obsess over whether Hunter Biden got paid to do sleazy things and whisper in his father’s ear. If he did, I doubt that he had much influence, anyway.
I feel far more threatened when America’s Big Media don’t report facts, don’t speak up when censors are wrong and don’t remove mistakes when they’re caught making them.
Apologizing for mistakes is something we teach little kids to do. Is that too much to ask of our media and social media giants?
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/columnists/john-stossel-never-admit-anything/article_54a28aa6-725f-5ff5-9e08-26c5352fd97c.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:18
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/columnists/john-stossel-never-admit-anything/article_54a28aa6-725f-5ff5-9e08-26c5352fd97c.html
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Missing Indiana couple found in Nevada desert; man dead, wife hospitalized, family says
ESMERALDA COUNTY, Nev. (Gray News) – A couple from Indiana who was reported missing more than a week ago in Nevada has been found, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.
Ronnie and Beverly Barker’s nephew, Travis Peters, posted an update on Facebook Tuesday night saying rescue teams found the couple near Silver Peak, according to KVVU.
He said Ronnie had died and Beverly was being airlifted to a hospital in Reno where she is doing OK.
KOLO reports the couple left Oregon on March 26, and were headed to Tucson, Arizona.
Their daughter, Jennifer Whaley, says all contact with her parents ceased over a week ago – all cell phone pings stopped March 27.
“It is literally like they fell off the face of the earth. Like they just vanished,” Whaley said.
According to a missing persons flyer shared by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, they were driving a 2015 Forest River Sunseeker RV with a gold stripe and Indiana license plate C128H.
Ronnie and Beverly also were towing a white 2020 Kia Soul with Indiana license plate FL211A.
Family members say the couple’s RV was found stuck in the mud and their car was not at the scene.
AZFamily reports the Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office said the couple never made it to the campground at Nellis AFB, where they were supposed to spend the night before hitting the road to Tucson again.
“My parents were supposed to meet them in Tucson on Tuesday evening March 29. That’s when they were supposed to be pulling into the campgrounds in Tucson. They didn’t show up,” Whaley said about her parents meeting up with their friends in Tucson who they’ve known for more than three decades.
Peters told KVVU it is unclear to them what happened to the couple as details surrounding Ronnie’s death have not been released.
He said the Mineral County undersheriff provided them with limited information and only said that Beverly was OK.
“Thank God that Beverly is alive, because she will be able to fill in those blanks that we don’t know. Why did they go up the mountain? What happened?” Peters said.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/missing-indiana-couple-found-nevada-desert-man-dead-wife-hospitalized-family-says/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:24
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/missing-indiana-couple-found-nevada-desert-man-dead-wife-hospitalized-family-says/
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April 9th is the 80th anniversary of the largest surrender of U.S. troops in history at Bataan in 1942. During the death march that followed, unknowable thousands perished among the estimated 75,000 American and Filipino servicemen taken prisoner by the Japanese.
By the time Hillsborough, N.H., resident Hubert B. Gater’s unit arrived at their first POW camp — Camp O’Donnell — four out of five had perished, dying one by one along the way from wounds, disease and malnutrition.
“Besides being tired, many were in the last stage of malaria,” on arrival. “Just to be left alone in the grass or dirt to rest, sleep or to die, to have at least one close friend, a buddy, to hold you in his arms and comfort you as you died, was enough. The few that still had faith and courage would have lost it if they could have foreseen the future,” Gater described in his 1972 Union Leader account.
During the night, Japanese guards had a game for their captives. “They would run in and act like they were going to bayonet a sick or wounded man, usually lying down. If the man had the energy to jump up to defend himself — he got the bayonet; not to kill, just to torture. Good clean fun,” Gater wrote.
Camp O’Donnell became one big graveyard, much like what’s been seen out of Bucha, Ukraine, this week, where basement murder dungeons and mass graves have been uncovered where the Russian army encamped. The contrast seen in the treatment of prisoners in this war is stark and hasn’t been lost on Russian grunts surrendering en masse. Surely those with human hearts prefer to be POWs than serve another hour in Vladimir Putin’s bloody army.
Donna Soucy, Democrat, deplores an attempt to ensure that only legitimate New Hampshire residents vote in New Hampshire elections. She and her party colleagues in the state Senate voted last week against a bill that would strengthen election integrity without harming in any way the rights of…
In a column we publish today, UNH President James Dean provides a cogent summary of accomplishments at the state university in the past four years since he took the helm. It’s quite a list and we commend it to you.
We hope the new spokesman for New Hampshire’s Attorney General misspoke last week. In refusing to provide the public with records regarding a fired state police officer, the spokesman said this is a case “about protecting the private, personnel records of the tens of thousands of public empl…
One good thing about the price of gasoline: It underscores how New Hampshire’s low-tax philosophy has kept motorists here in better shape than other states.
Whatever the spin or slant of the particular media back home, the work of on-the-ground correspondents in covering the horrendous war in Ukraine has been nothing short of admirable and in some ways astonishing.
Gov. Chris Sununu is getting it from all sides, which usually means he’s doing something right. In this case, it was his promise to veto a redistricting plan for New Hampshire’s two congressional districts. As drawn, the map might have made Elbridge Gerry (of Gerrymandering fame) green with envy.
It is dawning on more legislators that using state run stores to peddle pot may not be a great branding image for New Hampshire. Plus, the scheme isn’t likely to make anywhere near the money initially estimated. Perhaps smoke got in their eyes?
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/editorials/death-march-courage-in-surrender/article_7d3a450d-5839-59d1-bb6d-989913fb958e.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:24
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/editorials/death-march-courage-in-surrender/article_7d3a450d-5839-59d1-bb6d-989913fb958e.html
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Further on the matter of Gov. Chris Sununu’s remarks regarding Donald Trump at an elegant Washington dinner last weekend. (And, no, we won’t even touch the subsequent COVID-19 outbreak.)
We said earlier this week that Sununu had brushed off his off-color comments (about Trump being crazy) as a joke and we could buy that. A colleague offers a different perspective. He writes:
“It took courage to drop that bomb. But it may not have been the right word or the right place. Sununu now needs to explain his break with his party’s two-time nominee to Republican voters directly, without humor and with detail.
“One of Trump’s most appealing promises was his pledge to ‘drain the swamp.’ Of course, he did no such thing. But in three words he captured the anger of voters fed up with Washington’s arrogant alliance of politicians and media stars that sneers at the cultural beliefs and everyday concerns of most Americans.
“But to take his shot at Trump, Sununu chose one of the swamp’s most pretentious events, the supposedly bipartisan Gridiron dinner. That was odd. The Washington Post reported that the ‘exclusive evening of power brokers’ attracted hundreds of big-name Democrats but just three elected Republicans aside from Sununu. Unsurprisingly, the white-tie crowd loved Sununu’s gibes. But that applause came from an elite audience whose tolerance for conservatives ends as soon as the white ties come off. A rollicking speech crafted for that room may win headlines but will never win friends.
“We hope the governor now works to convince local conservatives and moderates, not national Democrats and their media enablers, that Trump is unfit for office. In an era in which voters distrust most politicians, polls suggest Trump and Sununu are remarkably popular in this state. Perhaps it’s because both men have proven to be political mavericks unafraid of pointing out their own party’s flaws. If there is anyone who can convince New Hampshire Republicans and independents that someone other than the erratic former President should win the 2024 GOP nomination, it may be Chris Sununu.”
Donna Soucy, Democrat, deplores an attempt to ensure that only legitimate New Hampshire residents vote in New Hampshire elections. She and her party colleagues in the state Senate voted last week against a bill that would strengthen election integrity without harming in any way the rights of…
In a column we publish today, UNH President James Dean provides a cogent summary of accomplishments at the state university in the past four years since he took the helm. It’s quite a list and we commend it to you.
We hope the new spokesman for New Hampshire’s Attorney General misspoke last week. In refusing to provide the public with records regarding a fired state police officer, the spokesman said this is a case “about protecting the private, personnel records of the tens of thousands of public empl…
One good thing about the price of gasoline: It underscores how New Hampshire’s low-tax philosophy has kept motorists here in better shape than other states.
Whatever the spin or slant of the particular media back home, the work of on-the-ground correspondents in covering the horrendous war in Ukraine has been nothing short of admirable and in some ways astonishing.
Gov. Chris Sununu is getting it from all sides, which usually means he’s doing something right. In this case, it was his promise to veto a redistricting plan for New Hampshire’s two congressional districts. As drawn, the map might have made Elbridge Gerry (of Gerrymandering fame) green with envy.
It is dawning on more legislators that using state run stores to peddle pot may not be a great branding image for New Hampshire. Plus, the scheme isn’t likely to make anywhere near the money initially estimated. Perhaps smoke got in their eyes?
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/editorials/sununu-in-the-swamp-odd-venue-for-trump-talk/article_c5705584-55a8-5b2f-9aeb-0d1898659339.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:30
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/editorials/sununu-in-the-swamp-odd-venue-for-trump-talk/article_c5705584-55a8-5b2f-9aeb-0d1898659339.html
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Residents clear debris from southern storms as more severe weather looms
PEMBROKE, Ga. (AP) — After violent storms blamed for killing at least three people, Southerners cleared fallen trees from roadways Wednesday and began cleaning up debris from homes and buildings smashed by suspected tornadoes as forecasters warned more violent weather was likely on the way.
In southeast Georgia, residents of Bryan County had barely begun recovery efforts after a likely tornado touched down Tuesday evening, killing one woman and injuring several other people, when local officials urged them to halt work by mid-afternoon Wednesday and take shelter for the night.
The National Weather Service said another round of tornadoes was possible Wednesday, with heightened risk across a three-state area that included the cities of Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday declared a state of emergency following Tuesday’s storms, which were blamed for killing people in Louisiana and Texas. The move effectively frees up state resources to be used in storm recovery and response efforts.
Louisiana state police said Gene Latin, a 65-year-old correctional officer, was killed early Tuesday when he crashed into a tree that had fallen across a highway as storms blew through Webster Parish. And in east Texas, 71-year-old W. M. Soloman died when storm winds toppled a tree onto his home in Whitehouse, said Mayor James Wansley.
In Bryan County, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Savannah, a woman was found dead Tuesday night amid the shredded wreckage of her mobile home in the unincorporated community of Ellabell, said Bryan County Coroner Bill Cox.
“It was just completely ripped to pieces,” Cox said Wednesday. “It’s like it exploded.”
Cox said the dead woman’s husband was taken to a hospital with injuries. He did not give her name, saying relatives were still being notified.
A motorist’s cellphone video taken in Bryan County showed a large funnel cloud crossing Interstate 16 as drivers braked and pulled to the side of the roadway.
In the county seat of Pembroke, large sections of roof got torn off the courthouse and the entryway to a government building across was demolished. The storm destroyed at least 18 homes in the county and left more than 10 others with major damage, according to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Several people were injured, said Matthew Kent, a Bryan County government spokesperson.
Kemp toured the destruction Wednesday and said it was fortunate the twister did not stay on the ground very long, or the damage and loss of life would likely have been much worse. Places where it did touch down, he said, got hit hard.
“It is literally total devastation for some homes,” Kemp said. “We walked through a house where there’s no wood left on that house. It’s nothing but a foundation with a water heater sitting there.”
In South Carolina, about a dozen homes were destroyed or heavily damaged Tuesday in rural Allendale County. Tractors and other equipment were flipped and twisted on a number of farms in South Carolina’s least populated county. Other storms caused damage to solar panels near Bowman and flipped vehicles and shopping carts in a Walmart parking lot in Manning.
National Weather Service forecasters planned to survey damage from several possible tornadoes in Georgia and South Carolina, but said that effort could be interrupted by the potential for more storms Wednesday.
In Alabama, the weather service said it was sending survey teams to examine potential tornado damage in the Wetumpka area.
More than 7,000 customers in Texas and more than 3,000 in Georgia remained without power Wednesday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/residents-clear-trees-assess-damage-southern-storms/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:30
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/residents-clear-trees-assess-damage-southern-storms/
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-these-lawmakers-voted-against-helping-derry/article_6551ae91-d13b-5e3f-8c84-1ca65d612f14.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:36
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-these-lawmakers-voted-against-helping-derry/article_6551ae91-d13b-5e3f-8c84-1ca65d612f14.html
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Richland Two facing bus delays after water main break
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 3:20 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Richland Two School District informed parents Wednesday of potential school bus delays.
Hardscrabble Rd closed down Wednesday after a water main broke. The district said families that use busses serving the Rice Creek, Ridge View, Kelly Mill and Lake Carolina Upper & Lower communities may be impacted by the road closure.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/richland-two-facing-bus-delays-after-water-main-break/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:37
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/richland-two-facing-bus-delays-after-water-main-break/
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I AM an independent financial advisor, and happen to be an independent voter too. My office is in downtown Nashua, right on Main Street. I work tirelessly to understand the economic and political landscape to work for my clients on appropriate investing strategies — typically savings intended for the education of their children and a safe and sound retirement.
I pour over legislative proposals that could negatively affect them or substantially help them and I am happy to provide this service. A threat has emerged in Congress that could kill my industry and countless others who work in technology and franchising — the PRO Act. Not only would this affect independent financial advisors, but it would threaten everything from Uber and Lyft to Airbnb and even your local Dunkin’ Donuts. It is sure to impact my clients who utilize these services, work in the gig economy, or invest in such companies.
The PRO Act passed the House last year but died in the Senate due to bipartisan opposition. It was given new life in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, when he called for passage.
I was shocked to hear this tired proposal raised again and that our New Hampshire delegation is actively trying to find ways to instill the PRO Act into new legislation that is in no way related. Sen. Maggie Hassan voted in committee along party lines to advance the far left activist labor nominee David Weil, a critic and true threat to franchisees and the gig economy.
Bear in mind that like most Granite State independents, I support people and policies that would benefit all Americans instead of simple one party ideology. This would not do that. The PRO Act is highly partisan.
The PRO Act would abolish private ballot elections in private business for unionization and replace them with what is called “card check.” But it would go even further and institute a so-called “ABC test” to redefine what an employee is versus an independent contractor like myself. This was previously tried in California and needless to say it did not go well. The high tech community and other small businesses were incensed as to how this would crush American innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to lawsuits and business uncertainty in California. Why would the federal government try to pursue this failed state proposal nationally?
I did not come from a wealthy background growing up in New Hampshire. I was disciplined, I worked hard, and utilized business models like franchising, which expanded my own economic opportunity to the point where now I am able to help others do the same. Many minorities, immigrants and other economically marginalized groups have likewise benefited from similar models, helping them and millions of other Americans achieve their dreams. All of this would be negated by the PRO Act.
We are still in fragile times — economically and geopolitically. The PRO Act would hurt our collective competitive interests as a country, and greatly limit opportunity for hard working individuals who want to be in business for themselves.
Many in our state have spoken out against the PRO Act, from manufacturers to associations to individual workers. I too share their concerns about this anti-business legislation and urge our delegation to listen to those whose livelihoods are on the line.
From Main Street to the gig economy, it’s time to allow Americans to work and compete and stop the PRO Act in all its forms once and for all.
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/frederick-boucher-pro-act-would-crater-main-street-and-gig-economy/article_b90057b9-8472-58db-ac0d-a4ef1d804192.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:42
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https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/frederick-boucher-pro-act-would-crater-main-street-and-gig-economy/article_b90057b9-8472-58db-ac0d-a4ef1d804192.html
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Runners residing in Russia, Belarus banned from 2022 Boston Marathon
BOSTON (AP) - Athletes from Russia and Belarus previously accepted to compete in this year’s Boston Marathon who are currently residing in either country will no longer be allowed to participate, the Boston Marathon Association announced Wednesday.
The exclusion from the world’s oldest annual marathon also extends to athletes previously accepted into the B.A.A.’s 5K event. However, it doesn’t affect Russian or Belarusian athletes registered for the events who are not residents of the countries. They will be allowed to compete but won’t be able to run under their country’s flag.
“Like so many around the world, we are horrified and outraged by what we have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine,” B.A.A. president and CEO Tom Grilk said in a statement. “We believe that running is a global sport, and as such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine.”
The B.A.A. said it won’t recognize the country affiliation or flags of Russia and Belarus until further notice. This year’s Boston Marathon, 5K, and Invitational Mile do not include any professional or invited athletes from those countries.
Organizers said they will make reasonable attempts to refund entry fees to athletes no longer able to participate.
The B.A.A. will also provide all Ukrainians who are registered in the marathon or 5K and are unable to compete with a refund or option to defer to a future year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/runners-residing-russia-belarus-banned-2022-boston-marathon/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:44
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/runners-residing-russia-belarus-banned-2022-boston-marathon/
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Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) reacts after scoring a basket in the first quarter during Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday both scored 29 points as the Milwaukee Bucks moved a half-game ahead of the visiting Boston Celtics for second place in the Eastern Conference with a 127-121 win on Thursday.
Milwaukee (50-30) led much of the way thanks to advantages of 58-34 for points in the paint, 14-5 on second-chance points and 19-9 on fast breaks -- a byproduct of the Bucks forcing the Celtics into 15 turnovers.
Boston (50-31) kept the game tight thanks to 21-of-50 3-point shooting.
The Celtics' Marcus Smart stepped up with teammate Jayson Tatum (knee) on the sideline, scoring 19 of his 29 points in the second half. Smart shot 7 of 12 from 3-point range.
After trailing by as many as 13 points, Boston pulled ahead with 4:25 remaining in the game Smart when sank a 3-pointer. He added a layup to extend the lead to 121-118 with 2:27 to go.
Milwaukee held Boston scoreless the rest of the way.
Bobby Portis (17 points) delivered a 3-pointer at the 2:11 mark on the last of Holiday's eight assists, tying the score at 121.
Antetokounmpo split a pair of free throws to put Milwaukee ahead with 1:31 left, and Holiday's tip-in with a minute remaining increased the gap to three.
After a lengthy delay while officials reviewed if a missed 3-point attempt by Boston's Jaylen Brown drew rim, the Celtics' Daniel Theis missed a wide-open look at the rim. Antetokounmpo added another free throw, and then George Hill punctuated Milwaukee's final home game of the regular season with a strip of Brown and fastbreak bucket on the other end.
Brown recorded a triple-double of 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Theis added another 22 points in the loss.
Milwaukee is now in the driver's seat for the No. 2 seed with road games remaining Friday at Detroit and Sunday at Cleveland. Boston, up by a half-game on the Philadelphia 76ers (49-31), ends its regular season on Sunday in Memphis.
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https://www.unionleader.com/sports/celtics/late-surge-lifts-bucks-past-celtics-into-second-place-in-east/article_d0542375-dd5f-5861-baa6-a672f4e114ba.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:48
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SC Senate passes scaled-down vaccine mandate ban bill
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Certain employers in South Carolina would be banned from requiring workers get vaccinated against COVID-19 in a bill approved by the state Senate on Wednesday.
In a 29-12 vote along party lines, the Senate passed the anti-vaccine mandate legislation, which the House of Representatives passed last December.
The bill prohibits state and local governments, including public school districts, from requiring their employees, contracted workers, vendors, or students get the COVID shot as a condition of employment or attendance.
These entities would also be barred from enforcing vaccine requirements on people who volunteer or participate in one of their activities, events, or programs, such as a summer camp.
The legislation would prevent vaccine mandates from being imposed on the state’s first responders, defined as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, EMT, or paramedic who is paid from public funds.
“This isn’t like an employer saying, ‘You can’t smoke on the job, or you gotta be here on time,’ or different things along — I mean, this is different, right. This is something that once it’s done, it’s done,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R – Edgefield, said.
Workers would be eligible for unemployment benefits if they were fired for not complying with their private employers’ shot requirement, but senators rejected moves to retroactively extend those benefits to people fired in the last nine months for not getting vaccinated.
“They don’t want to lose their job,” Sen. Shane Martin, R – Spartanburg, said. “They had to make that decision to leave that good-paying job or be fired from it for refusing to put something in their body that they cannot take out.”
In order muster up enough support for the bill to bring about a debate in the Senate, its backers had to drop its most controversial provision: fines for private businesses that impose vaccine requirements on their workers.
Businesses would have been hit with a surcharge of about $7,500 a year for four years — around $30,000 over the entire period for each worker — if they fired, suspended, or cut the pay of an employee for not complying with a company vaccine mandate. The fine would have applied for every worker on the payroll, even if only a single employee’s termination or suspension had prompted the penalty.
The measure had been questioned and criticized by senators from both parties during earlier discussions, with some concerned with the effect it could have on companies already in South Carolina or looking to move to the state.
“I’m not in the business of punishing business. That’s not what I do. I just want them to knock it off, stop,” Massey, who proposed the penalties after the bill crossed over from the House to the Senate, said on the Senate floor. “But we took all that out. I didn’t like taking that out, but we had to take it out in order to get the bill up for conversation.”
The bill also bans so-called vaccine passports, prohibiting services or public accommodations from being denied in South Carolina based on vaccination status. That includes hotels, motels, restaurants, hospitals, clinics, stores, and theaters, among others.
But opponents of the legislation argued that, even scaled back, it still amounts to government overreach.
“We need to think about getting out of the business of telling private entities what they can and cannot do,” Sen. Kevin Johnson, D – Clarendon, said.
The version of the bill passed in the Senate on Wednesday is different from what the House passed last year, so the bill will return to the House. If House members agree to the changes, the bill heads to Gov. McMaster, but if not, a smaller group of Senate and House members will meet to negotiate a compromise to send to the governor for his signature.
If McMaster signs it, the law would go into effect immediately and expire at the end of 2023, unless extended by the General Assembly.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/sc-senate-passes-scaled-down-vaccine-mandate-ban-bill/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:53
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With the galleries at Augusta National Golf Club following his every move, Tiger Woods made his long-anticipated return to competitive golf and shot a 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the Masters on Thursday, while South Korea’s Sungjae Im reached the top of the leaderboard with a 5-under 67.
Im made an eagle and five birdies to counter two bogeys, beating out the clubhouse leader from the early wave, Cameron Smith of Australia, by one shot.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson, 2016 champ Danny Willett of England and Joaquin Niemann of Chile tied for third with rounds of 3-under 69. Patrick Cantlay, Jason Kokrak and Canada’s Corey Conners were tied for seventh after shooting 2-under 70.
Woods’ 71 was good for a tie for 10th, a feat unto itself as he played in his first official event since he was injured in a single-car accident on Feb. 23, 2021. After rehabbing a right leg that required multiple surgeries, Woods made his return to the sport 25 years to the day after his first major victory, a 12-stroke victory at the 1997 Masters.
His highlight came at the par-3 sixth, right after he lipped out a 15-foot birdie try on the previous green. Hitting a 6-iron, he stuck his tee shot 2 feet away from the pin and tapped in for his first birdie of the day.
Woods bogeyed the par-5 eighth after his third shot missed short of the green. He converted a two-putt birdie at the par-5 13th before his tee shot at the next hole missed the fairway badly left, and he was unable to get up and down for par.
At the par-3 16th, the 15-time major champion drained a 29-foot birdie that swept right to left, eliciting his signature fist pump. He returned to 1 under with the putt and saved par on the final two holes, even after a drive into the trees at 18.
“People have no idea how hard it’s been,” Woods said. “My team does. They’ve worked with me every single day. I’ve said this before, we haven’t taken a day off since I got out of the bed after those three months. ... So it’s commitment to getting back and commitment to getting back to a level that I feel that I can still do it. I did something positive today.”
Next up for Woods before his Friday afternoon tee time: “Lots of ice baths. Just basically freezing myself to death.”
Im, the Masters runner-up in 2020, birdied his first three holes and added a fourth at No. 7. After missing par putts at both 10 and 11, he completed Amen Corner by reaching the 13th green in two shots and making his 12-footer for eagle.
Im added a birdie at the 15th and nearly holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie at 18. His shot hit the cup and stayed out by mere inches.
Smith, who won The Players Championship last month and moved to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, signed an unusual card: double bogey 6s on the first and last holes with eight birdies in between. Smith reached 6 under with a string of three birdies at 14-16 and nearly went to the clubhouse with a three-shot lead on the field.
But after a wayward tee shot at No. 18, his second shot hit a tree branch and only traveled 80 yards. He reached the green in three and three-putted.
Smith said he stayed patient after his tough opening hole.
“I love this place. I know it presents plenty of birdies,” Smith said. “I just really had to get in a groove.”
Playing with Woods, Niemann holed out from 105 yards for an eagle 2 at the ninth. His shot spun back over a ridge and directly at the pin. That briefly put him alone in the lead at 3 under, and he recorded one bogey and one birdie the rest of the way.
Scheffler, in his first tournament since moving to No. 1 in the world, made consecutive birdies at Nos. 8 and 9 before sinking a 19-foot birdie at the par-3 12th to join the co-leaders at 3 under. He reached 4 under with another birdie at the par-3 17th but missed the green at 18 and couldn’t get up and down for par.
Johnson made all four of his birdies over the first 10 holes before a bogey at No. 17 and a difficult up-and-down par save at No. 18.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan opened with an even-par 72.
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https://www.unionleader.com/sports/golf/masters-tiger-opens-under-par-koreas-im-leads/article_c1bc8f4e-3858-5fa9-81ab-42e1585b156f.html
| 2022-04-08T04:17:54
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DERRY — As Katie Bourque begins her tenure as the Pinkerton Academy girls lacrosse coach, she wants her team to be hard-working, aggressive and play as one.
Bourque, 32, stressed those qualities over her successful nine-year run leading the Windham High School field hockey team. Windham won five NHIAA state titles (two in Division I and three in Division II) and made eight state final appearances, including last fall, under Bourque.
“Eventually, I’d like to get back to coaching field hockey but we’ll see where it takes us,” Bourque said. “Right now, this is going to take all of my focus.”
Bourque, a Londonderry resident, spent the past 12 seasons coaching high school lacrosse in Massachusetts. The 2008 Pelham High School graduate coached Dracut for 10 years before spending the past two coaching North Andover.
Bourque inherited a Pinkerton program that her predecessor, Rob Daziel, led to three Division I titles (2013, 2014, 2016) and five D-I final appearances over the past 10 years.
Pinkerton finished runner-up to Bishop Guertin of Nashua last year and in 2019. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like Daziel did, Bourque had the Astros participate in a winter indoor league at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford. While Bourque knew some from the state’s field hockey scene, she said the winter league helped her get to know her players. She also cheered on some of her players at their NHIAA winter sports games and competitions.
Pinkerton senior tri-captains Allison Lamphere and Kristina Packowski said the indoor league showed the team what areas it needed to work on this preseason and how Bourque coaches during games.
“I think she brings a lot of intensity and positivity to our team,” Lamphere said during a break from practice on Tuesday. “We have a bunch of new girls so getting them acclimated to the varsity level is really important and I think she’s doing a great job of that.”
Bourque said the Astros had 75 players try out for the team and have been practicing for three weeks now preparing for their season-opener at Manchester Central next Monday.
Alongside bringing their younger players up to speed, the Astros have also been focused on conditioning and building their team chemistry.
“I think when we’re closer as a group then we play better together,” said senior tri-captain and goalkeeper Lauren Sweeney. “Especially if we all know each other well, it just helps us really play well together.”
One of Bourque’s first new implementations for the Astros this preseason has been installing a zone defense. Packowski said trying a zone defense did not have great success in the past but learning Bourque’s system has been going well in practice so far.
“Since most of these people are new, it’s just starting from a fresh, new slate for them and so I think we just have to keep working at it,” Packowski said. “Practice makes perfect, like they always say.”
Bourque’s coaching staff consists of varsity assistant coach Bailee Freeman, goalie coach Adam Knowlton, junior varsity coach Sam Murray, freshman coach Margo Teeters and assistant coach Syd Dery. Freeman is also the field hockey coach at Timberlane of Plaistow.
“They’re definitely a very talented group of individuals,” Bourque said of her players. “They’re hard-working. They’re strong physically. That is great for what we want to accomplish this year.”
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https://www.unionleader.com/sports/highschool/katie-bourque-brings-success-at-windham-to-pinkerton/article_c055b143-b195-5dec-a2ec-ca1f04fdef05.html
| 2022-04-08T04:18:00
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Six-days-a-week mail delivery saved; Biden signs Postal bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — A sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service meant to shore up the popular but beleaguered agency’s financial future and cement six-days-a-week mail delivery was signed into law Wednesday by President Joe Biden.
The legislation cleared Congress last month after fully a dozen years of discussion that took on a new sense of urgency amid widespread complaints about mail service delays. Officials had repeatedly warned that without congressional action, the Postal Service would run out of cash by 2024.
“The Postal Service is central to our economy and essential to rural America,” Biden said. He added that mailmen and women deliver 4 million prescriptions per day, along with letters, consumer goods and even live animals, “often to parts of the country that private carriers can’t or won’t or aren’t required to reach.”
The final legislation achieved rare, bipartisan support by scrapping some of the more controversial proposals and settling on core ways to save the service. Delivering the mail is among the most popular things the government does, with 91% of Americans having a favorable opinion of the Postal Service, according to a Pew Research Center poll released in 2020.
The bill signing came the same day the Postal Service announced it plans to raise rates effective July 10. Under the proposal submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission, the cost of a first-class Forever stamp would increase by 2 cents to 60 cents.
The Postal Service said the increase, which is less than the annual rate of inflation, will help the agency implement Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year plan to stabilize agency finances.
Lawmakers from both parties attended the signing ceremony and the mood was jovial, a big improvement from Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran previously saying the service was in a “death spiral” that was particularly hard on rural Americans.
The Postal Service Reform Act lifts budget requirements that have contributed to the agency’s red ink, and spells out that mail must be delivered six days a week, except for federal holidays, natural disasters and some other situations.
Postage sales and other services were supposed to sustain the Postal Service, but it has suffered 14 straight years of losses. Growing worker compensation and benefit costs, plus steady declines in mail volume, have exacerbated losses, even as the service delivers to 1 million additional locations every year.
The new law ends a requirement that the Postal Service finance workers’ health care benefits ahead of time for the next 75 years — an obligation that private companies and federal agencies do not face. Biden said that rule had “stretched the Postal Service’s finances almost to the breaking point.”
Now, future retirees will enroll in Medicare, while other health plans and the Postal Service cover only current retirees’ actual health care costs that aren’t paid for by the federal health insurance program for older people,
“In recent years we saw how unfair policies forced this treasured institution to cut costs and delayed the delivery of medication, financial documents and other critical mail,” Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who helped write the legislation, said in a statement. “These long overdue reforms will undo these burdensome financial requirements.”
To measure the agency’s progress in improving its service, the law requires it to set up an online dashboard that would be searchable by ZIP code to show how long it takes to deliver letters and packages.
Dropped from the package as it neared actual legislation were efforts to cut back mail delivery. Also set aside — for now — were other proposals that have been floated over the years to change operations, including to privatize some services.
Criticism of the Postal Service peaked in 2020, amid the COVID-19 crisis and ahead of the presidential election, as cutbacks delayed service at a time when millions of Americans were relying on mail-in ballots during the pandemic. Then-President Donald Trump acknowledged he was trying to financially pinch the service to limit its processing ability for an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worried could cost him the election he eventually lost.
Dominated by Trump appointees, the agency’s board of governors had tapped DeJoy, a major GOP donor, as postmaster general. He proposed a 10-year plan to stabilize the service’s finances with steps like additional mail slowdowns, cuts in some offices’ hours and perhaps higher rates.
Biden said Wednesday that more needs to be done to reform the Postal Service, including investing in an electrified vehicle fleet that could save money while helping combat climate change. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform is examining a Postal Service contract to replace its huge fleet of mail-delivery trucks with a mix of gas and electric vehicles, which the Environmental Protection Agency and Democratic lawmakers argue has too few electric vehicles.
“Today we enshrine into law our recognition that the Postal Service is fundamental to our economy, to our democracy, to our health and the very sense of who we are as a nation,” Biden said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/six-days-a-week-mail-delivery-saved-biden-signs-postal-bill/
| 2022-04-08T04:17:59
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/six-days-a-week-mail-delivery-saved-biden-signs-postal-bill/
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SLED investigating Swansea police chief incident
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) -The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed it is investigating an incident involving the Swansea police chief.
SLED said it was requested by the Swansea Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. A citizen complaint accused Chief Earl Williams III. of excessive force during an arrest.
The complaint said Williams used too much force on March 31, 2022. The complaint also accuses Williams of refusing to allow EMS to treat the complainant, damaging a prosthetic limb and dragging them out of a vehicle.
The complaint said this caused injuries to the head, neck and shoulders. This is a developing story and we will update it as more information comes in.
We have embedded the complaint below.
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| 2022-04-08T04:18:07
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Soda City Live: Cupcake Wars
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 5:37 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios is a fun way for kids to be creative and learn the fundamentals of cooking.
Owner and operator Ashleen Scheuer and manger, Kaylee Battle prepped cupcakes for our anchors, Billie Jean Shaw, Dawndy Mercer Plank and Hannah Cumler to decorate.
Check out our interview to see who won!
For information on Flour Power, click here.
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| 2022-04-08T04:18:14
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Soda City Live: Local Baking Studio Offers Classes for Children and Adults
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 5:44 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Flour Power is the perfect way to teach children the fundamentals of navigating the kitchen while allowing a safe and fun environment.
Owner and operator Ashleen Scheuer and manger, Kaylee Battle talk about the various activities and programs offered through the studio and even stopped by to challenge our anchors to a cupcake war (see other story).
Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio is located in the Forest Acres area on Forest Drive.
For more information click here.
And follow them on social media.
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| 2022-04-08T04:18:21
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Soda City Live: Local non-profit aims to strengthen the community through giving
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 5:49 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - National Volunteer Week will be happening April 24th through the 30th.
If you’re looking for a place to volunteer, add “All Kind” to your list.
“All Kind” is a non-profit founded by siblings, Alex Wright and Kami King, who provide educational resources, workshops, seminars and outreach.
The non-profit also provides food through “Food Share SC” to seniors and those in need.
Check out the interview for more information, or visit their website here.
Or social media sites here.
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| 2022-04-08T04:18:27
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/soda-city-live-local-non-profit-aims-strengthen-community-through-giving/
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Soda City Live: New nursing program is starting at CIU
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - At a time when the need for nurses is high, there’s a new option in the world of higher education offering a nursing program. The South Carolina Board of Nursing has granted approval for Columbia International University to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Dr. Jill McElheny, a nurse of 27 years, will lead the program. She joined Dawndy Mercer Plank on Soda City Live to talk about the launching of the program.
McElheny is a native of South Carolina’s Lowcountry and first felt the tug toward nursing as a child, a commitment that has led her to challenging opportunities around the world, including service with the Samaritan’s Purse medical disaster team.
CIU’s Corporate Communications Specialist Bob Holmes says, “All the Columbia area hospitals, as well as an organization serving lower-income population centers, are ready to welcome CIU nursing students for clinical experience required for their education. But before that, the students will practice on manikins in CIU’s state-of-the-art Skills and Simulation Center located on the CIU campus. Additionally, on-campus science labs are under construction that will provide nursing prerequisite science courses.”
”With every clinical course they will spend four weeks in simulation on campus before they spend four weeks in the hospital or the clinical setting,” McElheny said. “During those four weeks of simulation, we’ll debrief and learn from the mistakes they may have made, and then they’ll be checked off before they can enter the clinical facilities. They will be very well prepared.”
There is a Nursing Information Session for the new program at CIU. It’s tomorrow, April 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the William H. Jones Center. That’s at the entrance to the CIU campus which is located at 7435 Monticello Road in Columbia.
Applications are being accepted for the nursing program at admissions@ciu.edu or (803) 807-5024. C
IU also offers an online RN-BSN program giving registered nurses the opportunity to advance their careers with the BSN degree.
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| 2022-04-08T04:18:49
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Texas orders new border action, migrant bus charters to DC
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday delivered new orders along the U.S.-Mexico border and promised more to come as former Trump administration officials press him to declare an “invasion” and give state troopers and National Guard members authority to turn back migrants.
The two-term Republican governor did not say whether he supports such a concept, which constitutional scholars say is legally dubious, nearly unprecedented and would almost certainly face swift court challenges.
But for now, Abbott said state troopers would begin stopping and inspecting commercial vehicles that come across the border, which he acknowledged would “dramatically slow” vehicle traffic near U.S. ports of entry. He also said bus charters to Washington, D.C., would be offered to migrants who volunteer for them, in a dig at President Joe Biden and Congress, who Abbott has criticized for not doing enough.
Abbott said the inspection stops would occur on Texas roadways and follow the law. “But of course, everyone always files a lawsuit,” he said.
The new directives amount to the “unprecedented actions” that Abbott promised in response to the Biden administration winding down a public health law – now set to expire in May – that has limited asylum-seekers in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19. When that happens, it is expected to draw more migrants to the southern border.
Texas officials also said they would begin “increased military activity” on the border and install razor wire at some low-water along the river to deter migrants from crossing.
The orders further expand a multibillion-dollar Texas border security mission that Abbott, who is running for reelection in November, has made the cornerstone of his administration. Already, Texas has deployed thousands of troopers and National Guard members, installed new border barrier and jailed migrants on trespassing charges.
Still, the efforts do not go far enough for some former Trump administration officials, who want Abbott to essentially bestow on troopers and Guard members enforcement powers that have been a federal responsibility.
Border Patrol officials say they are planning for as many as 18,000 arrivals daily once the health policy, known as the Title 42 authority, expires in May. Last week, about 7,100 migrants were coming a day to the southern U.S. border.
But the way former Trump immigration officials see it, Texas and Arizona can pick up where the federal government leaves off. Their plan involves a novel interpretation of the U.S. Constitution to have the National Guard or state police forcibly send migrants to Mexico, without regard to immigration laws and law enforcement procedures. Border enforcement has always been a federal responsibility, and in Texas, state leaders have not been pushing for such a move.
Tom Homan, the former acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Trump, told an audience in San Antonio last week that he had spoken with Abbott about the idea.
“We’ve had discussions with his attorneys in his office, ‘Is there a way to use this clause within the Constitution where it talks about invasion?’” Homan said during the Border Security Expo.
Homan said those talks took place about three months ago and described the governor’s office as “noncommittal but willing to listen.”
In Arizona, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has also been under pressure within his party to declare that the state is being invaded and use extraordinary powers normally reserved for war. But Ducey, who is term-limited and not on the ballot in 2022, has not embraced the theory and has avoided commenting directly on it.
Driving the effort on the right is the Center for Renewing America, a conservative policy think tank led by former Trump administration officials. It includes Ken Cuccinelli, an immigration hard-liner and former Homeland Security official under Trump. He argued states are entitled to defend themselves from immediate danger or invasion, as it is defined by the “invasion clause,” under the “states self-defense clause.”
Cuccinelli said in practice, he envisions the plan would look similar to the enforcement of Title 42, which circumvented U.S. obligations under American law and international treaty to provide asylum. He said he has not spoken with Abbott and said the current Texas border mission, known as Operation Lone Star, has put little dent in migration. The mission has also drawn criticism from Guard members over long deployments and little to do, and some arrests have appeared to have no connection to border security.
“Until you are actually returning people to Mexico, what you are doing will have no effect,” Cuccinelli said.
Emily Berman, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Houston, said the “invasion clause” cited by proponents is tucked into a broader constitutional assurance that the U.S. must defend states from invasion and domestic violence. Additionally, she said, the “state self-defense clause” says states cannot engage in warlike actions or foreign policy unless invaded.
Berman said she hasn’t seen the constitutional clauses used since the 1990s, when the courts ruled that they did not have jurisdiction to decide what qualified an invasion, but believed that one could only be done by another governmental entity.
For example, Berman said, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia can be qualified as one because it is an outside government breaching another country’s boundaries with the use of military force.
“Just because the state says that it is an invasion that doesn’t necessarily make it so, it is not clear to me what additional legal authority that conveys on them,” Berman said, adding that state officials can enforce state laws, but the line is drawn at what the federal law allows.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes the Texas border, has criticized the Biden administration over border security and ending Title 42. But he does not support states trying to use new powers that would let them “do whatever they want.”
“I think it should be more of a partnership instead of saying, ‘Federal government, we don’t think you’re doing enough, and why don’t we go ahead and do our own border security?’” he said.
___
Coronado is a corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Associated Press reporter Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/texas-orders-new-border-action-migrant-bus-charters-dc/
| 2022-04-08T04:18:55
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Threats made to elementary school
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 3:12 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Forest Heights Elementary School received some threatening phone calls today from an unknown caller, according to Karen York of the Richland County School District One.
There have been no reports of an immediate threat to the safety of the students or staff.
But as a precaution, students were kept inside their classrooms.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating and working to determine who made the calls.
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:03
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US charges Russian oligarch, dismantles cybercrime operation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has charged a Russian oligarch linked to the Kremlin with violating U.S. government sanctions, and disrupted a cybercrime operation that was launched by a Russian military intelligence agency, officials said Wednesday.
The actions came as the Justice Department said it was accelerating efforts to track down illicit Russian assets and as U.S. prosecutors helped European counterparts gather evidence on potential war crimes committed by Russia during its war on Ukraine.
FBI and Justice Department officials announced the moves on the same day that the U.S. separately revealed sanctions against the two adult daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and sanctions that blocked two key Russian banks.
“We have our eyes on every yacht and jet. We have our eyes on every piece of art and real estate purchased with dirty money and on every bitcoin wallet filled with proceeds of theft and other crimes,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said, adding that “our goal is to ensure that sanctioned Russian oligarchs and cyber criminals will not find safe haven.”
The indictment against Konstantin Malofeyev, a Russian media baron and founder of Russian Orthodox news channel Tsargrad TV, is the first of an oligarch since Russia’s war with Ukraine began in February. Malofeyev has trumpeted the invasion as a “holy war” and has supported Russia-aligned separatist groups in Ukraine.
He was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2014 for financing Russians promoting separatism in Crimea. Though those sanctions barred him from doing business with U.S. citizens, prosecutors say Malofeyev evaded those restrictions by hiring an American television producer to work for him in television networks in Russia and Greece and enlisted his help in trying to acquire a TV network in Bulgaria. It was all part of an effort to spread pro-Russia propaganda throughout Europe, the Justice Department said.
Jack Hanick, a former CNBC and Fox News employee, was arrested last month for his work as a television producer for Malofeyev. That case is pending.
Malofeyev is not in custody and is believed to be in Russia. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer to speak on his behalf. The two sanctions charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Justice Department said it is seeking the seizure of a $10 million investment that Malofeyev had illegally transferred to a business associate in Greece.
Federal authorities also announced that they had taken down a botnet — a network of hijacked computers typically used for malicious activity — that was controlled by the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU. The botnet, which in this case involved thousands of infected network hardware devices, was dismantled before it could do harm, said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Wednesday’s announcements came two days after U.S. officials seized a huge yacht in Spain belonging to a Russian oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg, with close ties to Russian President Putin.
After the war began, the Justice Department set up a task force to enforce sanctions against Russian oligarchs and target ill-gotten proceeds.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday that Justice Department prosecutors were also helping international efforts to uncover potential war crimes committed by Russia. U.S. officials have met with European prosecutors to develop a plan for gathering evidence, he said.
“We have seen the dead bodies of civilians, some with bound hands, scattered in the streets. We have seen the mass graves. We have seen the bombed hospital, theater, and residential apartment buildings,” Garland said. “The world sees what is happening in Ukraine. The Justice Department sees what is happening in Ukraine.
WARNING: The following video contains graphic content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:09
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US hits Russia with ‘war crimes’ sanctions, Europe following
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. rolled out a new wave of financial sanctions on Wednesday against Russia that President Joe Biden said would place a lasting penalty on the country’s economy.
The United Kingdom quickly followed suit, and more pain was coming from the European Union as the allies pressed forward with an escalating campaign to tighten the economic screws on Russian President Vladimir Putin for “war crimes” in Ukraine.
Making it personal, the U.S. sanctions singled out the Putin’s family, targeting his two adult daughters in addition to blocking two key Russian banks.
Biden said that “Russia has already failed in its initial war” after the country’s forces were turned back from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. He cautioned, however, that “this fight is far from over.”
“This war could continue for a long time,” but the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in the fight for freedom, Biden said. “We’re going to stifle Russia’s ability to grow for years to come.”
The latest sanctions underscore the financial pain that Russia faces, as evidence that its troops killed Ukrainian civilians has led to ever harsher penalties by the U.S. and its Western allies that are eroding Putin’s ability to fight.
While rounds of increased sanctions have not forced Putin out of the war, they have put Russia in increasingly desperate economic circumstances as Ukrainian forces withstand his barrages. Key to the effectiveness of the sanctions has been the unity between the U.S. and European nations. And the atrocities revealed in Ukraine have intensified pressure on Germany and other countries to go further and join the U.S. and Lithuania in blocking all Russian energy exports.
The U.K. piled on Wednesday with asset freezes against major banks, a ban on British investment in Russia and a pledge to end dependency on Russian coal and oil by yearend.
The European Union was also expected to soon take additional steps, including a ban on new investment in Russia and an embargo on coal, after the recent evidence of atrocities emerging in the wake of the retreat by Russian forces from the town of Bucha.
WARNING: Video contains graphic content.
The U.S. acted against two of Russia’s largest banks, Sberbank and Alfa Bank, prohibiting assets from going through the U.S. financial system and barring Americans from doing business with those two institutions.
In addition to sanctions aimed at Putin’s adult daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova, the U.S. is targeting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; the wife and children of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and members of Russia’s Security Council, including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister.
The penalties cut off all of Putin’s close family members from the U.S. financial system and freeze any assets they hold in the United States.
Biden was expected to sign an an executive order that would ban new investment in Russia by Americans no matter where they are living. The U.S. Treasury Department was preparing more sanctions against Russian state-owned enterprises, according to the White House.
Britain announced asset freezes targeting Sberbank and the Credit Bank of Moscow and designated eight Russian oligarchs whom it says Putin “uses to prop up his war economy.”
“Together with our allies, we are showing the Russian elite that they cannot wash their hands of the atrocities committed on Putin’s orders,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.
Britain had already announced a plan to phase out Russian oil, which accounts for 8% of the U.K. supply. Russia is the top supplier of imported coal to the U.K., though British demand for the polluting fuel has plummeted in the past decade.
Britain has not ended imports of Russian natural gas, which accounts for 4% of its supply, saying only that it will do so “as soon as possible.”
Videos and images of bodies in the streets of Bucha after it was recaptured from Russian forces have unleashed a wave of indignation among Western allies, who have drawn up new sanctions as a response.
The European Commission’s proposed ban on coal imports would be the first EU sanctions targeting Russia’s lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said energy was key to Putin’s war coffers. And because the war has pushed prices higher, Russia has benefitted from being able to sell its natural gas and oil to the rest of the world.
“A billion euro is what we pay Putin every day for the energy he provides us since the beginning of the war. We have given him 35 billion euro. Compare that to the one billion that we have given to the Ukraine in arms and weapons,” Borrell said.
The steady intensifying in sanctions is less a sign of their shortcomings than the building pressure against Russia as it seeks foreign investment and basic goods, Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters at a Wednesday breakfast. “We need to have patience and perspective when it comes to the impacts on Russia of this unprecedented and crippling sanctions regime,” Deese said at the event sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor.
Deese noted that Russian inflation is running at 2% weekly, which would compound to annual inflation above 200% annually. He noted that the Biden administration expects Russian prices will not ultimately rise more than 200% this year.
While the White House has said Russia should not attend the G-20 meeting in Indonesia this November, he noted that it may drop out of the organization anyway because its economy has shrunk in size so dramatically.
After several European countries announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the European Commission proposed a fifth package of sanctions including a ban on coal imports that could be adopted once unanimously approved by the 27-nation bloc’s ambassadors.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the coal ban is worth 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) per year and that the EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports.
She didn’t mention natural gas, with consensus among the 27 EU countries on targeting the fuel used to generate electricity and heat homes difficult to secure amid opposition from gas-dependent members like Germany, the bloc’s largest economy.
But European Council President Charles Michel said the bloc should keep up the pressure on the Kremlin, suggesting that an embargo on gas imports should also be required at some point in the future.
“The new package includes a ban on coal imports,” Michel said on Wednesday. “I think that measures on oil, and even gas, will also be needed, sooner or later.”
___
Petrequin reported from Brussels. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Jill Lawless in London contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:17
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Woman celebrates 108th birthday, shares her secret to longevity
GLOBE, Ariz. (3TV/CBS 5/Gray News) – Carmen Slough celebrated her 108th birthday this week with friends and family.
She was born in Douglas, Arizona, but has lived in the Globe-Miami area her entire life and is well-known. Slough owned a clothing store in downtown Globe for 49 years.
“We didn’t have paved streets,” Slough told AZFamily, remembering the early days of Globe. “There was still a few people who got around on horseback.”
Slough lived through the Spanish Flu when she was just 4 years old, but she remembers it like it was yesterday.
“I was old enough to know that something was wrong,” she said. “There was a lot of people in the area that did pass away from the flu at that time.”
At the age of 106, another virus — this time COVID-19 — turned her world upside down.
Slough admits it affected her, saying, “The isolation was really, really bad for me because I was used to being a part of the community.”
Slough’s late husband was a WWI veteran, and her siblings fought in WWII.
“I remember the people that we lost and the valor of our local boys that served overseas,” said Slough.
Her 86-year-old son, Bob, relies on his mom’s recollection and calls her “a wonder.”
Slough says staying active is the secret to longevity.
“I don’t believe in just sitting down and giving up, I believe in going out in the sunshine, picking weeds, and working in the garden,” Slough said.
She has a little brother, the only surviving sibling in her family of nine, who’s 98 years old.
Copyright 2022 AZFamily via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:26
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Woman wins $10M lottery prize after being ‘pushed’ into buying scratch-off ticket
LOS ANGELES (Gray News) - A woman in Southern California is ‘accidentally’ $10 million richer thanks to some help pushing a button at a California Lottery Scratchers vending machine.
According to lottery officials, California resident LaQuedra Edwards was at a Los Angeles-area Vons grocery store in November 2021 when she put $40 into the Scratchers machine.
Edwards said when she was deciding which games to play, “some rude person” bumped into her. The impact then pushed her into choosing the wrong selection on the machine, a $30 200X Scratchers ticket.
“He just bumped into me, didn’t say a thing, and just walked out the door,” Edwards said.
Edwards told lottery officials that she wasn’t planning on playing that game and was initially irritated because the ticket took most of her lottery budget.
However, Edwards said she was not upset for long as she started scratching the $30 ticket once back in her car and discovered she’d just won the game’s top prize of $10 million.
“I didn’t really believe it at first, but I got on the freeway and kept looking down at [the ticket], and I almost crashed my car,” Edwards said. “I pulled over, looked at it again, scanned it with my [California Lottery mobile] app, and I kept thinking this can’t be right.”
According to lottery officials, Edwards plans to use the prize money to purchase a home and start a nonprofit organization.
“I’m still in shock. All I remember saying once I found out how much I just won was, ‘I’m rich!” Edwards said.
Lottery officials said the Vons store where Edwards bought the Scratcher received $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/06/woman-wins-10m-lottery-prize-after-being-pushed-into-buying-scratch-off-ticket/
| 2022-04-08T04:19:34
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Yellen: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have ‘enormous economic repercussions’
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned a House panel Wednesday that Russia’s aggression in Eastern Europe will have “enormous economic repercussions in Ukraine and beyond.” She added that the rising price of energy, metal, wheat and corn that Russia and Ukraine produce “is going to escalate inflationary pressures as well.”
Russia’s invasion “including the atrocities committed against innocent Ukrainians in Bucha, are reprehensible, represent an unacceptable affront to the rules-based global order, and will have enormous economic repercussions for the world,” she told the House Financial Services Committee.
Her remarks were part of her annual testimony on the state of the international financial system.
WARNING: Videos contain graphic content.
Along with touching on the need for food and energy security and debt sustainability globally, Yellen called on Congress to provide support to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank organizations, which have provided grants and humanitarian funds financing to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
“Globally,” she said, “spillovers from the crisis are heightening economic vulnerabilities in many countries that are already facing higher debt burdens and limited policy options as they recover from COVID-19.”
“The sanctions we’ve placed on Russia are pushing up the price of energy. It’s a price that’s important to pay to punish Russia for what it’s doing in Ukraine,” she added, drawing on how the conflict is impacting Americans at home.
Inflation has reached 40-year highs as an inflation metric closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
The United States and Western allies have imposed an avalanche of sanctions against Russia in the first weeks of the war and administration officials in recent days have put more focus on closing loopholes that Russia might try to use to circumvent them.
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. announced more sanctions, this time targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters and toughening penalties against Russian banks in retaliation for “war crimes” in Ukraine.
“Treasury is committed to holding Russia accountable for its actions so it cannot benefit from the international financial system,” Yellen said.
Lawmakers also questioned Yellen on China and the threat of an invasion of Taiwan as the U.S. and its allies continue to impose sanctions on Russia. She said the U.S. is prepared to impose sanctions against China if Beijing moves aggressively toward Taiwan, as some fear it might.
“I believe we’ve shown that we can in the case of Russia,” she said. “I think you should not doubt our ability to resolve to do the same in other situations.”
She was also asked about Russia’s involvement in the G-20 summit, which is set to take place in Indonesia later this year.
The Indonesian government has said it would hold the G-20 Summit impartially, resisting calls to exclude Russia.
“I’ve made clear to my colleagues in Indonesia that we will not be participating in a number of meetings” at the annual summit where Russia would be involved, Yellen said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified later in the day that Yellen was referring to ministerial-level meetings and that the U.S. would not boycott the summit in its entirety.
“It shouldn’t be business as usual,” she said.
President Joe Biden has said he would like to kick Russia out of the G-20.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:41
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College coach cuts entire volleyball team; players left scrambling without scholarships
GRAMBLING, La. (KSLA/Gray News) - Grambling State University’s new head volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas has decided to cut the entire team.
KSLA reports Lucas notified the 19 players about the roster change on Monday. She has been the coach of the team since February.
GSU Athletics Communications Director Brian Howard said athletic leaders knew Lucas would be making some changes to the roster, but not to what extent.
“It’s her decision to make, and she’s got some quality players coming on board. I think 13 or 14 are coming on board. So, I hate to say out with the old, but in with the new a little bit,” Howard said.
According to the players, Lucas called individual player meetings and told them their scholarships would not be renewed.
Maurisa Harris, a junior at GSU, said players were advised that their scholarships would not be renewed based on their performance at recent practices held this semester.
Harris said the coach’s decision has left many of her teammates scrambling to find another program to transfer to in the off-season.
GSU Athletic Director Trayveon Scott issued the following statement:
“Just as the transfer portal empowers student-athletes, our coaches are also empowered to make the decisions they deem necessary to advance their programs.”
According to Howard, athletic leaders wish the players whose scholarships were not renewed future success.
Copyright 2022 KSLA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/07/college-coach-cuts-entire-volleyball-team-players-left-scrambling-without-scholarships/
| 2022-04-08T04:19:48
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Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of Blue Bike SC and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Media or its editorial staff. To learn more about Blue Bike SC, visit https://bluebikesc.wixsite.com/meatlessbikemore.
Let’s Meat Less and Blue Bike SC have partnered to bring Soda Citizens a fun and delicious opportunity to lessen their impact on the environment and improve their health called “Meat Less. Bike More. South Carolina”. The month-long campaign will feature a selection of local restaurants that are participants of Meatless Monday Columbia and offer plant-based meals. The restaurants will be featured on Blue Bike’s map as points of interest. During this campaign Blue Bike SC and Let’s Meat Less will host five free group rides to neighborhood restaurants where participants can support local businesses by purchasing a plant-based meal.
“Meat Less Bike More is part of the Let’s Meat Less mission to empower eating habits that positively impact health, the environment and our community. Most of the group rides are on Mondays or Tuesdays, so as with Meatless Monday Columbia, we’re sending customers to fabulous local restaurants on days that traditionally draw less business. This is a wonderful opportunity to unite our city around a common good,” said Sue Doran, Registered Dietitian, and founder of the non-profit organization Let’s Meat Less.
“We’re excited to show the importance of Blue Bike to the people who live, work, and play in Columbia,” said Eshana Young-Pierre, Marking and Communications Manager at Blue Bike SC. “Bike share is a great asset to our city, supports healthy, well-connected communities and is an eco-friendly way for people to explore Columbia.”
The group rides to restaurants will be led by Scott Nuelken, Executive Director of the Cola Town Bike Collective. Bike riders will receive a t-shirt and be entered into a raffle to win a $50 restaurant gift card, an Annual Pass to ride Blue Bike SC, and other gifts. A social media raffle for five, $25 restaurant gift cards and prize packs will be given away to those who post a photo of their bike and plant-based meal with the hashtag #MeatLessBikeMoreSC and follow @letsmeatless and @bluebikesc on Instagram or Twitter.
The campaign will run from April 18th through May 15th. The featured restaurants on Blue Bike’s map include: A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen, Jake’s, Good Life Café, Enzo’s Delicatessen, and II Giorgione. For more information about how to enter the raffle, group ride routes, and restaurant menu options, visit https://bluebikesc.com/news/detail/meatlessbikemore
Join us on the following group rides to local restaurants
About Blue Bike SC: Blue Bike SC is a public, self-serve bike share system designed for short trips. The system is managed by the City of Columbia and Bewegen, who oversee the supply, installation, and ongoing operations, and is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and The COMET. Currently, one-third of the fleet is equipped with electric-assist motors, that provide riders with an extra boost when pedaling. Eighteen stations have been installed to date, reaching the neighborhoods of downtown Columbia and the entertainment districts. The Blue Bike program is a direct result of the Walk Bike Columbia Master Plan and the associated Bike Share Plan initiated by the City of Columbia’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Learn more at BlueBikesc.com or call (877) 460-2435.
About Let’s Meat Less: Let’s Meat Less is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Columbia, SC, founded in 2020 to educate and empower eating habits that positively impact human health, the environment, our community, and farmed animals. Founder, Sue Doran, MS, RDN, is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist, UofSC alum and longtime Columbia resident. Following years of nutrition consultations with hospital patients, she now spends her time on the prevention side of eating. Follow along and learn more at @letsmeatless and LetsMeatLess.com and contact us at info@letsmeatless.com
About Cola Town Bike Collective: The Cola Town Bike Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization of bicycle users whose mission is to educate and empower the community by providing a welcoming space to learn about bicycle repair, engage in maintenance practices, and promote safe operation through outreach and advocacy activities. Learn more at ColaTownBikes.com
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| 2022-04-08T04:19:54
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All about Peeps: Art museum home for Peeps-inspired artwork
RACINE, Wis. (WTMJ) - An art exhibit all about Peeps has returned to Wisconsin. And some of the art covers a serious subject.
“You must not think of them as conventional candy. You need to think of them as a method to an end,” said Lisa Englander, handling the exhibit’s guest relations and retail operations.
The 13th annual International Peeps Exhibition is underway, where the Peeps have been painted and glued for certain works of art. However, that doesn’t stop hungry visitors from trying them.
“Now and then, we’ll come in and find that a piece of a Peep is missing, and we know that somebody has either taken it or chomped on it,” Englander said.
Organizers said the art on display must be made out of Peeps or about Peeps. And there were 162 entries to the gallery and competition this year.
Winners get a golden Peep. And while it is a competition, organizers said it’s not really about winning or the prizes. It’s about making art differently.
“I like it because of the happiness that it brings to people,” Englander said.
The gallery also helps usher in spring. Visitors can see Peeps camping, Peep animatronics, and even Peeps on a video chat call.
Plus, this year, there is an entire section about the invasion of Ukraine.
“There are many pieces about freedom and rights. So, people are speaking to all aspects of their life here,” Englander said.
The Peeps exhibit runs through April 23.
Copyright 2022 WTMJ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:22:27
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K-M’s Aby Shubert Excited for Next Level, Commits to Xavier
KASSON, Minn. (KTTC) –It’s almost like it was meant to be, for Aby Shubert.
“I remember in 7th grade some girl started to call me ‘D1′, but I didn’t even know what that meant at the time,” Shubert said.
“I never saw this coming, but its awesome, it feels great.”
As she announced her commitment to play at Xavier University.
“Everything about it is awesome, the coaching staff, the arena if you’ve ever seen the arena its awesome, the campus, but most of all I knew the coaching staff wanted me they were really heavy on recruiting me.”
Xavier and Shubert a duo, as perfect as her jumpshot.
“They really need a shooter and obviously that’s what I’m best at so that’s what I’m going to give them and I’m super excited for it,” Shubert said.
Shubert’s career 41 percent average from three-point land just evidence of the work and all the jumpshots she’s put in.
“I started tearing up after I committed because of all the work I put into this started back in fourth grade when my dad made it a chore for me to shoot and then I just ended up falling in love with it.”
Now that love for the game has her on a stage with fellow Minnesotans like Paige Bueckers and Byron’s Ayoka Lee.
“That (Byron) is a town that is five minutes away from us. It’s crazy having all these different girls accomplishing all these different things out of Minnesota like Paige Bueckers from UCONN, I’ll get to play her like that’s crazy,” Shubert said.
She already has her name above Paige for the state single season free throw mark at 88 percent.
“Its awesome, when he told me that I was above Paige Bueckers I was like what.”
With the commitment done, Shubert can focus on her senior season and the real Minnesotan she wants to pass, K-M and Iowa State alum Kristen Scott for 2,000 career points.
“It would mean so much. I remember going to that game where she broke the scoring record and that was awesome and I never thought that I would be able to do that, but here I am having the opportunity to do that,” Shubert said.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:22:34
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U of M Rochester plans to expand its campus
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) –The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) has its eyes on vacant downtown spaces to expand its campus.
“We have grown 13 percent so far during the pandemic, with enrollment expecting to rise again for the coming fall,” said Lori Carrell, UMR chancellor.
She said the university has an enrollment goal for the next school year.
“We’re moving towards our first milestone which would be a thousand students. Hope to celebrate in the fall,” Carrell said.
UMR was founded 16 years ago. The first graduating class was in 2013.
The university said enrollment growth means students need more on-campus facility options.
“Academic space, housing, of course, has been a pressing need,” Carrell said. “We need well-being space now with the decision from the Y.”
She said the UMR has a partnership with the YMCA for recreation. Many students would use the facility before it closed in January.
KTTC asked the chancellor if the former Y building is being considered for campus expansion.
“Not at this time,” Carrell said.
She said the expansion is not just about the number of students but the quality of education for students.
“With our strategic enrollment plan, we have three milestones, 1,000,1,500 and 2,500 [students enrolled]. At each milestone investment in facilities, and additional faculty and staff will be needed to grow to the next stage. We do anticipate reaching that first milestone this upcoming fall,” Carrell said.
A few UMR students also believe a campus expansion is needed.
“I’m hoping we’ll have more maybe gym facilities, and recreation stuff as well. Of course more opportunities for medical,” said David Ajay
“If there’s more apartment buildings as I know many students live off-campus because there aren’t enough buildings for every student to live here right now,” said Mikayla Hanson
“The university has expanded a lot. I feel like with that expansion needs to come like more places for students to live obviously. So, I think that’s a great opportunity that the university is expanding to new vacant areas,” said Neal Sannuli.
UMR plans to make a formal announcement of the expansion plans within the next couple of months.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T04:22:40
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Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall has shared the first images while recovering since an attack left him with multiple major injuries and his cameraman and producer dead.
Hall wrote a message on Twitter that said, "I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didn't make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together."
Unfortunately, Hall’s cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and freelance Ukrainian producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova were killed as the team were attacked.
Its been over three weeks since the attack in Ukraine and I wanted to start sharing it all. But first I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didnt make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together, working was his joy and his joy was infectious. RIP pic.twitter.com/gbHduLmd5e
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall said that he has lost part of his leg, and part of another foot and said that one of his hands is being "put together" while one of his eyes is "no longer working." He said he feels "pretty darn lucky to be here."
To sum it up, I've lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other. One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here - and it is the people who got me here who are amazing! pic.twitter.com/HNjO6PbdGf
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall was reporting on the invasion of Ukraine from the country's capital city of Kyiv when his team came under fire by Russian forces. As Fox News reported, Hall has three young daughters. Other journalists with Fox News were also in Ukraine reporting on the quickly evolving invasion by Russia.
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https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
| 2022-04-08T04:24:45
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https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
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Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall has shared the first images while recovering since an attack left him with multiple major injuries and his cameraman and producer dead.
Hall wrote a message on Twitter that said, "I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didn't make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together."
Unfortunately, Hall’s cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and freelance Ukrainian producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova were killed as the team were attacked.
Its been over three weeks since the attack in Ukraine and I wanted to start sharing it all. But first I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didnt make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together, working was his joy and his joy was infectious. RIP pic.twitter.com/gbHduLmd5e
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall said that he has lost part of his leg, and part of another foot and said that one of his hands is being "put together" while one of his eyes is "no longer working." He said he feels "pretty darn lucky to be here."
To sum it up, I've lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other. One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here - and it is the people who got me here who are amazing! pic.twitter.com/HNjO6PbdGf
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall was reporting on the invasion of Ukraine from the country's capital city of Kyiv when his team came under fire by Russian forces. As Fox News reported, Hall has three young daughters. Other journalists with Fox News were also in Ukraine reporting on the quickly evolving invasion by Russia.
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https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
| 2022-04-08T04:38:42
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https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
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PORTLAND, Ore. — “Jewelry has been around since the beginning of time,” said Betsy Cross. “It’s a way for us to express ourselves. It’s a way for us to feel a sense of individuality.”
That’s just one reason Betsy Cross started her own jewelry-making business, Betsy & Iya. When it comes to the jewelry made at her shop, the team has something particular in mind.
“It’s just this physical representation of joy and celebration,” Cross said. “The Betsy & Iya aesthetic, to me, is taking something traditional and adding something with a flare, something that flips it up on its side and makes it a little unique, a little different.”
You can find Betsy & Iya’s storefront and studio on Northwest 24th and Thurman in Portland. The shop features Betsy & Iya designs as well as other special finds.
“A lot of what you see in the shop is from makers here in Portland, regionally and some globally,” Cross said.
Walk in and you’re greeted by a customer advocate, like Ali Cogan.
“I love talking about the pieces,” Cogan said. “I was a huge fan long before I worked here.”
Newly-designed floors reflect the jewelry on the shelves.
“It was actually designed by one of our marketing employees, Meg. They made this incredible design that goes all the way back to our production studio,” Cross said.
Not only is their Northwest location a place where you can buy Betsy & Iya pieces, but it’s also where they’re made.
“Which is such a cool thing you do not see anywhere else. It’s a really special part of that whole process,” Cogan said.
“That way people can have a visual representation of where their jewelry is made and connect to it,” Cross said.
Cross started her business more than 14 years ago and says it has been a journey.
“It was a huge risk. I didn’t have any money at the time, but I knew it was a passion I had to pursue,” she said. “And now we’ve grown to the space that we’re in now. We have 20-plus amazing employees and we’re just proud to be part of the small business community here in Portland.”
Part of that journey includes the pitfalls of the pandemic. The team adjusted the business many times — moving outside to a tent, creating a pop-up shop, and even having to send workers home.
Cogan started working at Betsy & Iya not long before the pandemic shutdowns started.
“It was an interesting ride for sure,” Cogan said.
“The pandemic made us stop, literally, and it also made us reflect,” Cross said. “My partner and I sat down and literally said ‘What kind of business do we want to be a part of?’”
That led Cross and General Manager Will Cervarich to change how they operate.
“We are now a four-day workweek company. We created a wage floor minimum. We created paid mindfulness breaks – that’s on top of other breaks that our employees get,” Cross said.
While many businesses are struggling to bring employees back, Cogan says her bosses here at Betsy and Iya made it an easy decision.
“Being a part of this community is what’s so amazing to me and I’m so grateful to be a part of it,” she said. “And coming to work every day is really joyful and that’s really hard to find sometimes.”
Now, Betsy & Iya is focusing on what’s next; resurgence and new beginnings with a new line of earrings.
“It’s been a minute since we came out with a new collection and it’s time to just celebrate,” Cross said.
They’re inviting the community out to a shopping bazaar event on April 16.
“I do hope that people will remember we’re still out here in Portland, and by 'we' I mean the small business community,” Cross said. “There’s a special experience that happens at a small shop.”
To learn more about Betsy & Iya check them out at betsyandiya.com.
The Bazaar is Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at their store, located at 1777 NW 24th Ave, Portland, OR 97210.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/small-business/betsy-iya-portland-jewelry-maker-work-culture-pandemic/283-77f21369-eff9-48e2-8059-74e386efc47b
| 2022-04-08T04:43:26
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WASHINGTON — Medicare said Thursday it's considering a cut in enrollee premiums, after officials stuck with an earlier decision to sharply limit coverage for a pricey new Alzheimer's drug projected to drive up program costs.
The agency “is looking at that, and is still going through the process,” spokeswoman Beth Lynk said of a potential reduction in premiums, as Medicare announced its final coverage decision for Aduhelm, a drug whose benefits have been widely questioned in the medical community.
Officials said Medicare will keep coverage restrictions imposed earlier on the $28,000-a-year medication, paying for Aduhelm only when it's used in clinical trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health.
The projected cost of Aduhelm was a major driver behind a $22 increase in Medicare’s Part B premium this year, boosting it to $170.10 a month. That price hike is already being paid by more than 56 million Medicare recipients signed up for the program’s outpatient coverage benefit.
Thursday’s decision illustrates the impact that a single medication can have on the budgets of individuals and taxpayers. It comes as legislation to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices remains stuck in the Senate, part of President Joe Biden’s stalled social and climate agenda.
Medicare's decision included an important caveat. Officials said that if Aduhelm, or any other similar drug in its class, were to receive what's called “traditional” FDA approval, then Medicare would open up broader coverage for patients.
Aduhelm received what's known as “accelerated” approval last year because of its potential promise. But manufacturer Biogen is required to conduct a follow-up study to definitively answer whether Aduhelm truly slows the progression of Alzheimer’s. If that study is successful, FDA would grant full approval.
That would also open up Medicare coverage.
Aduhelm hit the market as the first new Alzheimer’s medication in nearly two decades. Initially priced at $56,000 a year, it was expected to quickly become a blockbuster drug, generating billions for Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen.
But although the company slashed the price in half — to $28,000 a year — Aduhelm's rollout has been disastrous.
Pushback from politicians, physicians and insurers left the company with just $3 million in sales from Aduhelm last year. Doctors have been hesitant to prescribe it, given weak evidence that the drug slows the progression of Alzheimer's. Insurers have blocked or restricted coverage over the drug’s high price tag and uncertain benefit.
The CMS decision means that for Medicare to pay, patients taking Aduhelm medication will have to be part of clinical trials to assess the drug’s safety and effectiveness in slowing the progression of early-stage dementia.
The limits stayed on despite a massive lobbying push by the Alzheimer’s Association to change Medicare’s position, including outreach to members of Congress, online advertising and social media campaigns directed at the agency.
The association, the largest group of its kind, has received contributions from drugmakers, including Biogen.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
| 2022-04-08T04:43:32
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
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PORTLAND, Ore. — As political races heat up in Portland, a big one to keep an eye on is the race for Portland City Council Position 3, which is currently held by incumbent Jo Ann Hardesty.
Hardesty is seeking re-election for a second term. It's a crowded field with 11 candidates in total.
On Thursday, the City Club of Portland hosted a debate between Hardesty and her two challengers who have raised the most money and are the most active on the campaign trail: Vadim Mozyrski and Rene Gonzalez.
The three candidates fielded questions from the audience and moderator, Chabre Vickers, via Zoom hoping to sway voters their way.
Here's a quick snapshot of who the candidates are, according to their websites:
- Vadim Mozyrski is an administrative law judge who focuses on disability law and advocates for immigrant and refugee communities.
- Rene Gonzalez is an attorney who owns a legal and consulting practice and helped lead a state group dedicated to sports and school reopening efforts in Oregon.
- Jo Ann Hardesty is the incumbent. She's the first Black woman elected to city council, a veteran and civil rights leader.
Mozyrski said city government has been dysfunctional for too long.
Gonzalez felt similarly and said, “Portland is facing an historic threat to its livability.”
Meantime, Hardesty said, "my biggest honor in life has been to serve as your Portland city commissioner position 3."
A number of topics were addressed including infrastructure, climate change and consolidation of bureaus among other things. One big topic was around homelessness in Portland and the lack of affordable housing.
“We have to stop driving away small landlords,” said Gonzalez, who also mentioned the need for more help and sleeping options for the unsheltered.
“We should let the developers do the private market, and the city should be focused on making sure workers and low-income people are able to thrive and prosper within the city of Portland,” said Hardesty.
“We're at a point where in about five years, we'll have another housing crisis because we don’t have enough in the pipeline. We need to bring to the table developers, housing advocates, home builders and see what we can do to iron this out,” Mozyrski said.
Another big issue addressed during the debate was crime.
Hardesty said her priority continues to be public safety.
“That's why I created Portland Street Response to create a non-law enforcement response to people suffering on our street,” she said.
Portland Street Response is a Portland Fire & Rescue program that helps people with non-life-threatening mental health and behavioral health issues.
“We need to reform and rebuild police,” said Mozyrski, who has also served on various committees related to police oversight. “You have to heed the calls of individuals.”
Gonzalez called for adequate funding for the police bureau.
“We must end what some have called the ‘defund police culture’ which makes it so difficult to recruit and retain officers,” he said.
Regarding climate change, the candidates all agreed on efforts to make Portland a greener city and safer for bicyclists as well as pedestrians.
The I-5 expansion project was also discussed.
Gonzalez said the project is long overdue and would create jobs for Portlanders.
Mozyrski said if there is an expansion of I-5, that there should be tolling in place so as to encourage more people to take public transportation.
Hardesty was also in support of the expansion and is particularly interested in the idea of a light rail as another mode of public transportation.
The city council position is a runoff election, which means if one of the candidates gets 50% or more of the vote, they automatically win. If no one does, the top two candidates will go on to the November election.
RELATED: Candidates for Oregon governor 2022
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/portland-city-commissioner-candidates-debate/283-e5115796-1573-4f37-8ef1-3a1ca1266050
| 2022-04-08T04:43:38
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/portland-city-commissioner-candidates-debate/283-e5115796-1573-4f37-8ef1-3a1ca1266050
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MCCLELLAN — Oxford and Donoho, the top two seeds in the boys' and girls' fields, will square off in the Calhoun County soccer championships Saturday on McClellan Fields.
Donoho, the top seed in both fields, beat Jacksonville's girls 2-1 and Jacksonville's boys 3-0 in Thursday's semifinals.
Oxford, No. 2 in both fields, beat White Plains' boys 2-1 and Weaver's girls 2-1.
Oxford's boys and Donoho's girls are defending champions.
2022 Calhoun County soccer tournament
At McClellan
Seedings and county/overall records
BOYS
1. Donoho: 8-0
2. Oxford: 6-7
3. White Plains: 7-1
4. Faith Christian: 6-4
5. Jacksonville: 6-6
6. Saks: 2-6-2
7. Weaver: 2-11
GIRLS
1. Donoho: 9-0
2. Oxford: 7-7
3. Weaver: 5-6-1
4. Jacksonville: 5-5
5. Saks: 3-5-2
6. Faith Christian: 2-8
Schedules
BOYS
Monday
No. 5 Jacksonville 3, No. 4 Faith Christian 1
No. 2 Oxford 6, No. 7 Weaver 0
No. 3 White Plains 1, No. 6 Saks, 0
Thursday
No. 1 Donoho 3, Jacksonville 0
Oxford 2, White Plains 1
Saturday
Oxford vs. Donoho, 5 p.m.
GIRLS
Monday
No. 4 Jacksonville 4, No. 5 Saks 1
No. 3 Weaver 3, No. 6 Faith Christian 2
Thursday
No. 1 Donoho 2, Jacksonville 1
No. 2 Oxford 2, Weaver 1
Saturday
Oxford vs. Donoho, 3 p.m.
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https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/calhoun-county-soccer-oxford-donoho-to-face-off-in-boys-girls-finals/article_d4060f26-b6e6-11ec-aac3-5b5d8510a444.html
| 2022-04-08T04:47:35
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Piedmont has been a last-day presence in the Calhoun County softball tournament. Now, the Bulldogs stand one victory away from winning it.
Emily Farmer hit a two-run home run and prevailed over Alexandria's Rylee Gattis in the circle in Thursday's winners-bracket final, and Cayla Brothers' solo home run put Piedmont over the top, 3-2, at Calhoun County Sports Complex.
No. 3 seed Piedmont clinched a spot in the double-elimination tournament's championship round and awaits the survivor between top seed Alexandria and No. 2 White Plains.
Piedmont beat both teams Thursday. A four-run first inning, highlighted by Armoni Perry's two-run double, plus Savannah Smith's complete game in the circle helped the Bulldogs put White Plains in the elimination bracket 4-3 earlier in the day.
If Piedmont (14-7) wins Friday's championship opener at 7 p.m. or the "if" game that follows, the Bulldogs will win what's believed to be their first-ever county title in softball.
Neither Rachel Smith, Piedmont's head coach since 2013, nor predecessor Matt Deerman could be certain on the history. What's certain, however, is that Piedmont put the top two seeds in the elimination bracket Thursday.
"The girls came to play ball today," Piedmont coach Rachel Smith said. "I've known all along that we've got a good ball team. I didn't feel like that we had played our best ball yet.
"We played pretty good ball today."
Piedmont's run to the championship round of the county tournament comes a season after the Bulldogs made their first appearance in the state tournament in the fast-pitch era.
"This is important," Farmer said. "I think we finished third or fourth (third) last year, and we just set goals for ourselves to come out on top this year. We've got a few more games to play."
Piedmont jumped out to a lead on White Plains and withstood the Wildcats' final-at bat rally. Against Alexandria, the Bulldogs did the opposite.
Gattis' solo home run in the bottom of the first inning put Alexandria up 1-0, and she added an RBI double in third.
Piedmont rallied in the next at-bat. With Savannah Smith on second base, Farmer sent a shot to center field to tie the game 2-2.
"I was really just trying to sit on something that was in the zone," Farmer said. "She was working around a lot on the outside, so I just tried to sit on one that I liked, and I just tried to push it as far as I could."
Later in the same at-bat, the left-handed Brothers lobbed a shot over the right-field fence.
"After a season that's not been so great for me, I really needed it," Brothers said. "I've been trying to sit on the outside pitch, and then she finally threw it inside to me. I just kind of got a hold of it and pulled it."
Farmer got the win in the pitching duel, going complete with five innings. She spread out five hits, allowing two earned runs and three walks with two strikeouts.
Gattis, the reigning Class 5A pitcher and player of the year, also went five innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with one walk and nine strikeouts.
No. 1 seed Alexandria
The top-ranked team in Class 5A and winner of the past four county tournaments, will have to fight out of the elimination bracket Friday at JSU. The Valley Cubs will play White Plains at 5 p.m.
Alexandria held off Pleasant Valley 3-2 in Thursday's winners-bracket semifinals before falling to Piedmont. The Valley Cubs beat Oxford 2-0 on Monday.
"We're not very good right now," Alexandria coach Brian Hess said. "It falls on me. For whatever reason, I've failed to get them prepared for county.
"Usually, I'm pretty good at getting them prepared for county. For whatever reason, we've dropped the ball. We haven't played well since we've been here."
No. 2 seed White Plains
After falling to Piedmont early, White Plains got to the tournament's final day by eliminating Oxford 5-2 and Pleasant Valley 7-2.
Camden Wilson and Emma Howard each had two hits and an RBI against Pleasant Valley, and Leighton Arnold allowed four hits with no walks and five strikeouts over five innings.
Arnold homered among her two hits and drove in two runs against Oxford, and Callyn Martin doubled among her two hits with an RBI.
"The first game, I want to compliment Piedmont," White Plains coach Rachel Ford said. "I am so proud of them. Rachel Smith has done a great job with their bunch. They came to play today, and you could see it in their eyes. They were wanting to do something special today.
"I was hoping that would be us, but we started flat, and I just think we felt a little pressure because we were the higher seed and what everybody said about us. We were pressing and just weren't playing our game, but I'm so proud that we rebounded."
2022 Calhoun County softball tournament
At Calhoun County Sports Complex, JSU
Seedings/records
1. Alexandria: 29-7
2. White Plains: 23-5
3. Piedmont: 14-7
4. Pleasant Valley: 18-13-1
5. Weaver: 13-11
6. Jacksonville: 17-17-1
7. Ohatchee: 12-14-1
8. Oxford: 8-12-2
9. Jacksonville Christian: 7-5
10. Saks: 5-23-1
11. Wellborn: 3-11
12. Anniston: 2-8
13, Faith Christian: 0-13
Schedule
Monday
At Calhoun County Sports Complex
(Double elimination)
No. 7 Ohatchee 10, No. 10 Saks 2
No. 6 Jacksonville 8, No. 11 Wellborn 5
No. 4 Pleasant Valley 16, No. 13 Faith Christian 0
No. 5 Weaver 12, No. 12 Anniston 1
No. 8 Oxford 14, No. 9 Jacksonville Christian 0
Winners’ bracket
No. 1 Alexandria 2, Oxford 0
No. 2 White Plains 8, Ohatchee 0
No. 3 Piedmont 9, Jacksonville 4
Pleasant Valley 8, Weaver 2
Elimination bracket
Anniston 8, Faith Christian 4
Ohatchee 16, Anniston 1
Weaver 9, Saks 2
Oxford 11, Wellborn 0
Jacksonville 9, Jacksonville Christian 0
Thursday
At Calhoun County Sports Complex
Winners’ bracket semifinals
Piedmont 4, White Plains 3
Alexandria 3, Pleasant Valley 2
Piedmont 3, Alexandria 2
Elimination bracket
Ohatchee 5, Jacksonville 0
Oxford 10, Weaver 2
Pleasant Valley 3, Ohatchee 2
White Plains 5, Oxford 2
White Plains 7, Pleasant Valley 2
Friday
At JSU
Elimination-bracket final
White Plains vs. Alexandria, 5 p.m.
Championship
Piedmont vs. TBD, 7 p.m.
If-necessary game, 9 p.m.
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https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/calhoun-county-softball-no-3-piedmont-beats-top-two-seeds-earns-edge-going-into-finals/article_a67c3162-b6e5-11ec-9bc4-77636f9aa61e.html
| 2022-04-08T04:47:42
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team dropped a five set thriller against Ohio State (25-21, 20-25, 26-28, 27-25, 15-12) on Thursday, April 7 at the Gates Sports Center on Arnie Ball Court.
With the loss, the Mastodons’ overall record drops to 15-11 and 6-7 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Ohio State’s record improves to 12-13 overall and 6-7 in the MIVA.
After dropping the first set, the ‘Dons got out to an early 9-5 lead in the second. During the stretch, Rico Wardlow had two kills, while Kade Bontrager, Jon Diedrich and Vicente Ibarra added kills. Bryce Walker also added two service aces. The Buckeyes eventually took a 19-17 lead. However, the ‘Dons finished the set on an 8-1 run. The serving of Carlos Mercado was a big reason for the late push. He had one ace in the stretch, but his service pressure flipped the set in the Mastodons’ favor. It helped force the Buckeyes to bench starting setter Noah Platoff late in the set.
Neither team led by more than two points to start the third set. Despite being down 22-18, the ‘Dons went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 24-24. Zach Solomon had two service aces during the run. The ‘Dons scored four of the last six points to win the set. In the stretch, Diedrich had two kills and scored the set clinching point off a service ace.
In the fourth set, Ohio State led by as much as 13-8. The ‘Dons responded with a 15-10 run to tie the set at 23-23. In the stretch, Diedrich, Wardlow and Ibarra each had multiple kills. The ‘Dons turned away two set points but ultimately the Buckeyes won the set.
The Mastodons and Buckeyes went back and forth to start the fifth set. The ‘Dons scored consecutive points once, to go up 3-2. It was their only lead of the fifth set. Ohio State scored consecutive points to go up 4-3, 9-7 and 15-12.
As a team, the ‘Dons hit .349 and had 11 service aces. Walker recorded a career-high six aces.
Offensively, the ‘Dons were led by Diedrich with 22 kills and. He hit .357. Ibarra added 14 kills and hit .414. Solomon had a career-high 51 assists. Over the last two matches, Solomon has 93 assists and is averaging 10.33 assists a set. Troy Gooch led in digs with 14, a season high for a MIVA match. This is the seventh time Gooch notched 10+ digs in a match. He reached 200 digs for the season in the match.
The Buckeyes hit .437 as a team. Samuel Clark led the Buckeyes with 21 kills.
The ‘Dons host Ball State on Saturday, April 9 (7 p.m.) in the regular season finale. The ‘Dons will celebrate senior night and will honor three graduating student-athletes prior to the game.
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https://www.wane.com/college-sports/buckeyes-best-mastodons-in-five-sets/
| 2022-04-08T04:56:37
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https://www.wane.com/college-sports/buckeyes-best-mastodons-in-five-sets/
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – On Thursday a special meeting was held to discuss the Allen
County Public Libraries (ACPL) “Facilities Master Plan.”
The board of trustees was present alongside two presenters who walked the room through
Bostwick Design Partnership’s plan for the county’s multiple libraries.
While two or three libraries will be sold, all will be replaced within close proximity as
illustrated above. But it isn’t just those libraries being sold that are affected.
Every library will at least receive a renovation under the proposed plan. This includes the
Main library where the meeting was held.
The estimated cost for the venture is between 112 and 118 million dollars. Although one
citizen at the meeting raised concern about finances, the trustees were quick to point out
that the library currently has no debt after paying off bonds from the early 2000’s.
In addition the board stated that they have 21.5 million dollars in reserve to help offset the
financial needs of the project. In addition they stated that operational costs will be more
manageable because of smarter design.
Newer technology will lower the cost for lighting and better sight lines in the buildings will
help staff keep a better eye on everything going on, not necessitating as many librarians.
Two public hearings concerning the plan will be on April 21st and April 28th. The meeting
will have bond consultant presentations, and allow for public comment. In the latter
meeting the board will vote to adopt a preliminary resolution on how to proceed.
More information about the plan will be available here as the plan
progresses.
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https://www.wane.com/news/plan-proposed-to-change-acpl-libraries/
| 2022-04-08T04:56:43
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https://www.wane.com/news/plan-proposed-to-change-acpl-libraries/
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Jackson will join more diverse and conservative high court
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will join a Supreme Court that is both more diverse than ever and more conservative than it’s been since the 1930s.
She’s likely to be on the losing end of a bunch of important cases, including examinations of the role of race in college admissions and voting rights that the high court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, will take up next term.
Jackson, 51, is the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court following Thursday’s 53-47 vote by the Senate. She won’t join the court for several months, until Justice Stephen Breyer retires once the court wraps up its work for the summer — including its verdict on whether to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights.
When Jackson takes the bench as a justice for the first time, in October, she will be one of four women and two Black justices — both high court firsts.
And the nine-member court as a whole will be younger than it’s been for nearly 30 years, when Breyer, now 83, came on board.
Among the younger justices are three appointees of former President Donald Trump, and the court’s historic diversity won’t obscure its conservative tilt.
In Breyer’s final term, the conservative justices already have left their mark even before deciding major cases on abortion, guns, religion and climate change. By 5-4 or 6-3 votes, they allowed an unusual Texas law to remain in effect that bans abortions after roughly six weeks; stopped the Biden administration from requiring large employers to have a workforce that is vaccinated against COVID-19 or be masked and tested; and left in place redrawn Alabama congressional districts that a lower court with two Trump appointees found shortchanged Black voters in violation of federal law.
Jackson’s replacement of Breyer, for whom she once worked as a law clerk, won’t alter that Supreme Court math.
“She’s just going to be swimming against the tide every day. That’s a lot to take on,” said Robin Walker Sterling, a Northwestern University law professor.
But Jackson’s presence could make a difference in the perspective she brings and how she expresses herself in her opinions, said Payvand Ahdout, a University of Virginia law professor.
Jackson, who was raised in Miami, may see the high court’s cases about race “from the lens of being a Black woman who grew up in the South. She has an opportunity early on to show how representation matters,” Ahdout said.
During her Senate confirmation hearings, Jackson pledged to sit out the court’s consideration of Harvard’s admissions program, since she is a member of its board of overseers. But the court could split off a second case involving a challenge to the University of North Carolina’s admissions process, which might allow her to weigh in on the issue.
“Historically, the court goes to some length to try to get as much participation as possible. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see the two dealt with separately,” said Ahdout, who was a clerk to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the last time the court dealt with race in college admissions, in 2016. Just seven justices took part in that case, because Justice Antonin Scalia died before it was decided and Justice Elena Kagan had been involved as a Justice Department official before joining the court.
For now, Jackson might not have much to do. She remains a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, but she stepped away from cases there when President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in February and will continue to do so, a White House official said.
That could reduce the number of times Jackson has to recuse herself from any of her old cases that later make their way to the Supreme Court.
Breyer said in January that he would retire once his successor had been confirmed, but not before the end of the term. With a bare Senate majority, Democrats didn’t want to risk waiting until the summer for confirmation hearings and a vote.
That leaves Jackson in a situation that is “unprecedented in modern times,” said Marin Levy, a Duke University law professor who studies the federal judiciary.
Most new justices begin work a few days after they are confirmed, Levy said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to the court just a few hours after his tumultuous Senate vote.
Jackson could spend time arranging for her clerks and other staff for the Supreme Court, and closing down her current office.
But she won’t have to find new housing or upend the lives of her husband and children. Her new workplace is less than a mile from the court of appeals.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T05:09:34
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Palm Beach County schools have growing number of homeless students
There seems to be no end when it comes to the number of children lacking stable housing in the School District of Palm Beach County.
Just ask Correnna Sheldon.
"There were rough times," Correnna said.
Times, for Correnna and her siblings, that no child should have to suffer.
"In her past, she used to be on a lot of drugs, and that really changed our lives and our settings," she said of her mother.
Tamarsha Sheldon, Correnna's mom, turned to drugs at 18. Years of drug addiction followed, sleeping from couch to couch with her children, to eventually a stint in prison. It split the family.
"She understood what she was going through, and she understood her mistakes and she knew she wanted better for me," Correnna said.
Correna's predicament isn't a rarity. In fact, students experiencing homelessness are all too common in Palm Beach County schools.
"The number for this year is 3,883 currently," school board member Erica Whitfield said. "We add about 50 kids a week to that number."
That number was less than half of that 18 months ago.
Whitfield said 250 children are currently living in cars.
"Palm Beach County is becoming an ever-increasingly difficult place to live," she said. "It's a very difficult place to find housing. Things are just more expensive in the community in general, so that is a big part of it. I would say the pandemic has been a very large impact."
Whitfield said three campuses in Lake Worth Beach feel the impact of homelessness at an even higher rate. The schools are Lake Worth Middle, Highland Elementary and Lake Worth South Grade.
The district provides support and resources to students through their McKinney-Vento program, which helps with enrollment assistance in addition to essentials like free school meals, backpacks and school supplies.
"And then we do connect with, not only the county, but all of the nonprofits in our community to serve homeless children," Whitfield said.
Correnna said the family's all back together now and moving in the right direction.
"I'm really blessed because today I'm living with my mom," she said. "We have the best relationship."
There is light at the tunnel for Correnna. She'll be attending FAU beginning this fall.
Scripps Only Content 2022
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| 2022-04-08T05:09:45
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Ukrainian leaders predict more gruesome discoveries ahead
CHERNIHIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian leaders predicted there would be more gruesome discoveries in the days ahead after retreating Russian forces left behind crushed buildings, streets strewn with destroyed cars and mounting civilian casualties that drew condemnation from across the globe.
Kremlin forces devastated the northern city of Chernihiv as part of their attempt to sweep south toward the capital before retreating. In the aftermath, dozens of people lined up to receive bread, diapers and medicine from vans parked outside a shattered school now serving as an aid-distribution point.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Thursday that despite a recent Russian pullback, the country remains vulnerable, and he pleaded for weapons from NATO and other sympathetic countries to help face down an expected offensive in the east. Nations from the alliance agreed to increase their supply of arms, spurred on by reports that Russian forces committed atrocities in areas surrounding the capital.
The mayor of Bucha, near Kyiv, said investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Most victims died from gunshots, not from shelling, he said, and some corpses with their hands tied were “dumped like firewood” into recently discovered mass graves, including one at a children’s camp.
Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians stood at 320 as of Wednesday, but he expected the number to rise as more bodies are found in his city, which once had a population of 50,000. Only 3,700 now remain, he said.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the horrors of Bucha could be only the beginning. In the northern city of Borodianka, just 30 kilometers northwest of Bucha, Zelenskyy warned of even more casualties, saying “there it is much more horrible.”
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that the bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital city. Volunteers have spent days collecting the corpses, and more were picked up Thursday in Bucha.
In the seaport city of Mariupol, Ukranian authorities expected to find much the same. “The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian and several Western leaders have blamed the massacres on Moscow’s troops, and the weekly Der Spiegel reported that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency had intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In the 6-week-old war, Russian forces failed to take Ukraine’s capital quickly, denying what Western countries said was Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s initial aim of ousting the Ukrainian government. In the wake of that setback and heavy losses, Russia shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.
On Thursday, a day after Russian forces began shelling their village in the southern Mykolaiv region, Sergei Dubovienko, 52, drove north in his small blue Lada with his wife and mother-in-law to Bashtanka, where they found temporary shelter in a church.
“They started destroying the houses and everything” in Pavlo-Marianovka, he said. “Then the tanks appeared from the forest. We thought that in the morning there would be shelling again, so I decided to leave.”
Hundreds of people have been fleeing villages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions that are either under attack or occupied by Russian forces.
Tatiana Vizavik, 50, fled Chernobaievka in the Kherson region with her son, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
When the Russian attack began, they moved to the basement of an apartment building and spent five nights there. “We had nothing to eat. We had no drinking water,” Vizavik said. “We were frightened to go out. Then some volunteers starting helping us.”
She said they don’t know whether their house survived the shelling because they were too frightened to check before leaving town. They hope to reach safety in the Czech Republic.
Marina Morozova and her husband fled from Kherson, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
“They are waiting for a big battle. We saw shells that did not explode. It was horrifying,” she said.
Morozova, 69, said the only news people get is from Russian television and radio. She said the Russians handed out humanitarian aid so they could film the distribution.
Anxious to keep moving away from areas that Russian troops have reached, the couple and others boarded a van that would take them west. Some will try to leave the country, while others will remain in quieter parts of Ukraine.
The United Nations estimates the war has displaced at least 6.5 million people within the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said that more than 4 million have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 and sparked Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Half of the refugees are children, according to UNHCR and the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.
The International Organization for Migration, which tracks not just refugees but all people on the move from their homes, estimated that more than 12 million people are stranded in areas of Ukraine under attack.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief told The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s “not optimistic” about securing a cease-fire after meeting with officials in Kyiv and in Moscow this week, underlining the lack of trust the two sides have for one another. He spoke hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of backtracking on proposals it had made over Crimea and Ukraine’s military status.
It’s not clear how long it will take withdrawing Russian forces to redeploy, and Ukrainian officials have urged people in the country’s east to leave before the fighting intensifies there.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to establish civilian evacuation routes Thursday from several areas in the Donbas.
In addition to spurring NATO countries to send more arms, the revelations about possible war crimes led Western nations to step up sanctions, and the Group of Seven major world powers warned that they will continue strengthening the measures until Russian troops leave Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress voted Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, while the European Union approved punishing new steps, including an embargo on coal imports. The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, voted to suspend Russia from the world organization’s leading human rights body.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.N. vote demonstrated how “Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.” He called the images coming from Bucha “horrifying.”
“The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed — in some cases having their bodies desecrated — are an outrage to our common humanity,” Biden said.
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Schreck reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press 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
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T05:09:51
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FULTON – Itawamba AHS softball came into Thursday night's Division 1-4A matchup versus Tishomingo County with little room for error if it wanted to make it to the postseason.
The Lady Indians (11-6-1, 4-3) got the win they needed, shocking the third-ranked Lady Braves (16-4, 4-3) with an 8-7 walkoff win in extra innings.
"Total team effort," IAHS head coach Jeffrey Mann said. "This (win) gives us a little more breathing room, gives us a win against a quality team."
IAHS started the scoring with a bang. Kaitlynn King drilled a solo homer to left in the first to give the Lady Indians the early 1-0 lead.
But Tish County answered with a solo shot of its own. Hailey Hill blasted her round-tripper to left-center field in the second, tying the game 1-1.
The Lady Braves tacked on another run in the third. But IAHS capitalized on a pair of errors in the bottom half of the inning to rack up three more runs and take a 4-2 lead.
But the lead was short-lived. Allie Sanders' single to left drove in two runs to tie the game, and Eden Akers' sacrifice fly plated the go-ahead run to put Tish County up 5-4. The Lady Braves padded their lead with another run in the sixth.
Down two runs in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Lady Indians caught a break. Tish County shortstop Madelyn Wadkins mishandled a Chloe McClain grounder, booting the ball across the infield and allowing IAHS to score two to tie the game 6-6.
Tish County began the eighth inning with a free runner on second per the extra-inning rule. The Lady Braves took full advantage, moving the runner up with a sacrifice bunt and scoring on Wadkins' sacrifice fly. But Tish County's scoring stopped there as it took a slim 7-6 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
IAHS made good use of its free runner as well. The tying run scored when a throw home missed its mark. Pinch-hitter Alden Kline, a seventh grader, knocked an infield single to short, advancing Marli Larabee to third. In the ensuing at-bat, a pass ball allowed Larabee to rush home and squeeze in the game-winning run.
"We couldn't make the plays on defense, they deserved it and we didn't," Tish County head coach Jerry Long said. "That's about all you can say."
Kline earned the win in relief for the Lady Indians, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings of work. Layla Owens earned the start and gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Rylie Bearden went the distance in the circle for Tish County and took the loss, surrendering three earned runs on eight hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.
Kaylee Owens led IAHS at the plate with a pair of singles, with King's solo homer being another highlight. Maddyx McNatt notched three singles to lead Tish County, while Madelyn Wadkins added a double along with Hill's solo blast.
Extra Bases
Big Inning: IAHS entered the bottom of the seventh down two runs. The two scores they pushed across on Tish County's error gave the Lady Indians a much-needed spark.
Big Stat: Tish County gave up four unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined.
Coach Speak: "They made the plays on defense. We didn't. They won the ballgame." – Long
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| 2022-04-08T05:12:55
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St. Paul police and fire officials on Thursday cordoned off the area around Seventh and St. Peter streets in downtown St. Paul — the Ecolab Corporate Center — after a large piece of metal cladding came loose from the roof of the company headquarters, some 20 stories above ground.
Firefighters and inspectors from the Department of Safety and Inspections on Thursday afternoon responded to 1 Ecolab Place, where a piece of sheet-metal flashing measuring roughly 4 feet by 8 feet was discovered to be loose about 200 feet off the ground. A contractor had attempted repairs Wednesday, but rain, snow and winds complicated access, according to city officials.
Emergency crews secured the sheet metal Thursday and closed the section of Seventh Street below it, with the expectation more permanent repairs will take place Saturday.
Firefighters and inspectors from DSI responded to Ecolab Place where a large piece of sheet metal was discovered to be loose about 200’ above. Crews secured the sheet metal and 7th Street has been closed below. Repairs will happen Saturday. Wind most likely caused the damage. pic.twitter.com/PRda8SOvb8
— Saint Paul Fire Dept (@StPaulFireDept) April 8, 2022
“It was a significant danger to the area below and we are not out of the woods,” said Suzanne Donovan, a DSI spokeswoman.
The damage was most likely caused by this week’s high winds, according to the Fire Department.
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| 2022-04-08T05:13:59
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BOSTON — After a heartbreaking semifinal loss last year in their program’s first NCAA Frozen Four trip, the Minnesota State Mankato hockey team came to the East Coast determined to do things differently. Step one was completed Thursday as the Mavericks rallied to beat in-state rival Minnesota 5-1, earning a date with Denver in Saturday night’s national title game.
Trailing by a goal, the Mavericks scored on a pair of second-period wraparound goals to take the lead and got 16 saves from star goalie Dryden McKay on a history-making night for their program.
The Mavericks improved to 38-5-0 and will face a Denver Pioneers team that upset top-seeded Michigan in overtime in the first semifinal. MSU got goals from Benton Maass, Reggie Lutz, Ondrej Pavel, David Silye and Brendan Furry.
Minnesota (26-13-0) got an early goal from Matthew Knies and 27 saves by goalie Justen Close in their final game of a season that included a Big Ten regular-season title.
Coaches like to talk about getting a good start and settling into their own game as quickly as possible as a key to victory. For MSU, they got the start they wanted, outshooting the Gophers 11-4 in the opening 20 minutes, with one small caveat: the Mavericks found themselves trailing despite all that offense.
When an MSU defender fumbled a puck in the neutral zone early in the game, Gophers forward Bryce Brodzinski pounced on it and keyed a rare 2-on-0 rush to the Mavericks net. Brodzinski and Knies played hot potato with the puck until McKay was drawn to Brodzinski’s side of the net, leaving a gaping blank space for Knies to shoot. It was the fifth goal in the Gophers’ past four games for Knies, a freshman from Phoenix.
The Mavericks got the equalizer in a more evenly played second period when Maass — who is from Elk River but transferred to MSU after starting his college career an hour outside of Boston at New Hampshire — wrapped the puck around the post and just beyond Close’s left leg pad. It was just the third goal of the season for Maass. A few minutes later, Lutz gave MSU the lead on another wraparound. His initial attempt during a scramble in front of the Minnesota net hit the post, but he circled around the back and slipped a shot behind Close for a 2-1 advantage.
When Pavel tipped a Jack McNeely shot past Close in the opening minutes of the third for a two-goal lead, it played perfectly into the Mavs’ game plan to stifle Minnesota’s offense and let McKay — one of three finalists for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie — do the rest. Silye made it 4-1 on a rocket in the latter half of the period, as the good-sized crowd of fans in purple and gold went crazy in one corner of the rink. Furry added an empty-net goal late.
The win was a contrast to the Mavericks’ first Division I Frozen Four game a year ago, when they led another in-state rival, St. Cloud State, in the third period before falling 5-4 on a late Huskies goal. MSU will be trying for its first NCAA title at the D-I level. Denver will be seeking its ninth, which would tie the NCAA record held by Michigan.
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| 2022-04-08T05:14:05
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The spirit of “Match Game” favorite Nipsey Russell helped us nail the World Series winner last year. But the forecast doesn’t look as rosy for the Atlanta Braves this season, thanks to two powerhouses — one old and one new.
MINNESOTA TWINS “The Big Short” Pohlads broke the bank for Correa But, alas, he is only one playa They’ll never get rich With those stiffs set to pitch After one year, Carlos will say ‘See ya!”
ATLANTA BRAVES “Once is Enough” America’s Ex-Team Lived an October dream A championship feeling, most heady But their hopes to repeat Wound up taking back seat When deciding they wouldn’t pay Freddy
TORONTO BLUE JAYS “Shot Selection” Drafting sons of pros So the story goes The Jays built a winning machine But it’s unfair, I say In Toronto they’ll play Only foes that have gotten vaccine
NEW YORK YANKEES “Frugal in the Bronx” It seems late owner’s kids have decided That profit’s more vital than winning Their trimming of spending’s misguided The Boss, in his grave, wildly spinning
MIAMI MARLINS “Captain’s Obvious Exit” There once was a fellow named Jeter In New York, was quite the world beater After four years with Fish Got his most fervent wish Left those cheapskates behind – rearview mirror
DETROIT TIGERS “Javy Mettle” Will sure be strange seeing El Mago Playing far from the Northside Chicago No doubt he’ll still swing At about everything So the Tigers won’t win, place or show
BALTIMORE ORIOLES “Camden Yawns” It’s gotten so gritty For the O’s of Charm City They decided to move back the fences Will be hard to find words To describe same old Birds As they violate all of fans’ senses
LOS ANGELES ANGELS “Shohei: The Money” Ohtani’s been grand Slugging near Disneyland But Anaheim never gets richer If we had to guess why Might be ‘cause that one guy Is both their best slugger and pitcher
OAKLAND ATHLETICS “Out of Money Ball” For years, we have marveled at A’s Finding ways to win more spending less Now they’re paying for their frugal ways Falling into the last-place abyss
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS “New Name No Names” In C-Town you won’t hear this ballclub’s old name Except from an occasional joker But Francona’s team will still be the same Just another shade of mediocre
NEW YORK METS “Flushing Hopes” The Queens pitching staff was the bomb By pairing Scherzer with deGrom But as injuries swell Sending both to DL This could turn into summer of hell
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES “Philly Not So Special” While it’s great to have Bryce Phillies fans should think twice ‘Fore assuming they land in postseason While their bats are in swing Again, pitching’s the thing Their lack of bullpen will be reason
CHICAGO CUBS “Contract Killer” The Cubs are rebuilding, no shock And their struggle is greatly uphill What’s keeping the Northside in hock? Paying Heyward that 22 mill
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS “Flat Albert” Felt great for Cards’ souls To bring back Pujols A St. Louis hero and mensch Yet you can be sure This retirement tour Will mostly be spent on the bench
CHICAGO WHITE SOX “Old Man and the C” With La Russa in charge Chisox hope to live large They’re deserving of much more publicity What a long, strange trip For the game’s only skip Born before they discovered ‘lectricity
SAN DIEGO PADRES “The Accidental Superstar” There once was a lad named Tatis Can’t make it to spring in one piece Each time he rode cycle Became health debacle His hall of fame lobbyists must cease
TAMPA BAY RAYS “Movin’ on Up” It’s been quite the feat To win in St. Pete In empty gray dome, what a pity We need not shed tears Since, in just a few years They’ll be winning in some other city
LOS ANGELES DODGERS “Magic’s Favorites” Earvin’s baseball team Has roster like a dream Star-filled lineup filled with record-breakers As Dodgers run up score Part-owner can ignore The trainwreck that’s become of his Lakers
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS “Reality Will Bite” How in God’s good heaven Did this crew win 107? The ‘21 Giants were unreal While the team had fan pleasers They were mostly old geezers This year’s just a wild-card deal
MILWAUKEE BREWERS “Burnes Baby Burnes” The Brew Crew has never felt richer Than having the league’s finest pitcher Not so sure they’ll give thanks When he eventually breaks banks And starts striking out Brewers for Yanks
CINCINNATI REDS “W-E-A-K in Cincinnati” The Reds’ fire sale is a pity Unloading Suarez, Gray and Winker Next six months of L’s won’t be pretty In ‘22, Cincy’s a stinker
BOSTON RED SOX “Story Time” BoSox got a Rockie, you bet! Another great perk for the rich October, they’re gonna regret Not signing someone who can pitch
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS National League East:
1. Braves 2. Mets 3. Phillies 4. Marlins 5. Nationals National League Central:
1. Brewers 2. Cardinals 3. Cubs 4. Pirates 5. Reds National League West:
1. Dodgers 2. Padres 3. Giants 4. Rockies 5. Diamondbacks National League wild cards:
Cardinals over Padres, Giants over Brewers National League Division Series:
Braves over Giants, Dodgers over Cardinals National League Championship Series:
Dodgers over Braves
American League East:
1. Blue Jays 2. Red Sox 3. Rays 4. Yankees 5. Orioles American League Central:
1. White Sox 2. Twins 3. Tigers 4. Guardians 5. Royals American League West:
1. Astros 2. Mariners 3. Angels 4. Rangers 5. Athletics American League wild cards:
Astros over Rays, Red Sox over Mariners American League Division Series:
Blue Jays over Red Sox, White Sox over Astros American League Championship Series:
Blue Jays over White Sox
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As an Opening Day replacement starter, Tylor Megill did his best Jacob deGrom impersonation.
Megill—who just over a week ago was unlikely to even break camp with the team—fired five shutout innings, allowed just three hits, and struck out six in the Mets’ 5-1 win over the Nationals on Thursday at Nationals Park. As Megill settled into a groove and retired his final eight straight batters, the absence of the Mets ace, who will be out until at least June with a right scapula injury, taking his usual menacing stance on the hill became that much easier to tolerate.
Buck Showalter earned his first win as Mets manager, and the Amazin’s improved to 40-21 to continue their streak owning the best record in Major League Baseball on Opening Day.
The Mets’ new-look lineup backed up Megill’s terrific 68-pitch outing by doing something it didn’t do last season: taking advantage with runners in scoring position. Mark Canha made an impact with an RBI single, Eduardo Escobar ripped a double to deep centerfield, and Starling Marte reached base twice. Robinson Cano, in his first game back following his 2021 PED suspension, went 2-for-3, including a leadoff bunt single against the shift, with a walk and two runs scored.
Eight of the Mets nine starters secured at least one hit on Thursday; the only batter that didn’t was James McCann, but he still collected an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The Mets knocked left-hander Patrick Corbin out of his start after four-plus innings, amassing 12 hits in nine innings after all was said and done.
Megill, throwing harder than he ever has, displayed why Showalter and the Mets were right to give him the ball for Opening Day.
The right-hander pounded the strike zone with 99-mph fastballs, about three mph harder than his previous career-high, to open the first inning. It was obvious the young right-hander was amped for his Opening Day start, and Nationals hitters were completely flummoxed.
In the third inning, Megill got himself into a one-out jam with runners on the corners. Due up? None other than the dangerous Juan Soto. But Megill wasn’t thrown off by Soto’s threatening plate presence; the 26-year-old whizzed a 98-mph fastball upstairs to induce a swing-and-a-miss from Soto for the second out. Moments later, Megill got designated hitter Nelson Cruz to ground out to end the threat and the inning. All nails.
Soto, one of the best hitters in baseball, finally unleashed in the sixth inning, obliterating a solo shot 428 feet into the right-field second deck off Mets reliever Trevor May. The remainder of Mets relief arms put up zeroes in the runs column, with Adam Ottavino impressing with a pair of strikeouts in his perfect Mets debut. Mets closer Edwin Diaz, in a non-save situation, allowed a walk before shutting the door on the Nats.
Following a series of unfortunate events to close out spring training—deGrom’s shoulder injury, Max Scherzer’s now-absent hamstring tightness, Brandon Nimmo’s neck stiffness—Opening Day went as smoothly as it could go for the inauguration of the Showalter Mets.
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| 2022-04-08T05:14:17
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Welcome to the Ravens’ free-agency tracker, which will be updated throughout the offseason as the roster takes shape.
With the NFL’s new league year beginning March 16 at 4 p.m., teams can officially announce signings and trades. Here’s a rundown of who the Ravens have signed thus far and who’s still on the open market:
Free-agent additions
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce: The former Ravens starter is returning to Baltimore on a three-year deal, the team announced. The deal is worth $16.5 million, according to NFL Network. The Minnesota Vikings released Pierce earlier this week after he made just eight starts in two seasons. Pierce, 29, signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Vikings but opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns and then missed nine games in 2021 with tricep and elbow injuries.
Safety Marcus Williams: The former New Orleans Saints star finalized a five-year, $70 million deal, giving a talented Ravens secondary one of the top playmakers on the open market. Williams’ contract is worth $14 million annually, the seventh most among NFL safeties, and includes $37 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Williams, 25, has been one of the NFL’s best safeties since arriving in New Orleans in 2017. Over five seasons with the Saints, he had 15 interceptions and 38 passes defended.
Offensive tackle Morgan Moses: The Ravens signed Moses to a three-year, $15 million deal, stabilizing a position of need along their offensive line. In the 6-foot-6, 318-pound Moses, the Ravens have acquired an imposing veteran who almost landed on their free-agency radar last year.
Moses, 31, has been one of the NFL’s most durable linemen since Washington drafted him out of Virginia in the third round in 2014.
Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith: The Minnesota Vikings and Smith agreed to terms on a three-year, $42 million contract Tuesday, less than a week after a deal to rejoin the Ravens fell through.
Smith, who spent the past three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, has incentives to earn up to $47 million over the life of the deal. The Ravens’ initial deal with Smith, which fell apart Thursday, was reportedly worth $35 million over four years, with a maximum value of $50 million.
The 29-year-old Smith was a Pro Bowl pick in 2019 and 2020 with a combined 26 sacks in 32 games, but he had a major back injury last season and appeared in only one game for the NFC North champions.
With defensive end Danielle Hunter returning after a torn pectoral muscle limited him to seven games in 2021, the Vikings have a pair of proven pass-rushers to lean on in the attempt to prop up a defense that has lagged badly over the last two years. Assistant head coach Mike Pettine was Smith’s defensive coordinator with the Packers in 2019 and 2020.
Free-agent losses
Cornerback Tavon Young: Young is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, according to multiple reports. A 2016 fourth-round pick, Young was released by the Ravens in a cost-cutting move March 9. After an injury-plagued six years in Baltimore, Young entered the offseason as a potential salary cap casualty. He would’ve had a $9.3 million cap hit next season, and his release saves $6 million in cap space.
In February 2019, less than two years after Young tore the ACL in his left knee and missed the 2017 season, the Ravens signed him to a three-year, $25.8 million extension that briefly made him the NFL’s highest-paid slot cornerback. That August, the Oxon Hill native had an impressive training camp derailed by a season-ending neck injury. A year later, Young suffered another torn left ACL in a Week 2 game against the Houston Texans.
Young, 27, appeared in all 17 games last season, starting seven, but he played just over half of the Ravens’ defensive snaps. He was mostly solid in coverage, allowing a passer rating of 85.1, and had two sacks. Still, injuries kept him from recapturing the form that he flashed early in his career. A beloved teammate, he leaves Baltimore having played in 50 career games and missed 47.
Cornerback Chris Westry: Westry has signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced.
The 6-foot-4 Westry impressed in his first Ravens training camp last year and made the team’s season-opening 53-man roster. But injuries limited the third-year corner to six games (two starts) last year, and the Ravens did not offer him a restricted-free-agent tender this offseason.
Westry’s departure leaves the Ravens with just six cornerbacks on their 90-man roster: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Iman Marshall, Robert Jackson, Kevon Seymour and Kevin Toliver. Only Humphrey and Peters, both recovering from season-ending injuries, have started more than two games over the past two years.
Defensive tackle Justin Ellis: Ellis has signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, the team announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-2, 350-pound Ellis, known as “Jelly,” played in 34 games and started eight over his two-plus years in Baltimore. He had 18 tackles and one quarterback hit in 17 games last season, playing 35% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps and helping them maintain one of the NFL’s staunchest run defenses.
In New York, the 31-year-old Ellis will reunite with former Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, who now has the same position on the Giants’ staff. Ellis’ signing comes two days after another former Ravens defensive lineman, Jihad Ward, also joined the Giants.
Ellis’ departure is the first of potentially three along the Ravens’ defensive line this offseason. Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams are also free agents.
Inside linebacker Chris Board: The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with Board on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network. Board, 26, had 94 tackles, 2 ½ sacks and two forced fumbles in 63 games with the Ravens playing mostly on special teams.
Quarterback Josh Johnson: Johnson has signed with the Denver Broncos, he announced on Twitter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Johnson, 35, signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad in December as starter Lamar Jackson recovered from an ankle injury, made a surprise start in Week 16 after backup Tyler Huntley tested positive for the coronavirus. In Johnson’s first start since 2018, he went 28-for-40 for 304 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Denver is the 14th NFL franchise that Johnson has played for in his NFL career. He finished 2021 with 638 passing yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions and 67.1% accuracy.
Center Bradley Bozeman: Bozeman, a consistent starter along the Ravens’ offensive line who developed into one of the NFL’s better centers last season, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Panthers, Carolina announced. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Cornerback Anthony Averett: Averett has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to his agency, Athletes First. The Athletic reported that it’s a one-year deal worth $4.5 million.
A 2018 fourth-round pick, Averett entered free agency coming off the best season of his career. He allowed a passer rating of just 77.5 in coverage, according to Pro Football Reference, and had three interceptions and 11 pass defenses after combining for zero and 11, respectively, over his first three seasons.
Averett missed the Ravens’ final three games with a fractured rib, but he still finished the season as one of the NFL’s most targeted cornerbacks. According to Sports Info Solutions, quarterbacks went after him 90 times last year, fifth most in the league.
Averett was limited to 30 games over his first three years in Baltimore, struggling at times as a reserve cornerback and making a limited impact on special teams. But he impressed in training camp last year, when former defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said Averett had All-Pro talent. Amid an injruy-plagued season, the 5-foot-11 Averett emerged as the team’s most reliable cornerback.
He’s the second cornerback to leave Baltimore this season, after the Ravens released nickelback Tavon Young last week.
Tight end Eric Tomlinson: After 23 games in Baltimore, the 29-year-old Tomlinson reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos. Originally signed to the Ravens’ practice squad in 2020, the 6-6, 263-pound Tomlinson played 26% of the offensive snaps while receiving Pro Football Focus’ second-highest run-blocking grade among 70 qualifying tight ends.
Still unsigned
Running back: Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman
Wide receiver: Sammy Watkins
Tight end/fullback: Patrick Ricard
Offensive line: OT David Sharpe
Defensive line: Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams
Outside linebacker: Justin Houston, Pernell McPhee
Inside linebacker: Josh Bynes, L.J. Fort, Otaro Alaka
Cornerback: Jimmy Smith, Khalil Dorsey
Safety: DeShon Elliott
Other notable moves
- Quarterback Joe Flacco, the former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player who played 11 seasons with the Ravens, is returning to the New York Jets on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million, according to ESPN. Flacco, a New Jersey native who will back up 2020 No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson, has started five games for the Jets over the past two seasons.
- Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, a former Maryland star who spent half a season with the Ravens in 2020 after being acquired from the Minnesota Vikings, was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Ngakoue, 26, had 10 sacks with the Raiders last season after signing a two-year, $26 million deal.
- Tight end Hayden Hurst, the Ravens’ No. 25 overall pick in the 2018 draft, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to his agency EnterSports Management. The deal is worth $3.5 million with another $1 million that can be reached with incentives, according to Pro Football Network. Hurst caught 82 passes for 792 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after being acquired for a second-round pick.
- Long snapper Morgan Cox, who spent 11 years with the Ravens as part of the special teams’ so-called “Wolfpack” alongside kicker Justin Tucker and punter Sam Koch, agreed to a one-year extension with the Tennessee Titans.
- Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who was traded from the Ravens to the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason for a package of draft picks, was designated with the franchise tag, which is worth $16.6 million. Brown, 25, is expected to receive a long-term contract extension from Kansas City before the July 15 deadline.
- Tight end Maxx Williams, a second-round pick by the Ravens in 2015, re-signed to a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network.
- Wide receiver Breshad Perriman, a first-round pick by the Ravens in 2015, is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal, according to ESPN.
- Cornerback Darious Williams, who played three games with the Ravens in 2018 after signing as an undrafted free agent and won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams this past season, is signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that includes $18 million fully guaranteed, according to NFL Network.
- Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, a sixth-round pick by the Ravens in 2011 who spent for seasons as Flacco’s backup, is expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with a max value of $17 million with the New York Giants, according to NFL Network.
- The Miami Dolphins signed former San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million, according to ESPN. Mostert played seven games with the Ravens during his rookie season in 2015, mostly on special teams, after going undrafted out of Purdue.
Key dates
March 27-30: Annual league meeting, The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida.
April 4: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 28-30: NFL draft, Las Vegas.
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Jackson will join more diverse and conservative high court
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will join a Supreme Court that is both more diverse than ever and more conservative than it’s been since the 1930s.
She’s likely to be on the losing end of a bunch of important cases, including examinations of the role of race in college admissions and voting rights that the high court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, will take up next term.
Jackson, 51, is the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court following Thursday’s 53-47 vote by the Senate. She won’t join the court for several months, until Justice Stephen Breyer retires once the court wraps up its work for the summer — including its verdict on whether to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights.
When Jackson takes the bench as a justice for the first time, in October, she will be one of four women and two Black justices — both high court firsts.
And the nine-member court as a whole will be younger than it’s been for nearly 30 years, when Breyer, now 83, came on board.
Among the younger justices are three appointees of former President Donald Trump, and the court’s historic diversity won’t obscure its conservative tilt.
In Breyer’s final term, the conservative justices already have left their mark even before deciding major cases on abortion, guns, religion and climate change. By 5-4 or 6-3 votes, they allowed an unusual Texas law to remain in effect that bans abortions after roughly six weeks; stopped the Biden administration from requiring large employers to have a workforce that is vaccinated against COVID-19 or be masked and tested; and left in place redrawn Alabama congressional districts that a lower court with two Trump appointees found shortchanged Black voters in violation of federal law.
Jackson’s replacement of Breyer, for whom she once worked as a law clerk, won’t alter that Supreme Court math.
“She’s just going to be swimming against the tide every day. That’s a lot to take on,” said Robin Walker Sterling, a Northwestern University law professor.
But Jackson’s presence could make a difference in the perspective she brings and how she expresses herself in her opinions, said Payvand Ahdout, a University of Virginia law professor.
Jackson, who was raised in Miami, may see the high court’s cases about race “from the lens of being a Black woman who grew up in the South. She has an opportunity early on to show how representation matters,” Ahdout said.
During her Senate confirmation hearings, Jackson pledged to sit out the court’s consideration of Harvard’s admissions program, since she is a member of its board of overseers. But the court could split off a second case involving a challenge to the University of North Carolina’s admissions process, which might allow her to weigh in on the issue.
“Historically, the court goes to some length to try to get as much participation as possible. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see the two dealt with separately,” said Ahdout, who was a clerk to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the last time the court dealt with race in college admissions, in 2016. Just seven justices took part in that case, because Justice Antonin Scalia died before it was decided and Justice Elena Kagan had been involved as a Justice Department official before joining the court.
For now, Jackson might not have much to do. She remains a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, but she stepped away from cases there when President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in February and will continue to do so, a White House official said.
That could reduce the number of times Jackson has to recuse herself from any of her old cases that later make their way to the Supreme Court.
Breyer said in January that he would retire once his successor had been confirmed, but not before the end of the term. With a bare Senate majority, Democrats didn’t want to risk waiting until the summer for confirmation hearings and a vote.
That leaves Jackson in a situation that is “unprecedented in modern times,” said Marin Levy, a Duke University law professor who studies the federal judiciary.
Most new justices begin work a few days after they are confirmed, Levy said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to the court just a few hours after his tumultuous Senate vote.
Jackson could spend time arranging for her clerks and other staff for the Supreme Court, and closing down her current office.
But she won’t have to find new housing or upend the lives of her husband and children. Her new workplace is less than a mile from the court of appeals.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T05:46:07
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Ukrainian leaders predict more gruesome discoveries ahead
CHERNIHIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian leaders predicted there would be more gruesome discoveries in the days ahead after retreating Russian forces left behind crushed buildings, streets strewn with destroyed cars and mounting civilian casualties that drew condemnation from across the globe.
Kremlin forces devastated the northern city of Chernihiv as part of their attempt to sweep south toward the capital before retreating. In the aftermath, dozens of people lined up to receive bread, diapers and medicine from vans parked outside a shattered school now serving as an aid-distribution point.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Thursday that despite a recent Russian pullback, the country remains vulnerable, and he pleaded for weapons from NATO and other sympathetic countries to help face down an expected offensive in the east. Nations from the alliance agreed to increase their supply of arms, spurred on by reports that Russian forces committed atrocities in areas surrounding the capital.
The mayor of Bucha, near Kyiv, said investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Most victims died from gunshots, not from shelling, he said, and some corpses with their hands tied were “dumped like firewood” into recently discovered mass graves, including one at a children’s camp.
Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians stood at 320 as of Wednesday, but he expected the number to rise as more bodies are found in his city, which once had a population of 50,000. Only 3,700 now remain, he said.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the horrors of Bucha could be only the beginning. In the northern city of Borodianka, just 30 kilometers northwest of Bucha, Zelenskyy warned of even more casualties, saying “there it is much more horrible.”
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that the bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital city. Volunteers have spent days collecting the corpses, and more were picked up Thursday in Bucha.
In the seaport city of Mariupol, Ukranian authorities expected to find much the same. “The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian and several Western leaders have blamed the massacres on Moscow’s troops, and the weekly Der Spiegel reported that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency had intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In the 6-week-old war, Russian forces failed to take Ukraine’s capital quickly, denying what Western countries said was Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s initial aim of ousting the Ukrainian government. In the wake of that setback and heavy losses, Russia shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.
On Thursday, a day after Russian forces began shelling their village in the southern Mykolaiv region, Sergei Dubovienko, 52, drove north in his small blue Lada with his wife and mother-in-law to Bashtanka, where they found temporary shelter in a church.
“They started destroying the houses and everything” in Pavlo-Marianovka, he said. “Then the tanks appeared from the forest. We thought that in the morning there would be shelling again, so I decided to leave.”
Hundreds of people have been fleeing villages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions that are either under attack or occupied by Russian forces.
Tatiana Vizavik, 50, fled Chernobaievka in the Kherson region with her son, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
When the Russian attack began, they moved to the basement of an apartment building and spent five nights there. “We had nothing to eat. We had no drinking water,” Vizavik said. “We were frightened to go out. Then some volunteers starting helping us.”
She said they don’t know whether their house survived the shelling because they were too frightened to check before leaving town. They hope to reach safety in the Czech Republic.
Marina Morozova and her husband fled from Kherson, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
“They are waiting for a big battle. We saw shells that did not explode. It was horrifying,” she said.
Morozova, 69, said the only news people get is from Russian television and radio. She said the Russians handed out humanitarian aid so they could film the distribution.
Anxious to keep moving away from areas that Russian troops have reached, the couple and others boarded a van that would take them west. Some will try to leave the country, while others will remain in quieter parts of Ukraine.
The United Nations estimates the war has displaced at least 6.5 million people within the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said that more than 4 million have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 and sparked Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Half of the refugees are children, according to UNHCR and the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.
The International Organization for Migration, which tracks not just refugees but all people on the move from their homes, estimated that more than 12 million people are stranded in areas of Ukraine under attack.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief told The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s “not optimistic” about securing a cease-fire after meeting with officials in Kyiv and in Moscow this week, underlining the lack of trust the two sides have for one another. He spoke hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of backtracking on proposals it had made over Crimea and Ukraine’s military status.
It’s not clear how long it will take withdrawing Russian forces to redeploy, and Ukrainian officials have urged people in the country’s east to leave before the fighting intensifies there.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to establish civilian evacuation routes Thursday from several areas in the Donbas.
In addition to spurring NATO countries to send more arms, the revelations about possible war crimes led Western nations to step up sanctions, and the Group of Seven major world powers warned that they will continue strengthening the measures until Russian troops leave Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress voted Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, while the European Union approved punishing new steps, including an embargo on coal imports. The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, voted to suspend Russia from the world organization’s leading human rights body.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.N. vote demonstrated how “Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.” He called the images coming from Bucha “horrifying.”
“The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed — in some cases having their bodies desecrated — are an outrage to our common humanity,” Biden said.
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Schreck reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press 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
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T05:46:14
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Harold Varner III earns some crystal with ‘awesome’ Amen Corner moment at Masters
Harold Varner III won’t walk away from Augusta National empty handed this weekend.
With what he described as an “awesome” moment at Amen Corner, the Gastonia native earned himself some crystal Thursday in his debut round at the Masters Tournament.
After carding a 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the 86th Masters, the 31-year-old East Carolina alum is in position to earn more. He's within four shots of the lead ahead of Friday’s second round.
The shot that shifted Thursday's round occurred on the par-5 13th hole. After hitting his drive into the pine straw to the right of the fairway, Varner made a Masters memory.
'Best attitude on Tour': Harold Varner III carries fan favorite potential to Masters debut
He nearly holed out from roughly 227 yards for an albatross before rolling in a kick-in eagle to spark a strong finish.
“I hit a 4-iron and it went to a foot. It was awesome,” Varner said.
From 1954-62, anyone making an eagle received a crystal highball glass. From 1963-2011, a pair of crystal goblets was awarded. With crystal highball glasses back in the mix among the tournament awards, Varner will soon have two of his own to take home.
“Didn’t really think about that, but yeah, it was an eagle. I like making eagles,” he said with a smile.
Sitting at 3 over after a bogey on the par-3 12th, Varner followed his eagle at 13 with two more birdies over his final five holes to move into red figures and a tie for 10th.
“I was trying to make birdies on every hole,” said Varner, who rolled in a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th.
“When you see 4 or 5 under’s leading and you’re sitting at even par, you’re just trying to birdie the next hole.”
First round recap: Red number day for Tiger Woods at Masters 2022 in professional return from accident
On the first nine, Varner had four bogeys and a pair of birdies to make the turn at 2 over. He didn't let it faze him.
“I never tried to press and, obviously, holed some putts and hit a great shot on 13, which was awesome,” he said, referencing his ability to keep things in perspective.
After Varner put a bow on his round with a par on the 18th, a patron yelled, ‘Hell yeah, Harold.”
All smiles as he walked off the green, Varner will try to carry that momentum into Friday. He's set to tee off at 9:50 a.m.
“I finished really well, so that was good. But I felt like I was playing well when I got here, so you just gotta keep playing,” he said.
“I think good things are going to happen, always, so just hang around.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
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| 2022-04-08T05:52:07
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Jackson will join more diverse and conservative high court
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will join a Supreme Court that is both more diverse than ever and more conservative than it’s been since the 1930s.
She’s likely to be on the losing end of a bunch of important cases, including examinations of the role of race in college admissions and voting rights that the high court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, will take up next term.
Jackson, 51, is the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court following Thursday’s 53-47 vote by the Senate. She won’t join the court for several months, until Justice Stephen Breyer retires once the court wraps up its work for the summer — including its verdict on whether to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights.
When Jackson takes the bench as a justice for the first time, in October, she will be one of four women and two Black justices — both high court firsts.
And the nine-member court as a whole will be younger than it’s been for nearly 30 years, when Breyer, now 83, came on board.
Among the younger justices are three appointees of former President Donald Trump, and the court’s historic diversity won’t obscure its conservative tilt.
In Breyer’s final term, the conservative justices already have left their mark even before deciding major cases on abortion, guns, religion and climate change. By 5-4 or 6-3 votes, they allowed an unusual Texas law to remain in effect that bans abortions after roughly six weeks; stopped the Biden administration from requiring large employers to have a workforce that is vaccinated against COVID-19 or be masked and tested; and left in place redrawn Alabama congressional districts that a lower court with two Trump appointees found shortchanged Black voters in violation of federal law.
Jackson’s replacement of Breyer, for whom she once worked as a law clerk, won’t alter that Supreme Court math.
“She’s just going to be swimming against the tide every day. That’s a lot to take on,” said Robin Walker Sterling, a Northwestern University law professor.
But Jackson’s presence could make a difference in the perspective she brings and how she expresses herself in her opinions, said Payvand Ahdout, a University of Virginia law professor.
Jackson, who was raised in Miami, may see the high court’s cases about race “from the lens of being a Black woman who grew up in the South. She has an opportunity early on to show how representation matters,” Ahdout said.
During her Senate confirmation hearings, Jackson pledged to sit out the court’s consideration of Harvard’s admissions program, since she is a member of its board of overseers. But the court could split off a second case involving a challenge to the University of North Carolina’s admissions process, which might allow her to weigh in on the issue.
“Historically, the court goes to some length to try to get as much participation as possible. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see the two dealt with separately,” said Ahdout, who was a clerk to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the last time the court dealt with race in college admissions, in 2016. Just seven justices took part in that case, because Justice Antonin Scalia died before it was decided and Justice Elena Kagan had been involved as a Justice Department official before joining the court.
For now, Jackson might not have much to do. She remains a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, but she stepped away from cases there when President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in February and will continue to do so, a White House official said.
That could reduce the number of times Jackson has to recuse herself from any of her old cases that later make their way to the Supreme Court.
Breyer said in January that he would retire once his successor had been confirmed, but not before the end of the term. With a bare Senate majority, Democrats didn’t want to risk waiting until the summer for confirmation hearings and a vote.
That leaves Jackson in a situation that is “unprecedented in modern times,” said Marin Levy, a Duke University law professor who studies the federal judiciary.
Most new justices begin work a few days after they are confirmed, Levy said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to the court just a few hours after his tumultuous Senate vote.
Jackson could spend time arranging for her clerks and other staff for the Supreme Court, and closing down her current office.
But she won’t have to find new housing or upend the lives of her husband and children. Her new workplace is less than a mile from the court of appeals.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-08T05:53:49
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Rochester NAACP reacts to SCOTUS confirmation; First Black woman on Supreme Court
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – On Thursday, Ketanji Brown Jackson, was confirmed as the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.
“Elation, just unbridled joy and that’s in juxtaposition to my feelings over the past couple of weeks. When she was so maligned and put through so much trauma,” said Barbara Jordan, Rochester NAACP Secretary.
Jordan felt the senate hearings for Jackson’s nomination to the court was traumatizing to watch.
“I can only imagine what it was like for her to be in the midst of that circle of people, none of whom look like her,” she said.
Jordan also believes that out of the courts more than 200 years of existence, a Black woman serving is overdue.
“I forget the total number of justices it’s over 100 that have been appointed to the supreme court. And to not ever have had a Black woman, that’s significant when you consider the growing number of African Americans in the judiciary in this country to not have had an African American on the court. So, it is very significant,” she said.
Jordan also hopes all women are inspired by the new justice.
I think people should recognize what this says to young women in this country of all colors. Young women, older women,” Jordan said. “When one of us succeeds, all of us succeed.”
RELATED STORY: Jackson confirmed as first Black female Supreme Court justice
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved.
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Ukrainian leaders predict more gruesome discoveries ahead
CHERNIHIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian leaders predicted there would be more gruesome discoveries in the days ahead after retreating Russian forces left behind crushed buildings, streets strewn with destroyed cars and mounting civilian casualties that drew condemnation from across the globe.
Kremlin forces devastated the northern city of Chernihiv as part of their attempt to sweep south toward the capital before retreating. In the aftermath, dozens of people lined up to receive bread, diapers and medicine from vans parked outside a shattered school now serving as an aid-distribution point.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Thursday that despite a recent Russian pullback, the country remains vulnerable, and he pleaded for weapons from NATO and other sympathetic countries to help face down an expected offensive in the east. Nations from the alliance agreed to increase their supply of arms, spurred on by reports that Russian forces committed atrocities in areas surrounding the capital.
The mayor of Bucha, near Kyiv, said investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Most victims died from gunshots, not from shelling, he said, and some corpses with their hands tied were “dumped like firewood” into recently discovered mass graves, including one at a children’s camp.
Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians stood at 320 as of Wednesday, but he expected the number to rise as more bodies are found in his city, which once had a population of 50,000. Only 3,700 now remain, he said.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the horrors of Bucha could be only the beginning. In the northern city of Borodianka, just 30 kilometers northwest of Bucha, Zelenskyy warned of even more casualties, saying “there it is much more horrible.”
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that the bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital city. Volunteers have spent days collecting the corpses, and more were picked up Thursday in Bucha.
In the seaport city of Mariupol, Ukranian authorities expected to find much the same. “The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian and several Western leaders have blamed the massacres on Moscow’s troops, and the weekly Der Spiegel reported that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency had intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In the 6-week-old war, Russian forces failed to take Ukraine’s capital quickly, denying what Western countries said was Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s initial aim of ousting the Ukrainian government. In the wake of that setback and heavy losses, Russia shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.
On Thursday, a day after Russian forces began shelling their village in the southern Mykolaiv region, Sergei Dubovienko, 52, drove north in his small blue Lada with his wife and mother-in-law to Bashtanka, where they found temporary shelter in a church.
“They started destroying the houses and everything” in Pavlo-Marianovka, he said. “Then the tanks appeared from the forest. We thought that in the morning there would be shelling again, so I decided to leave.”
Hundreds of people have been fleeing villages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions that are either under attack or occupied by Russian forces.
Tatiana Vizavik, 50, fled Chernobaievka in the Kherson region with her son, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
When the Russian attack began, they moved to the basement of an apartment building and spent five nights there. “We had nothing to eat. We had no drinking water,” Vizavik said. “We were frightened to go out. Then some volunteers starting helping us.”
She said they don’t know whether their house survived the shelling because they were too frightened to check before leaving town. They hope to reach safety in the Czech Republic.
Marina Morozova and her husband fled from Kherson, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
“They are waiting for a big battle. We saw shells that did not explode. It was horrifying,” she said.
Morozova, 69, said the only news people get is from Russian television and radio. She said the Russians handed out humanitarian aid so they could film the distribution.
Anxious to keep moving away from areas that Russian troops have reached, the couple and others boarded a van that would take them west. Some will try to leave the country, while others will remain in quieter parts of Ukraine.
The United Nations estimates the war has displaced at least 6.5 million people within the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said that more than 4 million have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 and sparked Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Half of the refugees are children, according to UNHCR and the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.
The International Organization for Migration, which tracks not just refugees but all people on the move from their homes, estimated that more than 12 million people are stranded in areas of Ukraine under attack.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief told The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s “not optimistic” about securing a cease-fire after meeting with officials in Kyiv and in Moscow this week, underlining the lack of trust the two sides have for one another. He spoke hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of backtracking on proposals it had made over Crimea and Ukraine’s military status.
It’s not clear how long it will take withdrawing Russian forces to redeploy, and Ukrainian officials have urged people in the country’s east to leave before the fighting intensifies there.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to establish civilian evacuation routes Thursday from several areas in the Donbas.
In addition to spurring NATO countries to send more arms, the revelations about possible war crimes led Western nations to step up sanctions, and the Group of Seven major world powers warned that they will continue strengthening the measures until Russian troops leave Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress voted Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, while the European Union approved punishing new steps, including an embargo on coal imports. The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, voted to suspend Russia from the world organization’s leading human rights body.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.N. vote demonstrated how “Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.” He called the images coming from Bucha “horrifying.”
“The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed — in some cases having their bodies desecrated — are an outrage to our common humanity,” Biden said.
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Schreck reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press 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
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Today
Al-Anon, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Faith Presbyterian Church, 1608 Kirk Row, enter through door 1.
Saturday
Greentown Historical Society open, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays or by appointment, 103 E. Main St., Greentown, call 765-628-3800.
Sunday
VFW bingo, noon to 4 p.m., 920 N. Washington St., kitchen open.
Monday
Greentown Historical Society open, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays or by appointment, 103 E. Main St., Greentown, call 765-628-3800.
VFW bingo, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., 920 N. Washington St., kitchen open.
Tuesday
Al-Anon, 7-8 p.m., Faith Presbyterian Church, 1608 Kirk Row, enter through door 1.
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/calendar-april-8-2022/article_61238d0a-b6a3-11ec-9981-8763f788cfbe.html
| 2022-04-08T06:13:27
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Dan West says goodbye
Comedian Dan West is moving away from Kokomo. West will host one last comedy show on Sunday to show some appreciation for the town he’s grown to love. The giggles will be brought out at Sun King, 500 N. Buckeye St., starting at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5, though. Presale tickets, which can be found at https://danwestandfriends.eventbrite.com, can be purchased for $10. If you buy your tickets at the door, the price will go up to $15.
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt
The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, at 543 Indiana Ave. in Indianapolis, will be honored as Indiana’s first federally recognized literary landmark on Sunday. The celebration will start around 11 a.m. with musical performances outside the museum. The literary landmark unveiling will start at noon, followed by remarks by guest speakers and a musical performance. From 2 to 4 p.m., 100 copies of Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” will be donated to students. There will also be free ice cream and hula hoops while DJ Brotha 2 Da Knight performs. The museum’s new exhibit, The Women Who Shaped Vonnegut, will be unveiled at 3 p.m.
Coterie concerts
There will be two concerts at The Coterie, 107 W. Sycamore St., this weekend. Steve Fulton, an Indianapolis-based musician who is influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Wilco, will play a free concert on Friday. The doors will open at 8 p.m. and the music will start at 9. One-man-band musician MG Bailey will take the stage on Saturday. Admission to the Saturday show will cost $5 and can be purchased at www.kokomocoterie.com/events.
Fish fry
The Western Panther Band will host the seventh annual Fish & Tenderloin Fry on Saturday. From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., community members will be able to munch on tenderloins and fish prepared by Hawg Heaven with entertainment provided by Western’s band and jazz ensembles. Adults will have to pay $12 for the meal and music, but children 12 or younger will be fed for $9. The meals come with two sides and a drink. Desserts will be served for $1 each. The event will be held at the Stout Community Center, 650 N. West St. in Russiaville.
Easter eggs
Palmer’s Jewelry and MO Joe Coffee House will hold an Easter egg hunt charity event on Saturday. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., people who visit Palmer's Jewelry at 101 E. Sycamore St. will be able to purchase Easter eggs for $10. The combined value of all the event's prizes add up to more than $5,000. The top prize, a set of diamond earrings and necklace, is valued at $899. Annmarie's Boutique Kokomo, Chapter 2 Books, Jamie’s Soda Fountain and Gordo’s Taco Shop donated additional prizes.
More stuff to do
Alehouse show tonight
Members of Love 4 Zero will play at the Kokomo Alehouse, 1134 Home Ave. Visitors of the Alehouse will be able to eat and drink while the band plays from 8 to 10 p.m. There is no admission cost.
Spooky Saturday
The owner of the Davies House will open the premises for a public paranormal investigation, assisted by local investigation team, The Paranormal Family. Admission to the haunted house will cost $25 per person. Pizza and beverages are included in the price. The house is at 701 W. Jefferson St. and the investigation will start at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Show pony
Crown Haven Center, 5282 W. 250 South, will host pony rides and a petting zoo from 5 to 7 p.m. today. One trip around the indoor arena will cost $5. The horses will be available to all ages, and the event will be held regardless of weather conditions. Horse riders will also be able to feed the ponies carrots. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CrownHavenCenter.
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/five-things-we-love-this-week-april-8/article_be7bafc0-b520-11ec-9853-5b7acde91fc4.html
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Johnson, Shelly, services are noon today at Ellers Mortuary, 3400 S. Webster St. Kokomo.
Brennan, Thomas, services are noon Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1229 N. Washington St., Kokomo.
Hight, Sue, services are noon Saturday at Columbian Club of Kokomo, 1631 Foxfire Lane, Kokomo.
Morphew, Robert, services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St., Russiaville.
Babcock, Robert, services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Galveston Cemetery.
Harris, Joyce, services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Ellers Mortuary 3400 S. Webster St. Kokomo.
Rassner, Daniel, services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home, 105 W. Third St., Peru.
Myers, Calvin, services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Galveston First Baptist Church, 207 S. Sycamore St., Galveston.
Packard, Thelma, services are 2 p.m. Monday at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home 2097 West Alto Road Kokomo.
Duncan, Glenna, services are noon Tuesday at The First Christian Church, 854 N. 300 West, Kokomo.
Wade, Riley, services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Murray Weaver Funeral Home in Galveston.
Mumaw, Phyllis, services are 12 p.m. Wednesday at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo.
Eaton, Janice, services are noon April 16 at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 44 Michigan St., Burlington.
Cobb, Beulah, services are 2 p.m. April 20 at Mast-Hensler Cemetery, 3828 600 East, Kokomo.
Janes, Robert Henry, services are 11:30 a.m. April 21 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 S. 200 West, Kokomo.
Snyder, Richard, services are April 23 at Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church, Port Orange, Florida.
Lancaster, Dixie, services are 2 p.m. May 7 at Bennett Switch Community Church.
Tudor, William, services are 2 p.m. May 8 at the American Legion Post 6, 2604 S. Lafountain St., Kokomo.
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From 2016-19, Northwestern’s girls tennis teams went undefeated in the regular season and won the Kokomo Sectional each year.
COVID paused that streak in 2020 as the season was canceled.
No problem, the Tigers came back in 2021 and picked up where they left off — with an all-new lineup. The Tigers continued their unbeaten and sectional streaks. They finished 13-1 after falling to state superpower Carmel in a regional semifinal match.
The Tigers are 76-5 over the last five seasons. They’ll look to build on the amazing run in the new season.
“Last year, we had an entire team that had absolutely no varsity experience,” coach Kathie Layden said, “and the great thing about this season, as far as experience goes, we return the entire squad except our 1 doubles team. The girls are definitely more confident in themselves going into this year, I would say, after having a year now under their belt.”
Northwestern’s singles lineup is rock solid with junior McKenna Layden at No. 1, senior Kat Grube at No. 2 and junior Avery Rooze at No. 3. McKenna Layden went 14-4 at No. 1 last season, Grube was 14-4 at No. 2 and Rooze was 15-3.
Junior Emily Goltz and sophomore Anna Grube are back as a doubles team. They put together an outstanding season at No. 2 in 2021, going 18-1 and winning the Hoosier Conference title. They are moving to No. 1 doubles for 2022.
Freshman Berkley Wray is penciled in at No. 2 doubles with juniors Lauren Lesko and Megan Shank likely splitting time as Wray’s partner.
“With the return of almost the entire lineup, we are definitely ahead of the curve this season lineup-wise,” Kathie Layden said.
“We have the same goals this season — be competitive in every match, win conference and win sectionals,” she added.
The following are looks at Howard County’s other teams.
WESTERN
The Panthers had a memorable 2021 season. They opened with 10 straight wins on their way to a 15-3 record, which set a program record for wins in a season.
Coach Judson Quinn is eager to see if his squad is able to build on the success. He returns his singles lineup intact and also brings back a pair of doubles players.
“We return four players who have played a lot throughout the offseason and I know they’re ready to get out there and have some fun,” he said. “We return a really strong JV squad as well, so I know that the new varsity players will slide into those spots and be ready to compete.”
The singles players are seniors Eliza Lutgen and Chloe Schmidt and sophomore Macie Lockwood. Lutgen posted a 13-8 record at No. 1, Schmidt was 19-2 at No. 2 and Lockwood was 16-5 at No. 3.
“Eliza is a great all-around player who played really well at the 1 singles spot last year. We’re excited for another strong season from her,” Quinn said. “Chloe won the Hoosier Conference 2 singles championship last year and has improved many different parts of her game this offseason. Macie has improved leaps and bounds from her freshman year. She’s had a lot of growth and will be another strong point for us.”
Senior Sydney Jansen and junior Sophia Moreno are the returning doubles players. Jansen was part of a 16-6 team at No. 1 and Moreno was part of a 16-4 team at No. 2. Quinn is looking for Jansen to step into a leadership role.
“Eliza, Chloe, and Macie made up a strong singles lineup while Sydney and Sophia played well in the doubles spots last year. We’ll start there and see how we’re playing to start the season,” Quinn said. “We have a ton of depth at the lower varsity level. So as the year goes on, I wouldn’t be surprised to see different doubles combinations.”
Juniors Chioma Ozoigbo and Natalie Nutt, sophomore Lili Hess and freshman Sydney Ousley are among the candidates for the open doubles spots.
Come late May, the Panthers will look to challenge for their first sectional title — but that is not Quinn’s focus.
“From day one of the season, our goals have been to: be competitive and focused in practice; get the fundamentals down; be good teammates to each other; and improve every day. If we can succeed at those small things, then the wins will follow,” he said.
Western beat Cass 3-2 Wednesday. Lutgen, Schmidt and Lockwood swept the singles points.
EASTERN
The Comets went 12-6 last season with an inexperienced lineup.
They head into the new season with a nice mix of four returning players and a promising newcomer.
The returning players are seniors Kate Salkie and Alivia Salkie, junior Madi Guinn and sophomore Kennedy Horner. Kate Salkie was part of a No. 1 doubles team that went 11-5, Alivia Salkie and Guinn teamed for a 10-5 record at No. 2 doubles and Horner went 8-3 at No. 3 singles.
Foreign exchange student Maria Oliveria is the newcomer.
Junior Molly Farkas is moving into the varsity lineup and Rice said junior Claire Hapner, sophomore Emily Princell and freshmen Elle Hamilton and Lainey Roberts also are in the mix for possible time.
“I do not have a lineup yet, but I can tell you Maria will be at 1 singles,” coach Pat Rice said. “We have a lot of good mixes and I have a few ideas in my head, but none I am ready to truly roll the dice with. The way we start the season and the way we finish will be drastically different as we are dealing with some girls who need practices before being able to play.”
Rice said Oliveria “will be one of the strongest 1 singles players I have had.”
Overall, Rice has 22 players on the team.
“Our goals are pretty much the same,” he said. “We have definitely heard some chatter that we are ‘down’ or ‘not a contender’ and that is definitely fueling this team.”
Rice pointed to continuing the Comets’ dominance in the Hoosier Heartland Conference as one goal. From there, he hopes the Comets can make some noise in the sectional.
“We know it’s going to be tough as Northwestern is still the favorite and Western will be strong, but we’re excited to get out there and play and give it a go,” he said. “I really like this team have really enjoyed working with them ready to see how we do in live matches.”
KOKOMO
The Wildkats took a nice step forward in their rebuilding last season by going 8-8.
“We currently have 28 girls on the team, only seven of which earned varsity letters last year,” coach Sarah Hemmerich said. “We have a good core group of returning players as well as several brand-new tennis players.”
The Kats’ lineup took an unexpected hit when senior Olivia Hemmerich suffered a knee injury in basketball. She played No. 1 singles last season, but is doubtful to return in time to play this spring.
Kokomo’s returning players are sophomore Ellen Callane, senior Leah Schliesmann and junior Ava Cothern. Callane played No. 2 singles and Schliesmann and Cothern formed the No. 2 doubles team. Senior Kelly Stage and sophomores Allie Cothern and Mia Federspill also saw some varsity time.
Sarah Hemmerich pointed to senior Mariana De La Gala, juniors Vivian Ferrusca and Regan Kimbler, and freshmen Raigan Heflin and Aviannah Pollard as newcomers contending for spots in the lineup.
Heflin, Callane, Federspill and Ferrusca are likely singles players. Some combinations of Ava Cothern, Allie Cothern, Schliesmann, De La Gala, Kimbler and Pollard will form the doubles teams.
“We made great progress last year, moving up to finish third in the [North Central Conference]. We are looking to repeat that finish and compete in the sectional,” Sarah Hemmerich said.
Kokomo took the court against Cass on Thursday for the Kats’ opener, but the match was suspended because of the conditions.
TAYLOR
The Titans return just one player, sophomore Makia Hilton, from last season.
“The Titans are a young, inexperienced team this year,” coach Conner Leicht said. “We have been working hard on fundamental tennis. It is fun to see their enthusiasm, and they work hard. They come to work every day. They are eager to begin their season.”
Foreign-exchange student Lina Heinemann and freshmen Bella Dougan, Krys Peters, Elizabeth Moody, Alexis DeBard, McKenzie Reed and Aliza McPherson are new to the team.
Leicht sees Heinemann and Hilton as locks for singles spots with Hilton having singles experience from last season. The rest of the lineup is undecided.
“With inexperience, the goals to this season are to build fundamental tennis and get more competitive as the season goes on,” Leicht said. “We want to use every experience and situation as a learning experience to improve our game.”
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/girls-tennis-howard-county-2022-preview/article_bb4f02ca-b6ab-11ec-aee5-6bfb8c44307d.html
| 2022-04-08T06:13:46
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Northwestern’s baseball team scored seven runs in the top of the second inning to put Lewis Cass in a 7-1 hole and the Tigers went on to beat the Kings 13-3 in a Hoosier Conference East Division game Thursday night at Walton.
The Tigers banged out 13 hits in completing the home-and-home sweep of the Kings. The bottom of the Tigers’ order came through in a big way. No. 6 hitter Jansen Slate was 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs, No. 8 hitter Eastin Whaley went 3 for 5 with four RBI and No. 9 hitter Kai Jackson had a double and an RBI.
Also for the Tigers (2-0), Cole VanNatter was 2 for 4 with a triple and Tate Mullens was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs.
“I feel like when you’re doing a back-to-back series like that, getting into [the opponent’s] bullpen is vital,” Northwestern coach Ryan Ward said. “We were able to come out with the win [Wednesday] and I think they used four pitchers. I think that helped us in the long run.
“That’s a credit to our whole team, but a special shoutout to the bottom of our lineup. It’s really passing the torch back to the top of the lineup and able to create longer innings, higher pitch counts and getting into the bullpen. Over the course of two days, that was the difference.”
A.J. Burkhalter pitched five sharp innings for the win in Thursday’s game. He allowed two hits and one run, struck out 11 and walked three. Cam Davis pitched the final two innings.
Jack Salyers led Cass with a 2-for-3 game that included an RBI. Tyson Good took the loss.
Northwestern is scheduled to host Rochester at 6 p.m. today. The Tigers’ game at Carroll on Saturday has been postponed.
WESTERN 14, TIPTON 1, 5 INN.
The Class 3A No. 7-ranked Panthers hammered the visiting Blue Devils to complete a two-game sweep of their HC East Division series.
Parker Dean started and pitched three innings for the win. The Purdue recruit allowed one hit and one unearned run, struck out six and walked none. Christian Pownall pitched the fourth inning and struck out four. Dylan Bryant pitched the fifth and struck out two.
Western had 11 hits. Dean and Garrett Lupoi both reached base in all four of their plate appearances. Dean was 2 for 2 with two doubles and three RBI and Lupoi was 2 for 2 with a double and four runs scored.
Also for Western (2-0), Cayden McClure was 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI, Bret Echelbarger was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Alex Watkins had a double.
“I felt like our offense was a little bit better. We scored in every inning,” coach Ryan Berryman said. “On the mound, Parker did a nice job early. He came out throwing strikes with three pitches and was really sharp. Christian Pownall and Dylan Bryant looked really good in relief as well.”
EASTERN 15, CP 1, 5 INNINGS
Clinton Prairie scored the opening run in the top of the first, then the Comets took over an inning later, putting up four in the second inning, five in the third, and six in the fourth in the Hoosier Heartland Conference opener.
Eastern starter Owen Taylor didn’t let Prairie back in the game. He threw all five innings with an unearned run, two hits and four walks while striking out 10.
At the plate, seven Comets drove in at least a run and eight collected hits. Corbin Snyder was 2 for 2 with a double, three runs and two RBI. Porter Brovont was 2 for 3 with two runs. Owen Taylor was 2 for 4 with a double. Levi Mavrick doubled and scored twice. Trent Rawls drove in two runs, Bryson Russell scored twice, and Cayden Calloway had a double, two runs scored and four RBI.
Eastern is 2-0 overall.
ALEX 5, TAYLOR 4
Down 5-0 after four innings, Taylor scored a single run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to draw within 5-4, but the Titans could not complete the comeback.
Taylor coach Kris Dill pointed to missed opportunities as the difference.
“We had runners on in scoring position and we just didn’t get that timely hit, we didn’t execute the squeeze bunt twice early in the game. At the end of the game, that proved to be the difference,” he said. “I have faith that as the season goes along, we’ll get better at that execution.”
Ashton McKay had two singles for Taylor (0-2) and Cody Groves, Owen Shimer and Catch Sullivan drove in a run apiece. Zach Landis took the loss.
“Defensively, we didn’t have any errors and that is something we’ve been harping on for three years to get to this point. We played a very clean game,” Dill said. “I was very satisfied with our catchers. Micah Irwin, a freshman, threw out three runners. Justin Doty threw out a runner in the top of the seventh. Just all-around, a good defensive game.”
SOFTBALL
WESTERN 9, TIPTON 3
The teams were tied 1-1 through an inning and 2-2 through three innings at Western, when the Panthers took control of the Hoosier Conference East Division game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Ousley dropped the hammer with a three-run homer in that frame to put the Panthers up 6-2.
Ousley finished with four runs batted in to power Western’s attack and was also the winning pitcher, throwing five innings with four hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and eight strikeouts. Kylie Miller threw the last two frames and didn’t allow a run. She gave up two hits, no walks and struck out one.
At the plate for the Panthers (2-1, 1-0 HC East), Chloe Linn singled and doubled, Maisy Harlow and Mickey Irwin each had two singles, and Lexi Dollens made her first varsity hit a key one with a two-run single in the sixth to help the Panthers put the game away.
“I think our kids did a great job again of blocking out the elements and focusing on the game,” Western coach Jim Clouse said. “Even though we had a little bit of a slow start, we hung in there defensively. We struggled through the first few innings but we were able to get out of those with a defensive play or strikeout until our bats could get going a little bit.
“Emerson Merrell from Tipton did a good job of keeping us off balance, keeping the ball down, and then we caught up to her in the fourth inning.”
NW 7, CASS 2
A night after winning a 16-14 slugfest against Cass, the Purple Tigers (3-0, 2-0 HC East) took control early and kept it. Northwestern went up 4-0 in the first frame and led wire to wire. Cass cut the lead to 4-2 after two innings and didn’t score again.
Jaylyn Harrison was the winning pitcher, giving up two earned runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. She was also the winning pitcher in Wednesday’s wild affair. On offense, she hit a three-run homer and a single. Jaci Elson singled, doubled, homered and had two RBIs for the Tigers. Bailey Henry singled and hit a two-run homer. And Ady Altman had two singles.
“Jaylyn pitched a lot better [Thursday] night,” NW coach Chris Walker said. “We hit the ball really well and [it’s] always good to be 2-0 in the conference.
“[Harrison] just hit her spots. It was like night and day from [Wednesday] night.”
On the Cass side, Elly Logan was 2 for 3 with a triple, single and RBI. Bayli Reed took the loss, throwing five innings with seven strikeouts.
HARRISON 11, KOKOMO 1, 6 INNINGS
Harrison feasted on free bases as Kokomo dealt seven walks and committed five errors.
Carly Trine led the offense for Kokomo (1-3, 0-1 North Central Conference), going 2 for 3. Brooke Hughes doubled. Carly Patterson threw four innings and took the loss.
“I feel like we are continuing to give teams free runs, either through putting them on base, or defensively and that has to stop if we’re going to be successful as a team,” Kokomo coach Mike Susong said. “We have a lot of talent on this team, but they’ve got to make the routine plays and we can’t issue free passes.”
BOYS TRACK
NW WINS TRIANGULAR
Northwestern finished first, Eastern second and Elwood third in a triangular meet at Elwood.
Eastern’s Jayden Eagle was a triple winner, taking the 100 (:11.5), 200 (:24.0) and the long jump (17-feet, 7.5 inches).
“With spring break being this week, literally 50 percent of our team was gone, we only had 12 or 13 guys on the squad,” Eastern coach Blake Donson said. “For the low numbers, and the weather was horrendous, I was pretty happy with how everything ended up shaking out. My throwers did really good. Jayden of course, triple winner, and he was part of the second place 4x100 team as well.”
BOYS GOLF
TIPTON 175, NW 215
Led by medalist Maverick Conaway’s 40, the Blue Devils topped the Tigers in tough weather conditions at Green Acres G.C.
“It was brutal. It was really windy, it was really cold,” Northwestern coach Kurt Koetter said. “I think that both teams shot higher than what they normally will.”
Sammy Shotwell led the Tigers in their season opener with a 47. Logan Duncan (54), Michael VanOsdell (56) and Will Baxter (58) rounded out the Tigers’ team score.
“First match out, I have a young team and I think they were very nervous and anxious,” Koetter said. “I’m not happy with 215, but I definitely think it will get better as the year goes along.”
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/prep-roundup-for-friday-april-8/article_eb90223a-b6cd-11ec-98b3-6b9aa9584a57.html
| 2022-04-08T06:13:52
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/prep-roundup-for-friday-april-8/article_eb90223a-b6cd-11ec-98b3-6b9aa9584a57.html
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Hemmerich helps Earlham sweep DH
RICHMOND — Kokomo’s Nate Hemmerich helped Earlham sweep Defiance in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Wednesday.
After Earlham walloped Defiance 40-7 in the first game, the Quakers followed with a 12-3 win in the second game. Hemmerich earned the win in the second game with five innings of scoreless relief. The former Kokomo Wildkat athlete allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked two.
For the season, Hemmerich is 2-0 on the mound with a 2.16 ERA. In 16.2 innings, he has 21 strikeouts and five walks.
In the opener, Earlham DH Andrew Bradley went 4 for 5 with four home runs. He drove in 10 runs and scored five runs.
Earlham is 15-5 overall and 4-0 in the HCAC.
Baseball Classic canceled
The Kokomo-Western Baseball Classic, scheduled for today and Saturday, is canceled because of potentially low wind-chill temperatures and precipitation. The event will not be made up.
Avon, Fishers, Westfield, West Vigo, Noblesville, Lake Central, Lafayette Catholic and South Bend St. Joseph’s were scheduled to join Kokomo and Western in the two-day event. Each team was scheduled to play three games.
BSU’s Lewis completes staff
MUNCIE — New Ball State men’s basketball coach Michael Lewis has completed his staff. Lou Gudino, Jamal Meeks, Ben Botts and Bill Comar will be joining Lewis for his first year in Muncie.
Gudino will serve as the associate head coach and Meeks and Botts will be assistant coaches. Comar will be the special assistant to the head coach.
Meeks is a former IU player. He appeared in 129 career games (44 starts) over four seasons and played on the 1992 Final Four team. He scored 1,741 points during his Hoosier career.
Botts continues on the Ball State staff after spending four seasons with the Cardinals as an assistant coach. He played at Muncie Central and Purdue Fort Wayne. He graduated from Muncie Central in 2007 after a stellar career that included back-to-back appearances in the Class 4A state championship game. He finished his college career fourth on the Mastodons’ career scoring list with 1,400 points.
Botts and Kokomo High School coach John Peckinpaugh were teammates at Muncie Central and Purdue Fort Wayne.
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/sports-briefs-for-friday-april-8/article_52b22bbe-b6c1-11ec-88b4-0f86330a1777.html
| 2022-04-08T06:13:58
| 0
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https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/sports-briefs-for-friday-april-8/article_52b22bbe-b6c1-11ec-88b4-0f86330a1777.html
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So you’re expecting a tax refund this year. With inflation driving up the price of gas, food and nearly everything else, that extra money can’t come soon enough. The hard part is deciding how to spend it. Should you invest the money? Book a trip?
If you really want to do yourself a favor, use your refund to pay off debt. Here’s why.
You'll save on interest
“The cost of carrying debt is very expensive,” says AnnaMarie Mock, a certified financial planner with Highland Financial Advisors in Wayne, New Jersey. “Especially if you’re looking at regular consumer debt, like credit cards, (the interest rate) could be north of 16%.”
Issuers do charge higher rates, often well past 20%, depending on the type of card or the user’s credit score.
Let’s say you’re trying to pay off $6,000 in credit card debt on a card with a 19% interest rate by paying $200 a month. You’ll pay $2,204 in total interest by the time the credit card is paid off. Here’s how using a tax refund could reduce that cost: If you receive a $1,500 refund and put the full amount toward the balance, then continue making the same monthly payment, the total interest you pay would drop to $1,107. You’d also wipe out the debt a year sooner.
With the Federal Reserve’s federal funds interest rate hike in March, plus additional hikes expected later this year, debt is getting even more expensive. Most credit card rates are variable, and issuers will likely raise them in response to the Fed’s actions. Pay off more, or all, of your balance now to avoid overspending on interest.
What if you have multiple debts? Accelerating payments on the account with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the next highest (a strategy known as debt avalanche), is generally the quickest and cheapest way to become debt-free. You can use a debt payoff calculator to estimate how different rates and payment strategies will impact how much you owe.
You can build your credit score
Your credit utilization, or the percentage of your credit limits you’re using, is a big factor in your credit score. Using a tax refund to shrink your balance helps shrink your credit utilization, which can benefit your score.
“The higher our credit score, the lower the price becomes for life in general,” says Tina Herndon, a financial education and training manager with Balance, a nonprofit financial education and counseling organization based in Concord, California.
Paying off debt can get you ahead long term, she says, opening the door to more affordable loans. “If you can pay 2.9% interest on a $25,000 car versus a 21% interest, it’s going to save you hundreds of dollars a month,” Herndon says.
A drastic change in credit won’t happen overnight, and there are other factors that shape your score. But paying down high-rate debt is an important step in the right direction. And having lower debt compared to your income can improve your odds of qualifying for new credit.
It can motivate you
Debt can be “a hurdle that people mentally need to overcome before they can potentially go on to the next phase, to start saving for goals,” Mock says.
Make a list of your financial goals. Maybe you want to buy a house or send your kid to college. Eliminating debt can bring you closer to reaching those milestones.
Maybe your goal is simply to be debt-free. Even if your refund isn’t enough to wipe out your debt all at once, watching your balance drop can build the momentum you need to keep chipping away at it.
You don't have to sacrifice fun
Using your refund for debt repayment doesn’t mean there’s no room for fun purchases. In fact, by reducing debt you’ll have more funds available to do with what you please. Once you’ve paid off your bills, you can take the amount you were spending on payments and put it toward something that brings you joy. Boost your entertainment budget or start a vacation fund, for example.
But if you don’t want to wait, go ahead and treat yourself now. Herndon suggests allocating a certain percentage or dollar amount to a “fun category.” If you receive a $2,000 refund, you could set aside 10%, or $200, for a spa visit or new headphones.
“It’s all about moderation and making sure that you’re thinking through the trade-offs of not putting the entire thing towards debt,” Mock says.
___________________________
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/tax-refund-pay-down-debt/507-36992a22-6782-449d-8628-e0f736245528
| 2022-04-08T06:27:59
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/tax-refund-pay-down-debt/507-36992a22-6782-449d-8628-e0f736245528
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A reporter for Fox News who was seriously injured while covering the war in Ukraine paid tribute Thursday to two colleagues who were killed in the same attack. He also revealed the severity of his own injuries, including the loss of limbs.
Benjamin Hall, who was evacuated from Ukraine, posted a photo to social media showing him on a hospital gurney, still recovering from the March 14 attack. He was wearing an eye patch in the photo.
"To sum it up, I've lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other," Hall wrote. "One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here - and it is the people who got me here who are amazing!"
Hall was traveling with veteran photographer Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova when their vehicle came under fire outside Kyiv. Zakrzewski, 55, and Kuvshynova, 24, were killed.
Hall paid tribute to his fallen colleagues.
"It's been over three weeks since the attack in Ukraine and I wanted to start sharing it all. But first I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didn't make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together, working was his joy and his joy was infectious. RIP," Hall wrote.
Zakrzewski, who was based in London, had covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria for Fox, the network said. Kuvshynova was a consultant helping Fox's crews navigate the Kyiv area.
How did Benjamin Hall get out of Ukraine?
Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin told People magazine Tuesday how Hall was evacuated from the country. Griffin said she reached out to the group Save Our Allies, which rescues Americans from war-torn regions.
Once it was determined where Hall had been taken after the attack and it was determined he was OK to travel, Save Our Allies reportedly got him to the border in Poland. To do it, Hall had to be kept stable in an ambulance that traveled 12 hours over treacherous terrain and damaged roads in a war zone.
Griffin told People she was also able to connect with Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby. That ultimately led the U.S. military to meet Hall at the border and transport him to Germany for treatment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/benjamin-hall-fox-reporter-injured-ukraine-attack-update/507-34aaef1b-7231-4cb4-89e9-02c11265073a
| 2022-04-08T06:28:05
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/benjamin-hall-fox-reporter-injured-ukraine-attack-update/507-34aaef1b-7231-4cb4-89e9-02c11265073a
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CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian leaders predicted there would be more gruesome discoveries in the days ahead after retreating Russian forces left behind crushed buildings, streets strewn with destroyed cars and mounting civilian casualties that drew condemnation from across the globe.
Kremlin forces devastated the northern city of Chernihiv as part of their attempt to sweep south toward the capital before retreating. In the aftermath, dozens of people lined up to receive bread, diapers and medicine from vans parked outside a shattered school now serving as an aid-distribution point.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Thursday that despite a recent Russian pullback, the country remains vulnerable, and he pleaded for weapons from NATO and other sympathetic countries to help face down an expected offensive in the east. Nations from the alliance agreed to increase their supply of arms, spurred on by reports that Russian forces committed atrocities in areas surrounding the capital.
The mayor of Bucha, near Kyiv, said investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Most victims died from gunshots, not from shelling, he said, and some corpses with their hands tied were “dumped like firewood” into recently discovered mass graves, including one at a children’s camp.
Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians stood at 320 as of Wednesday, but he expected the number to rise as more bodies are found in his city, which once had a population of 50,000. Only 3,700 now remain, he said.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the horrors of Bucha could be only the beginning. In the northern city of Borodianka, just 30 kilometers northwest of Bucha, Zelenskyy warned of even more casualties, saying “there it is much more horrible.”
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that the bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital city. Volunteers have spent days collecting the corpses, and more were picked up Thursday in Bucha.
In the seaport city of Mariupol, Ukranian authorities expected to find much the same. “The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian and several Western leaders have blamed the massacres on Moscow’s troops, and the weekly Der Spiegel reported that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency had intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In the 6-week-old war, Russian forces failed to take Ukraine’s capital quickly, denying what Western countries said was Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s initial aim of ousting the Ukrainian government. In the wake of that setback and heavy losses, Russia shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.
On Thursday, a day after Russian forces began shelling their village in the southern Mykolaiv region, Sergei Dubovienko, 52, drove north in his small blue Lada with his wife and mother-in-law to Bashtanka, where they found temporary shelter in a church.
“They started destroying the houses and everything” in Pavlo-Marianovka, he said. “Then the tanks appeared from the forest. We thought that in the morning there would be shelling again, so I decided to leave.”
Hundreds of people have been fleeing villages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions that are either under attack or occupied by Russian forces.
Tatiana Vizavik, 50, fled Chernobaievka in the Kherson region with her son, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
When the Russian attack began, they moved to the basement of an apartment building and spent five nights there. “We had nothing to eat. We had no drinking water,” Vizavik said. “We were frightened to go out. Then some volunteers starting helping us.”
She said they don’t know whether their house survived the shelling because they were too frightened to check before leaving town. They hope to reach safety in the Czech Republic.
Marina Morozova and her husband fled from Kherson, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
“They are waiting for a big battle. We saw shells that did not explode. It was horrifying,” she said.
Morozova, 69, said the only news people get is from Russian television and radio. She said the Russians handed out humanitarian aid so they could film the distribution.
Anxious to keep moving away from areas that Russian troops have reached, the couple and others boarded a van that would take them west. Some will try to leave the country, while others will remain in quieter parts of Ukraine.
The United Nations estimates the war has displaced at least 6.5 million people within the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said that more than 4 million have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 and sparked Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Half of the refugees are children, according to UNHCR and the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.
The International Organization for Migration, which tracks not just refugees but all people on the move from their homes, estimated that more than 12 million people are stranded in areas of Ukraine under attack.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief told The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s “not optimistic” about securing a cease-fire after meeting with officials in Kyiv and in Moscow this week, underlining the lack of trust the two sides have for one another. He spoke hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of backtracking on proposals it had made over Crimea and Ukraine’s military status.
It’s not clear how long it will take withdrawing Russian forces to redeploy, and Ukrainian officials have urged people in the country’s east to leave before the fighting intensifies there.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to establish civilian evacuation routes Thursday from several areas in the Donbas.
In addition to spurring NATO countries to send more arms, the revelations about possible war crimes led Western nations to step up sanctions, and the Group of Seven major world powers warned that they will continue strengthening the measures until Russian troops leave Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress voted Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, while the European Union approved punishing new steps, including an embargo on coal imports. The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, voted to suspend Russia from the world organization’s leading human rights body.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.N. vote demonstrated how “Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.” He called the images coming from Bucha “horrifying.”
“The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed — in some cases having their bodies desecrated — are an outrage to our common humanity,” Biden said.
___
Schreck reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-friday/507-9ed571e7-0317-4572-8775-7b8421e71b75
| 2022-04-08T06:28:11
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-friday/507-9ed571e7-0317-4572-8775-7b8421e71b75
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WASHINGTON — Medicare said Thursday it's considering a cut in enrollee premiums, after officials stuck with an earlier decision to sharply limit coverage for a pricey new Alzheimer's drug projected to drive up program costs.
The agency “is looking at that, and is still going through the process,” spokeswoman Beth Lynk said of a potential reduction in premiums, as Medicare announced its final coverage decision for Aduhelm, a drug whose benefits have been widely questioned in the medical community.
Officials said Medicare will keep coverage restrictions imposed earlier on the $28,000-a-year medication, paying for Aduhelm only when it's used in clinical trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health.
The projected cost of Aduhelm was a major driver behind a $22 increase in Medicare’s Part B premium this year, boosting it to $170.10 a month. That price hike is already being paid by more than 56 million Medicare recipients signed up for the program’s outpatient coverage benefit.
Thursday’s decision illustrates the impact that a single medication can have on the budgets of individuals and taxpayers. It comes as legislation to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices remains stuck in the Senate, part of President Joe Biden’s stalled social and climate agenda.
Medicare's decision included an important caveat. Officials said that if Aduhelm, or any other similar drug in its class, were to receive what's called “traditional” FDA approval, then Medicare would open up broader coverage for patients.
Aduhelm received what's known as “accelerated” approval last year because of its potential promise. But manufacturer Biogen is required to conduct a follow-up study to definitively answer whether Aduhelm truly slows the progression of Alzheimer’s. If that study is successful, FDA would grant full approval.
That would also open up Medicare coverage.
Aduhelm hit the market as the first new Alzheimer’s medication in nearly two decades. Initially priced at $56,000 a year, it was expected to quickly become a blockbuster drug, generating billions for Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen.
But although the company slashed the price in half — to $28,000 a year — Aduhelm's rollout has been disastrous.
Pushback from politicians, physicians and insurers left the company with just $3 million in sales from Aduhelm last year. Doctors have been hesitant to prescribe it, given weak evidence that the drug slows the progression of Alzheimer's. Insurers have blocked or restricted coverage over the drug’s high price tag and uncertain benefit.
The CMS decision means that for Medicare to pay, patients taking Aduhelm medication will have to be part of clinical trials to assess the drug’s safety and effectiveness in slowing the progression of early-stage dementia.
The limits stayed on despite a massive lobbying push by the Alzheimer’s Association to change Medicare’s position, including outreach to members of Congress, online advertising and social media campaigns directed at the agency.
The association, the largest group of its kind, has received contributions from drugmakers, including Biogen.
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
| 2022-04-08T06:30:51
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
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CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian leaders predicted there would be more gruesome discoveries in the days ahead after retreating Russian forces left behind crushed buildings, streets strewn with destroyed cars and mounting civilian casualties that drew condemnation from across the globe.
Kremlin forces devastated the northern city of Chernihiv as part of their attempt to sweep south toward the capital before retreating. In the aftermath, dozens of people lined up to receive bread, diapers and medicine from vans parked outside a shattered school now serving as an aid-distribution point.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Thursday that despite a recent Russian pullback, the country remains vulnerable, and he pleaded for weapons from NATO and other sympathetic countries to help face down an expected offensive in the east. Nations from the alliance agreed to increase their supply of arms, spurred on by reports that Russian forces committed atrocities in areas surrounding the capital.
The mayor of Bucha, near Kyiv, said investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Most victims died from gunshots, not from shelling, he said, and some corpses with their hands tied were “dumped like firewood” into recently discovered mass graves, including one at a children’s camp.
Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians stood at 320 as of Wednesday, but he expected the number to rise as more bodies are found in his city, which once had a population of 50,000. Only 3,700 now remain, he said.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the horrors of Bucha could be only the beginning. In the northern city of Borodianka, just 30 kilometers northwest of Bucha, Zelenskyy warned of even more casualties, saying “there it is much more horrible.”
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that the bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital city. Volunteers have spent days collecting the corpses, and more were picked up Thursday in Bucha.
In the seaport city of Mariupol, Ukranian authorities expected to find much the same. “The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian and several Western leaders have blamed the massacres on Moscow’s troops, and the weekly Der Spiegel reported that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency had intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In the 6-week-old war, Russian forces failed to take Ukraine’s capital quickly, denying what Western countries said was Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s initial aim of ousting the Ukrainian government. In the wake of that setback and heavy losses, Russia shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.
On Thursday, a day after Russian forces began shelling their village in the southern Mykolaiv region, Sergei Dubovienko, 52, drove north in his small blue Lada with his wife and mother-in-law to Bashtanka, where they found temporary shelter in a church.
“They started destroying the houses and everything” in Pavlo-Marianovka, he said. “Then the tanks appeared from the forest. We thought that in the morning there would be shelling again, so I decided to leave.”
Hundreds of people have been fleeing villages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions that are either under attack or occupied by Russian forces.
Tatiana Vizavik, 50, fled Chernobaievka in the Kherson region with her son, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
When the Russian attack began, they moved to the basement of an apartment building and spent five nights there. “We had nothing to eat. We had no drinking water,” Vizavik said. “We were frightened to go out. Then some volunteers starting helping us.”
She said they don’t know whether their house survived the shelling because they were too frightened to check before leaving town. They hope to reach safety in the Czech Republic.
Marina Morozova and her husband fled from Kherson, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
“They are waiting for a big battle. We saw shells that did not explode. It was horrifying,” she said.
Morozova, 69, said the only news people get is from Russian television and radio. She said the Russians handed out humanitarian aid so they could film the distribution.
Anxious to keep moving away from areas that Russian troops have reached, the couple and others boarded a van that would take them west. Some will try to leave the country, while others will remain in quieter parts of Ukraine.
The United Nations estimates the war has displaced at least 6.5 million people within the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said that more than 4 million have left Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 and sparked Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Half of the refugees are children, according to UNHCR and the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.
The International Organization for Migration, which tracks not just refugees but all people on the move from their homes, estimated that more than 12 million people are stranded in areas of Ukraine under attack.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief told The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s “not optimistic” about securing a cease-fire after meeting with officials in Kyiv and in Moscow this week, underlining the lack of trust the two sides have for one another. He spoke hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of backtracking on proposals it had made over Crimea and Ukraine’s military status.
It’s not clear how long it will take withdrawing Russian forces to redeploy, and Ukrainian officials have urged people in the country’s east to leave before the fighting intensifies there.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to establish civilian evacuation routes Thursday from several areas in the Donbas.
In addition to spurring NATO countries to send more arms, the revelations about possible war crimes led Western nations to step up sanctions, and the Group of Seven major world powers warned that they will continue strengthening the measures until Russian troops leave Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress voted Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, while the European Union approved punishing new steps, including an embargo on coal imports. The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, voted to suspend Russia from the world organization’s leading human rights body.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.N. vote demonstrated how “Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.” He called the images coming from Bucha “horrifying.”
“The signs of people being raped, tortured, executed — in some cases having their bodies desecrated — are an outrage to our common humanity,” Biden said.
___
Schreck reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-friday/507-9ed571e7-0317-4572-8775-7b8421e71b75
| 2022-04-08T06:30:57
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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-friday/507-9ed571e7-0317-4572-8775-7b8421e71b75
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Slade Haney homered twice, driving in five runs, and Donoho topped Faith Christian 10-3 in Class 1A, Area 9 baseball action Thursday.
His home runs came in the fifth and sixth innings. He went 2-for-4 on the day and scored three runs.
Other top performers for Donoho (12-3-1):
—Nic Thompson, 2-for-4, double, two runs.
—Lucas Elliott, 3-for-4, three runs.
—Judson Billings, 2-for-4, home run, four RBIs; pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief, spreading out four hits with no earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts.
Top performers for Faith:
—Brodie Dodson, 1-for-4.
—Jacques Prater, 1-for-4.
—Colton Pahman, 1-for-2.
—Carson Limbaugh, 1-for-2, two runs.
—WIll Smith, RBI.
Piedmont 10-12, Ohatchee 0-0: Piedmont swept Ohatchee on Thursday, remaining undefeated in Class 3A, Area 11 action. The Bulldogs pounded out 29 hits over the two games and outscored the Indians 22-0.
Piedmont’s top performers from Game 1:
—Max Hanson, 1-for-3, one run, two RBI.
—Jack Hayes, 1-for-1, double, one RBI.
—Noah Reedy, 3-for-3, two runs, one RBI, stolen base.
—McClane Mohon, 2-for-3, home run, two runs, two RBIs.
—Jake Austin, 2-for-3, one run, two RBIs.
—Omarion Foster, 2-for-3, one RBI.
—Cassius Fairs, 2-for-3, double, one run, one RBI.
—Sloan Smith, 1-for-3.
—Austin Estes, one run, stolen base.
—Ridge Fagan, two runs, stolen base.
—Brodie Homesley, winning pitcher, allowed three hits and three walks over five innings with three strikeouts.
Ohatchee’s top performers from Game 1:
—Brent Honaker, 1-for-3.
—Justin Powell, 1-for-2.
—Tyler Green, 1-for-2.
Piedmont’s top performers from Game 2:
—Estes, 2-for-4, one run.
—Hanson, 1-for-2, two runs, one RBI.
—Hayes, 2-for-2, one run, two RBIs.
—Reedy, 1-for-3, two RBIs.
—Austin, 1-for-3, one run.
—Fagan, 3-for-3, double, three runs, two RBIs, stolen base.
—Jack Tolbert, 1-for-3, one run, one RBI.
—Foster, 2-for-3, two runs, one RBI, stolen base.
—Fairs, 2-for-3, double, two RBIs; winning pitcher, allowed two hits and one walk over five innings with seven strikeouts.
Ohatchee’s top performers from Game 2:
—Devin Howell, 1-for-2.
—Powell, 1-for-2.
Jacksonville 18-18, Anniston 0-1: Dakoda Willingham drove in six runs on the day as Jacksonville rolled in Class 4A, Area 9 action.
On the day, Willingham was 4-for-6 with five runs. He homered and tripled.
Jacksonville had several top performers:
—Jae-Taj Morris, 3-for-7, seven runs, two RBIs.
—Jim Ogle, 2-for-6, five runs, three RBIs; combined with Jackson Bonner for no-hitter, pitching one inning in relief with one strikeout.
—Carmello Canales, 3-for-5, four runs, RBI.
—Drew Pridgen, 1-for-3, run, RBI.
—Jackson Bonner, 2-for-7, double, four runs, four RBIs; combined with Ogle for no-hitter, pitching three innings with one walk and five strikeouts.
—Will Greenwood, 1-for-2, two RBIs.
—Jakoby Zackery, 3-for-3, triple, double, run, two RBIs in Game 2.
—Cooper Hodge, 2-for-3, double, three runs, four RBIs in Game 2.
—Tito Canales, 1-for-3, triple in Game 2.
—Grant Patterson, pitched four innings in Game 2, allowing one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts.
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https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/prep-baseball-roundup-haney-slugs-two-homer-in-donoho-victory/article_f3ee33b2-b6f6-11ec-b442-b3796fb84f77.html
| 2022-04-08T06:36:16
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https://www.annistonstar.com/sports/high_school/prep-baseball-roundup-haney-slugs-two-homer-in-donoho-victory/article_f3ee33b2-b6f6-11ec-b442-b3796fb84f77.html
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$13.2 million in awards announced by Gov. Laura for public transit in Kansas
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly came to OCCK in Salina Thursday to announce more than $13.2 million of funding for 48 public transit projects across the state.
Transit agencies in Kansas, including OCCK, will receive funding as part of the Access, Innovation and Collaboration (AIC) Public Transit Program.
OCCK, provides transportation services to the general public, seniors and persons with disabilities through a variety of programs. It was chosen as the place for the announcement because of its successful expansion of the bus facility at the organization's transportation complex, which was partially funded by Kansas Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and was completed in November 2021.
"What you see happening here in Salina is a prime example of a community and a region working together to make public transportation a viable option for many Kansans," Kelly said.
Also attending the announcement was FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez from Washington, D.C., who spoke about how OCCK's history and success can be used as an example for other regional and rural public transportation organizations in the country.
"You started out small," Fernandez said. "Now, not only are you serving this county, but you have gone beyond to many more counties and have created this regional transportation system that is so vital."
Funding for OCCK and others throughout the state
OCCK and the nine counties it serves in north central Kansas, is receiving more than $1.2 million in AIC funding.
"(Projects) include $250,000 for a microtransit pilot for Salina (CityGO) and $571,000 for software and bus equipment enhancements for your fixed routes," Kelly said.
The Salina-based transportation organization is also receiving $270,316 for renovations to the facility's second floor, $54,812 for the 81 Connection, which connects four cities,Belleville, Concordia, Minneapolis and Salina, to expand services to Saturdays and $84,600 for improvements to mobility hubs and stops.
Additionally, 25 other transit agencies across the state will receive funding in the second year of the AIC program, which is administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation.
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https://www.salina.com/story/news/2022/04/07/gov-laura-kelly-announces-13-2-million-public-transit-state/9489543002/
| 2022-04-08T06:37:27
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https://www.salina.com/story/news/2022/04/07/gov-laura-kelly-announces-13-2-million-public-transit-state/9489543002/
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Salina Police seeking information on body found in Smoky Hill River
The Salina Police Department is asking for the public's assistant as it investigating the death of a 73-year-old male.
On April 2, 2022, at 9:48 AM, Salina Police Department Officers responded to Bill Burke Park, 1501 E. Crawford Street, regarding a person floating face down in the Smoky Hill River. Upon arrival, officers observed a deceased white male in the river between the Crawford Street and Iron Avenue bridges. At this time, no foul play is suspected.
The body located in the Smoky Hill River on April 2, 2022, was identified as 73-year-old Patrick L. Johnston of Salina. The Salina Police Department’s investigation into Johnston’s death is ongoing, and the police department is seeking information from the public regarding his whereabouts and activities proceeding his death.
Johnston was wearing blue jeans, a camouflage jacket with a black zip-up hoodie and he had a face mask on.
If you knew Johnston and had contact with him between March 2 and April 2, 2022, please contact Det. Randy Constantino or Sgt. Kyle Tonniges at (785) 826-7210. If you have any information concerning this incident, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an online tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210.
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https://www.salina.com/story/news/2022/04/07/salina-police-seeking-information-body-found-smoky-hill-river/9488836002/
| 2022-04-08T06:37:33
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https://www.salina.com/story/news/2022/04/07/salina-police-seeking-information-body-found-smoky-hill-river/9488836002/
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CONSTRUCTION
James Kwong has joined Deacon Construction as a project engineer. He has served as an apprentice and general contractor for the past five years, primarily working with his father to renovate Korean barbecue restaurants and small commercial spaces.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/deacon-construction-hires-kwong-as-project-engineer/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:20
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/deacon-construction-hires-kwong-as-project-engineer/
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REAL ESTATE
Guardian Real Estate Services has hired John (“Jack”) Doyle as asset manager. He will provide ongoing asset performance evaluation, determine operational opportunities, and conduct risk management analyses and monitoring. Doyle has seven years of experience in asset management, acquisitions, refinancing and underwriting. He previously was an asset manager at Newcastle Limited, a Chicago real estate firm focused on multifamily, retail and mixed-use properties. He conducted market research for business planning and investor reporting purposes. Doyle also performed quarterly valuations for a $1.2 billion real estate portfolio consisting of 3,000 apartments and 600,000 square feet of retail space.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/doyle-joins-guardian-real-estate-services-as-asset-manager/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:26
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/doyle-joins-guardian-real-estate-services-as-asset-manager/
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CONSTRUCTION
Deacon Construction has promoted Jake Faha to assistant project manager. He joined the firm in January 2020 and over the past year, has contributed to the success of a project in Wood Village. Currently, he is working on the upcoming MERX project and closeout issues associated with the Mercantile Village project. In addition, Faha has assisted the Special Projects group on project buy-out and taken the lead on the Wilsonville HVAC upgrades project. He has exhibited growth in leadership, communications, subcontractor relationships, ownership interactions, constructability, mentoring, financial forecasting and attention to detail.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/faha-promoted-by-deacon-construction/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:33
| 0
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/faha-promoted-by-deacon-construction/
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CONSULTING
Christopher Mastrandrea has joined Klosh Group as a project manager. He will focus on providing Klosh Group’s health care and public clients with owner’s representative services. He has a decade of construction experience in Oregon and California. Mastrandrea has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering management from Oregon State University.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/klosh-group-adds-mastrandrea-as-project-manager/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:39
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/klosh-group-adds-mastrandrea-as-project-manager/
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CONSTRUCTION
Deacon Construction has added Cameron Mardis as a superintendent. He’s been a superintendent in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2018.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
By: DJC Staff in DJC People April 7, 2022 2:24 pm
CONSTRUCTION
Deacon Construction has added Cameron Mardis as a superintendent. He’s been a superintendent in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2018.
Please send your announcements for DJC People to djcpeople@djcOregon.com.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/mardis-now-a-deacon-construction-superintendent/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:46
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/mardis-now-a-deacon-construction-superintendent/
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| 2022-04-08T06:45:52
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Your subscription includes one set of login credentials for your exclusive use. Security features have been integrated on this site: If someone signs in with your credentials while you are logged in, the site will automatically close your ongoing login and you will lose access at that time.
To inquire about group subscriptions or an enterprise site license for your organization, contact Joe Owens or by phone at 504.293.9207.
If you feel your login credentials are being used by a second party, contact customer service at 877-615-9536 for assistance in changing your password.Already a paid subscriber but not registered for online access yet? For instructions on how to get premium web access, click here.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/pae-living-building-aiming-to-live-up-to-its-name/
| 2022-04-08T06:45:59
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/pae-living-building-aiming-to-live-up-to-its-name/
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1 Year
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Digital & Mobile
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$24
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Print, Digital & Project Center
1 Year
$660
Enter your user name and password in the fields above to gain access to the subscriber content on this site.
Your subscription includes one set of login credentials for your exclusive use. Security features have been integrated on this site: If someone signs in with your credentials while you are logged in, the site will automatically close your ongoing login and you will lose access at that time.
To inquire about group subscriptions or an enterprise site license for your organization, contact Joe Owens or by phone at 504.293.9207.
If you feel your login credentials are being used by a second party, contact customer service at 877-615-9536 for assistance in changing your password.Already a paid subscriber but not registered for online access yet? For instructions on how to get premium web access, click here.
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/shaking-things-up-in-the-classroom/
| 2022-04-08T06:46:05
| 0
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https://djcoregon.com/news/2022/04/07/shaking-things-up-in-the-classroom/
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As an Opening Day replacement starter, Tylor Megill did his best Jacob deGrom impersonation.
Megill—who just over a week ago was unlikely to even break camp with the team—fired five shutout innings, allowed just three hits, and struck out six in the Mets’ 5-1 win over the Nationals on Thursday at Nationals Park. As Megill settled into a groove and retired his final eight straight batters, the absence of the Mets ace, who will be out until at least June with a right scapula injury, taking his usual menacing stance on the hill became that much easier to tolerate.
“I’ll remember this one,” said Megill, who added he will hang on to his Opening Day jersey as a keepsake. “First of many.”
Buck Showalter earned his first win as Mets manager, and the Amazin’s improved to 40-21 to continue their streak owning the best record in Major League Baseball on Opening Day.
“We’re not going to win them all, but we’re going to try,” Showalter said. “Everybody does, right? Some nights where they won’t look as aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes the baseballs gods will get you, but tonight, they smiled on us.”
The Mets’ new-look lineup backed up Megill’s terrific 68-pitch outing by doing something it didn’t do last season: taking advantage with runners in scoring position. Mark Canha made an impact with an RBI single, Eduardo Escobar ripped a double to deep centerfield, and Starling Marte reached base twice. Robinson Cano, in his first game back following his 2021 PED suspension, went 2-for-3, including a leadoff bunt single against the shift, with a walk and two runs scored.
“As long as they give me third base open, I was going to try to hit it that way,” Cano said. “It’s not about my numbers. I just go out and get on base and help this team to win a game.”
Eight of the Mets nine starters secured at least one hit on Thursday; the only batter that didn’t was James McCann, but he still collected an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The Mets knocked left-hander Patrick Corbin out of his start after four-plus innings, amassing 12 hits in nine innings after all was said and done.
Megill, throwing harder than he ever has, displayed why Showalter and the Mets were right to give him the ball for Opening Day.
“That was fun to watch,” Showalter said of Megill’s outing. “You couldn’t ask for much better.”
The right-hander pounded the strike zone with 99-mph fastballs, about three mph harder than his previous career-high, to open the first inning. It was obvious the young right-hander was amped for his Opening Day start, and Nationals hitters were completely flummoxed.
In the third inning, Megill got himself into a one-out jam with runners on the corners. Due up? None other than the dangerous Juan Soto. But Megill wasn’t thrown off by Soto’s threatening plate presence; the 26-year-old whizzed a 98-mph fastball upstairs to induce a swing-and-a-miss from Soto for the second out. Moments later, Megill got designated hitter Nelson Cruz to ground out to end the threat and the inning. All nails.
“He’s probably one of the more fun at-bats to pitch to,” Megill said of facing Soto. “I mean, he’s very competitive. I find myself very competitive as well. So going toe-to-toe with a guy like that, it’s always fun.”
Soto, one of the best hitters in baseball, finally unleashed in the sixth inning, obliterating a solo shot 428 feet into the right-field second deck off Mets reliever Trevor May. The remainder of Mets relief arms put up zeroes in the runs column, with Adam Ottavino impressing with a pair of strikeouts in his perfect Mets debut. Mets closer Edwin Diaz, in a non-save situation, allowed a walk before shutting the door on the Nats.
Following a series of unfortunate events to close out spring training—deGrom’s shoulder injury, Max Scherzer’s now-absent hamstring tightness, Brandon Nimmo’s neck stiffness—Opening Day went as smoothly as it could go for the inauguration of the Showalter Mets.
Which is saying something after Pete Alonso, too, avoided complete calamity after a scary Mason Thompson hit-by-pitch that drilled his shoulder and helmet in the ninth inning. Alonso dropped to the ground, spitting blood, and Showalter immediately removed him from the game.
Later, the manager said Alonso would have “some sexy lips for a couple of days.” But Showalter emphasized he wasn’t making light of the situation—the Mets got drilled three times by Nationals pitchers in Thursday’s game. The skipper said there was some emotion in the Mets dugout following the knocks.
“All good, just a busted lip,” said Alonso, who sported a swollen and bloody lip at his locker. “That’s it. Got all my teeth. No concussion. All good.”
()
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https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/08/tylor-megill-dazzles-in-mets-opening-day-win-offense-backs-him-up-with-12-hit-game/
| 2022-04-08T07:02:43
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https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/08/tylor-megill-dazzles-in-mets-opening-day-win-offense-backs-him-up-with-12-hit-game/
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SPRING SCOREBOARD — April 7
Baseball
Portsmouth 9, South Point 1
Valley 12, Eastern 0 (5 innings)
South Webster 3, Minford 2
Oak Hill 4, Northwest 1
Clay 11, East 0 (5 innings)
Manchester 2, Notre Dame 0
Symmes Valley 5, Piketon 1
Ironton 12, Coal Grove 1 (5 innings)
Fairland 6, Ashland (Ky.) 3
Waverly 11, Belpre 1 (at VA Memorial Stadium)
Chesapeake at Gallia Academy
Western at Ironton St. Joseph, ppd.
Softball
Portsmouth 10, Gallia Academy 1
Clay 7, South Webster 4
Valley 11, Eastern 1 (5 innings)
Oak Hill 4, Northwest 3
Notre Dame 10, New Boston 0 (6 innings)
Symmes Valley 5, East 1
Symmes Valley 9, East 0
Ionton 5, Coal Grove 4
Minford at Wheelersburg, ppd.
Chillicothe at Waverly, canceled
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https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/sports/74391/spring-scoreboard-april-7-2
| 2022-04-08T07:08:15
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https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/sports/74391/spring-scoreboard-april-7-2
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Chase Golightly
Updated: April 07, 2022 10:21 PM
Created: April 07, 2022 08:51 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 22-year-old woman and her best friend were tragically killed in a car crash.
On April 2, Albuquerque native Kelli Ingle and 21-year-old Chelsea Valladares were driving to Albuquerque to see Ingle’s family. An Arizona Department Of Public Safety spokesperson says about an hour before midnight, their car hit a guardrail while driving east on I-40 near the Arizona and New Mexico border.
The car came to a stop in the middle of the road when it was hit by a semi-truck. The impact killed Valladares and Ingle was seriously hurt. She was airlifted to a Gallup hospital where she died.
"She is so young,” says Matthew Ingle, Kelli’s brother. “It's such a obviously terrible nightmare that my family is living through."
Matthew said his younger sister had made that drive several times over the years. She and Valladares were seniors at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and would travel frequently. He was working a graveyard shift that night when he learned what happened.
"I just, I just collapsed,” Matthew said. “I knew exactly what was happening and I just couldn't believe it. I was speechless.”
Where ever Kelli went, Matthew said a bright light would follow.
"In every group of people she's in, she's the brightest person in the room," he said.
Kelli performed in several musicals in Albuquerque. While singing was a passion for her, more than anything she wanted to help people.
"Her selflessness, she is just working for everyone else," Matthew said.
Kelli recently got back from a mission trip in the Dominican Republic. Kelli and Chelsea were set to graduate this April. Kelli’s goal was to be a nurse.
"Her heart was for the medical field,” Matthew said. “She wanted to help others always."
Her brother remembers all the family vacations he, his sister, and their two parents would take, saying Kelli had a contagious laugh that could cheer up anyone.
"One thing she would want me to say about her is the most important thing about her was her relationship with Jesus," Matthew said.
The last conversation he had with her, a Facetime call, was a week before the crash.
"So I got to see her when I was talking to her and I just remember saying love you, see you this weekend,” Matthew said. “I can still see that in my head so I'm really glad I made that call."
Despite this tragedy, the Ingle family have found some comfort in this tragedy, Kelli is an organ donor. Although she is gone, she’s accomplishing her goal of helping others.
"She is going to save a lot of lives and that's what's important," Matthew said.
DONATE
If you wish to donate to Kelli or Chelsea’s GoFundMe pages, click the links below:
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company
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https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-woman-and-best-friend-killed-in-i-40-crash-near-arizona-new-mexico-border/6440230/?cat=500
| 2022-04-08T07:46:03
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https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-woman-and-best-friend-killed-in-i-40-crash-near-arizona-new-mexico-border/6440230/?cat=500
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Tommy Lopez
Updated: April 07, 2022 10:12 PM
Created: April 07, 2022 08:49 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — State lawmakers are responding to criticism that they did not put enough state money toward the teacher pay raises that passed the legislature earlier this year. On Thursday, they emphasized that it’s all fully funded.
Some charter school leaders placed blame on the state during a virtual meeting with the Public Education Commission.
“Not enough money has gone into the system to be able to accommodate this,” said Matthew Pahl, executive director of the Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.
“It means we're going to scale back what we're doing,” said Eric Ahner, executive director of J. Paul Taylor Academy
Commission members showed empathy but not a lot of patience.
“I think it's abhorrent that they planned all of this and didn't plan to pay for it. It makes me crazy. They always do that,” said Steven Carrillo, with the state's Public Education Commission. “What, are y’all stupid? You say you’re going to do this for our teachers, and you go home thinking about how great you are, then you don’t write the check?”
But they did write the check, according to state lawmakers on the committee that doles out the dollars.
“LFC got all the numbers correct. We added them. We met with superintendents,” said Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, who is the vice-chair of the Legislative Finance Committee. “We never heard anything throughout the session that the numbers were off. Everybody double, triple and quadruple checked everything.”
He says they looked at all employees across the state and calculated how much raises would cost overall, and based on those calculations, the budget included $267 million to cover the higher salaries.
Muñoz also says the legislature decided to over-fund school districts to hopefully make up for any students who aren’t getting counted. Headcount is the biggest factor in how much money goes to districts every year.
Plus, he points out charter schools are often able to pay teachers more.
The head of the union negotiating with Albuquerque Public Schools says people who handle budgeting across the state are still finding challenges in making all these raises work.
“It is more complex this year than it’s ever been,” Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein said. “They’re worried about the amount of funding that goes with the mandates.”
The exact raise teachers and staff members are getting varies, but almost everyone should be bumped up at least 7%.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company
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https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/state-lawmakers-respond-say-teacher-raises-are-fully-funded/6440229/?cat=500
| 2022-04-08T07:46:09
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https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/state-lawmakers-respond-say-teacher-raises-are-fully-funded/6440229/?cat=500
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PORTLAND, Ore. — One person is dead after a shooting near the intersection of West Burnside Street and Northwest 6th Avenue in downtown on Thursday night, according to Portland police.
Officers from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) were dispatched to the area near the Roseland Theater just after 10 p.m. At the scene, the officers found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds.
PPB said that officers attempted first aid on the victim until paramedics arrived, but the victim did not survive.
The Portland Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene to investigate. The agency said that more information will be released "when appropriate."
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Jeff Sharpe at jeff.sharp@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-9773 or Detective Michael Jones at Michael.jones@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0418.
Shooting at W Burnside & 6th Avenue
West Burnside Street was shut down between Northwest 5th and Northwest 7th for the investigation.
TriMet announced that the MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines were disrupted near Northwest 5th and Couch Street due to the police response, warning riders to expect delays:
- The MAX Green line was diverted to the Blue and Red tracks through downtown. TriMet told riders to board buses for service along Transit Mall.
- The MAX Orange line was providing service from Southeast Park Avenue to PSU South/Southwest 5th & Jackson Street.
- The Yellow line was serving from Expo Center to Union Station/Northwest 5th & Glisan Street.
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/gun-violence/shooting-one-dead-downtown-portland-burnside-6th/283-b558a913-b4f7-404b-b361-d8ff26099432
| 2022-04-08T08:07:11
| 0
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https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/gun-violence/shooting-one-dead-downtown-portland-burnside-6th/283-b558a913-b4f7-404b-b361-d8ff26099432
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Scott Leader, the Jewish musician, producer and songwriter who owns Brick Road Studio in Scottsdale, says he’s probably worked with every well-known contemporary Jewish singer-songwriter. He’s also recorded vocals for pop star Dua Lipa and voiceover work for former Olympian Michael Phelps. “You never know who’s gonna walk in the door,” Leader said.
After 12 years, Leader is opening a new door. The building that houses Brick Road Studio was sold, forcing him to relocate. By the beginning of April, things should be up and running in the new, more spacious studio — located just around the corner at 7430 E. Butherus Dr.
“We were able to build this place from the ground up,” Leader said.
Leader first experienced a recording studio in the 1990s with his high school grunge band. Earlier, he taught himself to play piano by listening to Billy Joel records as a child.
And he learned how to play guitar after a NFTY youth program advisor asked him to be song leader. “Being in front of groups of people at NFTY really shaped me,” he said, “and set me on the path of starting to perform music.”
His youth group experiences also speak to the crucial role that music has played in Leader’s post–bar mitzvah Jewish life. Leader, who is in the trio Sababa and has played across the country and around the world, said that he enjoys connecting to the Jewish community through music.
“No matter where you are and the cultural differences, Jewish music is something that all Jews sort of understand,” he said. “They’ve heard the words before, even if the melody is different.”
Leader first learned about music production while working in the renowned Sam Glaser’s studio in Los Angeles. While Leader was teaching at a Jewish day school in Austin, Texas, he was right out of college and not sure what he was doing with himself. Interning for Glaser over that summer, however, “altered the trajectory of my life,” he said, introducing him to the realm of recording.
Around the same time, another Jewish singer-songwriter — Noah Budin — came to Austin, to perform for an audience of 1,000 at the Jewish community center. A mutual friend suggested to Budin that Leader play a song on his set, and so the two did a jam session together. They hit it off.
“The night before the concert, he said, ‘Man, I would love to have you play at this concert,’” Leader recalled. “I go, ‘Great, that’d be awesome. What song do you want me to do?’ He goes, ‘All of them.’”
And so Leader stayed up until 3 a.m. pounding away on the piano, learning all of Budin’s music. Playing for him the next day encouraged him to pursue his dream of making music professionally.
“The concert was one of the most incredible experiences of my life,” he said. “Something happens musically with two people sometimes — you just click and hit it off, you have those moments where it sounds so good. We had never rehearsed before.”
Decades later, Leader writes and performs Jewish music for his band and helps fellow artists produce in Brick Road Studio. It’s a unique skill set that he thinks has helped his studio survive when others have shut down during the pandemic.
Since COVID-19, his two bandmates have gotten busier doing other things, but Sababa have worked on songs remotely and plan to put out an album this year.
He is also the cantorial soloist at Congregation Kehillah in Cave Creek and teaches music production a couple of days a week at Arizona State University, where he earned a master’s degree in education.
Earlier, he earned degrees in science and Judaic studies at the University of Arizona, where he transferred from Rutgers University his junior year after visiting with a friend.
“I got off the plane in February and it was 75 degrees and sunny,” he said. “After I went home, I got in my car, drove across the country and transferred to U of A.”
He lived in Austin for two years after college and in L.A. for two years after that. “I came back here because I love the weather and like the vibe here,” he said.
And if the 200 albums of Jewish music he’s helped produce over the past two decades are any indication, Leader’s vibe is liked here, too. JN
For more information, visit brickroadstudio.com.
Rudy Malcom is a Baltimore-based freelance journalist.
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https://www.jewishaz.com/community/jewish-musician-gets-new-studio-in-scottsdale/article_6a7abce2-b6b8-11ec-bc86-a3c37aa63bdd.html
| 2022-04-08T08:10:13
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https://www.jewishaz.com/community/jewish-musician-gets-new-studio-in-scottsdale/article_6a7abce2-b6b8-11ec-bc86-a3c37aa63bdd.html
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When I left for my first two-week stint at Jewish camp as a 9 year old, my mother was very worried. She was convinced I wasn’t ready, I would be homesick or maybe even worse: I would love it and never want to come home.
Ten years later, I will serve my second year on camp staff this summer and am eternally grateful for her eventual consent in sending me. However, I understand the concerns, especially for the first summer. Here are the answers to questions you’re sure to be asking.
How will I know when my child is ready for camp?
This is the big one and it really depends on the individual kid. Whenever your kid becomes interested in camp or you start thinking about sleepaway camp, it’s important to remember that nobody is prepared for everything that happens their first summer. Homesickness, to a certain extent, is expected and quite normal. Your kid will be doing lots of things for the first time and that’s OK! You should trust yourself to know what’s best for your child, but you also need to be prepared to experience discomfort and ups and downs.
What camp should I send them to?
There is an abundance of overnight camps out there and that may feel overwhelming. A good start is either working through camps you already know about from friends who send their children to camp, or starting by thinking through if they want a specialty camp (sports, music, arts, etc.) or a more general Jewish sleepaway camp and then prioritizing what you want the camp to offer and what your child is looking for.
Once you decide on a camp, it may be good to consider sending your child with at least one friend, especially for the first summer. Talking with members of the camp staff can also give insight and it may be beneficial to try and speak with a family who has been part of the camp to see if the camp would be a good fit.
What would be the benefit of sending my child to camp at this age? Would it be better to wait until my child is a little older and more mature?
Camp can have an incredible impact on children and can also play an important part of their development. Campers learn important life skills and the camp setting is great for kids yearning for more independence and for those that need encouragement to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. From the small things like learning how to make a bed and keeping track of belongings to larger ideals of learning how to build meaningful connections with peers and staff, camp can make kids more confident and increase emotional maturity.
That being said, while counselors and camp teams can help kids with transition and everybody starts at different places, it may be good to wait a summer if your child doesn’t do well with sleepovers and has never shown interest in going to camp, especially for younger campers aged 7-11. However, for older kids, even if they’ve never displayed interest in overnight camp, it may be beneficial for them to get out of the house and try something new.
Will my child be able to handle any normal homesickness?
Yes! Almost every kid that’s gone to camp has experienced some sort of homesickness. Whether it’s missing home-cooked food, a more comfortable bed or the presence of familiarity, homesickness is a normal part of camp, especially the first summer or two. For most kids, homesickness is prevalent during the first couple of days and may peter out after that. Counselors are equipped to handle homesickness with a variety of strategies and the prospect of homesickness is no reason to not to send your child to camp.
At my camp, we actually rephrased the term and now call it a Mossy Moments (Moments of Sadness) when a camper is experiencing homesickness. The journey of seeing kids grow from crying on the first day because they miss their parents to crying on the last day because they don’t want to leave is the reason that many of us come back to camp year after year.
In very special cases where homesickness is really prevalent, there are camper care teams that can get in touch with parents to discuss next steps, but 99% of the time, getting through the initial discomfort and homesickness is a really important step for campers.
What can I do to support my camper?
Whether you’re more nervous about sending your kid to camp, or they’re nervous about going to camp, the best thing you can do is give them space. While it may seem intuitive to want to keep tabs on your kid and check in on them every day while they’re there, kids need space to get used to camp and come into themselves. The constant reminder of parents can increase homesickness or prevent campers from becoming comfortable.
One thing that I’ve found is that a parent’s nervousness will reflect on their kid. It’s important to stay calm and talk through concerns with a peer, rather than your child who may internalize the anxiety. If you’re more nervous than your kid, that’s another sign that they may be ready for camp!
Will the camp provide a nurturing and safe environment for my child?
This question is all about research. While your kid may be ready for camp, there are always certain camps that will be a better fit over others. It’s key to know what services camps offer and if you’re unsure, you should ask and be in communication with the camp. However, at some point, you should ask yourself if your concerns are really due to services (or lack thereof) at the camp or just general uneasiness about sending kids to camp. JN
Isabella Lefkowitz-Rao is a freelance writer in Baltimore. This piece first appeared in Washington Jewish Week – a Jewish News-affiliated publication.
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https://www.jewishaz.com/families_lifestyle/a-camp-counselor-answers-your-questions/article_ca196370-b6bc-11ec-8ea2-b7df6037801a.html
| 2022-04-08T08:10:19
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https://www.jewishaz.com/families_lifestyle/a-camp-counselor-answers-your-questions/article_ca196370-b6bc-11ec-8ea2-b7df6037801a.html
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When the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, many families pivoted from long-planned bar or bat mitzvah celebrations to virtual versions. In a matter of weeks, flexibility became the watchword as ceremonies and celebrations alike went online.
Even as the pandemic starts to recede across the U.S. and restrictions are lifted, virtual bar and bat mitzvahs — or a combination of in-person and virtual events, known as “hybrid”— continue. Fortunately, families now have the gift of time to plan and anticipate how to make the milestone special.
But how much time, exactly, is needed to set a plan in motion that minimizes stress and maximizes meaning?
Though everyone will have different levels of detail and planning needs for their virtual events, there is a general timeline and checklist that can help families feel prepared, excited, and ready to relax into the joy of the big day. Here’s what you need to know and do — and when to do it.
Invitations
A virtual celebration may not require hotel reservations or airline tickets, but it does need to get on your loved ones’ calendars. Here’s how:
ASAP: Send save-the-date. Send either an electronic or simple paper save-the-date notice as soon as you’ve settled on your date. This will give your guests an early opportunity to anticipate the event as other calendar demands pop up.
4 weeks out: Send electronic invitations. Electronic invitations from websites like Green Envelope or Paperless Post should be sent a month before the bar or bat mitzvah.
8 weeks out: Send paper invitations: If you’re going the paper invitation route, plan to mail them six to eight weeks before the bar or bat mitzvah, leaning toward the longer end of that range to account for possible postal service delays. If possible, order your paper invitations a month before you plan to send them.
Multiple times: Send Zoom link. It’s best to provide guests with multiple opportunities to know how to access the celebration, via Zoom or another virtual meeting platform. You can share the link and password on your electronic or paper invitation — and plan to send it again as an electronic communication the day before the bar or bat mitzvah.
Materials and favors
2-plus weeks out: Order favors. Many companies that make custom party favors (sometimes called “swag”) ask for a two-week lead time for ordering. The same goes for lawn signs and other fun extras (bedazzled sneakers, anyone?). Be sure to account for shipping time (to your house and out to guests, if you are sending anything to others) when scheduling your order.
1 to 4 months out: Judaica. If you are ordering a designed or customized tallit (prayer shawl) or kippot (yarmulkes), many companies require a lead time of a few months. If your plans have changed suddenly and you’re on a timetable, there are vendors that can turn around a custom order in weeks, or you can visit a local or online Judaica shop for quick turnaround.
1 to 2 weeks out: Mail favors. If you are sending party favors, or “mitzvah bags” containing wine or juice, a printed program for the bar or bat mitzvah, and other celebratory items by mail, try to send them so they arrive a week ahead of time, just in case there are any postal delays. If you are dropping off these materials on local doorsteps, you can wait until the Thursday or Friday before the celebration — or delegate that task to a local friend.
Activities and extras
There are myriad options for virtual activities to do after the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony, and many can be put together in just a little time (or planned well in advance).
3-plus weeks out: Create virtual hora. Many families are creating “virtual horas” by asking loved ones to record short videos of themselves dancing to a pre-recorded “Hava Nagila” or other Jewish circle dance music. A fun touch is to order a “Face on a Stick” representing the bar or bat mitzvah child, so friends and family can dance “with” him or her. Allow two weeks to order and ship the faces, if using, and to give your loved ones additional time to finish their recordings before either editing them together yourself or outsourcing to a video production company.
1 to 4 weeks out: Create video montage. A video montage is a special way to showcase a family’s pride in their child’s growth and accomplishment. Set to music (both fun and meaningful) and rich with photos or video clips of the child from birth through the milestone day, this montage can be assembled by the parents, or outsourced to a video production company. Be sure to leave time to collect your photos — including consideration of whether you want to ask friends and relatives to send their own snaps to include.
2-plus weeks out: Book virtual entertainment. Magicians, musicians, artists and game-night entertainment companies are terrific virtual bar and bat mitzvah options. Obviously, your choices will vary based on the entertainers’ availability, so the earlier the better for booking.
Professional support
ASAP: Book photographer. Event photographers’ schedules can be hard to crack, even for simple at-home photo shoots at virtual bar and bat mitzvahs. Prioritize your photographer search so you can explore options like on-the-day portraits and candids and a family photo shoot before the mitzvah day itself. Photographers vary from weeks ahead of the event to over a year.
1 month out: Book a Zoom manager. Your synagogue might be able to connect you with someone whose role will be to “host” the Zoom meeting, admitting guests, helping people mute and unmute when appropriate and troubleshooting any technical challenges that might arise. This person can also help facilitate a virtual guest book, should your family desire that.
Technology
Safety, function, and accessibility are crucial as you implement and test out your technology plan.
2 weeks out: By the two-week mark before the bar or bat mitzvah, you will want to feel confident in these technical aspects of the day:
Password protection/security
Connectivity and Wi-Fi strength in the home
Sound (microphones, ambient noise, earbuds, etc)
Lighting (ring lights, overhead lighting, natural light)
Music (playing music through different platforms)
Recording (you will want to be clear on whether and how to record the ceremony to share with those who could not attend.)
The Service
Your bar or bat mitzvah child will do a lot of learning and preparation for their milestone celebration. Your own preparations for the service could include:
Creating a program or booklet (give yourself time to send it electronically or by mail)
Choosing readings for honored guests
Writing a speech to read to your child
Arranging to have plenty of tissues on hand for tears of joy and pride
Food and decor
1 month out: Order balloon arch. If you’re planning on incorporating this always-popular bit of decor, keep in mind that party stores and professional party companies need a few weeks’ notice to prepare balloon arches to set up indoors or on your driveway, so reach out early.
1 to 2 weeks out: Order the celebratory meal. Catering options abound and can be fastidiously planned several months in advance. But for a small, mostly-virtual bar or bat mitzvah, it can be as easy as reaching out to your favorite restaurant to have a well-loved meal served to your family.
1 to 4 weeks out: Order the cake. A cake represents such a sweet moment in the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony. Yours can be small, but it will certainly be special! A specially designed cake by a top bakery is a special treat. Local bakeries and grocery stores often have easily customizable cakes for last-minute ordering.
1 week out: Plan set-up. If you have to move furniture to accommodate your Zoom set-up, try to get it done a few days before the event so you have time to rehearse, test out the various technologies, and relax in the space that will become your home sanctuary. JN
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https://www.jewishaz.com/families_lifestyle/the-ultimate-hybrid-bar-and-bat-mitzvah-planning-checklist/article_e7910800-b6bb-11ec-969d-675f60f07bb4.html
| 2022-04-08T08:10:25
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https://www.jewishaz.com/families_lifestyle/the-ultimate-hybrid-bar-and-bat-mitzvah-planning-checklist/article_e7910800-b6bb-11ec-969d-675f60f07bb4.html
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The visuals from last week’s Negev Summit were impressive. They were also historic. Leaders from Israel, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the United States met at Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev desert, where Israel’s founding prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, lived and is buried. Such a meeting would have been inconceivable two short years ago. And yet, following entry into the Abraham Accords and the rapid-paced progress toward normalization of relationships between Israel and her treaty partners, such steps in continued cooperative activities between Accords partners have begun to seem natural — maybe even routine.
But the Negev Summit was much more than a cooperative photo opportunity or symbolic meeting. For Israel, in particular, the summit had two key objectives. One was the meeting between Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Secretary of State Antony Blinken that focused on the Iran nuclear talks. Reports indicate that the meeting involved some interesting exchanges, including a request from Blinken that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett explain the details of his alternative approach. The other was the foreign ministers meeting of Lapid, Blinken, the UAE’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Morocco’s Nasser Bourita and Egypt’s Sameh Shoukry, in which discussions included the threat from Iran, the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the oil and food supply chains, among other issues.
In the words of Bennett, the Negev Summit moved the Abraham Accords from “ceremony to substance.” And progress was made. Among other things, participants established six working groups designed to deal with issues of security and counterterrorism, food and water, health, energy, education and tourism. Summit participants also agreed to make the gathering a recurring event.
Over the past two years we have seen impressive steps toward the normalization of security and political relations between Israel and Abraham Accords partners and the establishment of a number of very promising economic and technological engagements. The Negev Summit sought to expand those efforts by fostering cooperation on a number of issues that go beyond Iran and trade. That further engagement by the regional partners is another positive sign for the stability of Accords relationships going forward.
The fate of the Palestinians was only barely addressed during the summit. Although several speakers made statements about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and Palestinian statehood, very little of substance was addressed and the spoken words appeared to be nothing more than lip service. Perhaps new opportunities to address the issue will come up in the context of other cooperative consultations.
Nonetheless, we applaud the Negev Summit. It was refreshing to see Israel and Arab countries addressing issues other than security, and we are optimistic about the multi-tiered possibilities for the planned regional efforts and partnerships. Finally, we hope that the success of the summit will help attract others to join in the growth opportunities offered by the Abraham Accords. JN
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https://www.jewishaz.com/opinion/progress-blooms-in-the-desert/article_8c4283fa-b6bd-11ec-9486-4f52ac673824.html
| 2022-04-08T08:10:31
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https://www.jewishaz.com/opinion/progress-blooms-in-the-desert/article_8c4283fa-b6bd-11ec-9486-4f52ac673824.html
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How do you celebrate your birthday? If you’re like the average American, you probably celebrate with cake, a party and presents.
How do you celebrate your Jewish birthday? DO you celebrate it? SHOULD you?
Throughout our history, birthdays weren’t really considered a Jewish “thing.” Sure, one became a bar/bat mitzvah on their birthday — but that was really a legal milestone and celebration of adulthood. Celebrating birthdays each year wasn’t a Jewish tradition. In fact, even today, many observant, religious, and traditional Jews don’t know their Jewish birthday, let alone celebrate it!
I googled “how do I celebrate my Jewish birthday”. The results included websites and articles from organizations all across the Jewish spectrum, each offering a host of different ways to celebrate.
What changed? And why?
The Talmud tells us that on the 13th of Nissan (April 14 this year) Haman performed a lottery to determine the month and date of his proposed annihilation of our nation. When it chose the month of Adar he rejoiced, knowing that in that month, on the 7th of Adar, our great leader Moshe passed away. The Talmud then states that he didn’t realize that on that same day, the 7th of Adar, Moshe was also born.
A yahrzeit (day of passing) is a special date. It is the culmination of all the good that a person has accomplished in their lifetime, the day that we reflect on all the good a person did during his/her lifetime. And this is why Haman was thrilled. The lots fell on the month that Moshe was taken from us. The month where he stopped teaching and leading us, where his presence and protection were (seemingly) removed from his people.
Yet, the Talmud says that Moshe’s birth outweighed his death! How could that be? At birth we don’t know how one will turn out. Will they have a positive impact on their family and surroundings? Will they be productive members of the community? They seemingly have nothing to show for themselves, no merits.
How could Moshe’s birth outweigh and overshadow his death? What about his birthday offered us Moshe’s continued protection, even generations later against Haman’s decree?
Throughout the history of the world, many have contributed groundbreaking inventions and developments that greatly impacted our lives. Overall, however, as others came along with newer inventions and ideas of their own, they’ve faded away and were forgotten.
When Moshe was born, it was clear that he was special. From the moment he was born, he radiated light. His entire essence and being was Torah and it showed from birth. His influence shone during his lifetime and continued throughout all future generations. Today, when we study Torah, we are studying “Torah Moshe” — the Torah of Moshe. It continues to enriches lives and provide direction and meaning to humanity.
Haman didn’t understand that while others’ contributions and influence ended at their passing, the gift of Moshe didn’t end with his passing.
In 1988, after the passing of his wife (Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson), the Lubavitcher Rebbe started a campaign for everyone to celebrate their Jewish birthday. He included instructions to focus on one’s self-growth (through prayer, study and introspection) and to dedicate time to connect with and inspire others (gather to share Torah-inspired teachings and increase in kindness to others).
In every encounter he had, the Rebbe saw the full potential of each person.
He saw that we each have a little bit of Moshe in each of us.
True, Moshe was the one who received the Torah to share with the world. Still, it wasn’t given to him exclusively. We were there at Sinai with him. At our core, we have the same essence. Our soul is one with G-d, we also have that same light. And it’s our responsibility to make sure that the light that first started shining when we were born keeps shining and influencing our surroundings and those whom we come into contact with.
So, just as we still celebrate Moshe’s birthday, we can also celebrate ours.
Each year, when we pass that day on the calendar, the spotlight is on us. We remember and recognize that we were given specific talents. We remind ourselves how important we each are, that in our own way we can bring meaning to others. That we can make real differences in this confusing world.
It’s a day to bet thankful for the trust placed in us. And a time to strengthen our efforts- both spiritual and materialistic- to bring a measure of kindness, love and peace to a world that desperately needs some!
This Tuesday is the 11th of Nissan. It marks the 120th birthday of the Rebbe. Like Moshe, his world-wide influence continues and grows, despite his passing in 1994. And like Moshe, he didn’t have an exclusivity on his teachings and ideas. His singular drive and focus was to bring the world to a utopian state — Moshiach — through the spreading of the light of G-d and his Torah. He urged everyone to do acts of goodness and kindness, to make the world a better place.
And he believed in each and every one of us — that we could do it. JN
Rabbi Moshe Levertov directs the Jewish Care Network in Phoenix.
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https://www.jewishaz.com/religiouslife/what-s-jewish-about-a-birthday/article_3c6af744-b6b9-11ec-93e0-9fa3f49ef05b.html
| 2022-04-08T08:10:37
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https://www.jewishaz.com/religiouslife/what-s-jewish-about-a-birthday/article_3c6af744-b6b9-11ec-93e0-9fa3f49ef05b.html
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