text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ms] | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
INDIANAPOLIS — An apartment fire on the south side of Indianapolis led to nearly two dozen people being evacuated early Monday morning.
According to fire officials, fire was reported coming out of a first and second story window around 3:30 a.m. at an apartment building in the 4100 block of Burkhart Drive. That’s just east of the intersection of E. Hanna Avenue and S. Meridian Street.
Crews tell us the fire happened after a man in his 70s knocked over a chair that then hit a candle. The candle then lit a nearby blanket on fire.
The man and multiple other people were checked out for smoke inhalation.
An IMPD officer on scene helped a woman and her two children escape from a second floor window. We’re told the mother handed her children to the officer through the window and then exited herself.
Four units in total were affected, and twenty people were evacuated. The entire building’s utilities have been shut off. IFD has requested for assistance for the people displaced. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/20-evacuated-after-south-side-apartment-fire-believed-to-have-started-by-knocked-over-candle/ | 2022-04-11T10:29:52 | 0 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/20-evacuated-after-south-side-apartment-fire-believed-to-have-started-by-knocked-over-candle/ |
A milder start to the workweek and mostly dry to open your Monday morning. We are currently running 20-30 degrees warmer out-the-door compared to Sunday morning! A cloudier start but very mild for the morning rush hour and bus stop this morning. A blend of clouds and sunshine should help to move our temperatures back above average this afternoon before steadier rain and storms return this afternoon and into the evening.
Our afternoon highs will likely top out in the upper 60s around 2 p.m. before rain arrives, along with a cold front! Expect a wet evening rush hour, as temperatures cool back down to around 60° by 5 p.m.
Drier conditions return overnight and we will cool down into the upper 40s by sunrise. Tuesday brings plenty of dry time and additional warmth, as highs reach around 70°. A spotty shower or storm could develop but these will be limited in coverage for the entire day!
Wednesday looks unsettled with rain and storms! Stronger storms could be in the mix by Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday morning. Look for updates on timing and severity in the days ahead!
The Easter weekend is still a long ways out and future weather models have not been too consistent of late, so expect adjustments in rain chances and temperatures in the days ahead! | https://fox59.com/weather/spring-warmth-returns-along-with-storm-chances/ | 2022-04-11T10:29:58 | 1 | https://fox59.com/weather/spring-warmth-returns-along-with-storm-chances/ |
Caught on camera: Man rescues driver after car plunges into Houston port
HOUSTON (KTRK) - A Texas man saved a driver from drowning after the man’s car plunged off a boat ramp in Houston.
The U.S. Coast Guard honored Cody Moore with one of its highest civilian honors for his lifesaving efforts on New Year’s Eve 2021 at the Lynchburg Ferry boat ramp in the Port of Houston. Surveillance video of the rescue was recently released.
Cody Moore and his family had just arrived at the nearby Monument Inn for dinner when the car came whizzing by and launched into the water. The father of five rushed to the car. He initially tried to talk to the driver, but a few moments later, he jumped in.
“When he said, ‘Call 911′ and I was running to the car to get something, I knew he was going in the water. I knew that he wouldn’t just stand by,” said Cody’s wife, Karen Moore.
Somehow, Cody Moore was able to convince the driver, in his 60s, to try and open the window.
As the car quickly sank, the man got out through the window. Cody Moore scooped him up and swam him to the shore.
Neighbors having dinner with the family captured the dramatic scene. They also used their shirts as a rope to get the two men onto the ramp.
Miraculously, nobody was seriously hurt.
“Whenever it happened, it seemed so surreal. I didn’t understand the gravity of it because he got out, he was soaking wet and we went and had dinner,” Karen Moore said.
While New Year’s Eve came and went, Cody Moore’s heroic efforts weren’t forgotten. The U.S. Coast Guard honored him Friday with a certificate of merit as his whole family watched with pride.
“It is really dangerous, and because he did it for someone else, I was really proud of him,” said Cody’s daughter, Ellen Moore.
Copyright 2022 KTRK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/caught-camera-man-rescues-driver-after-car-plunges-into-houston-port/ | 2022-04-11T10:34:39 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/caught-camera-man-rescues-driver-after-car-plunges-into-houston-port/ |
Ukraine digs in to fight Russia’s looming eastern offensive
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - A showdown looms in Ukraine after Russia appointed a new military commander and looked to concentrate its attacks in the east, while Ukraine’s president said his troops will hold their ground, urging Western leaders, in particular President Joe Biden, to do more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday in a nightly address that this week will be as crucial as any during the war, saying “Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state.”
Ukraine’s fate as the war shifts south and east depends on whether the United States will help match a surge in Russian weaponry, he said, echoing comments he made in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.”
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Biden for U.S. military aid to date but added that he “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needed.
“He has the list,” Zelenskyy said. “President Biden can enter history as the person who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people who won and chose the right to have their own country. (This) also depends on him.”
WARNING: Videos may contain graphic content.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Also Monday, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was sending a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers.
More than six weeks of war in Ukraine has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically, and experts say the next phase of the battle may begin with a full-scale offensive that could determine the course of the conflict.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders. Britain’s Defense Ministry says Russia is trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
In his Sunday night address, Zelenskyy also accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine.
“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them,” Zelenskyy said.
“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he added.
Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including airstrikes on hospitals, a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station and other violence.
In another report of atrocities, the village of Buzova outside the capital, Kyiv, charred vehicles and buildings marked an area where local official Taras Didych told Ukrainian media Sunday that bodies showing “evidence of execution” were found after Russian forces withdrew from the region. It was unclear how many bodies were discovered.
Buzova is near Bucha, another of the towns near Kyiv, where hundreds of bodies, many with their hands bound and signs of torture, were found after the Russian retreat. Russia has falsely claimed the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground.
Dvornikov, 60, takes over as Russian military prepares to focus on expanding control in Ukraine’s east, where Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region since 2014, declaring some areas independent.
He gained a record for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Russian authorities do not generally confirm such appointments and have said nothing about a new role for Dvornikov, who received the esteemed Hero of Russia medal from President Vladimir Putin in 2016.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the appointment’s significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault increasingly is focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of eastern Ukraine — from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.
That could counter Russia’s earlier problem of spreading its offensive too widely over too broad a geographic area.
Newly released Maxar Technologies satellite imagery showed an 8-mile (13-kilometer) convoy of military vehicles headed south through Ukraine to Donbas, recalling images of the convoy that stalled outside Kyiv before Russia gave up trying to take the capital.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military command said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack and surrounded for nearly 1 ½ months.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russia’s military used air-launched missiles to hit Ukraine’s S-300 air-defense missile systems in the southern Mykolaiv region and at an air base in Chuhuiv, a city not far from Kharkiv.
Sea-launched Russian cruise missiles destroyed the headquarters of a Ukrainian military unit stationed farther west in the Dnipro region, Konashenkov said. Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military claims could be independently verified.
Missiles twice struck the airport in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, on Sunday, the regional governor said.
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago.
The city’s residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city and frustrated evacuation missions. Ukrainian authorities think an airstrike on a theater that was being used as a bomb shelter killed hundreds of civilians, and Zelenskyy has said he expects more evidence of atrocities to be found once Mariupol no longer is blockaded.
On Sunday night, Zelenskyy again appealed for more assistance. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he discussed “how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and . . . force Russia to seek peace.”
“I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical,” Zelenskyy said.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv, in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But in the view of the think tank’s analysts, “The outcome of forthcoming Russian operations in eastern Ukraine remains very much in question.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that the war began just over six weeks ago, not 10 weeks.
___
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ | 2022-04-11T10:34:45 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ |
Ukrainian Lincoln Police officer shares impact of war on family
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - In 2020, Vitaliy Kravets became a Lincoln Police officer.
“I was looking for something where I can use my ambitions and my knowledge to help the people and I chose LPD, I went through the academy and right now I try to be as useful as I can, and to serve the Lincoln community,” Kravets says.
Before moving to Lincoln, Officer Kravets and his wife lived in Kansas, then New York City. It was a friend from Kansas who suggested they look into living in Nebraska.
“In Lincoln, Nebraska I found what I was looking for.”
But both he and his wife were born and raised in Ukraine.
“Me and my wife, we moved to U.S. almost eight years ago in May 2014 when the first stage of this invasion started, cause technically it started almost eight years ago by invading some parts of Ukraine.”
Kravets says their friends and entire family still live there. He calls his parents twice daily to check in.
“It’s the best feeling when you call them and they answer the phone,” he says. “At least for today they are safe, they were able physically to pick up the phone so they are not injured, and so it makes my life much, much better.”
Kavets’ family is in Dokuchaievsk, a town north of Mariupol that is currently controlled by Russia. But as of now, he says they still have electricity and internet access.
“They had all necessary supplies that this time. We don’t know of course what could happen tomorrow.”
Kravets says his family doesn’t have many options to leave, and that going east or west could be even more dangerous.
When the invasion into Ukraine began, Officer Kravets says he even considered going back and using his skills as a police officer here to help others there.
“It’s something I was fighting inside myself but I decided that being here with my wife and kids here in the U.S. probably will be more beneficial for my family [than] to be in Ukraine,” he says. “It’s a real war, you have to be ready for any consequences that might happen. Today you could be alive and tomorrow no, so you have to think really thoroughly before you make this decision”
He says seeing the devastation of his first home is indescribable.
“I think it is probably the most horrific, horrible time for my life, and knowing that being here in the U.S., I can’t do a lot being here.”
Kravets hasn’t seen his family in Ukraine since he moved to the U.S. His family had plans to visit in 2020, the the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled their trip.
Last year, they rescheduled the visit for this summer - but then the war broke out.
“I hope still to fly hopefully this summer, this fall, see my friends and my parents. It’s my goal, it’s my wish but if its going to work or no, I’m not sure.”
Kravets says seeing the world come together to supply the Ukrainian people and military with resources and support has been incredibly touching. He hopes the Ukrainian people continue to stand their ground, and that Russian President Putin calls off his invasion.
Copyright 2022 WOWT. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/ukrainian-lincoln-police-officer-shares-impact-war-family/ | 2022-04-11T10:34:54 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/ukrainian-lincoln-police-officer-shares-impact-war-family/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors as previously announced. The tempestuous billionaire remains Twitter’s largest shareholder.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting possible changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk as a member. But it, “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ | 2022-04-11T10:40:31 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ |
There have been multiple outbreaks of illnesses among humans after exposure to E. coli- and salmonella-contaminated dog food, which has been more likely in commercial and homemade raw food diets. These diets typically involve the need to prep pets' foods in the kitchen, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE.
But guidelines for how owners should safely handle pet food and dishes is limited, and their effectiveness is unclear, so the authors of the new study investigated dog owners' feeding habits and analyzed the impact of US Food and Drug Administration hygiene protocols on dog food dish contamination.
During casual conversations among veterinary nutritionists, "we realized that, when it came to our own pets, we all had different pet food storage and hygiene practices," said Emily Luisana, a coauthor of the study and small animal veterinary nutritionist. "Once we realized that (FDA) recommendations were relatively unknown even among professionals, we wanted to see what other pet owners were doing."
Luisana is on the veterinary advisory board for Tailored, a pet nutrition expert-led dog food company. Caitlyn Getty, another coauthor of the study, is the scientific affairs veterinarian for NomNomNow Inc., a company focused on pet gut health and suitable food. Neither company funded this study, and the authors didn't report any competing interests. The study's focus is owners' handling of any dog food, not the food brands themselves.
Awareness vs. action
The researchers found 4.7% of 417 surveyed dog owners were aware of the FDA's pet food handling and dish hygiene guidelines -- 43% of participants stored dog food within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of human food, 34% washed their hands after feeding and 33% prepared their dog food on prep surfaces intended for human use.
Fifty owners (of 68 dogs total) participated in a roughly eight-day bowl contamination experiment. The authors swabbed the bowls for bacterial populations, which are known as aerobic plate counts, then split owners into three groups: Group A followed the FDA's tips, which included washing their hands before and after handling pet food, not using the bowl to scoop food, washing the bowl and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after use, discarding uneaten food in a designated manner, and storing dry pet food in its original bag.
Group B had to follow FDA food handling tips for both pets and humans, which also required handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water; scraping food off dishes before washing; washing dishes with soap and water hotter than 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 C) for at least 30 seconds, drying thoroughly with a clean towel, or using a National Sanitation Foundation-certified dishwasher for washing and drying.
Group C wasn't given any instructions but was told when the second swabbing would happen.
The practices followed by groups A and B led to significant decreases in food dish contamination, compared with Group C, the study found. Dishes washed with hot water or a dishwasher had a decrease of 1.5 units on the contamination scale compared with those washed with cold or lukewarm water. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "cleaning and sanitization guidelines for human dishes are based on achieving a 5-log reduction in bacterial counts," the authors wrote. A 1.5-log reduction is equal to a 90% to 99% reduction in microorganisms; a 5-log reduction means 99.999% of microorganisms have been killed.
The contamination of the bowls in Group C increased between swabbings. None of the Group C owners had washed their dogs' bowls within the eight or so days since the authors collected the first bacterial sample, "even though they were made aware that FDA guidelines existed and the bowl would be sampled again," Luisana said.
"This shows that bringing awareness of the current recommendations is not sufficient in itself," she added.
Lowering contamination risk
The authors said they think this education is especially important for vulnerable populations, such as people who are immunocompromised.
Pet food dishes have ranked highly among most contaminated household objects, sometimes even having bacterial loads close to those of toilets, according to studies published over the past 15 years.
However, 20% of people from groups A and B in the current study said they were likely to follow hygiene instructions long term, and even fewer -- 8% -- said they were likely to follow all given guidelines.
"Our study shows that pet owners look to their veterinarian, pet food store and pet food manufacturers for information about pet food storage and hygiene guidelines," Luisana said. Pet food companies studying their foods in both laboratory conditions and household settings, then giving storage and handling recommendations on labels or websites, would be a strong start, she added.
Further studies on implications are needed, but Luisana said she hopes pet owners and vets use this study's findings to consider the impact feeding hygiene could have on pets' health and happiness, immunocompromised people and zoonotic diseases, those spread between animals and people.
The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://abc11.com/dog-health-water-bowl-tips-e-coli/11734441/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:04 | 1 | https://abc11.com/dog-health-water-bowl-tips-e-coli/11734441/ |
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting possible changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter's 2021 revenue came from ads.
Elon has decided not to join our board. I sent a brief note to the company, sharing with you all here. pic.twitter.com/lfrXACavvk
— Parag Agrawal (@paraga) April 11, 2022
"Elon's appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board," Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. "I believe this is for the best."
Agrawal didn't offer an explanation for Musk's apparent decision, although he dropped one major hint. The Twitter board "believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward," he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, "In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode," followed by one saying "Explains everything." Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter's biggest shareholder.
Musk's 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as "pedo guy" in an angry - and subsequently deleted - tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He's also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn't happen but the tweet caused Tesla's stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk's free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a "free speech absolutist" and has said he doesn't think Twitter is living up to free speech principles - an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who've had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what's really has been driving Musk's Twitter involvement isn't clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter's algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of "verified" Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called "crypto spam bots," which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the "most annoying problem on Twitter."
Twitter's CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal's initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://abc11.com/elon-musk-twitter-board-of-directors-twitters-largest-shareholder-ceo-parag-agrawal/11736126/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:10 | 1 | https://abc11.com/elon-musk-twitter-board-of-directors-twitters-largest-shareholder-ceo-parag-agrawal/11736126/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A former ABC11 intern is making her debut at the Full Frame Film Festival in Durham.
Resista Cox is a UNC graduate, Kinston native and former ABC11 intern. She directed and produced the short documentary Freedom Hill based on the town of Princeville.
Princeville is the oldest town incorporated by freed, formerly enslaved people in the United States.
Freedom Hill captures the emotions of residents trying to decide whether to stay and rebuild or leave after devastating floods threatened to wash the town away into the annals or history.
"I think we have given you something you have to grapple with but also a poetic love story to Black folks in the country," Cox said.
Cox has been working on the film since 2016. | https://abc11.com/freedom-hill-full-frame-film-festival-durham-resista-cox/11736387/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:16 | 0 | https://abc11.com/freedom-hill-full-frame-film-festival-durham-resista-cox/11736387/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky, (AP) -- Louisville's college baseball game against North Carolina was delayed more than two hours Sunday following a bomb threat made on an online forum that forced the evacuation of the Cardinals' stadium, a school spokesman confirmed.
Spokesman John Karman said the Atlantic Coast Conference contest was halted around 2:30 p.m. and 2,103 spectators were evacuated from Jim Patterson Stadium when the threat was reported to University of Louisville Police. Louisville Metro Police were notified and sent K-9 and bomb detection units to the facility to sweep, Karman added, but did not find a bomb.
The game resumed at 5:10 p.m. without spectators or media with the Tar Heels leading the Cardinals 5-1 in the top of the sixth inning. Louisville won 6-5 in 14 innings after tying the game with a four-run ninth. | https://abc11.com/louisville-bomb-threat-baseball-unc/11736333/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:22 | 1 | https://abc11.com/louisville-bomb-threat-baseball-unc/11736333/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- One of the last remaining school districts in central North Carolina to require face coverings is changing its policy Monday.
Durham Public Schools will no longer require masks for students, teachers or staff. The school district is still recommending everyone wear a mask but they are no longer required.
The change comes after a vote in March. DPS School Board said the change is a result of the local and statewide drop in COVID-19 cases.
DPS Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga said the district will continue to work with the city and state to make any necessary changes to COVID-19 safety regulations. In addition, Mubenga encourages all parents to get their students vaccinated against the virus.
Durham Public Schools to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
Copyright © 2022 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved. | https://abc11.com/nc-covid-mask-mandate-durham-public-schools-dps/11736247/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:28 | 1 | https://abc11.com/nc-covid-mask-mandate-durham-public-schools-dps/11736247/ |
Caught on camera: Man rescues driver after car plunges into Houston port
HOUSTON (KTRK) - A Texas man saved a driver from drowning after the man’s car plunged off a boat ramp in Houston.
The U.S. Coast Guard honored Cody Moore with one of its highest civilian honors for his lifesaving efforts on New Year’s Eve 2021 at the Lynchburg Ferry boat ramp in the Port of Houston. Surveillance video of the rescue was recently released.
Cody Moore and his family had just arrived at the nearby Monument Inn for dinner when the car came whizzing by and launched into the water. The father of five rushed to the car. He initially tried to talk to the driver, but a few moments later, he jumped in.
“When he said, ‘Call 911′ and I was running to the car to get something, I knew he was going in the water. I knew that he wouldn’t just stand by,” said Cody’s wife, Karen Moore.
Somehow, Cody Moore was able to convince the driver, in his 60s, to try and open the window.
As the car quickly sank, the man got out through the window. Cody Moore scooped him up and swam him to the shore.
Neighbors having dinner with the family captured the dramatic scene. They also used their shirts as a rope to get the two men onto the ramp.
Miraculously, nobody was seriously hurt.
“Whenever it happened, it seemed so surreal. I didn’t understand the gravity of it because he got out, he was soaking wet and we went and had dinner,” Karen Moore said.
While New Year’s Eve came and went, Cody Moore’s heroic efforts weren’t forgotten. The U.S. Coast Guard honored him Friday with a certificate of merit as his whole family watched with pride.
“It is really dangerous, and because he did it for someone else, I was really proud of him,” said Cody’s daughter, Ellen Moore.
Copyright 2022 KTRK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/caught-camera-man-rescues-driver-after-car-plunges-into-houston-port/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:49 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/caught-camera-man-rescues-driver-after-car-plunges-into-houston-port/ |
Ukraine digs in to fight Russia’s looming eastern offensive
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - A showdown looms in Ukraine after Russia appointed a new military commander and looked to concentrate its attacks in the east, while Ukraine’s president said his troops will hold their ground, urging Western leaders, in particular President Joe Biden, to do more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday in a nightly address that this week will be as crucial as any during the war, saying “Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state.”
Ukraine’s fate as the war shifts south and east depends on whether the United States will help match a surge in Russian weaponry, he said, echoing comments he made in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.”
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Biden for U.S. military aid to date but added that he “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needed.
“He has the list,” Zelenskyy said. “President Biden can enter history as the person who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people who won and chose the right to have their own country. (This) also depends on him.”
WARNING: Videos may contain graphic content.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Also Monday, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was sending a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers.
More than six weeks of war in Ukraine has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically, and experts say the next phase of the battle may begin with a full-scale offensive that could determine the course of the conflict.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders. Britain’s Defense Ministry says Russia is trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
In his Sunday night address, Zelenskyy also accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine.
“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them,” Zelenskyy said.
“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he added.
Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including airstrikes on hospitals, a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station and other violence.
In another report of atrocities, the village of Buzova outside the capital, Kyiv, charred vehicles and buildings marked an area where local official Taras Didych told Ukrainian media Sunday that bodies showing “evidence of execution” were found after Russian forces withdrew from the region. It was unclear how many bodies were discovered.
Buzova is near Bucha, another of the towns near Kyiv, where hundreds of bodies, many with their hands bound and signs of torture, were found after the Russian retreat. Russia has falsely claimed the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground.
Dvornikov, 60, takes over as Russian military prepares to focus on expanding control in Ukraine’s east, where Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region since 2014, declaring some areas independent.
He gained a record for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Russian authorities do not generally confirm such appointments and have said nothing about a new role for Dvornikov, who received the esteemed Hero of Russia medal from President Vladimir Putin in 2016.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the appointment’s significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault increasingly is focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of eastern Ukraine — from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.
That could counter Russia’s earlier problem of spreading its offensive too widely over too broad a geographic area.
Newly released Maxar Technologies satellite imagery showed an 8-mile (13-kilometer) convoy of military vehicles headed south through Ukraine to Donbas, recalling images of the convoy that stalled outside Kyiv before Russia gave up trying to take the capital.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military command said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack and surrounded for nearly 1 ½ months.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russia’s military used air-launched missiles to hit Ukraine’s S-300 air-defense missile systems in the southern Mykolaiv region and at an air base in Chuhuiv, a city not far from Kharkiv.
Sea-launched Russian cruise missiles destroyed the headquarters of a Ukrainian military unit stationed farther west in the Dnipro region, Konashenkov said. Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military claims could be independently verified.
Missiles twice struck the airport in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, on Sunday, the regional governor said.
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago.
The city’s residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city and frustrated evacuation missions. Ukrainian authorities think an airstrike on a theater that was being used as a bomb shelter killed hundreds of civilians, and Zelenskyy has said he expects more evidence of atrocities to be found once Mariupol no longer is blockaded.
On Sunday night, Zelenskyy again appealed for more assistance. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he discussed “how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and . . . force Russia to seek peace.”
“I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical,” Zelenskyy said.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv, in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But in the view of the think tank’s analysts, “The outcome of forthcoming Russian operations in eastern Ukraine remains very much in question.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that the war began just over six weeks ago, not 10 weeks.
___
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ | 2022-04-11T10:45:50 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ |
Nearly 200 people from nearly 60 different organizations gathered in front of the federal courthouse on State Street Saturday to protest a proposed natural gas pipeline from Longmeadow to Springfield, a gas pipeline that owner Eversource said is redundant, probably won’t be needed and could cost as much as $44 million.
The company website calls the pipeline a “reliability project,” to ensure the flow of natural gas in the event the company’s primary pipeline is disabled. But some of the protestors said the only reliability coming from the project is profit for Eversource stockholders.
“Eversource, the answer is ‘No’,” Tanisha Arena said. “Just like biomass the answer was ‘No.’ And, this time we are not going to say ‘No’ for 12 or 13 years, the answer is ‘No’.
The Executive Director of Arise for Social Justice, Arena said that the people should not be forced to pay for a project that helps to destroy the environment without providing benefits to the people.
“We have shouldered the burden of all the mistakes they have made, all the engineering disasters, you people blowing stuff up. The people have paid for that in the past and this time they should not have to,” she said.
The short pipeline running from Longmeadow to downtown Springfield is designed as a backup source of natural gas if the primary line is out of service.
“The proposed project will also reduce the chance of gas service interruptions during periods of maintenance or unexpected disruption,” a statement from Eversource’s website reads.
The company has proposed four different routes for the 16-inch, high-pressure line running from 5.4 to 7.2 miles at an estimated cost of between $33 to $44 million. All of the routes direct the pipeline along city streets and through city neighborhoods.
The line would run from what Longmeadow residents described as an eight-building industrial complex in Longmeadow called a “point of delivery station” or POD, to the existing Bliss Street Station in downtown Springfield. The company’s preferred route would run the high-pressure line along Laurel Street and N. Magawiska Road in Longmeadow to Long Hill Street in Springfield, then along the Route 91 corridor and East Columbus Avenue. Another proposed route directs the pipeline through the streets of the Forest Park neighborhood.
State Rep. Bud Williams told protestors that huge investments in outdated infrastructure is costly and unnecessary.
“Building new fossil fuel infrastructure is retrogressive,” he said. “In this day and age, we are exploring and transitioning to renewable energy that does not harm our planet and our communities.”
“This pipeline ensures a consistent stream of profit for Eversource. It is not clear how the community will benefit from this project. On the contrary, the ratepayers will have to pay for the project to the detriment of their health and wellbeing,” Williams said.
Rep. Jake Oliveira said he too was concerned about the environmental consequences of continuing to rely on fossil fuels, but he was also concerned about the safety issues natural gas represented to the people of Springfield.
Pointing to a sign held by a protester in the crowd, Oliveira read off the statistics from the 2018 Lawrence natural gas disaster.
“It says Merrimack Valley in September of 2018. One death, 25 people injured. We had 40 homes destroyed or set on fire from the explosions caused by gas lines built and maintained by Columbia Gas,” Oliveira said. “The expansion of natural gas is not only bad for our environment it is costly to the ratepayers and, as pointed out by that sign, very, very dangerous.”
Eversource purchased Columbia Gas’s assents following the incident. A study by the National Transportation and Safety Board found that a gas line feeding homes in Lawrence and Andover was inadvertently over-pressurized by an employee. Some 3 to 5 homes were destroyed by explosions and between 60 and 80 structure fires were reported.
Naia Tenerowicz of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition pointed out that Springfield, too, suffered its own natural gas-related disaster in November of 2012, when a gas explosion in a Worthington Street building destroyed that building and several others, and heavily damaged 14 more. Eighteen people were injured in the blast heard more than 10 miles away.
However, that disaster was not due to pipeline failure. Even when the city was hit by a devastating tornado in 2011, the primary pipeline carrying natural gas into the city across the Memorial Bridge was in the direct path of the storm. It was undamaged, Tenerowicz said.
Longmeadow resident Steven Marantz said he only needed one word to describe the Eversource pipeline proposal — boondoggle. Marantz said the definition of a boondoggle, in this case, is that after all the construction is done, and despite ignoring Massachusetts state law calling for a reduction in gas emissions by a full 50-percent by 2050, the last aspect is, who pays for it.
“Eversource doesn’t pay for it. The ratepayers pay for it. They will make money from it, we will make sure of that because the ratepayers are paying for it. That doesn’t seem fair now does it?”
Marantz proposed renaming the pipeline the “Eversource Western Massachusetts Boondoggle.”
That boondoggle will fall hardest on those who can least afford it, Terry Gibson, the field and cultural organizer for the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program said.
“Neighbor-to-Neighbor organizes community members who sometimes live paycheck to paycheck, sometimes on public assistance,” he said. “Our members are folks who hold down multiple jobs and are always vulnerable to being exploited by these large corporations. We want these corporations to keep our members’ best interests to heart and keep our best interests in mind.”
“These taxpaying citizens in the City of Springfield are currently paying some of the highest energy costs in the Commonwealth and Eversource continues to suggest raising its rates. We are here to demand that Eversource put the people over profit.”
©2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/environment/40-million-natural-gas-pipeline-roasted-by-area-groups/article_bc1f1377-ab27-5223-b6e6-2eda120703b1.html | 2022-04-11T10:59:15 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/environment/40-million-natural-gas-pipeline-roasted-by-area-groups/article_bc1f1377-ab27-5223-b6e6-2eda120703b1.html |
DETROIT — Michigan Democrats say they'll work to make the battleground state's presidential primary take place earlier in 2024, as their party considers reshuffling the voting order for the next election.
"It’s time for Michigan to take a lead in the presidential primaries," U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told the crowd at the state Democratic Party's endorsement convention at Huntington Place in Detroit on Saturday.
For years, Democrats and Republicans in Michigan have discussed moving the state's presidential primaries up to give them more influence in the selection of the parties' nominees. But those hopes have not panned out as planned.
Democrats contended on Saturday the situation is different for 2024 because of a national push to put states that are reflective of the country at the beginning of the Democratic voting calendar.
Iowa and New Hampshire have traditionally been at the front of the process. In 2020, their primaries or caucuses occurred in early February. Michigan's primaries didn't take place until March 10.
The Washington Post reported last week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., was part of discussions in Michigan to organize a bid for the state to go earlier when and if the Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee begins accepting applications for the next nomination order.
The rules committee meets Wednesday and Thursday and then, Dingell said, the panel has a week to come up with guidelines for the process.
Dingell and Stabenow are heading up the party effort to put Michigan forward for consideration. Dingell previously led similar efforts with the late Sen. Carl Levin of Detroit. Their argument is Michigan is more representative than the states that currently go first.
"We have urban areas, rural areas, significant cultural representation. We reflect the diversity of the country, and we're a purple state — that's the reality," Dingell said.
In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden narrowly won Michigan's presidential election, defeating Republican Donald Trump by 3 percentage points. In 2016, Trump won the state, beating Hillary Clinton by less than 1 point.
David Hecker, president of the American Federation of Teachers Michigan, has been part of the discussions about the future of the state's presidential primary. The difference between what's happening now and past efforts is there's more interest nationally in figuring out how the first positions are shared, Hecker said.
The early states have to reflect the country, he added. Michigan does, he contended.
"It’s important to have Michigan, if not first, extremely, extremely early so the candidates see the importance of Michigan and spend more time in Michigan and understand our issues and our values," Hecker said.
At the Democratic Party convention Saturday, party members said the push to move the primary earlier was serious and could be successful. Lavora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, is influential among the Democratic National Committee, they said.
But they acknowledged Democrats would have to work with the Legislature, currently controlled by Republicans, to set the new date and would likely have to get Republicans to hold their primary earlier, as well.
The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee is currently a Michiganian: Ronna McDaniel.
In Michigan, voters don't register by their party affiliation, meaning they can choose which primary to participate in each year, providing an opportunity for a larger number of Republicans to sway a close Democratic race. It's unclear where Michigan Republicans stand on the idea of setting an early primary date for their party for 2024.
In 2008, Democrats and Republicans in Michigan worked together to move their presidential primaries to Jan. 15. However, national Democratic leaders voted ahead of the primaries to penalize the state for jumping ahead by stripping its delegates, the Associated Press reported.
Then-Sen. Hillary Clinton remained on the ballot, but other candidates including then-Sen. Joe Biden, then-Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards withdrew their names from the ballot. The Democratic National Committee later voted to seat Michigan's delegation but only allow each delegate a half-vote before restoring full voting strength shortly before the convention in Denver.
For Democrats, the discussion about the primary order could have less impact for 2024 if President Joe Biden seeks reelection as the party's nominee.
Nevada, another battleground state, has also begun pushing to go earlier in the 2024 primary calendar.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/voters/michigan-democrats-plan-push-to-move-up-states-presidential-primary/article_f6e91eff-bfd5-54e4-a602-aa7ab39638b4.html | 2022-04-11T10:59:21 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/voters/michigan-democrats-plan-push-to-move-up-states-presidential-primary/article_f6e91eff-bfd5-54e4-a602-aa7ab39638b4.html |
BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures sank Monday after the Federal Reserve indicated it might raise interest rates more aggressively to cool U.S. inflation and President Emmanuel Macron emerged from the first round of France’s election facing a challenge from the far right.
London and Frankfurt opened lower. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong retreated. Oil fell more than $2 per barrel on concern global economic growth might weaken.
Investors are uneasy about higher interest rates, Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s effort to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
Fed officials indicated in notes from last month’s meeting they were considering raising the U.S. benchmark rate by double the normal amount at upcoming meetings. They also indicated they may shrink the Fed’s bond holdings, which might push up commercial borrowing rates.
Investors see “increasing evidence the Federal Reserve will take a more committed approach” to fighting inflation, said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report.
In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London fell 0.3% to 7,648.81 and Frankfurt’s DAX shed 0.5% to 14,220.99.
The CAC 40 in Paris advanced 0.7% to 6,593.24 after Macron said his battle with challenger Marine Le Pen of the National Rally for the April 24 second round of voting will be a hard fight. The two were finalists in the last presidential election five years ago.
“Markets are looking to a volatile two weeks before the final result is known,” Charlotte de Montpellier and Antoine Bouvet of ING said in a report.
On Wall Street, the future for the benchmark S&P 500 index was off 0.4% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.1%.
On Friday, the S&P 500 lost 0.3% and the Dow rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.3%.
Higher interest rates usually depress economic activity and make safer assets such as bonds more attractive while making stocks look riskier and more expensive.
Some worry the Fed, after being accused of reacting too late to rising inflation, might push the brakes too hard and tip the world’s biggest economy into recession. Economists at Deutsche Bank last week forecast a U.S. recession by late next year.
In Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.6% to 3,167.13 after inflation accelerated to 1.5% over a year ago in March from the previous month’s 0.9% amid upward pressure on global prices due to uncertainty about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Inflation “may limit the space to cut interest rates” to shore up Chinese economic growth, said Nomura analysts in a report.
Also in China, automakers and other manufacturers are reducing production due to supply disruptions after authorities tightened anti-disease controls to stop coronavirus outbreaks in Shanghai and other cities.
Automaker BYD slipped 4.5% and Dongfeng Motor Group Co. declined 3.6%. Technology firms also fell on reports of plans for further regulatory crackdowns in the industry.
ACM Research, a supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry that has operations in Shanghai, fell 6.1% on Friday after saying the restrictions will cause a significant hit to its revenue.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo shed 0.6% to 26,821.52 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng retreated 3% to 21,208.30.
The S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney advanced 0.1% to 7,485.20.
India’s Sensex lost 0.5% to 59,183.25. New Zealand and Singapore declined while Indonesia advanced.
Jakarta-traded shares in GoTo, a so-called super app that offers a range of services and goods including ride-hailing and fin-tech, rose 21% Monday in their trading debut after an initial public offering worth $1.1 billion.
Oil prices have fallen back on expectations of weaker demand after peaking above $130 per barrel last month due to anxiety about disruption of supplies from Russia, the world’s No. 2 exporter.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.32 to $95.94 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.23 to $98.26 on Friday. Brent crude, used as the price basis for international oils, retreated $2.22 to $100.56 per barrel in London. It rose $2.20 the previous session to $102.78 a barrel.
The dollar rose to 125.33 yen from Friday’s 124.37 yen. The euro was unchanged at $1.0906. | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:19 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:26 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economic growth slowed in February amid declines in the production of cars, computers and chemicals.
Gross domestic product increased just 0.1% from a month earlier, down from the 0.8% growth reported in January, the Office for National Statistics said Monday.
The output of productive industries, including manufacturing, mining and power generation, dropped 0.6% in the month. Construction fell 0.1%. Those declines largely offset an increase in service industries, driven by an 8.6% jump in accommodation and food services.
Monthly GDP is now 1.5% above pre-pandemic levels, the ONS said. While services output is 2.1% higher than in February 2020. Construction is up 1.1%, while manufacturing and production are 1.9% below pre-pandemic levels.
Service industries account for about 80% of the U.K.’s economic output. | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:32 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ |
BEIJING (AP) — The manufacturing hub of Guangzhou closed itself to most arrivals Monday as China battles a major COVID-19 surge in its big eastern cities.
Shanghai has taken the brunt of the rise, with another 26,087 cases announced on Monday, only 914 of which showed symptoms. The city of 26 million is under a tight lockdown, with many residents confined to their homes for up to three weeks and concerns growing over the effect on the economy of China’s largest city.
The financial hub has seen international events canceled because of the crackdown, and local football club Shanghai Port has been forced to withdraw from the Asian Champions League because travel restrictions prevented it from attending games in Thailand.
No such lockdown has yet been announced for Guangzhou, a metropolis of 18 million northwest of Hong Kong that is home to many top companies and China’s busiest airport. Just 27 cases were reported in the city on Monday.
However, primary and middle schools have been switched to online after an initial 23 local infections were detected last week. An exhibition center was being converted into a makeshift hospital after authorities said earlier they would begin citywide mass testing.
Only citizens with a “definite need” to leave Guangzhou can do so, and only if they test negative for the virus within 48 hours of departure, city spokesperson Chen Bin said in a social media announcement.
China has stuck to its “zero-COVID” strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing, despite complaints in Shanghai over shortages of food and medical services.
China’s government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints over the COVID-19 prevention measures, censoring content online and rebuking foreign critics.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Sunday said China had “lodged solemn representations with the U.S.” after the State Department advised Americans to reconsider traveling to China due to “arbitrary enforcement” of local laws and COVID-19 restrictions, particularly in Hong Kong, Jilin province and Shanghai. U.S. officials cited a risk of “parents and children being separated.”
China was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the U.S. side’s groundless accusation against China’s epidemic response,” Zhao said.
Despite that, and indications the hardline policy is being dictated by head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping, China has rejected any notion that its response is political in nature. Xi has demanded social stability above all else in the runup to a key party congress later this year at which he is expected to bestow on himself an unprecedented third-term as party leader.
The English-language China Daily acknowledged that Shanghai’s measures are “far from perfect,” and pointed to the firing last week of three local officials for failing in their duties. But it said that shouldn’t become an “excuse to politicize the event and blame China.”
Zhao issued a further defense of China’s virus controls on Monday, saying they have “proven to be effective and in line with its national conditions and needs, and have made an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic.”
Shanghai has brought in thousands of additional health workers from other cities, provinces and the military. Despite the large number of cases, no new deaths have been reported in the Shanghai wave, possibly because the omicron variant is less deadly than older variants.
City authorities also say they have secured daily supplies for residents, following complaints about deliveries of food and other necessities.
Residents have resorted to group buying of groceries because they are not allowed to leave their buildings, with only partial success in obtaining needed items.
Officials say they will begin relaxing restrictions beginning with areas where no new infections have been detected for two weeks. Residents will be allowed to move around their districts while remaining socially distanced.
A second category will be allowed to move around their neighborhoods, while others will remain isolated in their homes.
Chinese club Shanghai Port has been forced by the city’s COVID-19 lockdown to withdraw from the Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Monday.
Due to travel restrictions in the city, Port was unable to make the trip to Thailand for six Group J games.
Its first game was scheduled on Saturday against Vissel Kobe of Japan.
“The AFC acknowledged the travel restrictions faced by Shanghai Port FC as a result of the recent lockdown measures enforced in Shanghai,” the AFC said in a statement.
The capital, Beijing, has seen relatively few restrictions, although the Erjiefang neighborhood including the famed 798 art district has been cordoned off and classified as high risk after eight infections were reported there over the past two weeks.
China is facing one of its worst local outbreaks since the pandemic began. China is still mostly closed to international travel, even as most of the world has sought ways to live with the virus. | https://www.cenlanow.com/health/china-closes-guangzhou-to-most-arrivals-as-outbreak-spreads/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:39 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/health/china-closes-guangzhou-to-most-arrivals-as-outbreak-spreads/ |
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron may be ahead in the presidential race so far, but he warned his supporters that “nothing is done” and his runoff battle with far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will be a hard fight. And she’s ready for it.
The duel is starting Monday, after the two came out on top in Sunday’s first-round vote. The centrist Macron is heading to an economically depressed area of northern France where a majority of voters chose Le Pen, close to her electoral stronghold of Henin-Beaumont.
Meanwhile, Le Pen’s National Rally officials will meet Monday to plan strategy for the second round, scheduled on April 24. Le Pen summed up the standoff by saying voters are faced with “a fundamental choice between two opposing visions of the future.”
Macron already faced Le Pen in the presidential runoff five years ago. But all opinion polls show the leader of the National Rally is much closer this time to a potential win.
Macron said he wants to court those who voted for the “extremes” or opted to stay at home. That’s what he sought to do in the northern town of Denain Monday by campaigning on his rival’s home ground. Le Pen garnered over 41% of votes there as opposed to 14% for Marcon.
Macron met with area residents, many of whom criticized his proposed pension changes which include raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.
Denain’s mayor, Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini, told reporters she will vote for Macron ‘with no hesitation” in the second round, but intends to push for him to adopt more “leftist proposals.”
On her third attempt to become France’s first woman president, Le Pen was rewarded Sunday for her years-long effort to rebrand herself as more pragmatic and less extreme. Macron has accused Le Pen of pushing a dangerous manifesto of racist, ruinous policies. Le Pen wants to roll back some rights for Muslims, banning them from wearing headscarves in public, and to drastically reduce immigration from outside Europe.
In his speech on Sunday evening, Macron said his project would protect all religions and the freedom “to believe, or not.”
The rise of food and energy prices is at the core of Le Pen’s campaign, but Macron’s team argue she wouldn’t have the financial means to meet her promises.
“Our focus is now on the project and the values,” Senator Francois Patriat, a member of Macron’s party, said. The strategy consists in being “proud” of what has been done over the past five years, showing “a bit of humility,” and “above all, some fighting spirit,” he said.
Macron will use the next days to “go in the field,” he said. Prior to Sunday’s first round, Macron was absent from most of the electoral campaign as he spent most of his time focusing on diplomatic efforts over the war in Ukraine.
Le Pen’s camp, meanwhile, is hoping to capitalize on anger at Macron over policies seen as favoring the rich.
“Now everything is possible,” Aurélien Lopez Liguori, a municipal councilor with Le Pen’s party in the southern city of Sete, told The AP. Compared with 2017, “now Macron has a record, a bad record.” He credited Le Pen’s proximity to the French during the campaign for closing the gap with Macron.
Le Pen party heavyweight Louis Aliot told news broadcaster France Info Monday that the party would strive to “speak directly to the French about their problems” and how Le Pen would lead the country if elected president.
Aliot accused Macron of stirring up millions of French to take to the streets during the yellow vest protests over perceived economic injustice and of having dismantled public hospitals despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are plenty of issues on which he will need to explain himself,” Aliot said.
French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune told the AP “we should not think that it’s done.”
The battle will go “project against project,” he said.
Noting Macron’s “pro-European” project, Beaune recalled that five years ago “Le Pen was proposing — must not forget it — to leave the euro (area), to break Europe when Brexit and Frexit were trendy.”
Le Pen has dropped earlier threats to pull France out of the EU and abandon the euro if elected, but some of her proposals, including setting up a national border control, are contrary to EU rules.
Macron and Le Pen are to debate on national television next week.
With most votes from the 12-candidate first round counted by Monday morning, Macron had more than 27% and Le Pen had 23%. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon was third with close to 22%.
Macron improved on his first-round showing in 2017, despite his presidency being rocked by the yellow vest movement, the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The election outcome will have wide international influence as Europe struggles to contain the havoc wreaked by that war. Macron has strongly backed European Union sanctions on Russia while Le Pen has worried about their impact on French living standards. Macron also is a firm supporter of NATO and of close collaboration among the EU 27 members.
The euro rose on Monday following the results to trade 0.27% higher at $1.09, indicating general investor relief that Macron came out on top in the first round.
___
John Leicester and Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed.
___
Follow all AP stories on France’s presidential election at https://apnews.com/hub/french-election-2022 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/french-duel-macron-vs-le-pen-fight-for-presidency/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:46 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/french-duel-macron-vs-le-pen-fight-for-presidency/ |
MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi travels to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more natural gas, the latest push by a European Union country to acquire alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is Italy’s biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. The new deal would add an additional 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria, just eclipsing Russia’s 29 billion cubic meters a year.
Europe is trying to cut its reliance Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow’s war. At the same time, there is concern Russia might turn off the taps in reprisal for sanctions, a threat that would have devastating effects on the European economy. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes and power industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already sought to have gas payments be made in rubles, in an apparent bid shore up the currency.
The tiny Baltic state of Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, recently cut itself off entirely from Russian gas imports, the first of the European Union’s 27 nations using Russian gas to break its energy dependence on Moscow.
Lithuania has been planning that move for years, and the task is more difficult for economic powers like Germany and Italy, which have gotten most of their natural gas from Russia.
The deal between Italy and Algeria is the first concrete result of missions by Italy’s foreign minister to energy-producing nations to secure alternate sources, also including Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique.
Draghi is traveling with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the energy transition minister, Roberto Cingolani, and the CEO of Italian energy company Eni, Claudio Descalzi.
Eni announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Eni has operated in Algeria for more than 40 years. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ | 2022-04-11T11:07:53 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ |
MOSCOW — The Russian military says it has destroyed a shipment of air defense missile systems provided by the West.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by the strike on Sunday.
Konashenkov said in a statement Monday that Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Konashenkov’s claim couldn’t be independently verified.
Last week, Slovakia said it had handed over its Soviet-designed S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine, which has pleaded with the West to give it more weapons, including long-range air defense systems.
Slovakia’s prime minister office issued a statement late Sunday calling the news that the S-300 system given to Ukraine was destroyed “disinformation.” It was unclear, however, whether both sides are referring to the same airstrike. The Russians have targeted missile defense systems in three different locations in recent days.
___
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukrainian defenders dig in as Russiaboosts firepower
— Biden, Modito speak as US presses for hard line on Russia
— Ukrainian nunsopen their monastery doors to the displaced
— US doubts new Russian war chiefcan end Moscow’s floundering
— Analysis:War, economy could weaken Putin’s place as leader
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage
___
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
BRUSSELS — Austria’s foreign minister says Chancellor Karl Nehammer is taking “very clear messages of a humanitarian and political kind” to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said Monday that Nehammer decided to make the trip after meeting in Kyiv on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and following contacts with the leaders of Turkey, Germany and the European Union.
Schallenberg said ahead of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg that “we don’t want to leave any opportunity unused and must seize every chance to end the humanitarian hell in Ukraine.”
He added that “every voice that makes clear to President Putin what reality looks like outside the walls of Kremlin is not a wasted voice.”
Schallenberg said that Nehammer and Putin will meet one-on-one without media opportunities. He insisted that Austria has done everything to ensure that the visit isn’t abused, “and I think he (Putin) himself should have an interest in someone telling him the truth and really finding out what’s going on outside.”
___
BRUSSELS — Germany’s foreign minister says Ukraine needs heavy weapons to defend itself and this is no time for “excuses.”
Ukraine’s president has warned that his country faces a crucial time and that Russian troops will step up operations in the east.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said as she arrived for a meeting with her European Union counterparts Monday: “What is clear is that Ukraine needs further military material, above all heavy weapons, and now is not the time for excuses — now is the time for creativity and pragmatism.”
Germany broke with a foreign policy tradition after Russia’s invasion to supply arms to Ukraine but has faced criticism from Kyiv for perceived hesitancy and slowness in providing material.
___
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers are meeting to weigh the effectiveness of the bloc’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid concern about Moscow’s preparations for a major attack in the east.
The ministers will hold talks with the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor-General Karim A.A. Khan as Western pressure mounts to hold to account those responsible for any war crimes in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is chairing Monday’s meeting in Luxembourg, deplored what he called the “brutal, brutal aggression” of Russian troops.
Borrell, who was in Ukraine over the weekend, says further EU sanctions against Russia “are always on the table.”
He says he’s “afraid the Russian troops are massing on the east to launch an attack on the Donbas,” region in the east after Moscow withdrew its forces from around the capital Kyiv last week.
___
LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defense says Ukraine has beaten back several assaults by Kremlin forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In an intelligence update released Monday morning, the ministry says Russian shelling in the two eastern regions is continuing.
“Russia’s continued reliance on unguided bombs decreases their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes, while greatly increasing the risk of civilian casualties,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said Russia’s “prior use” of phosphorus munitions in the Donetsk region raises the possibility they may be used in Mariupol as the battle for the city on Ukraine’s south coast intensifies.
___
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand will send a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe, as well as give money to Britain to buy weapons, as it significantly steps up its response to the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that the C130 Hercules plane would travel throughout Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers. She said the plane wouldn’t fly directly into Ukraine as most military equipment is transported into the country by land.
Ardern said her government would also spend an additional 13 million New Zealand dollars ($9 million) on military and human rights support, including NZ$7.5 million for Britain to buy weapons and ammunition. Ardern said that brings New Zealand’s total contribution to the war effort to NZ$30 million ($20 million) with 67 people deployed.
___
LVIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s president warned his nation Sunday night that the coming week would be as crucial as any in the war.
“Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
He accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes.
“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them. Ukraine will stop all this,” Zelenskyy said.
“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he said.
He again called on Western countries, including Germany, to provide more assistance to Ukraine. During talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelenskyy said he discussed “how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and how to force Russia to seek peace.”
“I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical,” Zelenskyy said.
___
BERLIN — Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday.
The Austria Press Agency reported that Nehammer told reporters in Vienna on Sunday that he plans to make the journey. It follows a trip on Saturday to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
APA reported that Nehammer aims to encourage dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and also address “war crimes” in his meeting with Putin.
Austria is a member of the European Union and has backed the 27-nation bloc’s sanctions against Russia, though it so far has opposed cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. The country is militarily neutral and is not a member of NATO.
Nehammer said he was taking the trip on his own initiative, and that he had consulted with the European Union’s top officials. He said that he also informed Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/live-updates-new-zealand-sending-transport-plane-money/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:00 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/live-updates-new-zealand-sending-transport-plane-money/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — Lawyers for Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai are asking the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and multiple criminal charges as “legal harassment” that punish him for speaking out.
The publisher of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was one of the most prominent activists arrested in Hong Kong’s crackdown on virtually all political criticism since mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The crackdown continued early Monday with the arrest of another veteran journalist, Allan Au Ka-lun, a teaching consultant who’d worked for a number of Hong Kong media outlets.
The actions by Lai’s lawyers in Britain followed that country’s announcement last month it would withdraw its judges from Hong Kong’s top court because keeping them there would “legitimize oppression” in the former British colony.
Lai, 74, has been charged under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law and is serving 20 months in prison. His assets have been frozen and the raft of legal cases against him include four separate criminal prosecutions related to attending and joining various protests, his legal team at Doughty Street Chambers in the U.K. said in a statement.
Lai faces “the risk of spending the rest of his life in prison simply for speaking out, and for seeking to defend freedom of the press, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong,” Lai’s counsel, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, said in the statement.
In a follow-up email, Gallagher said the appeal had been filed with the U.N. special rapporteurs for freedom of opinion and expression, counter-terrorism and human rights, rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and human rights defenders.
“We are awaiting a response,” she wrote.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, was quoted as urging U.N. special rapporteurs to investigate Chinese and Hong Kong authorities’ actions against Hong Kong residents.
While the U.N. has a number of special rapporteurs, their powers are limited mainly to seeking information from government agencies and possibly seeking real steps to end violations.
Hong Kong authorities had no immediate comment on the request. When Britain withdrew its judges, China reacted furiously, accusing Britain of flagrant interference and harm to Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Police issued a brief statement on the arrest of Au, saying a 54-year-old man had been arrested for “conspiracy to publish seditious publication” and was being detained for further investigation.
The national security law that was imposed by Beijing to override local opposition defines sedition in extremely broad terms, permitting authorities to punish almost all open criticism of the government. Those caught in its net include four people arrested last week for clapping in court.
Au had been a teaching consultant at Chinese University’s journalism school and had previously worked for Hong Kong media outlets TVB and RTHK. He had also written a column for outspoken pro-democracy platform Stand News, which shut down last year after police raided it and arrested staff.
In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said Au had been a mentor to young journalists and expressed its “deep concern” his arrest would “further damage the freedom of the press in Hong Kong.”
“We urge the police to explain the case as soon as possible, and at the same time request the government to protect the freedom of the press and speech enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens in accordance with the Basic Law,” it said, referring to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution under which it returned to Chinese control. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/media-mogul-jimmy-lai-appeals-to-un-over-hong-kong-cases/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:07 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/media-mogul-jimmy-lai-appeals-to-un-over-hong-kong-cases/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani lawmakers convened Monday to choose a new prime minister, capping a tumultuous week of political drama that saw the ouster of Imran Khan as premier and a constitutional crisis narrowly averted after the country’s top court stepped in.
The leading contender is Shahbaz Sharif, opposition lawmaker and a brother of disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But his election will not guarantee a clear path forward — or solve Pakistan’s many economic problems, including high inflation and a soaring energy crisis.
Khan, a former cricket star whose conservative Islamist ideology and dogged independence characterized his three years and eight months in office, was ousted early Sunday after losing a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Deserted by his party allies and a key coalition partner, his opposition pushed Khan out with 174 votes — two more than the required simple majority in the 342-seat National Assembly.
The opposition has selected Shahbaz Sharif as its candidate for prime minister, claiming it has enough votes in his favor.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Pakistan Justice Party, has put forward former foreign minister and seasoned politician Shah Mahmood Qureshi as its candidate. But Khan and his party members later said they would resign collectively during Monday’s session — likely further complicating the work of the assembly under a new premier.
In a show of strength and precursor to the political uncertainty ahead, Khan rallied hundreds of thousands of supporters late Sunday to protest his ouster, and describing the next government as an “imposed government.” In cities across Pakistan, Khan’s supporters marched, waving large party flags and vowing support. The youth, who make up the backbone of Khan’s supporters, dominated the crowds.
Some were crying, others shouting slogans promising Khan’s return.
Khan has also demanded early elections, though the balloting is not due before August 2023. He has tapped into anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, accusing Washington of conspiring with his opponents to topple him. His conspiracy theory resonates with his young support base, which often sees Washington’s post 9/11 war on terror as unfairly targeting Pakistan.
Pakistan’s political drama began on April 3 when Khan sidestepped an initial no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition by dissolving Parliament and calling early elections. The opposition, which accuses Khan of economic mismanagement, appealed to the Supreme Court. After four days of deliberations, the court ordered Parliament re-instated and the no-confidence vote went ahead. After a marathon Parliament session that started Saturday and that also saw the resignation of parliament speaker, Asad Qaiser. Khan was ousted early Sunday.
Khan claims the opposition colluded with Washington to topple him, allegedly because of his independent foreign policy favoring China and Russia. He was also criticized for a visit he made on Feb. 24 to Moscow, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.
The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement in Pakistan’s internal politics.
The road ahead will be stormy for the opposition coalition, which consists of parties that cross the political divide, from the left to the radically religious. The two largest parties are the Pakistan Muslim League, headed by Sharif, and the Pakistan People’s Party, co-chaired by the son and husband of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
In Pakistan, a few wealthy and powerful families have dominated politics for decades, with power most often alternating between the Sharifs and Bhutto camps. Both political houses have been accused and occasionally convicted of widespread corruption — and both have denied the allegations.
Nawaz Sharif was unseated by the Supreme Court in 2015 after being convicted in connection with financial irregularities revealed in the so-called Panama Papers — a collection of leaked secret financial documents showing how some of the world’s richest hide their money and involving a global law firm based in Panama. He was disqualified by Pakistan’s Supreme Court from holding office.
Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s husband who served as president of Pakistan after the 2008 elections, has spent more than seven years in prison, convicted on corruption charges.
Both families have dismissed corruption allegations against them as being politically motivated.
Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break family rule in Pakistan but his opponents claimed he won the elections with help from the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of the country’s 75-year history.
Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted in 1999 in a military coup and Benazir Bhutto’s government was ousted several times after the military sided with her opposition. In Pakistani politics, where loyalties are often fluid, Bhutto’s fiercest opposition came from Sharif’s party.
Shahbaz Sharif has served three times as chief minister of Pakistan’s largest, most influential Punjab province, where 60% of the country’s 220 million people live. His son Hamza was elected by the Punjab provincial parliament last week as new chief minister, ousting Khan’s nominee. Khan’s party is challenging that election and the younger Sharif has yet to be sworn in.
_____
Follow Kathy Gannon on Twitter at www:twitter.com/Kathygannon | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:14 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ |
LONDON (AP) — The World Bank says Ukraine’s economy will shrink by 45.1% this year because of Russia’s invasion, which has shut down half of the country’s businesses, choked off imports and exports, and damaged a vast amount of critical infrastructure.
Unprecedented sanctions imposed by Western allies in response to the war, meanwhile, are plunging Russia into a deep recession, lopping off more than a tenth of its economic growth, the World Bank said in a report Sunday.
The war is set to inflict twice the amount of economic damage across Europe and Central Asia that the COVID-19 pandemic did, the Washington-based lender said in its “War in the Region” economic report.
“The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis unleashed by the war is staggering,” said Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s vice president for the Europe and Central Asia region. “The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraine’s economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure.”
The report said economic activity is impossible in “large swathes of areas” in Ukraine because productive infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and train tracks have been destroyed.
Ukraine plays a major role as a global supplier of agricultural exports like wheat but that’s in question now because planting and harvesting have been disrupted by the war, the report said. The war has cut off access to the Black Sea, a key route for exports, including 90% of Ukraine’s grain shipments, it said.
The World Bank said the humanitarian catastrophe will be the biggest shockwave from the war and likely its most enduring legacy, as the wave of refugees fleeing Ukraine is “anticipated to dwarf previous crises.”
More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine, with more than half going to Poland and others heading to countries like Moldova, Romania and Hungary. An additional 6.5 million have been displaced internally. Those numbers are expected to swell as the war drags on, the World Bank said. | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:21 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/international/ap-international/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ |
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler just wanted dinner. The best option, he decided, would be for him and his wife Meredith to grab some takeout and head back to their rented home so he could rest up before the final round of the Masters.
Small problem.
On the way home, Scheffler spilled dinner all over himself.
“Meredith is still laughing at me,” Scheffler said. “She thought it was the funniest thing ever.”
Whenever he returns to the Masters, for the rest of his life, there is guaranteed to be at least one night where Scheffler’s dinner won’t need transporting. Masters champions get to go to the Masters Club dinner, and Scheffler has a permanent seat at that table now after his score of 10-under 278 gave him a three-shot victory over Rory McIlroy on Sunday at Augusta National for his first major championship.
It further cemented his status as the No. 1 player in the world, was his fourth career win — all coming in a span of about two months — and capped a week where the 25-year-old seemed to handle the pressure that comes with being in Masters contention with ease.
He cried when his first Masters invitation came in 2020. They’ll never stop coming now.
“That’s the coolest part about this whole deal,” Scheffler said. “This is such a fun golf course. It’s such a fun piece of property. I mean, it’s Augusta National. It’s about as cool as it gets. It’s so fun to play. I just can’t believe that I can come back for a lifetime and get to enjoy this golf course.”
McIlroy closed with a flourish, his 8-under 64 on Sunday sending him vaulting up the leaderboard and into second place after starting the final round 10 shots back. Shane Lowry (69) and Cameron Smith (73) tied for third, five shots behind Scheffler. Smith started birdie-birdie and briefly got within one shot, before a two-shot swing on the third hole — Scheffler chipped in for birdie, Smith made bogey — restored order. Scheffler kept the lead the rest of the way, and not even making a double-bogey 6 on the finishing hole derailed his march toward a green jacket.
“Scottie’s just been sort of unflappable,” McIlroy said.
The No. 1 tee and the No. 18 green at Augusta National are relatively close to one another, which means that at around 2:40 p.m., that little piece of acreage was the absolute center of the golf universe. Scheffler was on one side, starting his march toward a first Masters win. Tiger Woods was coming up the other side, finishing off his comeback tournament after his career — and life — could have ended in a February 2021 car crash in the Los Angeles suburbs.
Numbers-wise, it was Woods’ worst Masters ever, one of his worst tournaments ever. Of the 52 players who made the cut, Woods beat five of them. He shot a 78 for the second consecutive day, ended the week at 13-over 301, 23 shots off the lead.
And he was thrilled. He finished. Nothing else mattered to the five-time Masters winner.
“It’s been a tough road, and one that I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through it,” Woods said when it was over. “A lot of different things could have happened, but (after) 14 months, I’m able to tee it up and play in the Masters.”
Augusta National does not let go of past champions, a part of the tradition that is celebrated from the very onset of the tournament. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player began the week with ceremonial tee balls, this time with Tom Watson joining in for the first time.
“I would like to say how honored I am to be with Gary and Jack,” Watson said before he took his ceremonial swing. “I’ve watched this ceremony many times in the past … and to be a part of this thing, I’m truly humbled.”
That’s what Augusta does. It humbles. It celebrates. And for the luckiest few, like Scheffler, it crowns.
The place has been a celebrated part of the Scheffler family story for years, and not for the reasons one would think. Scheffler drives a 2012 Chevrolet Yukon with nearly 200,000 miles on it, and it was purchased in Augusta a decade ago. Scott Scheffler, the new Masters winner’s father, was there that year and the vehicle he was driving died. He was there to watch Bubba Watson, and the car the the senior Scheffler drove to Augusta “expired” on the trip.
“Everyone got a T-shirt,” Scott Scheffler said. “I got a car payment.”
Scott Scheffler could barely keep his emotions in check Sunday night. He proudly tells the story of holding up a flashlight so his son, then just a little kid, could hit extra balls at a driving range at night. He defers all the credit for his son’s success. And on Monday, he’ll be driving that Yukon home.
Yes, the Yukon is still his son’s car. It was there on Sunday. Scott Scheffler will use it to bring home the family dog on Monday. It’s anyone’s guess if the Yukon is coming back next year.
It’s a certainty that Scottie Scheffler is coming back.
The new Masters champion woke up unable to control his tears on Sunday, the enormity of the moment briefly getting to him. He spilled that dinner on Saturday. None of it seemed funny at the time. And then, Sunday night, wearing his new green jacket, it all just made sense.
“I never expected to be sitting where I am now,” Scheffler said. “You know, you don’t expect things to come to you in this life. You just do the best that you can and with the hand you’re dealt and just go from there. I never really thought I was that good at golf, so I just kept practicing and kept working hard, and that’s just what I’m going to keep doing.”
___
More AP Masters coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/for-scheffler-a-new-world-awaits-as-the-masters-champion/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:28 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/for-scheffler-a-new-world-awaits-as-the-masters-champion/ |
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
___
HE’S A HIT!
Cleveland rookie Steven Kwan hit .469 in spring training after compiling a .301 batting average in three minor league seasons. So there were signs he might be able to handle big-league pitching.
But who predicted this?
Kwan added to his remarkable start by going 5 for 5 as Cleveland won for the first time since changing its name to the Guardians, routing Kansas City 17-3 on Sunday.
Kwan had four singles and a double, was hit by a pitch and scored four runs. The 24-year-old outfielder made his major league debut on opening day and is 8 for 10 in three games, reaching base in 12 of 14 plate appearances.
“I know it’s three games in, but nobody wants to not get excited,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “When our young guys want to do things like that, it is exciting.”
Kwan is known as a contact hitter, and it shows. He’s swung 19 times this season and hasn’t completely missed once, according to MLB Statcast.
Kwan and the Guardians close out the four-game series with a matinee at Kauffman Stadium.
BASHING IN THE BRONX
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the hot-hitting Toronto Blue Jays open a four-game set at Yankee Stadium. Guerrero smashed a 467-foot homer in a 12-6 loss to Texas on Sunday, the longest of his career, and Toronto has scored 20 runs during a 2-1 start to a season it hopes ends in an AL East crown.
The division-rival Yankees are coming off a series win against Boston and will start right-hander Jameson Taillon (8-6, 4.30 ERA in 2021), making his first appearance since offseason surgery on his right ankle. He’ll face righty Alek Manoah (9-2, 3.22), who won his big league debut in the Bronx last May.
STARTING TO CLICK
After getting big swings from a couple of newcomers Sunday, the Minnesota Twins are looking for a strong debut from Dylan Bundy. He makes his first start for the team against Seattle right-hander Chris Flexen in the finale of a four-game series.
Gary Sánchez’s first home run for the Twins was a grand slam into the third deck Sunday, and Carlos Correa also went deep for the first time with Minnesota during a 10-4 victory.
“They’re a good team. They’ve got a heck of a lineup and have certainly got all kinds of power,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.
Bundy signed a $5 million, one-year contract with the Twins on Dec. 1 after going 2-9 with a 6.06 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels last season.
O’S WOES
The Baltimore Orioles play their home opener after getting off to a rough start on the road.
Coming off a 110-loss season, Baltimore is 0-3 for the first time since 2007. Cedric Mullins and the O’s never led while they were swept at Tampa Bay, struck out 37 times and went 2 for 24 with runners in scoring position.
Back at Camden Yards, lefty Bruce Zimmermann (4-5, 5.04 ERA last year) starts against Milwaukee. Adrian Houser (10-6, 3.22) pitches for the Brewers.
CHECK HIM
The Padres will see how Blake Snell is feeling, a day after the left-hander was pulled just before making a start at Arizona because of left adductor tightness.
San Diego manager Bob Melvin said the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner is likely headed for a stint on the 10-day injured list.
Melvin said he had already exchanged lineup cards when Snell felt the injury on his final warmup pitch.
“It was as late as I’ve ever seen anything,” Melvin said. “We had to make some adjustments on the fly and got it done.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/leading-off-guardians-rookie-kwan-a-hit-os-rugged-start/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:34 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/leading-off-guardians-rookie-kwan-a-hit-os-rugged-start/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — (EDITOR’S NOTE: The season-long celebration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary is winding down. As part of The Associated Press series on the NBA’s first 75 years, Commissioner Adam Silver wrote this essay on what the league could look like 25 years from now when it celebrates its 100th anniversary.)
___
What will the NBA look like at 100? While it is difficult to predict the future one year from now, let alone 25, I do know what will remain unchanged: Our bedrock principle that “sports have the power to change the world.”
Our teams and players will continue to use the game of basketball to teach lifelong values, give back to our communities and bring awareness to critically important societal issues.
We will also continue to embrace being a global league. Our games are distributed in more than 200 countries and territories, our social media community exceeds 2 billion people, and 25% of the players in our league grew up outside of the United States. The NBA’s reach is expansive, though in many ways we are just scratching the surface in terms of our international growth.
I expect live sports and entertainment to remain special. There is something truly remarkable about 20,000 people of different backgrounds gathering together in an arena to enjoy a shared experience. What makes NBA games unique — the proximity to the players, the fast-paced nature of the game and the energy derived from being around other people — will be as vital in 25 years as it is today.
What I do foresee changing is how fans around the world engage with the NBA. Today’s fans can watch NBA basketball on their high-definition televisions or just as easily on their smartphones. But in 25 years, this notion of watching games on a “screen” may be irrelevant. Games will appear in any size — three-dimensionally — whether on a living room floor or in a ballroom. Watching basketball anywhere could feel like you are in an arena surrounded by thousands of fellow fans.
The game on the court will evolve as well, as a whole new group of players builds on the greatness of the generations that came before them. We may see different kinds of schedule formats and tournaments that create new league traditions. And perhaps, once air travel becomes faster, we will have franchises outside of North America.
And if we are more popular at our 100th anniversary than we are today, I know we will have remained true to our mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.
___
Adam Silver is commissioner of the National Basketball Association.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Follow the AP’s coverage of the NBA’s 75th anniversary season: https://apnews.com/hub/nba-at-75 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:41 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ |
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — It doesn’t seem that long ago to Scott Scheffler that he was standing on the green behind Bergen Community College in Parasmus, New Jersey, dutifully holding a flashlight while his only son — just 5 or 6 at the time — hit shots in the dark.
And if one of Scottie Scheffler’s wayward strokes happened to smack into one of his sisters, so be it.
“He used to yell,” Scott Scheffler said. “He would yell at us when he hit it. He would hit the girls.”
It’s what brothers do.
Nearly two decades later, Scottie Scheffler’s aim is considerably better. Yes, that was the kid who used to peg his siblings with impunity tugging the green jacket over his broad shoulders after winning the Masters on Sunday afternoon.
And yes, that was most of the Scheffler clan — sisters Callie and Molly (other sister Sara is in Portugal) along with Scott and wife Diane — huddled together just outside Butler Cabin to celebrate a jet-fueled rise to the top that really wasn’t that jet-fueled at all.
There were the days back in north New Jersey when the Scheffler kids were introduced to the game. They moved to Dallas when Diane switched law firms as a chief operating officer. They quickly decided to join Royal Oaks Country Club mostly because it meant Scott Scheffler could keep all four kids in one place.
While Scott Scheffler understands his son’s origin story takes a familiar narrative and turns it on his head — it was Scott who served as the stay-at-home dad while Diane worked — he doesn’t see it as revolutionary or strange or uncommon.
“It’s just what you do as a father for your children,” Scott Scheffler said, his eyes wet with tears while wearing a white Masters polo shirt on the grounds of a club where his son is now a champion. “You do for your kids you know. I’ve done for all of them. They’ve given us great joy. He’s the one that did all the hard work, not me. I just raised him and tried the best I could to be a good dad.”
Maybe, but someone had to get Team Scheffler to all those sporting events. Youth golf tournaments. High school basketball practices. The list is seemingly endless. The fact it was dad doing most of the driving hardly mattered.
“Wasn’t unusual for me,” Scottie Scheffler said. “I didn’t know any different. Fortunately for me, I grew up with three sisters and my dad was there, and he did a great job raising us.”
Scott Scheffler made it a point to make sure his kids were well-rounded. While stressing “I’m no guru,” he pointed out how vital it was to make sure Scottie didn’t focus on golf all the time. He tried as a sophomore at Highland Park High School only to realize he missed playing basketball too much. So it was back to the basketball team the following year.
Yet Scottie was hardly the only athlete in the family. Callie Scheffler played at Texas A&M and served as Scottie’s caddie when he qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont as an amateur, and Molly and Sara are players, too.
While Scott Scheffler laughingly admitted, “Schefflers have their issues, but they’re good people,” he grew more serious when asked what the world needs to know about the unassuming 25-year-old board game aficionado who is now the hottest golfer on the planet.
“He’s just a nice young kid,” Scott Scheffler said. “Born in New Jersey and raised in Texas. He’s got a little bit of both, which is wonderful. Just our son and Meredith’s husband and now I guess he’s the world’s.”
The family bonds extend beyond Team Scheffler.
Rick Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame pro, has worked with Scottie for years, and Rick’s son Blake is Scheffler’s agent. Blake and Scottie met soon after the Schefflers joined Royal Oaks and the two would play together when they could.
That relationship between the Schefflers and the Smiths has only deepened through the years. Maybe that’s why Rick leaned over on Scottie’s bag as he was inside signing his scorecard after the biggest tournament — so far — of his still burgeoning career.
Rick was over at Scheffler’s house on Saturday night, trying to get him to relax as he sat on a three-shot lead heading into Sunday. They worked on Scheffler’s alignment. On his ball position. And on his mood, watching Instagram videos in an effort to keep things light.
While Scheffler admitted his stomach had been hurting over the weekend and he cried Sunday morning because of the pressure, he hardly looked rattled while posting a 1-under 71 that gave him a three-shot victory. There was just one major hiccup, a four-putt on the 18th with his win assured, though Smith couldn’t help but laugh when asked at what point he finally relaxed.
“When he made his fourth putt (at 18),” Smith said. “We’ll go figure out what went on.”
There’s time to exhale, but not much. In early February, Scheffler was still searching for his first PGA Tour win. In early April, he’s on the kind of run that he couldn’t have imagined while drilling putts into the north Jersey nights, hardly worried about where the putt went, who it hit, or whether mom or dad was one driving them home.
“He’s public now, which is a little bit scary,” Scott Scheffler said.
Just don’t expect Scottie to forget where he came from. Scott and Diane Scheffler’s only son is well aware he hardly made the journey from Bergen Community College to Augusta National alone.
“They didn’t parent perfectly, obviously, but for me, they did the best they could all the time, and I love them for that,” Scheffler said. “You know, I can’t speak highly enough of the hard work that they have put in. I can’t put it into words, I really can’t.”
___
More AP Masters coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/schefflers-journey-to-the-masters-a-true-family-affair/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:47 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/schefflers-journey-to-the-masters-a-true-family-affair/ |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Klay Thompson’s form is now the least of Golden State’s worries.
“The proof is on the court just what he’s looked like over the last couple weeks,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Thompson poured in a season-high 41 points in a 128-107 victory in New Orleans on Sunday night to end the regular season. “He’s been in a great groove now, so it’s a really good sign.”
Thompson’s recent play is among main reasons the Warriors are heading into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. With fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry sidelined by a foot injury, Thompson has scored 30 or more in three straight games.
Since Jan. 9, when he resumed a career derailed more than two seasons by successive knee and Achilles injuries, Thompson has averaged 20 points per game over 32 games.
“I pat myself on the back because when you go through the injuries I did, there’s some really slow days,” Thompson said. “There’s so many tedious exercises and just building up your muscles again to do what you love is a challenge — something I never had to do before. So, to do it twice and come out and average (20 points) is inspiring for myself and just makes we want to keep going, because I’m still juts scratching the surface of what I can become.”
In New Orleans, Thompson looked like the sharp-shooter who could single-handedly take over a game.
He scored 21 first-half points to stake Golden State to a 20-point halftime lead. And when New Orleans tried to make a game of it late in the third quarter, Thompson returned to put it away with 15 points in a five-minute span early in the fourth quarter.
His scoring came on everything from driving reverse layups and floaters to pull-up jumpers, turnarounds and, of course, 3s — seven of them.
Kerr said the scoring display Thompson has put on recently “doesn’t surprise me, actually, because it’s Klay.”
“He’s one of the greatest shooters of all time,” Kerr continued. “The biggest thing is he’s just found his rhythm. He’s gotten his conditioning. Early on, he wanted everything back so badly he was forcing the issue, and it’s just been really fun to watch him settle in.”
Just in time for the third-seeded Warriors’ first playoff series in three seasons. They open their first-round series at home against Denver on Saturday night.
“A lot of ups and downs for myself this season, but I stuck with it,” Thompson said. “I will continue to do that, and some great momentum going into the playoffs. I can’t wait. I’m so excited of the playoffs, Having to watch the last two years was painful.”
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/warriors-thompson-carrying-vintage-form-into-the-playoffs/ | 2022-04-11T11:08:54 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/warriors-thompson-carrying-vintage-form-into-the-playoffs/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors as previously announced. The tempestuous billionaire remains Twitter’s largest shareholder.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting possible changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk as a member. But it, “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.cenlanow.com/technology/ap-technology/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ | 2022-04-11T11:09:01 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/technology/ap-technology/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ |
The 30th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards has arrived, and with it comes a slew of changes to the stadium — from food to outfield dimensions, if not the product on the field.
Baltimore arrives after being swept by the defending American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays to begin the season. The Orioles welcome the National League’s Milwaukee Brewers, a team that lost its opening series against the Chicago Cubs. With top prospects Adley Rutschman and Grayson Rodriguez beginning the season in the minors, the wait continues for the club’s rebuild to produce results at the major league level.
Those interesting additions will come down the line. In the meantime is a team dealing with a foggy present but a future that could inspire more hope.
Here’s what fans need to know ahead of Monday’s Opening Day.
Festivities
Gates at the ballpark will open at 1:05 p.m., two hours before first pitch. The festivities are scheduled to begin at 2:25 p.m., with a video tribute for the 30th anniversary of Camden Yards that features an original poem by Baltimore-based poet and author Kondwani Fidel.
The Morgan State University Choir — one of the groups that performed when the stadium opened in 1992 — will perform the Star-Spangled Banner from the sod farm located beneath the center field batter’s eye. As they sing, a flag from Fort McHenry will be lowered from the batter’s eye.
Members of the Baltimore City Police and Fire Department color guards will present the colors, and a flyover from the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing will conclude the anthem.
The ceremonial first pitches will honor several public servants who died in the past year, with family members present to represent their loved ones.
Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley, who died Dec. 23, 2021, seven days after she was shot in her patrol car, will be represented by her son, Kortez Baker. Three firefighters who died battling a fire Jan. 24 will also be honored: Lieutenant Paul Butrim, Kenneth Lacayo and lieutenant Kelsey Sadler. John McMaster, who was left in critical condition after the fire, will also be present.
New food
There are ample new items to try at Camden Yards concession stands, including a new partnership with Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, linking one of Baltimore’s most popular restaurants with an iconic ballpark. The dishes featuring at the stand along the left field concourse includes the Crab Cake Egg Roll, Shrimp Roll, Crab Cake Roll, Crabby Fries and Mo Gaba’s Shrimp Platter.
The Crab Cake Egg Roll is a carryover from the restaurant, melded with a cream cheese blend, mango ponzu and spicy mayo that will be sold for $20. The Mo Gaba’s Shrimp Platter is served with fries and bay sauce, and $1 of the $16 dish will go to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in honor of Gaba, a superfan who died at 14 from cancer in 2020.
Eutaw Street also has several new offerings, from a Crab Dip Pretzel ($16) and Pepperoni Pizza Pretzel ($14) at the B&O Market to The Baltimore Smash ($16), a patty melt available at the Eutaw Street Burger Portable.
Another stand opened on the lower concourse near sections 49-52 called The Hot Corner, offering a variety of chicken tenders for $15. There’s a Mambo sauce variety, one with Franks RedHot aioli and another lathered in cheese sauce.
Or bring your own
After fans were held to concession stand food for the 2021 campaign, the Orioles are once again allowing supporters to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. There are stipulations, though.
So long as the food and beverages are in a clear, sealable, plastic gallon bag, they’ll be allowed. The drinks must be no larger than 20 ounces and the food must be individual quantities rather than bulk supplies. Only one bag is allowed per guest.
New wall
For just the second time in the 30-year history of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the outfield dimensions have changed. Unlike the brief 2001 alteration, this one is here to stay.
To counteract what has been a hitter’s haven, the left field wall was moved back about 30 feet and the height of the fence was raised from just over 7 feet to 13 feet.
The changes give Camden Yards a slightly different look. About 1,000 seats along 10 rows were removed from the stadium to make way for the deeper wall, and a right angle was added to left-center field where fans used to look down into the bullpens.
The changes might be felt on the field of play, too. At least 14% of the home runs hit at Camden Yards since MLB’s Statcast tracking system began in 2015 would have stayed in play with the new dimensions, according to an investigation from The Baltimore Sun.
Celebrating 30 years
Near the home plate entrance, a 30th anniversary exhibit will feature rotating memorabilia from moments throughout Camden Yards’ history.
“We’ve done kind of the top 30 moments,” said Bill Stetka, the director of the Orioles Alumni program and the team’s historian. “And that’s whittled down from about 80. I had certain players you want to spotlight, certain moments you want to spotlight, and try to make it a little eclectic.”
There will also be auctions for items, such as 25 pairs of removed seats from where the left field wall now stands, with the sales going to charity.
Ticket pricing has also been adjusted to commemorate the season, with the first homestand between April 12-17 reverted to 1992 pricing: $4 for bleachers, $8 for reserve seats, and $12, $13, and $18 for box seats. Hot dogs will also be offered at $1.75 at Camden Franks locations during that stretch, although there will be a limit of two hot dogs per person.
The on-field product
For as interesting as the festivities could be, the on-field product might leave much to be desired. The Orioles struggled in their season-opening series against the Rays, struggling to produce much offensively to make up for a uneven pitching staff.
Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann, an Ellicott City native and Loyola Blakefield graduate, will start for the Orioles on Monday against the Brewers, coming off a season in which he recorded a 5.04 ERA. Behind him, a bullpen that was solid in the first two games of the season began to labor in Sunday’s loss, with right-hander Tyler Wells chased after just 1 2/3 innings in his first major league start.
Behind top-of-the-order hitters Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini, there are some new faces in the lineup, with Rougned Odor and Chris Owings utility additions to the infield. But for the most part, many of the fresh faces will join later, such as Rodriguez, Rutschman and right-hander Kyle Bradish.
Home opener
BREWERS@ORIOLES
Monday, 3:05 p.m.
TV: MASN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/an-orioles-fans-guide-to-opening-day-everything-you-need-to-know-before-heading-to-camden-yards/ | 2022-04-11T11:11:29 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/an-orioles-fans-guide-to-opening-day-everything-you-need-to-know-before-heading-to-camden-yards/ |
Q: Why is the NBA still acting like COVID is some mysterious deadly disease? It’s a runny nose if you are vaccinated. They are really going to hold players out for five days during the playoffs? Is there daily testing still? — Jeffrey.
A: There is not mandatory NBA testing. But as with the onset of any illness, you also want to get ahead of it, if possible. So with a week off before the start of the postseason, better to get things in order now for Bam Adebayo, rather than having to deal with it down the road. And remember, should the Heat face the Raptors in the second round, it would require mandatory testing (as of now) to fly back home from Toronto. So it’s not just the NBA that still has COVID protocols in place. Yes, Sunday was a shock. But better a shock before a week off than a shock before the start of a playoff series. And remember, Bam also can test out of isolation with two negative tests. I would highly doubt that he would be unavailable for the playoffs. But I’m not a doctor and don’t play one in Ask Ira.
Q: So you’re saying there’s no chance for Victor Oladipo in the playoff rotation? — Thad.
A: No, just saying that the starting lineup of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Max Strus proved so successful at season’s end, that I don’t see that changing. And then saying that Tyler Herro and Dewayne Dedmon appear to be the priorities off the bench. So, from there, it could come down to Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent and Victor Oladipo. And it is highly unlikely that more than two of those four make the cut for the primary rotation. Ultimately, it could be situational for Vic, perhaps if the opposition goes small and the Heat can move Butler up to power forward, reducing the minutes for, say, Tucker and Dedmon.
Q: Man, Milwaukee really didn’t want to risk facing the Nets in the first round. — Mickey.
A: Hmm, so you don’t think the Bucks were all-in during Sunday’s season finale when they rolled out a starting lineup against the Cavaliers of Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jordan Nwora and Jevon Carter, with Jrue Holiday given one minute of playing time to cash in on an appearance bonus? And do you think a further clue was playing Lindell Wigginton as their first reserve? Hmm, you might have been on to something there.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/ask-ira-are-nbas-protocols-with-heats-bam-adebayo-getting-in-the-way-of-a-good-thing/ | 2022-04-11T11:11:35 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/ask-ira-are-nbas-protocols-with-heats-bam-adebayo-getting-in-the-way-of-a-good-thing/ |
When you grab fast food, the last thing you're thinking about is the paper wrapper.
"I've always been told that styrofoam is worse than paper. But I really don't know," lunchtime customer Ryan Harper told us outside a fast-food restaurant.
But it was surprising to learn that Consumer Reports has just sounded the alarm about some fast-food packaging.
In a report called Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging, the non-profit advocacy group says PFAS, sometimes known as "forever chemicals," are in some of the grease and water-resistant wrappers and fiber bowls used by many fast-food restaurants.
Consumer Reports says the chemicals have been linked to immune system suppression and even cancer.
Brian Ronholm of Consumer Reports said "of the products we tested, of the 118 products, 37 of them had levels above 25 parts per million. Those are pretty troubling readings if you take a step back. When you get above 20 parts per million, that's when you start worrying about the levels."
You can read their full investigation here.
How to protect yourself
So what can you do to protect your family when you get takeout burgers, fries, chicken, maybe cookies, and you are not sure exactly what's in that packaging? Ronholm says your best bet is to "take them out of the wrapper as quickly as possible and put them on a plate at home."
And the most important thing, he says, is to never microwave fast food in its wrapper.
Companies promise changes
Following Consumer Reports' investigation, McDonald's, Burger King, and Chick-fil-A all went to social media, promising to phase out PFAS in the next few years. Arby's, in the meantime, sent us a statement saying they will phase them out by the end of 2022.
Ronholm says that is good news, as "they don't break down in the environment, and they stay in our bodies for a really long time."
So don't assume that wrapper is just paper, so you stay safe and don't waste your money.
___________________
Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Like" John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com | https://www.wmar2news.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/investigation-claims-dangerous-chemicals-in-some-fast-food-packaging | 2022-04-11T11:11:40 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/investigation-claims-dangerous-chemicals-in-some-fast-food-packaging |
Cal Ripken Jr. had grown up with Memorial Stadium. He watched Brooks Robinson lead the Orioles to a pair of World Series championships, falling in love with the sport and team for which he’d one day become a Hall of Famer.
So when Ripken strode to the plate in the ninth inning Oct. 6, 1991, he hoped to send that beloved stadium out with a bang, something worthy of all the memories fostered there before the Orioles would bid adieu and travel downtown to a new ballpark of unknowns.
Instead, Ripken dribbled a game-ending double-play ball to third base.
“Not the way you want to go out at Memorial Stadium,” Ripken said.
But what waited for Ripken and all of Baltimore at Oriole Park at Camden Yards soon washed away the trepidation of leaving a venue of 38 years. Ripken was against the move until he walked into Camden Yards for the first time, looking around at the warehouse and downtown skyline. An understanding took place: Change could be good.
And Camden Yards, certainly, was good.
“It felt like baseball had already been played there,” Ripken said. “It felt like it had this old-park feeling, and I think the warehouse really did that, but it was brand-spanking new. And you quickly forgot about Memorial Stadium.”
It’s hard for Ripken to believe 30 years have passed since Camden Yards first opened — just as it’s hard to believe he stopped playing baseball there two decades ago. But even as he enters the stadium in recent years, the charm of the grounds remains.
Rick Dempsey, a former catcher in the Orioles Hall of Fame, noticed that charm before the ballpark was even completed. With a hard hat on, Dempsey made his way down to what would be the field level during the early stages of construction. And as his guide described the efforts and what would be built around him, the image took shape in Dempsey’s mind.
If he has one regret from a 24-year major league career, it’s that he didn’t get a chance to play at Camden Yards more. He returned to Baltimore as a 42-year-old, earning one more go-around because of his defensive prowess.
But he only started one game at Camden Yards — part of eight appearances before he retired. And yet, one game was all he needed to know how special it was.
“Every day you get into that stadium, it’s so comfortable,” Dempsey said. “It’s what Major League Baseball should be at every ballpark. I know Fenway has its charm. Yankee Stadium has its charm. But not many ballparks even come close to what Camden Yards had from the very beginning, and the only thing lacking there right now is a championship team. Otherwise, that would be the place to come and see baseball games.”
The early success at Camden Yards, with teams led by Ripken, helped settle a fan base quickly to new confines. Ripken spent half his career at Memorial Stadium and the second part at Camden Yards, and he has fond memories in each — particularly the 1983 World Series championship.
But perhaps no moment eclipses Sept. 6, 1995, or the weeks leading up to it. With each consecutive game played unfurled on the warehouse as Ripken approached the MLB-record 2,131 games, Ripken could feel the excitement mount.
Unlike his final at-bat at Memorial Stadium, though, when he let the moment get too large and he grounded into a double play, Ripken embraced the spotlight. He homered in games 2,129, 2,130 and 2,131, then took a lap around Camden Yards during a 22-minute standing ovation for his Iron Man record.
“Bobby [Bonilla] and [Rafael Palmeiro] pushed me down that line to take that lap. Reluctantly so at first, I was thinking, maybe this will help,” Ripken said. “And my view all along was I’ll celebrate as long as you want afterward, but pitchers are cooling down. You can’t stop the action in the middle — it’s like a long rain delay.
“After I started that lap and started running around, I forgot those thoughts. I was thinking, ‘To heck with starting the game again. This is too good.’”
Years earlier, Ripken worried the move away from Memorial Stadium would fade the memories he had from that stadium. But he quickly learned that memories aren’t rooted in a place — instead, they’re rooted in his mind.
The move to Camden Yards only spurred more memories, adding to a Rolodex of fond moments from a standout career. They’re different, Camden Yards and Memorial Stadium. But 30 years later, Camden Yards is still among the crown jewels of MLB, an intimate ballpark that will never leave Ripken’s psyche.
“It’s a magical ballpark,” he said. “And I can’t believe it has been 30 years.”
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/cal-ripken-jr-looks-back-on-30-years-of-oriole-park-at-camden-yards-its-a-magical-ballpark/ | 2022-04-11T11:11:41 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/cal-ripken-jr-looks-back-on-30-years-of-oriole-park-at-camden-yards-its-a-magical-ballpark/ |
BALTIMORE — Baseball fans aren't the only ones excited for the orioles return to Birdland for the Orioles home opener.
Camden Yards is surrounded by many bars, restaurants, and hotels which also count on the Orioles to bring in the crowds during the baseball season.
Pickles Pub has been a fixture in Baltimore for more than 30 years.
It pre-dates Oriole Park by just a few years.
The bar opened on St. Patrick's Day 1988, then the Orioles took the field for the first time in 1992. They've gone together like hand in glove ever since.
Just a few hundred feet from home plate at Oriole Park is Pickles Pub. more than a sports bar, it's a Baltimore tradition.
In a year in which the date of opening day was up in the air, the pub’s marquee clears any doubt baseball is back. Pickles Pub general manager Tom Leonard couldn’t be happier.
“Stoked! It's finally happening. I mean, we had an opening day last year, but you know it wasn’t the same. Seated service only, a limited number of people inside the stadium… So, now it’s real you know. Now, it’s like good old days, you know, back to the gloriousness,” Leonard said.
Leonard, also known as “the Big Pickle,” is anxious and excited for the return of baseball and opening day crowds.
“After the last two lean years it’s even more important. Just going forward, its just something that creates that cushion. Especially for us, we’re lucky enough to have it you know,” Leonard said.
“We’re not just in the middle of nowhere or competing with 12 other establishments right next to us for a crowd, you know, the games happen people come here. So, it’s like season starts and it’s like alright cool. We’re good, you know,” Leonard added.
From Covid lockdowns to a player lockout, Leonard wears a T-shirt, which shows he was prepared for what ever curve ball the 2022 baseball season might throw at him.
“Since the pandemic and stuff like that, it’s not like ‘oh my God.” Whatever. It was more like all right, so here’s what we’re gonna do if it doesn’t happen for X amount, or if it doesn’t happen until the All-Star Break,” Leonard said.
Too busy to stress, Leonard had to think about when to open, when to close, promoting the pub, and hiring staff. During a typical baseball season Pickles Pub hires 40-60 part-time employees.
“I have a plethora of people that want to work here during the season that are very capable and good and have worked with us in the past. So, it’s more just like getting in their hours you know. They’re grad students, they’re teachers, they’re their single parents, making sure they get their supplemental income. So, if there was still the lockout a lot of them would not be getting shifts,” Leonard said.
With the lockout over and opening day now here, Pickles Pub is staffed and ready to go.
“They’re on me about like what time am I showing up on Monday where am I at, and you know, those emails have been sent, so,” Leonard said.
“Now it's here and it's happening,” Leonard quipped.
Pickles Pub is offering drink specials and a free breakfast buffet to celebrate the return of the orioles to Birdland. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/pickles-pub-prepared-to-welcome-back-orioles-fans-on-opening-day | 2022-04-11T11:11:46 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/pickles-pub-prepared-to-welcome-back-orioles-fans-on-opening-day |
In expressing the difficulties of their ongoing rebuild, Orioles leadership has often pointed to not only the basement they had to climb out of, but also the ceiling they must reach as a member of the American League East.
The difficult pursuit that awaits the Orioles both in 2022 and on their eventual path to contention was on display in the season’s opening weekend, with the Tampa Bay Rays, the division’s reigning champions, completing a three-game sweep of Baltimore. Since sweeping the Rays in the clubs’ first series of 2020, the Orioles have gone 2-27 against Tampa Bay, dropping the past 15 matchups.
The Rays’ 18-1 record against Baltimore in 2021 went a long way towards clinching a division in which four teams won at least 90 games. The Orioles, meanwhile, dropped 108 games for the third straight full season.
“Honestly, it’s just a focus for each and every one of us to get better,” said Tyler Wells, who started Sunday’s 8-0 loss and allowed four runs in the second inning. “Right now, I think the end result is the least of our concerns.
“We’re three games into the season, and that’s never going to tell a full picture. I think that there’s so much more to this team than what happened last year.”
That’s certainly fair, and in all likelihood, this figures to be the year the progress the organization has been making everywhere but the majors begins to appear at Camden Yards. But there were few signs of it this weekend at Tropicana Field.
The opposing team in many ways represents the ideal of the Orioles’ rebuild. Despite modest payrolls, the Rays endlessly produce talented players and teams. Their pitching staff is a diverse mix of arm angles, velocities and primary pitches. A balanced group of position players allows for ideal matchups against any opposing arm.
“Down the road,” manager Brandon Hyde said, “I’d love to have that.”
The center of Tampa Bay’s lineup is a homegrown star who switch hits and once ranked as baseball’s top prospect, with a young, hard-throwing starter guiding its rotation. The hope is that the Orioles’ version of Wander Franco and Shane McClanahan — top prospects Adley Rutschman and Grayson Rodriguez — will soon be in Baltimore. But the greatness of the Rays comes in their depth.
“They’ve been a premier team in the game here for a while now, and it’s because they have elite pitching and a balanced lineup and always play really good defense,” Hyde said. “It’s just a tough team to play.”
The Orioles, to their credit, put up a fight in the first two games of the series, falling by a combined three runs before the Rays lapped that Sunday. Baltimore batters finished with a franchise-record 37 strikeouts in the series, missing on more than a third of their swing attempts against Tampa Bays’ gauntlet of arms.
“They have the clock,” outfielder Austin Hays said, describing how the Rays have pitchers who throw from a full collection of arm angles. “It’s a different arm slot on both sides. Every guy that comes out gives you a different look. The breaking balls are different, the heaters, speeds. But outside of that, it’s just they don’t leave a lot of balls middle. You don’t get a lot of mistakes.”
In recent years, the same hasn’t applied to those facing the Orioles’ pitchers. But the Rays’ hitters are able to capitalize even on pitchers’ top offerings. Francisco Mejía’s game-winning sacrifice fly Friday was a product of getting a down-and-away Jorge López changeup airborne. The next day, Jordan Lyles threw Mejía a two-strike, elevated fastball right where he wanted it, and Mejía “beat me to the spot.” Sunday, Wells felt the lone bad pitch among the 52 he needed to get five outs became a Brandon Lowe home run and ended his first major league start.
“It’s a tough lineup,” Wells said. “They were the AL East champs last year. And honestly, every lineup in the AL East is the same way. You got a bunch of guys who are going to continue to battle.”
The Orioles are trying to build a team that can do the same. One weekend in, they showed they have far to go.
What’s to come?
The Orioles’ celebration of the 30th anniversary of Camden Yards formally begins Monday with the team’s home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. Fittingly, Baltimore area native Bruce Zimmermann gets the start on the mound, becoming the first Maryland-born Oriole to throw the first pitch of the year at the iconic ballpark.
It will have a different look, as well, with this week’s series against Milwaukee and the New York Yankees providing players with their first experience with Oriole Park’s new left field wall. This offseason, the team had the wall moved back about 30 feet, with the wall’s height rising more than 5 feet to meet the stadium’s bowl. Outfielders will spend pregame Monday getting used to the intriguing new angles, given they have spent the time since its completion in Florida.
What was good?
Sunday’s seventh inning spoiled this to an extent, but the Orioles’ bullpen — largely a mystery even before Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser were traded to the Miami Marlins — mostly delivered throughout the weekend.
Before Tampa Bay’s late four-run spurt, Baltimore’s relievers had allowed one earned run in 11 1/3 innings. That success largely came from pitchers who either weren’t with the Orioles a year ago or were working in different roles than they had previously.
After impressing in spring training, offseason waiver claims Bryan Baker and Cionel Pérez had strong Oriole debuts. Keegan Akin led Orioles rookies in innings but generally struggled in the rotation; he pitched three dominant innings behind Lyles, saying afterward he could get used to entering in relief. The first look at López as effectively the Orioles’ closer resulted in a loss, but his velocity spiked and he produced weak contact. Félix Bautista’s first major league outing — on his mom’s birthday, no less — featured strikeouts of two of last year’s top three finishers in AL Rookie of the Year voting over 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
It’s a small sample in each case, but Hyde seemingly has more velocity available to him than he ever has as the Orioles’ manager. Results along with it would certainly make his job easier.
What wasn’t?
After hitting his 30th home run to become the first Oriole with a 30-30 season, center fielder Cedric Mullins ended the season quietly, a stretch Hyde then excused as one slump within an excellent season.
Six months have passed since then, but Mullins has started 2022 even slower than he ended 2021, with a spring training also filled with struggles in-between. Mullins’ season perhaps began ominously, as a McClanahan fastball to the elbow made him the first Oriole to be hit by the first pitch of a season. He’s struck out in seven of his 12 plate appearances since, striking out multiple times in each game. He struck out more than once in three consecutive games only once in 2021: Sept. 28-30, days after his 30th homer.
Across seasons, Mullins has 12 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit in his past 42 regular-season plate appearances, a relatively small sample. This spring, he struck out in a third of his 33 trips to the plate.
He bounced back from a game-opening strikeout Sunday to single and steal second his next time up. There’s plenty of time for him to return to form. After all, he has only 29 steals and 30 homers to go.
On the farm
With all due respect to 2020 second-rounder Hudson Haskin’s three-homer Sunday with Double-A Bowie and Rodriguez’s one-hit outing in his first start at Triple-A, the focus here goes to Yusniel Diaz. After hitting the ball hard to all fields in spring training, the centerpiece of the Manny Machado trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers has kept that going in Norfolk.
Diaz, 25, homered twice Thursday among his four extra-base hits in five games. He’s also walked five times, slashing .389/.500/.833. Given how his 2021 season went — filled with injuries and, when healthy, immense struggles — the Orioles will likely want to see a longer stretch of success before they consider promoting the former top prospect to the majors. But he’s certainly off to a good start toward that effort.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/orioles-reset-in-season-opening-sweep-rays-show-off-everything-orioles-trying-to-build-analysis/ | 2022-04-11T11:11:47 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/orioles-reset-in-season-opening-sweep-rays-show-off-everything-orioles-trying-to-build-analysis/ |
ANNAPOLIS, Md (WMAR) — All eyes are on Annapolis today for the last day of the legislative session. Among the things to watch for: a gas tax relief extension and the potential passage of emergency crime bills.
To give drives a break from rising gas prices, lawmakers passed a 30-day tax holiday in March. It saved drivers 36-cents per gallon at the pump, but it is set to expire on Saturday, unless they find a last-minute solution Monday.
A Republican delegate’s amendment to extend the relief by another 45 days failed to pass on Thursday.
Some Democratic lawmakers worry extending it would hurt the state’s transportation fund, which is used to fix roads and bridges.
“I think they need to reconsider the decisions they're making, and also reconsider the effect on families, you know, the ordinary citizens. That's exactly what I think in kind words,” said Baltimorean Evelyn Cavanaugh.
Some wonder if Gov. Larry Hogan will step in to extend the holiday, though he has said he’d like the federal government to offer its own tax break.
What Hogan has been very vocal about is two emergency crime bills that he said would help get shooters and murderers off the streets by increasing accountability and penalties.
The Violent Firearms Offender Act, which has failed before, would toughen penalties for people caught with illegal firearms.
The Judicial Transparency Act would require a state commission to track and publish information on sentences handed down for violent crimes.
Hogan is challenging lawmakers to at least hold votes on these bills so constituents, including crime survivors and victims’ families, can see where the politicians stand.
87 people have been murdered in Baltimore City this year.
It includes a 39-year-old who was shot several times Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Narcissus Avenue.
Both chambers convene at noon and work until midnight when the session ends. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/sine-die-day-2022-what-to-look-out-for | 2022-04-11T11:11:52 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/sine-die-day-2022-what-to-look-out-for |
Coming off a season-opening sweep at the hands of the defending American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles enter Monday’s home opener at Camden Yards 0-3 for the first time since 2007. But there might be a silver lining.
In their past three seasons, the Orioles won at least one of their first three games before plunging to the bottom of the standings. A 2021 season that started with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox ended with 110 losses, the franchise’s second-most since moving to Baltimore in 1954. Perhaps this time a bad start signals a bright future.
In many ways, this year could provide some of the first glimmers of hope of the long-term rebuild under executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and his staff. Before the Orioles take the field Monday, beat reporters Nathan Ruiz and Andy Kostka and editor Tim Schwartz give their expert opinions about how the 2022 season might play out.
Which Oriole will break out this season?
Ruiz: Mike Baumann. This spring, Baumann showed off the dynamic stuff that made him one of the Orioles’ top minor leaguers in 2019 and led to him sharing the organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year award with Grayson Rodriguez, who has since become baseball’s top pitching prospect. Baumann will open the year in the Orioles’ bullpen, and even if he never returns to a starting role, he’s capable of being a multiple-inning relief weapon, and there could be opportunities for him to pitch late in games, as well.
Kostka: Ramón Urías. The Carlos Correa to the Orioles rumors were fanciful at best and delusional at worst, but perhaps that — or the ripe pipeline of infielders breathing down Urías’ neck in the minors — will prod the 27-year-old to a breakout season. He played well in his first full major league season in 2021, hitting .279. But Urías struck out too frequently last year, which outweighed some of his power potential. One weekend of the season is too small a sample size, but Urías did show flashes of that extra-bag potential against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Schwartz: I’ll go outside the box and say right-hander Félix Bautista. The Orioles traded Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser to the Marlins, opening the door for some unproven talent to showcase they belong in a big league bullpen. Bautista has taken a long road to Baltimore, but he’s shown the ability to miss a lot of bats at every level. If he can trim the 5.8 walks per nine innings he had last season in the minors, he has the stuff to be saving games by the season’s end in what was the worst bullpen in baseball last year.
Who will be the 2022 Most Valuable Oriole?
Ruiz: John Means. Especially early this year, innings will be immensely important, and although Jordan Lyles will contend, Means will likely be Baltimore’s best provider of them. In his second straight season-opening start, the Rays ramped his pitch count up, but he still managed to get through four frames having allowed only one run, his signature changeup racking up swing-and-misses. If Means, one of baseball’s best pitchers through the first two months of 2021, can stay healthy through the year, it might prove hard to argue there’s a more valuable Oriole.
Kostka: John Means. There are very few sure bets in Baltimore’s starting rotation beyond Means, and he’ll be required to be a stabilizing presence. Trey Mancini and Cedric Mullins have potential to be the most valuable Orioles, but Mancini could be gone by the deadline and Mullins’ influence in the order might not stand out from the pack as drastically as Means’ work in the rotation.
Schwartz: Trey Mancini. Mullins has the potential to have another 30-30 season, but Mancini is back to full health and will be eager to earn a big payday in Baltimore or elsewhere. The 30-year-old surprised many by playing in 150 games last year after beating colon cancer, and he’s talked at length this spring about how he’s ready to focus on baseball. He was the team’s best player in 2019, finishing the year as one of only four majors leaguers with 35 home runs, 35 doubles and an OPS of at least .899, and there’s no reason he can’t be that player again.
Predict top prospect Adley Rutschman’s final stat line and finish in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Ruiz: .265/.377/.482, second. All I did was shave 20 points off each part of Rutschman’s 2021 batting line between Double-A and Triple-A, which might be optimistic given the jump in talent he’ll see going from Norfolk to the American League East. This is a projection based on the possibility Rutschman is as special of a player as he’s been hyped to be, though. In the wild-card era, only 17 rookies with at least 250 plate appearances have finished with this good of a batting line, and it’s a group that includes Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Juan Soto. But none of that trio ever ranked as baseball’s top prospect.
Kostka: .273/.360/.480. Fourth. Rutschman is behind the trio of top prospects who began the regular season with their major league clubs, and there’s a precedent for what a catcher must do to win Rookie of the Year. Take Buster Posey in 2010. Across 108 games, Posey hit .305 with a .505 slugging percentage. Geovany Soto in 2008 hit .285 with a .504 slugging percentage. Those are the only two catchers to win Rookie of the Year this century. If Rutschman doesn’t have a slugging percentage around .500, he might not stand out enough compared to the other young talent.
Schwartz: .278/.352/.443, third. Rutschman should make his MLB debut in late April or early May, and it’s likely he’ll be a mainstay in the lineup from there. With Bobby Witt Jr. in Kansas City, Spencer Torkelson in Detroit and Julio Rodríguez in Seattle all breaking camp with their big league clubs, Rutschman will be a month behind. Still, he has little everyday competition, and at age 24 he’s clearly shown he’s ready for a full season in Baltimore. He’ll be the best rookie in baseball, but he won’t have the stats to catch Torkleson or Witt Jr., meaning the Orioles luck out and get an extra year of team control by virtue of him finishing outside the top two for AL Rookie of the Year.
Beyond Rutschman, which debuting prospect will make the best first impression?
Ruiz: Kyle Bradish. With Bradish having already spent most of 2021 at Triple-A, he figures to beat both Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall — the only two pitchers ranked ahead of him in the Orioles’ system — to the majors. This spring, he worked two scoreless innings in both of two outings against New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies’ varsity lineups. The top arm of the four minor league pitchers Baltimore acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for starter Dylan Bundy, Bradish should settle into the Orioles’ rotation before long and spend summer showing off his impressive pitch mix.
Kostka: DL Hall. He’s taking extra time to ramp up as he comes back from an elbow injury that hampered his 2021 and will start in Double-A. But Hall should elevate quickly. The left-hander’s high heat and slider could play well out of the bullpen to start if he doesn’t immediately find his place in Baltimore’s rotation.
Schwartz: Grayson Rodriguez. Has to be, right? The 22-year-old right-hander and the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Rodriguez is banging on Baltimore’s door and should be ready to debut by the summer. He’s been electric in the minors and had a 2.36 ERA last year across High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie. If he continues to put up similar numbers to start this season at Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles shouldn’t hesitate to see what he can in the big leagues, where his stuff should still play.
Will the Orioles’ record be better or worse than their 52-110 mark in 2021?
Ruiz: Better. There will be some rough stretches early, especially as Brandon Hyde tries to manage an incredibly inexperienced pitching staff. But at some point, he’ll finally have some dudes on his roster. Adley Rutschman and Kyle Stowers will join a lineup that already has potential fixtures Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays. Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall and Kyle Bradish will hopefully follow ace John Means and veteran Jordan Lyles in the rotation. This isn’t the year the Orioles start competing — 2023, anyone? — but it should be one the rebuild finally feels like it’s paying off at Camden Yards. Prediction: 60-102
Kostka: Better. But it has to be, right? Right? Bueller? The turnaround won’t happen this season, but it could come soon. There will surely be rough portions to 2022 as prospects navigate the jump to the big leagues, but the rotation could receive some clarity with Hall, Rodriguez and Bradish joining eventually. And maybe that will help the Orioles avoid a fourth 100-loss season in five years. Prediction: 63-99
Schwartz: Better, but not by much. It’s hard to lose 110 games three years in a row, and the Orioles’ young talent has to be better in 2022. Mancini won’t fade down the stretch like he did last year, and Means is aiming for 200 innings after a shoulder strain sidelined him several weeks in the summer. Rutschman will make an impact, and Mullins is an All-Star. Can Antony Santander get back to his former self? Can Lyles be a workhorse without a bloated ERA? This is by no means a good team, but they won’t be MLB’s worst again. Prediction: 59-103
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/orioles-roundtable-predicting-breakout-players-team-record-adley-rutschmans-stat-line-and-more-for-2022-season/ | 2022-04-11T11:11:53 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/orioles-roundtable-predicting-breakout-players-team-record-adley-rutschmans-stat-line-and-more-for-2022-season/ |
WASHINGTON — You’ve likely heard a lot lately about Title 42, the pandemic-related public health policy that kept over a million migrants seeking asylum out of the U.S. last year.
President Joe Biden has said that will end next month, on May 23rd, frustrating those who are concerned about a mass migration event at the border. So what is happening right now to prepare for the spike?
HISTORY OF SEEKING ASYLUM
Seeking asylum is permitted by U.S. law and is typically understood as escaping persecution from another country.
During the pandemic, however, the Trump and Biden administrations expanded the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to remove asylum-seeking individuals because of COVID-19 concerns.
That is what Title 42 is generally understood to be.
FRUSTRATION OVER CHANGE
“This isn’t our first time warning about this,” House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told reporters on Capitol Hill at a recent briefing about Title 42.
"You are already seeing mayhem down at the border," McCarthy added.
The policy change, though, is frustrating conservatives like McCarthy, as well as moderate Democratic senators like Senator Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Senator Jon Tester of Montana.
Their concern is that more than 1.6 million migrants were expelled under Title 42 in the last year or so from the United States and in theory, many will soon be able to try again, possibly overwhelming the border.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN
So what do we know about President Biden's plan for the border after this controversial rule goes away next month?
For one, the Department of Homeland Security is acknowledging an increase in numbers is “likely.”
As a result, preparations are underway to increase coordination with non-profits to ensure proper shelter and supplies. DHS is also creating new border facilities in key areas ahead of the expected surge.
The Department is also redirecting employees to the region to help with the processing of migrants. Additional preparations are underway so that air and ground transportation is available to send migrants to less crowded facilities should issues arise in one area.
WHY TITLE 42 IS ENDING?
If you are wondering why the policy is ending, Physicians for Human Rights recently testified in front of Congress saying COVID-19 should have never been an excuse to deny people help.
“These exclusionary practices are not now, and were not ever based on sound public health principles,” Dr. Adam Richards said.
Progressive groups have pressured the Biden administration to end Title 42 for over a year. Expect to hear more on the issue in the coming weeks.
A COVID-19 funding bill in Congress remains stalled because some in the Senate want the president to change his mind on Title 42. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national-politics/what-is-title-42-and-what-is-being-done-to-address-an-expected-surge | 2022-04-11T11:11:58 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national-politics/what-is-title-42-and-what-is-being-done-to-address-an-expected-surge |
It's a cold and frosty start to Opening Day, but it will warm up nicely to seasonal temps by first pitch. Highs will be in the mid 60s. Frost Advisories are in effect until 9AM. A few showers are possible late tonight into tomorrow morning. It will be warmer with highs in the mid 70s. Above normal temps will continue into the end of the week. Highs will reach the upper 70s to low 80s Wednesday and Thursday with showers and storms possible.
Stay tuned!
7 Day Forecast:
Monday: Areas of frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Light and variable wind becoming south 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. | https://www.wmar2news.com/weather/seasonal-but-breezy-opening-day | 2022-04-11T11:12:04 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/weather/seasonal-but-breezy-opening-day |
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new firearm regulation as soon as Monday meant to contain the use of privately made weapons, people familiar with the matter said, as he comes under pressure to take more steps to address gun violence.
The regulation on so-called "ghost guns" -- unregulated, untraceable weapons made from kits -- would address a critical gap in the government's ability to track them, CNN reported.
Biden is also expected to name Steve Dettelbach, a former US attorney from Ohio, as his nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as soon as Monday, according to a US official. Biden's previous nominee was forced to withdraw amid opposition in the Senate.
The moves come as gun violence and crime have ticked up in the United States, putting pressure on the White House to take action. Biden was expected to address new steps on guns in a public event Monday afternoon, according to people who have received invitations.
The White House declined to comment on the new steps, which were described by three people familiar with the matter not authorized to speak publicly. Dettelbach did not respond to a request for comment.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer again decried the use of ghost guns during a press conference Sunday, calling for a crackdown on the rise of the privately made firearms and speaking about a deadly shooting in the Bronx Friday.
The New York Democrat on Sunday blamed Republicans for holding up gun reform legislation, while pressing Biden's administration to go further. "Today I am calling on the administration to go all after ghost guns, by putting out regulations that will stop them. The federal government has the ability through regulation to stop these ghost guns," he said.
Following a 2021 directive from the Biden administration, the ATF proposed a rule in May last year to allow the bureau to classify the building blocks that often make up ghost guns as firearms. The rule has been winding its way through the federal regulation process since then.
The ATF rule addresses a key problem in tracking and regulating ghost guns because certain frames and receivers used to assemble the guns are often purchased online and not classified as firearms by the bureau.
The rule would also require manufactures who sell parts to assemble ghost guns to be licensed and to run background checks on potential purchasers of the kits used to assemble the products.
The Justice Department has also launched a national ghost gun enforcement initiative, which will "train a national cadre of prosecutors and disseminate investigation and prosecution tools to help bring cases against those who use ghost guns to commit crimes," according to the White House.
RELATED: Homemade guns from do-it-yourself kits are newest threat to law enforcement
Ghost guns have been used in multiple recent shootings, including at a Maryland high school in January. The exact number in circulation is unknowable, given the inability of regulators to track them.
Multiple states have moved to restrict their sale as ghost guns become more common at crime scenes.
Last week, Maryland joined Washington, DC, and 10 other states -- California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington -- in banning or restricting the purchase or use of ghost guns, which are often bought online and assembled at home.
In September, Biden withdrew his nomination of David Chipman to lead the ATF after facing opposition from Republicans and certain moderate Democrats.
Chipman, a former career official at ATF, came under scrutiny from pro-gun rights supporters and the National Rifle Association for his work as a senior adviser to Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords -- the organization started by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot at an event in her Arizona district in 201
Dettelbach ran unsuccessfully for Ohio attorney general in 2018 after serving as US attorney in the state.
(The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)
President Biden to nominate new ATF director, release ghost gun rule
By Kevin Liptak, CNN | https://abc11.com/president-biden-atf-steve-dettlebach-ghost-guns/11735103/ | 2022-04-11T11:12:08 | 1 | https://abc11.com/president-biden-atf-steve-dettlebach-ghost-guns/11735103/ |
KYIV, Ukraine -- A showdown looms in Ukraine after Russia appointed a new military commander and looked to concentrate its attacks in the east, while Ukraine's president said his troops will hold their ground, urging Western leaders, in particular President Joe Biden, to do more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday in a nightly address that this week will be as crucial as any during the war, saying "Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state."
Ukraine's fate as the war shifts south and east depends on whether the United States will help match a surge in Russian weaponry, he said, echoing comments he made in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday.
"To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this," Zelenskyy said in a "60 Minutes" interview. "Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need."
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Biden for U.S. military aid to date but added that he "long ago" forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needed.
"He has the list," Zelenskyy said. "President Biden can enter history as the person who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people who won and chose the right to have their own country. (This) also depends on him."
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Also Monday, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was sending a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers.
More than six weeks of war in Ukraine has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically, and experts say the next phase of the battle may begin with a full-scale offensive that could determine the course of the conflict.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders. Britain's Defense Ministry says Russia is trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
In his Sunday night address, Zelenskyy also accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine.
"When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them," Zelenskyy said.
"The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth," he added.
Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including airstrikes on hospitals, a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station and other violence.
In another report of atrocities, the village of Buzova outside the capital, Kyiv, charred vehicles and buildings marked an area where local official Taras Didych told Ukrainian media Sunday that bodies showing "evidence of execution" were found after Russian forces withdrew from the region. It was unclear how many bodies were discovered.
Buzova is near Bucha, another of the towns near Kyiv, where hundreds of bodies, many with their hands bound and signs of torture, were found after the Russian retreat. Russia has falsely claimed the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground.
Dvornikov, 60, takes over as Russian military prepares to focus on expanding control in Ukraine's east, where Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region since 2014, declaring some areas independent.
He gained a record for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad's government during the country's devastating civil war.
Russian authorities do not generally confirm such appointments and have said nothing about a new role for Dvornikov, who received the esteemed Hero of Russia medal from President Vladimir Putin in 2016.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," played down the appointment's significance.
"What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia," Sullivan said. "It doesn't matter which general President Putin tries to appoint."
Western military analysts say Russia's assault increasingly is focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of eastern Ukraine - from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.
That could counter Russia's earlier problem of spreading its offensive too widely over too broad a geographic area.
Newly released Maxar Technologies satellite imagery showed an 8-mile (13-kilometer) convoy of military vehicles headed south through Ukraine to Donbas, recalling images of the convoy that stalled outside Kyiv before Russia gave up trying to take the capital.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine's defenses, the Ukrainian military command said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack and surrounded for nearly 1 months.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russia's military used air-launched missiles to hit Ukraine's S-300 air-defense missile systems in the southern Mykolaiv region and at an air base in Chuhuiv, a city not far from Kharkiv.
Sea-launched Russian cruise missiles destroyed the headquarters of a Ukrainian military unit stationed farther west in the Dnipro region, Konashenkov said. Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military claims could be independently verified.
Missiles twice struck the airport in Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city, on Sunday, the regional governor said.
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago.
The city's residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city and frustrated evacuation missions. Ukrainian authorities think an airstrike on a theater that was being used as a bomb shelter killed hundreds of civilians, and Zelenskyy has said he expects more evidence of atrocities to be found once Mariupol no longer is blockaded.
On Sunday night, Zelenskyy again appealed for more assistance. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he discussed "how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and . . . force Russia to seek peace."
"I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical," Zelenskyy said.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will "renew offensive operations in the coming days" from Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv, in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine's industrial heartland.
But in the view of the think tank's analysts, "The outcome of forthcoming Russian operations in eastern Ukraine remains very much in question."
Ukrainian defenders dig in as Russia boosts firepower
By ADAM SCHRECK and CARA ANNA | https://abc11.com/ukraine-russia-volodymyr-zelenskyy-news/11736425/ | 2022-04-11T11:12:14 | 0 | https://abc11.com/ukraine-russia-volodymyr-zelenskyy-news/11736425/ |
BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures sank Monday after the Federal Reserve indicated it might raise interest rates more aggressively to cool U.S. inflation and President Emmanuel Macron emerged from the first round of France’s election facing a challenge from the far right.
London and Frankfurt opened lower. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong retreated. Oil fell more than $2 per barrel on concern global economic growth might weaken.
Investors are uneasy about higher interest rates, Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s effort to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
Fed officials indicated in notes from last month’s meeting they were considering raising the U.S. benchmark rate by double the normal amount at upcoming meetings. They also indicated they may shrink the Fed’s bond holdings, which might push up commercial borrowing rates.
Investors see “increasing evidence the Federal Reserve will take a more committed approach” to fighting inflation, said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report.
In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London fell 0.3% to 7,648.81 and Frankfurt’s DAX shed 0.5% to 14,220.99.
The CAC 40 in Paris advanced 0.7% to 6,593.24 after Macron said his battle with challenger Marine Le Pen of the National Rally for the April 24 second round of voting will be a hard fight. The two were finalists in the last presidential election five years ago.
“Markets are looking to a volatile two weeks before the final result is known,” Charlotte de Montpellier and Antoine Bouvet of ING said in a report.
On Wall Street, the future for the benchmark S&P 500 index was off 0.4% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.1%.
On Friday, the S&P 500 lost 0.3% and the Dow rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.3%.
Higher interest rates usually depress economic activity and make safer assets such as bonds more attractive while making stocks look riskier and more expensive.
Some worry the Fed, after being accused of reacting too late to rising inflation, might push the brakes too hard and tip the world’s biggest economy into recession. Economists at Deutsche Bank last week forecast a U.S. recession by late next year.
In Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.6% to 3,167.13 after inflation accelerated to 1.5% over a year ago in March from the previous month’s 0.9% amid upward pressure on global prices due to uncertainty about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Inflation “may limit the space to cut interest rates” to shore up Chinese economic growth, said Nomura analysts in a report.
Also in China, automakers and other manufacturers are reducing production due to supply disruptions after authorities tightened anti-disease controls to stop coronavirus outbreaks in Shanghai and other cities.
Automaker BYD slipped 4.5% and Dongfeng Motor Group Co. declined 3.6%. Technology firms also fell on reports of plans for further regulatory crackdowns in the industry.
ACM Research, a supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry that has operations in Shanghai, fell 6.1% on Friday after saying the restrictions will cause a significant hit to its revenue.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo shed 0.6% to 26,821.52 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng retreated 3% to 21,208.30.
The S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney advanced 0.1% to 7,485.20.
India’s Sensex lost 0.5% to 59,183.25. New Zealand and Singapore declined while Indonesia advanced.
Jakarta-traded shares in GoTo, a so-called super app that offers a range of services and goods including ride-hailing and fin-tech, rose 21% Monday in their trading debut after an initial public offering worth $1.1 billion.
Oil prices have fallen back on expectations of weaker demand after peaking above $130 per barrel last month due to anxiety about disruption of supplies from Russia, the world’s No. 2 exporter.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.32 to $95.94 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.23 to $98.26 on Friday. Brent crude, used as the price basis for international oils, retreated $2.22 to $100.56 per barrel in London. It rose $2.20 the previous session to $102.78 a barrel.
The dollar rose to 125.33 yen from Friday’s 124.37 yen. The euro was unchanged at $1.0906. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:10 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ |
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower Monday after the Federal Reserve indicated it might raise interest rates more aggressively to cool U.S. inflation.
Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and South Korea all declined. Oil fell more than $2 per barrel amid concerns global economic growth might weaken.
Investors are uneasy about possible downward pressure on economic activity from higher interest rates, Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s efforts to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 lost 0.3% on Friday after Fed officials indicated in notes from their last meeting they were considering raising its benchmark rate by double the normal amount at upcoming meetings. They also indicated they are likely to shrink the Fed’s bond holdings, which also might push up commercial borrowing rates.
Investors see “increasing evidence the Federal Reserve will take a more committed approach” to fighting inflation, said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report.
The Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.2% to 3,179.32 after inflation accelerated to 1.5% over a year ago in March from the previous month’s 0.9% amid upward pressure on global prices due to uncertainty about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost shed 0.7% to 26,793.46 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng retreated 2.5% to 21,324.05.
The S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney advanced less than 0.1% to 7,482.80. New Zealand and Singapore declined while Indonesia advanced.
On Friday, the S&P 500 declined to 4,488.28 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% to 34,721.12. Tech stock weakness dragged the Nasdaq composite down 1.3% to 13,711.00.
Investors have been uneasy since Fed officials started saying they would try to cool inflation that is at a four-decade high by rolling back record-low interest rates and other stimulus that is boosting stock prices.
Higher interest rates usually depress economic activity and make safer assets such as bonds more attractive while making stocks look riskier and more expensive.
Some are afraid the Fed, after being accused of reacting too late to rising inflation, might push the brakes too hard and tip the world’s biggest economy into recession. Economists at Deutsche Bank last week forecast a U.S. recession by late next year.
Oil prices have fallen back on expectations of weaker demand after peaking above $130 per barrel last month due to anxiety about disruption of supplies from Russia, the world’s No. 2 exporter.
Meanwhile, in China, automakers and other companies are reducing production due to supply disruptions after authorities imposed stringent anti-disease controls to stop coronavirus outbreaks in Shanghai and other cities.
ACM Research, a supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry that has operations in Shanghai, fell 6.1% after saying the restrictions will cause a significant hit to its revenue.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.16 to $96.10 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.23 to $98.26 on Friday. Brent crude, used as the price basis for international oils, retreated $2.18 to $100.60 per barrel in London. It rose $2.20 the previous session to $102.78 a barrel.
The dollar rose to 124.86 yen from Friday’s 124.37 yen. The euro edged up to $1.0087 from $1.0885. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:17 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Less than a week after announcing that Tesla CEO Elon Musk would join its board of directors, Twitter has reversed course.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announced the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk, who is now the company’s largest shareholder, as a member. But it, “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:25 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ |
MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi travels to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more natural gas, the latest push by a European Union country to acquire alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is Italy’s biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. The new deal would add an additional 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria, just eclipsing Russia’s 29 billion cubic meters a year.
Europe is trying to cut its reliance Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow’s war. At the same time, there is concern Russia might turn off the taps in reprisal for sanctions, a threat that would have devastating effects on the European economy. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes and power industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already sought to have gas payments be made in rubles, in an apparent bid shore up the currency.
The tiny Baltic state of Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, recently cut itself off entirely from Russian gas imports, the first of the European Union’s 27 nations using Russian gas to break its energy dependence on Moscow.
Lithuania has been planning that move for years, and the task is more difficult for economic powers like Germany and Italy, which have gotten most of their natural gas from Russia.
The deal between Italy and Algeria is the first concrete result of missions by Italy’s foreign minister to energy-producing nations to secure alternate sources, also including Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique.
Draghi is traveling with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the energy transition minister, Roberto Cingolani, and the CEO of Italian energy company Eni, Claudio Descalzi.
Eni announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Eni has operated in Algeria for more than 40 years. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:31 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:37 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
LONDON (AP) — The World Bank says Ukraine’s economy will shrink by 45.1% this year because of Russia’s invasion, which has shut down half of the country’s businesses, choked off imports and exports, and damaged a vast amount of critical infrastructure.
Unprecedented sanctions imposed by Western allies in response to the war, meanwhile, are plunging Russia into a deep recession, lopping off more than a tenth of its economic growth, the World Bank said in a report Sunday.
The war is set to inflict twice the amount of economic damage across Europe and Central Asia that the COVID-19 pandemic did, the Washington-based lender said in its “War in the Region” economic report.
“The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis unleashed by the war is staggering,” said Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s vice president for the Europe and Central Asia region. “The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraine’s economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure.”
The report said economic activity is impossible in “large swathes of areas” in Ukraine because productive infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and train tracks have been destroyed.
Ukraine plays a major role as a global supplier of agricultural exports like wheat but that’s in question now because planting and harvesting have been disrupted by the war, the report said. The war has cut off access to the Black Sea, a key route for exports, including 90% of Ukraine’s grain shipments, it said.
The World Bank said the humanitarian catastrophe will be the biggest shockwave from the war and likely its most enduring legacy, as the wave of refugees fleeing Ukraine is “anticipated to dwarf previous crises.”
More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine, with more than half going to Poland and others heading to countries like Moldova, Romania and Hungary. An additional 6.5 million have been displaced internally. Those numbers are expected to swell as the war drags on, the World Bank said. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:43 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ |
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economic growth slowed in February amid declines in the production of cars, computers and chemicals.
Gross domestic product increased just 0.1% from a month earlier, down from the 0.8% growth reported in January, the Office for National Statistics said Monday.
The output of productive industries, including manufacturing, mining and power generation, dropped 0.6% in the month. Construction fell 0.1%. Those declines largely offset an increase in service industries, driven by an 8.6% jump in accommodation and food services.
Monthly GDP is now 1.5% above pre-pandemic levels, the ONS said. While services output is 2.1% higher than in February 2020. Construction is up 1.1%, while manufacturing and production are 1.9% below pre-pandemic levels.
Service industries account for about 80% of the U.K.’s economic output. | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:50 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/business/us-world-business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ |
BEIJING (AP) — The manufacturing hub of Guangzhou closed itself to most arrivals Monday as China battles a major COVID-19 surge in its big eastern cities.
Shanghai has taken the brunt of the rise, with another 26,087 cases announced on Monday, only 914 of which showed symptoms. The city of 26 million is under a tight lockdown, with many residents confined to their homes for up to three weeks and concerns growing over the effect on the economy of China’s largest city.
The financial hub has seen international events canceled because of the crackdown, and local football club Shanghai Port has been forced to withdraw from the Asian Champions League because travel restrictions prevented it from attending games in Thailand.
No such lockdown has yet been announced for Guangzhou, a metropolis of 18 million northwest of Hong Kong that is home to many top companies and China’s busiest airport. Just 27 cases were reported in the city on Monday.
However, primary and middle schools have been switched to online after an initial 23 local infections were detected last week. An exhibition center was being converted into a makeshift hospital after authorities said earlier they would begin citywide mass testing.
Only citizens with a “definite need” to leave Guangzhou can do so, and only if they test negative for the virus within 48 hours of departure, city spokesperson Chen Bin said in a social media announcement.
China has stuck to its “zero-COVID” strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing, despite complaints in Shanghai over shortages of food and medical services.
China’s government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints over the COVID-19 prevention measures, censoring content online and rebuking foreign critics.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Sunday said China had “lodged solemn representations with the U.S.” after the State Department advised Americans to reconsider traveling to China due to “arbitrary enforcement” of local laws and COVID-19 restrictions, particularly in Hong Kong, Jilin province and Shanghai. U.S. officials cited a risk of “parents and children being separated.”
China was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the U.S. side’s groundless accusation against China’s epidemic response,” Zhao said.
Despite that, and indications the hardline policy is being dictated by head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping, China has rejected any notion that its response is political in nature. Xi has demanded social stability above all else in the runup to a key party congress later this year at which he is expected to bestow on himself an unprecedented third-term as party leader.
The English-language China Daily acknowledged that Shanghai’s measures are “far from perfect,” and pointed to the firing last week of three local officials for failing in their duties. But it said that shouldn’t become an “excuse to politicize the event and blame China.”
Zhao issued a further defense of China’s virus controls on Monday, saying they have “proven to be effective and in line with its national conditions and needs, and have made an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic.”
Shanghai has brought in thousands of additional health workers from other cities, provinces and the military. Despite the large number of cases, no new deaths have been reported in the Shanghai wave, possibly because the omicron variant is less deadly than older variants.
City authorities also say they have secured daily supplies for residents, following complaints about deliveries of food and other necessities.
Residents have resorted to group buying of groceries because they are not allowed to leave their buildings, with only partial success in obtaining needed items.
Officials say they will begin relaxing restrictions beginning with areas where no new infections have been detected for two weeks. Residents will be allowed to move around their districts while remaining socially distanced.
A second category will be allowed to move around their neighborhoods, while others will remain isolated in their homes.
Chinese club Shanghai Port has been forced by the city’s COVID-19 lockdown to withdraw from the Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Monday.
Due to travel restrictions in the city, Port was unable to make the trip to Thailand for six Group J games.
Its first game was scheduled on Saturday against Vissel Kobe of Japan.
“The AFC acknowledged the travel restrictions faced by Shanghai Port FC as a result of the recent lockdown measures enforced in Shanghai,” the AFC said in a statement.
The capital, Beijing, has seen relatively few restrictions, although the Erjiefang neighborhood including the famed 798 art district has been cordoned off and classified as high risk after eight infections were reported there over the past two weeks.
China is facing one of its worst local outbreaks since the pandemic began. China is still mostly closed to international travel, even as most of the world has sought ways to live with the virus. | https://www.wric.com/health/china-closes-guangzhou-to-most-arrivals-as-outbreak-spreads/ | 2022-04-11T11:22:56 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/health/china-closes-guangzhou-to-most-arrivals-as-outbreak-spreads/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Broad Street in Richmond will be getting a makeover, starting today. Several GRTC buses will be on detour off of the road, with some stops closed.
GRTC announced Wednesday which temporary stops will replace those that will be closed for the first phase of construction on Broad Street.
Construction crews will be working on Broad Street to repave it starting with the section between 3rd Street and Belvidere Street 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through June.
GRTC said the paving part of the project is scheduled for five phases, with construction only stopping for rain or mechanical issues.
Paving will start in the westbound lanes and change to eastbound lanes at the end of each phase.
The City of Richmond will be coloring GRTC bus lanes red so they stand out more in hopes of alerting drivers to stay out of the lane to improve pedestrian safety.
The city is also planning for four other projects including replacing sidewalks and waterlines and upgrading traffic signals.
Dakota Williams with Ledbury clothing store said construction in the area seems constant and parking issues can turn away customers.
“It’s just a really tight street anyway. It’s a very small street, even with all the lanes. But, I mean, you have the entire bus lane in there. You can find parking. But finding parking near where you’re actually going can be difficult,” Williams said.
Temporary GRTC bus stop locations
Phase I – Westbound from 3rd St. to Belvidere St.
April 11 – 14, 2022
Pulse
Westbound: From Broad Street, turn left on 3rd Street, turn right on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed stops: Convention Center and Arts District westbound stations. Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, and Grace + Monroe Streets.
1A/B/C
Northbound: From Broad Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Clay Street, turn right on 2nd Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction) and #117 (2nd + Marshall). Use temporary stops: 3rd + Convention Center and Clay + 3rd Streets.
Southbound: No detour.
2A/B/C
Northbound: From Broad Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Clay Street, turn right on 2nd Street, and proceed to additional northbound detour via Leigh, Chamberlayne Parkway, and Charity Street. Missed Stops: #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction) and #117 (2nd + Marshall). Use temporary stops: 3rd + Convention Center and Clay + 3rd Streets.
Southbound: From 1st Street, turn left Marshall Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stop: #54 (1st + Marshall). Use temporary stop: #1673 (Marshall + 3rd).
3A/B/C
Northbound: From Belvidere, cross Broad Street, turn right on Marshall Street, turn left on 3rd Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #435 (Broad + Henry), #385 (Broad + Adams), and #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry, Marshall + Adams, and Leigh + 3rd Streets.
Southbound: From 3rd Street, cross Broad Street, turn right on Grace Street, turn left on Belvidere Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stop: #440 (Broad + Adams). Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, and Grace + Monroe Streets.
12
Westbound: From Broad Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn right on Marshall Street, and serve the temporary stop just beyond the end of the line near Marshall + 3rd. Missed Stop: #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stop near Greater Richmond Convention Center on Marshall Street.
14
Westbound: From 4th Street, turn left on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #371 (Broad + 4th), #440 (Broad + Adams), and #434 (Broad + Henry). Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, and Grace + Monroe Streets.
50
Westbound: From 3rd Street, cross Broad Street, turn right on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #440 (Broad + Adams) and #434 (Broad + Henry). Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, and Grace + Monroe Streets.
78
Westbound: From 3rd Street, cross Broad Street, turn right on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #440 (Broad + Adams) and #434 (Broad + Henry). Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, and Grace + Monroe Streets.
87
Northbound: From 2nd Street, turn left on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn right on Marshall Street, and continue to the end of the line near 3rd Street. Missed Stop: #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, Grace + Monroe Streets, Marshall + Henry, and Marshall + Adams Streets.
Southbound: No detour.
Phase 1 – Eastbound from Belvidere St. to 3rd St.
April 14 – 20, 2022
Pulse
Eastbound: From Broad Street, turn left on Belvidere Street, turn right on Marshall Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. No Arts District eastbound service. Missed Stop: Arts District eastbound station. Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry, Marshall + Adams, and #1673 (Marshall + 3rd).
1A/B/C
Northbound: No detour.
Southbound: No detour.
2A/B/C
Northbound: No detour. Note additional northbound detour via Leigh and Chamberlayne Parkway.
Southbound: From 1st Street, turn left Marshall Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stop: #54 (1st + Marshall). Use temporary stop: #1673 (Marshall + 3rd).
3A/B/C
Northbound: From Belvidere, cross Broad Street, turn right on Marshall Street, turn left on 3rd Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #435 (Broad + Henry), #385 (Broad + Adams), and #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry, Marshall + Adams, and Leigh + 3rd Streets.
Southbound: No detour.
12
Eastbound: No detour.
14
Eastbound: From Broad Street, turn left on Belvidere Street, turn right on Marshall Street, turn right on 3rd Street, turn left on Broad Street, and resume regular route. Missed Stops: #435 (Broad + Henry), and #385 (Broad + Adams). Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry, Marshall + Adams, and #1673 (Marshall + 3rd).
50
Eastbound: From Broad Street, turn left on Belvidere, turn right on Marshall, turn left on 2nd Street to layover the end of the line. Missed Stops: #435 (Broad + Henry), #385 (Broad + Adams), and #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry and Marshall + Adams Streets.
78
Eastbound: From Broad Street, turn left on Belvidere, turn right on Marshall, and continue to the end of the line near 3rd Street. Missed Stops: #435 (Broad + Henry), #385 (Broad + Adams), and #3601 (2nd + Broad – closed due to prior construction). Use temporary stops: Marshall + Henry and Marshall + Adams Streets.
87
Northbound: From 2nd Street, turn left on Grace Street, turn right on Belvidere Street, turn right on Marshall Street, and continue to the end of the line near 3rd Street. No missed stops. Use temporary stops: Grace + 2nd, Grace + Adams, Grace + Monroe Streets, Marshall + Henry, and Marshall + Adams Streets.
Southbound: No detour. | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/grtc-announces-temporary-stops-for-first-phase-of-broad-street-construction/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:03 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/grtc-announces-temporary-stops-for-first-phase-of-broad-street-construction/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he presses world leaders to take a hard line against Russia’s Ukraine invasion.
India’s neutral stance in the war has raised concerns in Washington and earned praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lauded India this month for judging “the situation in its entirety, not just in a one-sided way.”
Most recently, India abstained when the U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine have called war crimes.
The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions.
In the virtual meeting, Biden will talk about the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine “and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Sunday.
They’ll discuss “strengthening the global economy, and upholding a free, open, rules-based international order to bolster security, democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
India continues to purchase Russian energy supplies, despite pressure from Western countries to avoid buying Russian oil and gas. The U.S. has also considered sanctions on India for its recent purchase of advanced Russian air defense systems.
Last month, the state-run Indian Oil Corp. bought 3 million barrels of crude from Russia to secure its needs, resisting entreaties from the West to avoid such purchases. India isn’t alone in buying Russian energy, however. Several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so, despite public pressure to end these contracts.
Indian media reports said Russia was offering a discount on oil purchases of 20% below global benchmark prices.
Iraq is India’s top supplier, with a 27% share. Saudi Arabia is second at around 17%, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 13% and the U.S. at 9%, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Biden and Modi last spoke in March.
___
Sharma reported from New Delhi. | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/biden-modi-to-speak-as-us-presses-for-hard-line-on-russia-2/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:09 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/biden-modi-to-speak-as-us-presses-for-hard-line-on-russia-2/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes, six people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Biden is expected to make the announcement nominating Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, at the White House on Monday, the people said. They were not authorized to discuss the nomination publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
The administration will also release the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The rule is expected to change the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun.
In its proposed rule released last May, the ATF said it was also seeking to require manufacturers and dealers who sell ghost gun parts to be licensed by the federal government and require federally licensed firearms dealers to add a serial number to any unserialized guns they plan to sell.
The rule would also require firearms dealers to run background checks before they sell ghost gun kits that contain parts needed to assemble a firearm.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 unserialized firearms since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles. | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:16 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — In 2008, this overwhelmingly white state was Barack Obama’s unlikely launching pad to become the nation’s first Black president. Fourteen years later, Iowans aren’t showing a similar embrace for the woman running to become its first Black governor.
Democrat Deidre DeJear is finding Iowa a much changed place, trending staunchly conservative, endorsing many aspects of Trumpism, with an electorate that is so far displaying little interest in her history-making candidacy.
Educated younger adults who were once reliable Democratic voters have fled rural Iowa seeking opportunities elsewhere. The strength of organized labor has eroded. Obama’s general election victories in 2008 and 2012 seem like distant memories.
The changes are part of a broader transformation that has spread through the Northern Plains over the past two decades, making it increasingly difficult for Democrats to compete in the region even as they make inroads in other places like the Deep South and Sun Belt.
“Times are so different from Obama’s 2008 campaign,” said Dave Leshtz, a veteran Democratic organizer from Iowa City, after a DeJear event in the liberal enclave. “It’s an entirely different state.”
DeJear, a 36-year-old Des Moines businesswoman, cemented her status as a rising political star in 2018 when she became the first Black candidate to win a statewide primary in Iowa. She lost the general election for secretary of state, but she won national attention and invitations from Democratic presidential hopefuls to serve as a state adviser.
She is struggling to translate that lower-wattage fame into support from voters. Only 31% of likely Iowa voters said they know enough about DeJear — running unopposed in the June 7 primary — to form an opinion, according to The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll, conducted in late February and early March.
Meanwhile, she posted an anemic $8,500 fundraising balance in January, raising less than $300,000 since announcing her candidacy in August. It paled next to Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ $4.8 million balance and $3.8 million in contributions.
Story County Democrat Barb Wheelock attributed part of DeJear’s struggle to racism, both inside the party and among the state’s voters.
“I think it’s part that she’s Black and people don’t think she’ll do very well — the people in our state party, the people with the money,” Wheelock, a 70-year-old retired physical therapist, said while attending a DeJear stop in Story County last month.
DeJear told The Associated Press that she suspected her race may be on some minds as she seeks supporters.
“Of course no one has said that to me outright,” DeJear said. “But there is a question of whether or not a Black woman could win. That is definitely a question.”
DeJear tried to put any such doubts aside as she bounded onto the stage at an event in Nevada, a small farm town in central Iowa. With an upbeat style and a trace of her native Mississippi accent, DeJear reminded the audience that Iowans boasted a groundbreaking legacy, including an Iowa Supreme Court decision that made Iowa the first state to desegregate public schools after the Civil War.
“I believe in what’s possible,” she said. “We made a conscientious decision that no matter what your skin color was, no matter what your race was, each and every one of our students should have access to a quality public education.”
It was a nod to an Iowa progressive streak that carried well into the 21st century.
In 2009, the Iowa high court ruled gay marriage legal, making the state the third to allow it, after similar rulings in Massachusetts and Connecticut but five years before the U.S. Supreme Court. A year before, Iowa voters had not only backed Obama by a healthy margin in the general election, they overwhelmingly sent liberal Democrat Tom Harkin to the U.S. Senate for a fifth term.
Iowans ushered in the new millennium with Tom Vilsack, a Democrat and former mayor from rural southeast Iowa, as governor. And during the 1988 Democratic presidential caucuses, the Rev. Jesse Jackson finished a notable fourth, relying on support from rural Iowa.
But a sharp decline of union jobs and an exodus of young, college-educated adults, have altered Iowa’s once dynamic political map.
In a striking illustration, Obama carried the state in November 2008 by winning 52 of its 99 counties. Joe Biden, who on Tuesday will make his first trip to Iowa as president, lost the state in 2020, winning only six counties.
After decades of divided state government, Republicans have controlled the Legislature and the governorship for six consecutive years, cutting taxes and reining in voting and abortion rights. Today, five of Iowa’s six members of Congress are Republicans.
State Rep. Ras Smith had hoped to interrupt the trend as a candidate for governor in this year’s race. The 34-year-old Smith, who was voted the Iowa Democratic Party’s “Rising Star” award recipient in 2019 and is Black, found it difficult to persuade some of the party’s major donors in the state, who are white, to give him a look.
Despite Smith’s promising profile and DeJear’s 2018 breakthrough, some wealthy Iowa Democrats sought out others to run, including state Rep. Todd Pritchard, who is from rural northern Iowa and white.
Smith said some influential donors declined his invitation to meet to discuss his campaign. Among them, he said, was Fred Hubbell, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor. A wealthy Des Moines-area businessman, Hubbell spent $7 million of his own money in narrowly losing to Reynolds.
“It wasn’t about the dollars,” said Smith, who ended his campaign in January, leaving DeJear unopposed in the primary. “He didn’t come to an event and was turned off. We didn’t have coffee and I said something that pissed him off. That’s the part that felt disrespectful. It was disrespectful.”
Smith said he and Hubbell spoke by phone but never met despite several invitations. Hubbell did not respond to requests for comment.
“My party doesn’t think it’s nearly as racist,” said Tom Courtney, a former state senator and longtime union activist from the once-booming manufacturing corridor along the Mississippi River, who is white. “But some of that is going on.”
The sentiment stings for Iowa Democrats, as national party leaders, frustrated by the state’s lack of diversity, are taking steps to shift the early presidential nominating contest away from the traditionally first-in-the-nation caucus state.
Hubbell endorsed DeJear in a written statement last month, two months after Smith’s withdrawal made her the Democrats’ only candidate. Hubbell has since contributed to DeJear’s campaign, though her campaign declined to say how much. Smith has also endorsed DeJear, one of several Black Democratic women running for statewide office around the country this year.
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams is again seeking the governorship. Former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley is running for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. And Florida Rep. Val Demings is the leading Democrat to face Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
But DeJear is the only Black woman campaigning in such a predominantly white state. In 2020, 90.4% of Iowans were white, according to census data. Roughly 62% of the nation’s population was white, and more than 13% Black.
Still, DeJear, who campaigned for Obama as a college student at Drake University in Des Moines in 2008, is optimistic she can relight the flame.
“We also look to Obama and what he was able to accomplish,” she said in the interview. “I believe that Iowans have this innate ability to see the humanity that exists in other folks. And that’s what drives us.”
___
This story has been corrected to show the candidate’s first name is Diedre, not Dierdre. | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/iowas-political-swing-makes-obamas-wins-harder-to-repeat/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:23 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/politics/iowas-political-swing-makes-obamas-wins-harder-to-repeat/ |
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron may be ahead in the presidential race so far, but he warned his supporters that “nothing is done” and his runoff battle with far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will be a hard fight. And she’s ready for it.
The duel is starting Monday, after the two came out on top in Sunday’s first-round vote. The centrist Macron is heading to an economically depressed area of northern France where a majority of voters chose Le Pen, close to her electoral stronghold of Henin-Beaumont.
Meanwhile, Le Pen’s National Rally officials will meet Monday to plan strategy for the second round, scheduled on April 24. Le Pen summed up the standoff by saying voters are faced with “a fundamental choice between two opposing visions of the future.”
Macron already faced Le Pen in the presidential runoff five years ago. But all opinion polls show the leader of the National Rally is much closer this time to a potential win.
Macron said he wants to court those who voted for the “extremes” or opted to stay at home. That’s what he sought to do in the northern town of Denain Monday by campaigning on his rival’s home ground. Le Pen garnered over 41% of votes there as opposed to 14% for Marcon.
Macron met with area residents, many of whom criticized his proposed pension changes which include raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.
Denain’s mayor, Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini, told reporters she will vote for Macron ‘with no hesitation” in the second round, but intends to push for him to adopt more “leftist proposals.”
On her third attempt to become France’s first woman president, Le Pen was rewarded Sunday for her years-long effort to rebrand herself as more pragmatic and less extreme. Macron has accused Le Pen of pushing a dangerous manifesto of racist, ruinous policies. Le Pen wants to roll back some rights for Muslims, banning them from wearing headscarves in public, and to drastically reduce immigration from outside Europe.
In his speech on Sunday evening, Macron said his project would protect all religions and the freedom “to believe, or not.”
The rise of food and energy prices is at the core of Le Pen’s campaign, but Macron’s team argue she wouldn’t have the financial means to meet her promises.
“Our focus is now on the project and the values,” Senator Francois Patriat, a member of Macron’s party, said. The strategy consists in being “proud” of what has been done over the past five years, showing “a bit of humility,” and “above all, some fighting spirit,” he said.
Macron will use the next days to “go in the field,” he said. Prior to Sunday’s first round, Macron was absent from most of the electoral campaign as he spent most of his time focusing on diplomatic efforts over the war in Ukraine.
Le Pen’s camp, meanwhile, is hoping to capitalize on anger at Macron over policies seen as favoring the rich.
“Now everything is possible,” Aurélien Lopez Liguori, a municipal councilor with Le Pen’s party in the southern city of Sete, told The AP. Compared with 2017, “now Macron has a record, a bad record.” He credited Le Pen’s proximity to the French during the campaign for closing the gap with Macron.
Le Pen party heavyweight Louis Aliot told news broadcaster France Info Monday that the party would strive to “speak directly to the French about their problems” and how Le Pen would lead the country if elected president.
Aliot accused Macron of stirring up millions of French to take to the streets during the yellow vest protests over perceived economic injustice and of having dismantled public hospitals despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are plenty of issues on which he will need to explain himself,” Aliot said.
French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune told the AP “we should not think that it’s done.”
The battle will go “project against project,” he said.
Noting Macron’s “pro-European” project, Beaune recalled that five years ago “Le Pen was proposing — must not forget it — to leave the euro (area), to break Europe when Brexit and Frexit were trendy.”
Le Pen has dropped earlier threats to pull France out of the EU and abandon the euro if elected, but some of her proposals, including setting up a national border control, are contrary to EU rules.
Macron and Le Pen are to debate on national television next week.
With most votes from the 12-candidate first round counted by Monday morning, Macron had more than 27% and Le Pen had 23%. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon was third with close to 22%.
Macron improved on his first-round showing in 2017, despite his presidency being rocked by the yellow vest movement, the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The election outcome will have wide international influence as Europe struggles to contain the havoc wreaked by that war. Macron has strongly backed European Union sanctions on Russia while Le Pen has worried about their impact on French living standards. Macron also is a firm supporter of NATO and of close collaboration among the EU 27 members.
The euro rose on Monday following the results to trade 0.27% higher at $1.09, indicating general investor relief that Macron came out on top in the first round.
___
John Leicester and Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed.
___
Follow all AP stories on France’s presidential election at https://apnews.com/hub/french-election-2022 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/french-duel-macron-vs-le-pen-fight-for-presidency/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:29 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/french-duel-macron-vs-le-pen-fight-for-presidency/ |
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The 2018 prosecution of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens played a pivotal role in his eventual resignation. Now, questions about St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s handling of the case jeopardize her career, even as Greitens tries to make a political comeback.
Gardner faces a hearing Monday before the Missouri Office of Disciplinary Counsel. She is accused in a 73-page report of failing to disclose evidence to Greitens’ lawyers, misrepresenting evidence, and other ethical violations.
If the three-person panel finds fault, it will be up to the Missouri Supreme Court to decide punishment, though a decision wouldn’t be expected for several weeks. The most severe punishment — suspension or disbarment — would likely cost Gardner her job because state law requires elected prosecutors to hold active law licenses.
Gardner, a 46-year-old Democrat, is St. Louis’ first Black female circuit attorney and is one of several progressive prosecutors elected in recent years with a focus on creating more fairness in the criminal justice system.
In the past 12 months, Greitens has emerged as a leading contender for the Republican nomination for one of Missouri’s U.S. Senate seats, despite recent allegations of abuse by his ex-wife.
The brash former Navy SEAL officer with presidential aspirations was a year into his first term when news broke in January 2018 of an affair three years earlier with his St. Louis hairdresser. The woman alleged that Greitens took a compromising photo and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke of their relationship.
“There was a victim, someone saying they had been attacked,” Gardner’s lawyer, Michael Downey, said.
But neither the FBI nor St. Louis police seemed inclined to investigate, Downey said. Gardner’s in-house investigator was away on military duty.
So Gardner hired private investigator William Tisaby, a former FBI agent. The investigation led to Greitens’ indictmenton one felony count of invasion of privacy. Greitens claimed he had been the victim of a political witch hunt.
Jury selection had just begun when Gardner dropped the charge after a judge ruled she would have to answer questions under oath from Greitens’ attorneys over her handling of the case. She said that it put her in an “impossible” position of being a witness in a case she was prosecuting.
Meanwhile, Gardner filed a second charge accusing Greitens oftampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing to his political fundraiser a list of top donors to a veterans charity he founded, without the charity’s permission.
Under investigation by lawmakers as well, Greitens resigned in June 2018, and Gardner agreed to drop the criminal charges.
Attention then turned to how Gardner and Tisaby handled the investigation. In 2019, Tisaby was indicted on six counts of perjury and one count of evidence tampering. He pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor evidence tampering, and received a suspended sentence of one year of probation.
The case stemmed from Tisaby’s statement that he had not taken notes in an interview with the woman when a video later showed that he had, and his statement that he hadn’t received notes from the prosecutor’s office before he interviewed the woman when a document later showed that he had.
Greitens’ attorneys raised concerns about Gardner’s failure to correct the record on Tisaby’s statements, and whether she concealed evidence.
Downey said any mistakes were unintentional, the result of Gardner’s heavy workload during the Greitens investigation.
“Under the circumstances of the case I think they were doing the best job they could to manage the case,” Downey said. “We’ve admitted in our answer that mistakes were made.”
Washington University School of Law Professor Peter Joy, who teaches and writes about legal ethics, said the fact that Gardner didn’t disclose Tisaby’s note-taking isn’t necessarily a violation because Missouri law doesn’t specify a timeline for such disclosures — and in this case, testimony hadn’t even begun.
“I don’t think the ethics case against her is so clear cut,” Joy said. “This isn’t somebody falsifying evidence.”
If she is disciplined, Joy said it was highly unlikely that Gardner would be suspended or disbarred. That would disappoint her critics, who contend Gardner’s office is dysfunctional and ineffective.
Last summer, charges were dropped in three murder cases in one week because prosecutors failed to show up in court or weren’t prepared after months of delay, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The newspaper also cited Circuit Court data showing that about one-third of felony cases were dismissed — triple the percentage of her predecessor.
Gardner contends that her reforms have made the city safer, and the criminal justice system more equitable. She has expanded a diversion program and stopped prosecuting low-level marijuana possession, helping to significantly reduce jail overcrowding.
Gardner has often been at odds with police, especially in 2019, when she placed dozens of officers on an“exclusion list,” prohibiting them from bringing cases. The list was developed after a national group accused the officers of posting racist and anti-Muslim comments on social media.
In 2020, Gardner filed a lawsuit accusing the city, a police union and others of a coordinated and racist conspiracy aimed at forcing her out of office. The lawsuit alleged violations of the Ku Klux Klan Actof 1871, which was adopted to thwart efforts to deny the civil rights of racial minorities.
Downey, in a court filing, said the latest ethical complaints involve “another attempt by Ms. Gardner’s political enemies – largely from outside St. Louis – to remove Ms. Gardner and thwart the systemic reforms she champions.”
Greitens had remained largely out of sight until Sen. Roy Blunt’s announcement in March 2021 that he would not seek a third term. Republican leaders worry that he could win the primary but lose to a Democrat in the general election, forfeiting what should be a sure-thing GOP seat.
In a court filing last month in a child custody case, Sheena Greitens accused her ex-husband of being physically abusive to her and their children. Eric Greitens called the allegations “completely fabricated” and “baseless.” | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/greitens-case-at-center-of-scrutiny-for-st-louis-prosecutor/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:36 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/greitens-case-at-center-of-scrutiny-for-st-louis-prosecutor/ |
MOSCOW — The Russian military says it has destroyed a shipment of air defense missile systems provided by the West.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by the strike on Sunday.
Konashenkov said in a statement Monday that Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Konashenkov’s claim couldn’t be independently verified.
Last week, Slovakia said it had handed over its Soviet-designed S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine, which has pleaded with the West to give it more weapons, including long-range air defense systems.
Slovakia’s prime minister office issued a statement late Sunday calling the news that the S-300 system given to Ukraine was destroyed “disinformation.” It was unclear, however, whether both sides are referring to the same airstrike. The Russians have targeted missile defense systems in three different locations in recent days.
___
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukrainian defenders dig in as Russiaboosts firepower
— Biden, Modito speak as US presses for hard line on Russia
— Ukrainian nunsopen their monastery doors to the displaced
— US doubts new Russian war chiefcan end Moscow’s floundering
— Analysis:War, economy could weaken Putin’s place as leader
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage
___
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
BRUSSELS — Austria’s foreign minister says Chancellor Karl Nehammer is taking “very clear messages of a humanitarian and political kind” to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said Monday that Nehammer decided to make the trip after meeting in Kyiv on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and following contacts with the leaders of Turkey, Germany and the European Union.
Schallenberg said ahead of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg that “we don’t want to leave any opportunity unused and must seize every chance to end the humanitarian hell in Ukraine.”
He added that “every voice that makes clear to President Putin what reality looks like outside the walls of Kremlin is not a wasted voice.”
Schallenberg said that Nehammer and Putin will meet one-on-one without media opportunities. He insisted that Austria has done everything to ensure that the visit isn’t abused, “and I think he (Putin) himself should have an interest in someone telling him the truth and really finding out what’s going on outside.”
___
BRUSSELS — Germany’s foreign minister says Ukraine needs heavy weapons to defend itself and this is no time for “excuses.”
Ukraine’s president has warned that his country faces a crucial time and that Russian troops will step up operations in the east.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said as she arrived for a meeting with her European Union counterparts Monday: “What is clear is that Ukraine needs further military material, above all heavy weapons, and now is not the time for excuses — now is the time for creativity and pragmatism.”
Germany broke with a foreign policy tradition after Russia’s invasion to supply arms to Ukraine but has faced criticism from Kyiv for perceived hesitancy and slowness in providing material.
___
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers are meeting to weigh the effectiveness of the bloc’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid concern about Moscow’s preparations for a major attack in the east.
The ministers will hold talks with the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor-General Karim A.A. Khan as Western pressure mounts to hold to account those responsible for any war crimes in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is chairing Monday’s meeting in Luxembourg, deplored what he called the “brutal, brutal aggression” of Russian troops.
Borrell, who was in Ukraine over the weekend, says further EU sanctions against Russia “are always on the table.”
He says he’s “afraid the Russian troops are massing on the east to launch an attack on the Donbas,” region in the east after Moscow withdrew its forces from around the capital Kyiv last week.
___
LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defense says Ukraine has beaten back several assaults by Kremlin forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In an intelligence update released Monday morning, the ministry says Russian shelling in the two eastern regions is continuing.
“Russia’s continued reliance on unguided bombs decreases their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes, while greatly increasing the risk of civilian casualties,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said Russia’s “prior use” of phosphorus munitions in the Donetsk region raises the possibility they may be used in Mariupol as the battle for the city on Ukraine’s south coast intensifies.
___
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand will send a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe, as well as give money to Britain to buy weapons, as it significantly steps up its response to the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that the C130 Hercules plane would travel throughout Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers. She said the plane wouldn’t fly directly into Ukraine as most military equipment is transported into the country by land.
Ardern said her government would also spend an additional 13 million New Zealand dollars ($9 million) on military and human rights support, including NZ$7.5 million for Britain to buy weapons and ammunition. Ardern said that brings New Zealand’s total contribution to the war effort to NZ$30 million ($20 million) with 67 people deployed.
___
LVIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s president warned his nation Sunday night that the coming week would be as crucial as any in the war.
“Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
He accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes.
“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them. Ukraine will stop all this,” Zelenskyy said.
“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he said.
He again called on Western countries, including Germany, to provide more assistance to Ukraine. During talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelenskyy said he discussed “how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and how to force Russia to seek peace.”
“I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical,” Zelenskyy said.
___
BERLIN — Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday.
The Austria Press Agency reported that Nehammer told reporters in Vienna on Sunday that he plans to make the journey. It follows a trip on Saturday to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
APA reported that Nehammer aims to encourage dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and also address “war crimes” in his meeting with Putin.
Austria is a member of the European Union and has backed the 27-nation bloc’s sanctions against Russia, though it so far has opposed cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. The country is militarily neutral and is not a member of NATO.
Nehammer said he was taking the trip on his own initiative, and that he had consulted with the European Union’s top officials. He said that he also informed Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/live-updates-new-zealand-sending-transport-plane-money/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:43 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/live-updates-new-zealand-sending-transport-plane-money/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — Lawyers for Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai are asking the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and multiple criminal charges as “legal harassment” that punish him for speaking out.
The publisher of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was one of the most prominent activists arrested in Hong Kong’s crackdown on virtually all political criticism since mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The crackdown continued early Monday with the arrest of another veteran journalist, Allan Au Ka-lun, a teaching consultant who’d worked for a number of Hong Kong media outlets.
The actions by Lai’s lawyers in Britain followed that country’s announcement last month it would withdraw its judges from Hong Kong’s top court because keeping them there would “legitimize oppression” in the former British colony.
Lai, 74, has been charged under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law and is serving 20 months in prison. His assets have been frozen and the raft of legal cases against him include four separate criminal prosecutions related to attending and joining various protests, his legal team at Doughty Street Chambers in the U.K. said in a statement.
Lai faces “the risk of spending the rest of his life in prison simply for speaking out, and for seeking to defend freedom of the press, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong,” Lai’s counsel, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, said in the statement.
In a follow-up email, Gallagher said the appeal had been filed with the U.N. special rapporteurs for freedom of opinion and expression, counter-terrorism and human rights, rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and human rights defenders.
“We are awaiting a response,” she wrote.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, was quoted as urging U.N. special rapporteurs to investigate Chinese and Hong Kong authorities’ actions against Hong Kong residents.
While the U.N. has a number of special rapporteurs, their powers are limited mainly to seeking information from government agencies and possibly seeking real steps to end violations.
Hong Kong authorities had no immediate comment on the request. When Britain withdrew its judges, China reacted furiously, accusing Britain of flagrant interference and harm to Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Police issued a brief statement on the arrest of Au, saying a 54-year-old man had been arrested for “conspiracy to publish seditious publication” and was being detained for further investigation.
The national security law that was imposed by Beijing to override local opposition defines sedition in extremely broad terms, permitting authorities to punish almost all open criticism of the government. Those caught in its net include four people arrested last week for clapping in court.
Au had been a teaching consultant at Chinese University’s journalism school and had previously worked for Hong Kong media outlets TVB and RTHK. He had also written a column for outspoken pro-democracy platform Stand News, which shut down last year after police raided it and arrested staff.
In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said Au had been a mentor to young journalists and expressed its “deep concern” his arrest would “further damage the freedom of the press in Hong Kong.”
“We urge the police to explain the case as soon as possible, and at the same time request the government to protect the freedom of the press and speech enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens in accordance with the Basic Law,” it said, referring to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution under which it returned to Chinese control. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/media-mogul-jimmy-lai-appeals-to-un-over-hong-kong-cases/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:50 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/media-mogul-jimmy-lai-appeals-to-un-over-hong-kong-cases/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani lawmakers from the party of ousted Premier Imran Khan collectively resigned from Parliament on Monday ahead of the vote to elect a new prime minister.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Pakistan Justice Party, withdrew the nomination of former foreign minister and seasoned politician Shah Mahmood Qureshi as its candidate and more than 100 lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly.
“We boycott this election according to the decision of our party, and we are resigning,” Qureshi said. His name, however, will stay on the ballot because of the last-minute decision.
The walkout followed an impassioned speech by Qureshi who lauded what he described as Khan’s independence and refusal to bow to U.S. pressure.
After the walkout, opposition lawmakers are expected to start voting on the new prime minister, with opposition lawmaker Shahbaz Sharif as the only contender.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani lawmakers convened Monday to choose a new prime minister, capping a tumultuous week of political drama that saw the ouster of Imran Khan as premier and a constitutional crisis narrowly averted after the country’s top court stepped in.
The leading contender is Shahbaz Sharif, opposition lawmaker and a brother of disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But his election will not guarantee a clear path forward — or solve Pakistan’s many economic problems, including high inflation and a soaring energy crisis.
Khan, a former cricket star whose conservative Islamist ideology and dogged independence characterized his three years and eight months in office, was ousted early Sunday after losing a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Deserted by his party allies and a key coalition partner, his opposition pushed Khan out with 174 votes — two more than the required simple majority in the 342-seat National Assembly.
The opposition has selected Shahbaz Sharif as its candidate for prime minister, claiming it has enough votes in his favor.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Pakistan Justice Party, has put forward former foreign minister and seasoned politician Shah Mahmood Qureshi as its candidate. But Khan and his party members later said they would resign collectively during Monday’s session — likely further complicating the work of the assembly under a new premier.
In a show of strength and precursor to the political uncertainty ahead, Khan rallied hundreds of thousands of supporters late Sunday to protest his ouster, and describing the next government as an “imposed government.” In cities across Pakistan, Khan’s supporters marched, waving large party flags and vowing support. The youth, who make up the backbone of Khan’s supporters, dominated the crowds.
Some were crying, others shouting slogans promising Khan’s return.
Khan has also demanded early elections, though the balloting is not due before August 2023. He has tapped into anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, accusing Washington of conspiring with his opponents to topple him. His conspiracy theory resonates with his young support base, which often sees Washington’s post 9/11 war on terror as unfairly targeting Pakistan.
Pakistan’s political drama began on April 3 when Khan sidestepped an initial no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition by dissolving Parliament and calling early elections. The opposition, which accuses Khan of economic mismanagement, appealed to the Supreme Court. After four days of deliberations, the court ordered Parliament re-instated and the no-confidence vote went ahead. After a marathon Parliament session that started Saturday and that also saw the resignation of parliament speaker, Asad Qaiser. Khan was ousted early Sunday.
Khan claims the opposition colluded with Washington to topple him, allegedly because of his independent foreign policy favoring China and Russia. He was also criticized for a visit he made on Feb. 24 to Moscow, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.
The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement in Pakistan’s internal politics.
The road ahead will be stormy for the opposition coalition, which consists of parties that cross the political divide, from the left to the radically religious. The two largest parties are the Pakistan Muslim League, headed by Sharif, and the Pakistan People’s Party, co-chaired by the son and husband of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
In Pakistan, a few wealthy and powerful families have dominated politics for decades, with power most often alternating between the Sharifs and Bhutto camps. Both political houses have been accused and occasionally convicted of widespread corruption — and both have denied the allegations.
Nawaz Sharif was unseated by the Supreme Court in 2015 after being convicted in connection with financial irregularities revealed in the so-called Panama Papers — a collection of leaked secret financial documents showing how some of the world’s richest hide their money and involving a global law firm based in Panama. He was disqualified by Pakistan’s Supreme Court from holding office.
Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s husband who served as president of Pakistan after the 2008 elections, has spent more than seven years in prison, convicted on corruption charges.
Both families have dismissed corruption allegations against them as being politically motivated.
Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break family rule in Pakistan but his opponents claimed he won the elections with help from the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of the country’s 75-year history.
Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted in 1999 in a military coup and Benazir Bhutto’s government was ousted several times after the military sided with her opposition. In Pakistani politics, where loyalties are often fluid, Bhutto’s fiercest opposition came from Sharif’s party.
Shahbaz Sharif has served three times as chief minister of Pakistan’s largest, most influential Punjab province, where 60% of the country’s 220 million people live. His son Hamza was elected by the Punjab provincial parliament last week as new chief minister, ousting Khan’s nominee. Khan’s party is challenging that election and the younger Sharif has yet to be sworn in.
_____
Follow Kathy Gannon on Twitter at www:twitter.com/Kathygannon | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ | 2022-04-11T11:23:56 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia said Monday that it destroyed air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of a broad new offensivein the east.
Moscow’s initial invasion stalled on several fronts as it met with stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities. The failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skieshas hampered Moscow’s ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the central city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by Sunday’s strike.
Konashenkov said Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Last week, Slovakia said it handed over Soviet-designed S-300s to Ukraine — but Slovakia said it had no evidence that its system was hit.
With their advance in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities. The war has flattened many urban areas, killed thousands of people and left Russia politically and economically isolated. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including a massacre outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitalsand a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station.
Now, Russia is regrouping for a renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.
Russia hasappointed a seasoned general to lead the effort, according to U.S. officials, though they do not see one man making a difference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meanwhile pleading for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back. Echoing his remarks in an AP interview, Zelenskyy said Sunday that the coming week could be crucial, with Western support to his country — or the lack thereof — proving decisive.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.”
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to U.S. President Joe Biden and other Western leaders for military aid to date but said he had “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needs. In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, he specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.
Those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.
The Russian report of the attack on the S-300s outside Dnipro was the third such strike since the weekend. Konashenkov said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions. The Russian military claims couldn’t be independently verified.
Asked about the Russian claim that it had taken out systems supplied by a European country, Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said Monday he had “no evidence” that the Russians had destroyed the weaponry his country provided. Earlier, his government called reports that the Slovak-supplied system had been hit “disinformation.”
Ukraine already had a number of Soviet-built S-300s and other long-range air defense systems, and it also has received batches of portable, shoulder-fired Western anti-aircraft weapons like Stingers, which are efficient against low-flying aircraft.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — which make up the Donbas — resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most experienced military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity. Russia does not generally announce such appointments, and there was no comment from Moscow.
Dvornikov, 60, gained a reputation for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground. But U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the appointment’s significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault increasingly is focusing on eastern Ukraine — an arc stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port in the Donbas that has been besieged since nearly the start of the war.
Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said Monday that Russians shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours, including a 7-year-old child.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But it said the outcome “remains very much in question.”
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed eight years ago.
In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Russian forces would launch a renewed offensive on Mariupol as well as Kyiv and other cities. “Our offensive work will be not only in Mariupol, but in all the other settlements, cities and villages,” he said.
Mariupol’s residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city. Hundreds of thousands have fled, though Russian attacks have also frustrated evacuation missions.
Vladislav Usovich, an 18-year-old conscript serving in Russia-backed separatist forces, advanced slowly with other fighters through residential areas around a factory in Mariupol on Sunday.
“I thought it would go better, I thought it would be faster. Everything is going slowly,” he said. “The Ukrainians are prepared fighters. NATO trained them well.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that the war began just over six weeks ago, not 10 weeks. ___
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ukrainian-defenders-dig-in-as-russia-boosts-firepower/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:02 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ukrainian-defenders-dig-in-as-russia-boosts-firepower/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly.
It was the peak of this year’s omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush.
When she saw the dent, Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, the leader of the Army team, knew the nurse had done her job. “She’s going to damage the wall on the way there because he’s going to get that bed,” Cobleigh said. “He’s going to get the treatment he needs. That was the mission.”
That nurse’s mission was to get urgent care for her patient. Now, the U.S. military mission is to use the experiences of Cobleigh’s team and other units pressed into service against the coronavirus pandemic to prepare for the next crisis threatening a large population, whatever its nature.
Their experiences, said Gen. Glen VanHerck, will help shape the size and staffing of the military’s medical response so the Pentagon can provide the right types and numbers of forces needed for another pandemic, global crisis or conflict.
One of the key lessons learned was the value of small military teams over mass movements of personnel and facilities in a crisis like the one wrought by COVID-19.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Pentagon steamed hospital ships to New York City and Los Angeles, and set up massive hospital facilities in convention centers and parking lots, in response to pleas from state government leaders. The idea was to use them to treat non-COVID-19 patients, allowing hospitals to focus on the more acute pandemic cases. But while images of the military ships were powerful, too often many beds went unused. Fewer patients needed non-coronavirus care than expected, and hospitals were still overwhelmed by the pandemic.
A more agile approach emerged: having military medical personnel step in for exhausted hospital staff members or work alongside them or in additional treatment areas in unused spaces.
“It morphed over time,” VanHerck, who heads U.S. Northern Command and is responsible for homeland defense, said of the response.
Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. Many did multiple tours. That mission is over, at least for now.
Cobleigh and her team members were deployed to two hospitals in Grand Rapids from December to February, as part of the U.S. military’s effort to relieve civilian medical workers. And just last week the last military medical team that had been deployed for the pandemic finished its stint at the University of Utah Hospital and headed home.
VanHerck told The Associated Press his command is rewriting pandemic and infectious disease plans, and planning wargames and other exercises to determine if the U.S. has the right balance of military medical staff in the active duty and reserves.
During the pandemic, he said, the teams’ make-up and equipment needs evolved. Now, he’s put about 10 teams of physicians, nurses and other staff — or about 200 troops — on prepare-to-deploy orders through the end of May in case infections shoot up again. The size of the teams ranges from small to medium.
Dr. Kencee Graves, inpatient chief medical officer at the University of Utah Hospital, said the facility finally decided to seek help this year because it was postponing surgeries to care for all the COVID-19 patients and closing off beds because of staff shortages.
Some patients had surgery postponed more than once, Graves said, because of critically ill patients or critical needs by others. “So before the military came, we were looking at a surgical backlog of hundreds of cases and we were low on staff. We had fatigued staff.”
Her mantra became, “All I can do is show up and hope it’s helpful.” She added, “And I just did that day after day after day for two years.”
Then in came a 25-member Navy medical team.
“A number of staff were overwhelmed,” said Cdr. Arriel Atienza, chief medical officer for the Navy team. “They were burnt out. They couldn’t call in sick. We’re able to fill some gaps and needed shifts that would otherwise have remained unmanned, and the patient load would have been very demanding for the existing staff to match.”
Atienza, a family physician who’s been in the military for 21 years, spent the Christmas holiday deployed to a hospital in New Mexico, then went to Salt Lake City in March. Over time, he said, the military “has evolved from things like pop-up hospitals” and now knows how to integrate seamlessly into local health facilities in just a couple days.
That integration helped the hospital staff recover and catch up.
“We have gotten through about a quarter of our surgical backlog,” Graves said. ”We did not call a backup physician this month for the hospital team … that’s the first time that’s happened in several months. And then we haven’t called a patient and asked them to reschedule their surgery for the majority of the last few weeks.”
VanHerck said the pandemic also underscored the need to review the nation’s supply chain to ensure that the right equipment and medications were being stockpiled, or to see if they were coming from foreign distributors.
“If we’re relying on getting those from a foreign manufacturer and supplier, then that may be something that is a national security vulnerability that we have to address,” he said.
VanHerck said the U.S. is also working to better analyze trends in order to predict the needs for personnel, equipment and protective gear. Military and other government experts watched the progress of COVID-19 infections moving across the country and used that data to predict where the next outbreak might be so that staff could be prepared to go there.
The need for mental health care for the military personnel also became apparent. Team members coming off difficult shifts often needed someone to talk to.
Cobleigh said military medical personnel were not accustomed to caring for so many people with multiple health problems, as are more apt to be found in a civilian population than in military ranks. “The level of sickness and death in the civilian sector was scores more than what anyone had experienced back in the Army,” said Cobleigh, who is stationed now at Fort Riley, Kansas, but will soon move to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
She said she found that her staff needed her and wanted to “talk through their stresses and strains before they’d go back on shift.”
For the civilian hospitals, the lesson was knowing when to call for help.
“It was the bridge to help us get out of omicron and in a position where we can take good care of our patients,” Graves said. “I am not sure how we would have done that without them.” | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/with-covid-mission-over-pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:08 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/with-covid-mission-over-pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic/ |
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic strained his left calf in Dallas’ 130-120 win over San Antonio in what turned out to be a meaningless regular-season finale on Sunday night, putting the superstar’s status in question for the playoff-bound Mavericks.
Doncic wouldn’t have even been eligible for the game had the NBA not rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season two nights earlier against Portland. Without the NBA’s decision, Doncic would have served a one-game suspension.
The two-time All-Star had turned to run to the defensive end late in the third quarter when he pulled up after the first step and stopped.
Doncic, who led Dallas with 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, called for the medical staff while reaching for his calf after play was stopped and almost immediately went to the locker room.
Coach Jason Kidd said after the game he didn’t have any update on the injury, but Doncic’s status could be in doubt with fourth-seeded Dallas set to open the playoffs next weekend against Utah.
The Mavericks had a chance to move up the third seed, but needed New Orleans to beat Golden State when the Pelicans were resting several regulars. The Warriors won 128-107.
The Spurs were already locked into the final spot in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Keldon Johnson scored 24 points for San Antonio, which will play ninth-seeded New Orleans on Wednesday. The winner plays the loser between No 7 seed Minnesota and the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 8 seed.
Kidd said before the game the club wanted to treat it as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs even if it didn’t mean moving up from the fourth seed.
Doncic had played his normal rotation, going the entire first quarter and part of the second. He was on the verge of playing all of the third quarter when he pulled up with the injury. He left with 2:24 remaining in the quarter.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored all of his 16 points in the third quarter, when Dallas broke a 59-59 halftime tie by outscoring San Antonio 38-23. The Mavericks held on in the fourth quarter with a lineup filled by players not in the rotation.
The Mavericks won all four games against San Antonio, sweeping the season series from their Texas rivals for the first time.
TIP-INS
Spurs: G Lonnie Walker IV sat with lower back tightness a night after leading the Spurs with 24 points in a loss to Golden State. … Dejounte Murray scored 17 points after missing the past five games with a non-COVID-19 illness. … Josh Richardson scored 18 points against his former team. … Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Mavericks: C Dwight Powell set a club record with 18 consecutive shots made over four games. Coming into the season, Powell shared the previous record of 14 with DeAndre Jordan and Erick Dampier. He broke the record with his first bucket before the run ended on his fifth attempt when he couldn’t convert an alley-oop pass from Jalen Brunson. He finished 5 of 6 and scored 12 points. … F Maxi Kleber missed his fourth consecutive game with right ankle soreness, but Kidd said he would be ready for the playoffs.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/doncic-injury-puts-playoff-status-in-doubt-as-mavs-top-spurs/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:15 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/doncic-injury-puts-playoff-status-in-doubt-as-mavs-top-spurs/ |
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler just wanted dinner. The best option, he decided, would be for him and his wife Meredith to grab some takeout and head back to their rented home so he could rest up before the final round of the Masters.
Small problem.
On the way home, Scheffler spilled dinner all over himself.
“Meredith is still laughing at me,” Scheffler said. “She thought it was the funniest thing ever.”
Whenever he returns to the Masters, for the rest of his life, there is guaranteed to be at least one night where Scheffler’s dinner won’t need transporting. Masters champions get to go to the Masters Club dinner, and Scheffler has a permanent seat at that table now after his score of 10-under 278 gave him a three-shot victory over Rory McIlroy on Sunday at Augusta National for his first major championship.
It further cemented his status as the No. 1 player in the world, was his fourth career win — all coming in a span of about two months — and capped a week where the 25-year-old seemed to handle the pressure that comes with being in Masters contention with ease.
He cried when his first Masters invitation came in 2020. They’ll never stop coming now.
“That’s the coolest part about this whole deal,” Scheffler said. “This is such a fun golf course. It’s such a fun piece of property. I mean, it’s Augusta National. It’s about as cool as it gets. It’s so fun to play. I just can’t believe that I can come back for a lifetime and get to enjoy this golf course.”
McIlroy closed with a flourish, his 8-under 64 on Sunday sending him vaulting up the leaderboard and into second place after starting the final round 10 shots back. Shane Lowry (69) and Cameron Smith (73) tied for third, five shots behind Scheffler. Smith started birdie-birdie and briefly got within one shot, before a two-shot swing on the third hole — Scheffler chipped in for birdie, Smith made bogey — restored order. Scheffler kept the lead the rest of the way, and not even making a double-bogey 6 on the finishing hole derailed his march toward a green jacket.
“Scottie’s just been sort of unflappable,” McIlroy said.
The No. 1 tee and the No. 18 green at Augusta National are relatively close to one another, which means that at around 2:40 p.m., that little piece of acreage was the absolute center of the golf universe. Scheffler was on one side, starting his march toward a first Masters win. Tiger Woods was coming up the other side, finishing off his comeback tournament after his career — and life — could have ended in a February 2021 car crash in the Los Angeles suburbs.
Numbers-wise, it was Woods’ worst Masters ever, one of his worst tournaments ever. Of the 52 players who made the cut, Woods beat five of them. He shot a 78 for the second consecutive day, ended the week at 13-over 301, 23 shots off the lead.
And he was thrilled. He finished. Nothing else mattered to the five-time Masters winner.
“It’s been a tough road, and one that I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through it,” Woods said when it was over. “A lot of different things could have happened, but (after) 14 months, I’m able to tee it up and play in the Masters.”
Augusta National does not let go of past champions, a part of the tradition that is celebrated from the very onset of the tournament. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player began the week with ceremonial tee balls, this time with Tom Watson joining in for the first time.
“I would like to say how honored I am to be with Gary and Jack,” Watson said before he took his ceremonial swing. “I’ve watched this ceremony many times in the past … and to be a part of this thing, I’m truly humbled.”
That’s what Augusta does. It humbles. It celebrates. And for the luckiest few, like Scheffler, it crowns.
The place has been a celebrated part of the Scheffler family story for years, and not for the reasons one would think. Scheffler drives a 2012 Chevrolet Yukon with nearly 200,000 miles on it, and it was purchased in Augusta a decade ago. Scott Scheffler, the new Masters winner’s father, was there that year and the vehicle he was driving died. He was there to watch Bubba Watson, and the car the the senior Scheffler drove to Augusta “expired” on the trip.
“Everyone got a T-shirt,” Scott Scheffler said. “I got a car payment.”
Scott Scheffler could barely keep his emotions in check Sunday night. He proudly tells the story of holding up a flashlight so his son, then just a little kid, could hit extra balls at a driving range at night. He defers all the credit for his son’s success. And on Monday, he’ll be driving that Yukon home.
Yes, the Yukon is still his son’s car. It was there on Sunday. Scott Scheffler will use it to bring home the family dog on Monday. It’s anyone’s guess if the Yukon is coming back next year.
It’s a certainty that Scottie Scheffler is coming back.
The new Masters champion woke up unable to control his tears on Sunday, the enormity of the moment briefly getting to him. He spilled that dinner on Saturday. None of it seemed funny at the time. And then, Sunday night, wearing his new green jacket, it all just made sense.
“I never expected to be sitting where I am now,” Scheffler said. “You know, you don’t expect things to come to you in this life. You just do the best that you can and with the hand you’re dealt and just go from there. I never really thought I was that good at golf, so I just kept practicing and kept working hard, and that’s just what I’m going to keep doing.”
___
More AP Masters coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/for-scheffler-a-new-world-awaits-as-the-masters-champion/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:22 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/for-scheffler-a-new-world-awaits-as-the-masters-champion/ |
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
___
HE’S A HIT!
Cleveland rookie Steven Kwan hit .469 in spring training after compiling a .301 batting average in three minor league seasons. So there were signs he might be able to handle big-league pitching.
But who predicted this?
Kwan added to his remarkable start by going 5 for 5 as Cleveland won for the first time since changing its name to the Guardians, routing Kansas City 17-3 on Sunday.
Kwan had four singles and a double, was hit by a pitch and scored four runs. The 24-year-old outfielder made his major league debut on opening day and is 8 for 10 in three games, reaching base in 12 of 14 plate appearances.
“I know it’s three games in, but nobody wants to not get excited,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “When our young guys want to do things like that, it is exciting.”
Kwan is known as a contact hitter, and it shows. He’s swung 19 times this season and hasn’t completely missed once, according to MLB Statcast.
Kwan and the Guardians close out the four-game series with a matinee at Kauffman Stadium.
BASHING IN THE BRONX
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the hot-hitting Toronto Blue Jays open a four-game set at Yankee Stadium. Guerrero smashed a 467-foot homer in a 12-6 loss to Texas on Sunday, the longest of his career, and Toronto has scored 20 runs during a 2-1 start to a season it hopes ends in an AL East crown.
The division-rival Yankees are coming off a series win against Boston and will start right-hander Jameson Taillon (8-6, 4.30 ERA in 2021), making his first appearance since offseason surgery on his right ankle. He’ll face righty Alek Manoah (9-2, 3.22), who won his big league debut in the Bronx last May.
STARTING TO CLICK
After getting big swings from a couple of newcomers Sunday, the Minnesota Twins are looking for a strong debut from Dylan Bundy. He makes his first start for the team against Seattle right-hander Chris Flexen in the finale of a four-game series.
Gary Sánchez’s first home run for the Twins was a grand slam into the third deck Sunday, and Carlos Correa also went deep for the first time with Minnesota during a 10-4 victory.
“They’re a good team. They’ve got a heck of a lineup and have certainly got all kinds of power,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.
Bundy signed a $5 million, one-year contract with the Twins on Dec. 1 after going 2-9 with a 6.06 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels last season.
O’S WOES
The Baltimore Orioles play their home opener after getting off to a rough start on the road.
Coming off a 110-loss season, Baltimore is 0-3 for the first time since 2007. Cedric Mullins and the O’s never led while they were swept at Tampa Bay, struck out 37 times and went 2 for 24 with runners in scoring position.
Back at Camden Yards, lefty Bruce Zimmermann (4-5, 5.04 ERA last year) starts against Milwaukee. Adrian Houser (10-6, 3.22) pitches for the Brewers.
CHECK HIM
The Padres will see how Blake Snell is feeling, a day after the left-hander was pulled just before making a start at Arizona because of left adductor tightness.
San Diego manager Bob Melvin said the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner is likely headed for a stint on the 10-day injured list.
Melvin said he had already exchanged lineup cards when Snell felt the injury on his final warmup pitch.
“It was as late as I’ve ever seen anything,” Melvin said. “We had to make some adjustments on the fly and got it done.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/leading-off-guardians-rookie-kwan-a-hit-os-rugged-start/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:29 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/leading-off-guardians-rookie-kwan-a-hit-os-rugged-start/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — (EDITOR’S NOTE: The season-long celebration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary is winding down. As part of The Associated Press series on the NBA’s first 75 years, Commissioner Adam Silver wrote this essay on what the league could look like 25 years from now when it celebrates its 100th anniversary.)
___
What will the NBA look like at 100? While it is difficult to predict the future one year from now, let alone 25, I do know what will remain unchanged: Our bedrock principle that “sports have the power to change the world.”
Our teams and players will continue to use the game of basketball to teach lifelong values, give back to our communities and bring awareness to critically important societal issues.
We will also continue to embrace being a global league. Our games are distributed in more than 200 countries and territories, our social media community exceeds 2 billion people, and 25% of the players in our league grew up outside of the United States. The NBA’s reach is expansive, though in many ways we are just scratching the surface in terms of our international growth.
I expect live sports and entertainment to remain special. There is something truly remarkable about 20,000 people of different backgrounds gathering together in an arena to enjoy a shared experience. What makes NBA games unique — the proximity to the players, the fast-paced nature of the game and the energy derived from being around other people — will be as vital in 25 years as it is today.
What I do foresee changing is how fans around the world engage with the NBA. Today’s fans can watch NBA basketball on their high-definition televisions or just as easily on their smartphones. But in 25 years, this notion of watching games on a “screen” may be irrelevant. Games will appear in any size — three-dimensionally — whether on a living room floor or in a ballroom. Watching basketball anywhere could feel like you are in an arena surrounded by thousands of fellow fans.
The game on the court will evolve as well, as a whole new group of players builds on the greatness of the generations that came before them. We may see different kinds of schedule formats and tournaments that create new league traditions. And perhaps, once air travel becomes faster, we will have franchises outside of North America.
And if we are more popular at our 100th anniversary than we are today, I know we will have remained true to our mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.
___
Adam Silver is commissioner of the National Basketball Association.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Follow the AP’s coverage of the NBA’s 75th anniversary season: https://apnews.com/hub/nba-at-75 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:36 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ |
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — It doesn’t seem that long ago to Scott Scheffler that he was standing on the green behind Bergen Community College in Parasmus, New Jersey, dutifully holding a flashlight while his only son — just 5 or 6 at the time — hit shots in the dark.
And if one of Scottie Scheffler’s wayward strokes happened to smack into one of his sisters, so be it.
“He used to yell,” Scott Scheffler said. “He would yell at us when he hit it. He would hit the girls.”
It’s what brothers do.
Nearly two decades later, Scottie Scheffler’s aim is considerably better. Yes, that was the kid who used to peg his siblings with impunity tugging the green jacket over his broad shoulders after winning the Masters on Sunday afternoon.
And yes, that was most of the Scheffler clan — sisters Callie and Molly (other sister Sara is in Portugal) along with Scott and wife Diane — huddled together just outside Butler Cabin to celebrate a jet-fueled rise to the top that really wasn’t that jet-fueled at all.
There were the days back in north New Jersey when the Scheffler kids were introduced to the game. They moved to Dallas when Diane switched law firms as a chief operating officer. They quickly decided to join Royal Oaks Country Club mostly because it meant Scott Scheffler could keep all four kids in one place.
While Scott Scheffler understands his son’s origin story takes a familiar narrative and turns it on his head — it was Scott who served as the stay-at-home dad while Diane worked — he doesn’t see it as revolutionary or strange or uncommon.
“It’s just what you do as a father for your children,” Scott Scheffler said, his eyes wet with tears while wearing a white Masters polo shirt on the grounds of a club where his son is now a champion. “You do for your kids you know. I’ve done for all of them. They’ve given us great joy. He’s the one that did all the hard work, not me. I just raised him and tried the best I could to be a good dad.”
Maybe, but someone had to get Team Scheffler to all those sporting events. Youth golf tournaments. High school basketball practices. The list is seemingly endless. The fact it was dad doing most of the driving hardly mattered.
“Wasn’t unusual for me,” Scottie Scheffler said. “I didn’t know any different. Fortunately for me, I grew up with three sisters and my dad was there, and he did a great job raising us.”
Scott Scheffler made it a point to make sure his kids were well-rounded. While stressing “I’m no guru,” he pointed out how vital it was to make sure Scottie didn’t focus on golf all the time. He tried as a sophomore at Highland Park High School only to realize he missed playing basketball too much. So it was back to the basketball team the following year.
Yet Scottie was hardly the only athlete in the family. Callie Scheffler played at Texas A&M and served as Scottie’s caddie when he qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont as an amateur, and Molly and Sara are players, too.
While Scott Scheffler laughingly admitted, “Schefflers have their issues, but they’re good people,” he grew more serious when asked what the world needs to know about the unassuming 25-year-old board game aficionado who is now the hottest golfer on the planet.
“He’s just a nice young kid,” Scott Scheffler said. “Born in New Jersey and raised in Texas. He’s got a little bit of both, which is wonderful. Just our son and Meredith’s husband and now I guess he’s the world’s.”
The family bonds extend beyond Team Scheffler.
Rick Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame pro, has worked with Scottie for years, and Rick’s son Blake is Scheffler’s agent. Blake and Scottie met soon after the Schefflers joined Royal Oaks and the two would play together when they could.
That relationship between the Schefflers and the Smiths has only deepened through the years. Maybe that’s why Rick leaned over on Scottie’s bag as he was inside signing his scorecard after the biggest tournament — so far — of his still burgeoning career.
Rick was over at Scheffler’s house on Saturday night, trying to get him to relax as he sat on a three-shot lead heading into Sunday. They worked on Scheffler’s alignment. On his ball position. And on his mood, watching Instagram videos in an effort to keep things light.
While Scheffler admitted his stomach had been hurting over the weekend and he cried Sunday morning because of the pressure, he hardly looked rattled while posting a 1-under 71 that gave him a three-shot victory. There was just one major hiccup, a four-putt on the 18th with his win assured, though Smith couldn’t help but laugh when asked at what point he finally relaxed.
“When he made his fourth putt (at 18),” Smith said. “We’ll go figure out what went on.”
There’s time to exhale, but not much. In early February, Scheffler was still searching for his first PGA Tour win. In early April, he’s on the kind of run that he couldn’t have imagined while drilling putts into the north Jersey nights, hardly worried about where the putt went, who it hit, or whether mom or dad was one driving them home.
“He’s public now, which is a little bit scary,” Scott Scheffler said.
Just don’t expect Scottie to forget where he came from. Scott and Diane Scheffler’s only son is well aware he hardly made the journey from Bergen Community College to Augusta National alone.
“They didn’t parent perfectly, obviously, but for me, they did the best they could all the time, and I love them for that,” Scheffler said. “You know, I can’t speak highly enough of the hard work that they have put in. I can’t put it into words, I really can’t.”
___
More AP Masters coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/schefflers-journey-to-the-masters-a-true-family-affair/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:43 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/schefflers-journey-to-the-masters-a-true-family-affair/ |
Advertisement
Mass. lawmakers consider expanding definition of domestic abuse to include financial and mental abuse
Sarah Ortiz is all too familiar with domestic violence.
When the mother of three separated from her husband, she told a court he dragged her out of bed and shoved her down onto the kitchen floor. But she said it was the daily insults that hurt the most. The belittling comments that made her feel worthless.
“You just start to question your own self worth," Ortiz said at her home in a Boston suburb. "And you only have this one person because they’ve blocked everybody else out. So you only have his voice and it becomes your voice."
Yet Ortiz always thought domestic violence meant physical abuse. A shove. A punch. A slap.
Until one day, she came across an article while doing research for her women's studies class about another kind of abuse, called coercive control. And as she scanned the page, she recognized all of the examples.
"Controlling where you go. Controlling who you speak to. Going through your phone to see who you've been speaking to. Going through emails. Changing passwords," she ticked off. "That coercive control was my life. I checked off every single part without knowing."
“You just start to question your own self worth. And you only have this one person because they’ve blocked everybody else out. So you only have his voice and it becomes your voice."
Sarah Ortiz
Now there's a growing movement in state legislatures across the country, including in Massachusetts, to expand domestic abuse laws to help victims get help for controlling behavior and verbal abuse.
That kind of abuse is hard to see. It doesn’t leave bruises or broken bones. But researchers say it can have a similar impact and make victims feel like hostages in their own homes.
Lisa Fontes is a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who has written a book about this kind of abuse.
"If there’s no physical abuse some people might say, 'Oh, well, it's just not the best relationship,'" she said. "But it's something much more profound than that. Coercive control is really taking away the liberty of another person."
But controlling behavior is generally not illegal. In Massachusetts and most other states, domestic abuse laws typically only cover physical harm. So that can make it harder for victims of other kinds of abuse to obtain help.
Attorney Michelle Cruz, who represents survivors of domestic violence, said the courts currently don’t recognize patterns of controlling behavior that can eventually escalate to physical violence.
"There may not actually be an assault on the victim. That doesn't mean that the victim is safe," she said. "We still have this mindset that as long as the victim's not physically being assaulted, that it's not concerning enough to give that victim a restraining order."
Lawmakers in several states are trying to change that. California and Connecticut recently expanded their definition of domestic violence to include psychological abuse for custody decisions and to award restraining orders.
Several bills in Massachusetts would allow victims to seek protection orders for additional reasons like name calling, financial control, technological abuse and isolation.
Advertisement
"There may not actually be an assault on the victim. That doesn't mean that the victim is safe."
Attorney Michelle Cruz
Cruz says many survivors would benefit from expanding the definition of abuse.
"This is the perfect start," she said, "to have more robust domestic violence protections for victims."
Meanwhile, Ortiz says she still doesn’t feel safe even after separating from her husband and filing for divorce. In court documents, she says he follows her in parking lots and photographs her at their son’s hockey games.
In 2020, she obtained a restraining order against her husband after telling a judge about the physical abuse.
But that order has since expired. And she can no longer obtain a protection order because there hasn’t been any recent physical abuse. She would need to get a harassment order, a different legal process than the one she's already embroiled in at family court.
“He has continued to use control and dominance, even though we’re not living together, even though there was a restraining order," she said.
Ortiz's husband declined to comment when WBUR reached out to him. In court records, he says his estranged wife is the verbally abusive one. He also acknowledged he sometimes had "volatile emotional reactions" and was inappropriately physical, but he insists those outbursts were triggered by hostility from Ortiz. He says he has considered seeking court orders against her.
Still, Ortiz said she finally feels free at home, now that her husband is no longer around. Sometimes it’s the little things that make her realize it.
"I used to not be able to leave a dish in the sink or a rag in the sink," she said. "I would be World War III in here."
Now, sometimes she'll just leave it sitting in the sink, a small reminder of the control she's regained.
"I'm going to leave that rag," she said with a laugh. "It's very freeing."
She’s studying to be a lawyer. And she hopes by the time she passes the bar, she’ll have more tools to help women in situations like hers.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call SafeLink, Massachusetts' 24/7 domestic violence hotline and resource: 877-785-2020 or visit: https://casamyrna.org/get-support/safelink/
This segment aired on April 11, 2022. Audio will be available soon. | https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/04/11/domestic-abuse-coercive-control-massachusetts | 2022-04-11T11:24:48 | 0 | https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/04/11/domestic-abuse-coercive-control-massachusetts |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Klay Thompson punctuated his regular season with a fist pump — a display of emotion stemming from far more than his latest flurry of fourth-quarter points.
Thompson made seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 41 points for the Golden State Warriors, who landed the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 128-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.
“What I battled through, I’ll never take a 40-ball lightly again,” said Thompson, who after being sidelined for more than two seasons with knee and Achilles injuries, now heads into the playoffs having scored 30-plus in three straight games.
“That’s hard to do in the NBA,” Thompson continued. “I don’t care who’s guarding you, who’s playing, 40 points is 40 points and that was a sweet night for myself.”
Jordan Poole added 22 for the Warriors, who opened up a 22-point lead in the second quarter and held on to close out the regular season on a five-game winning streak.
The Pelicans were already locked into the ninth spot in the Western Conference and limited the playing time for the usual starters ahead of their single-elimination play-in game on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. Brandon Ingram (right hamstring), Herbert Jones (bruised right tibia) and Jonas Valanciunas (sore right ankle) sat out, as well as top scoring reserve Devonte’ Graham.
Starting guard CJ McCollum played just five minutes in the first quarter before being given the rest of the night off. Naji Marshall led New Orleans with 19 points, while reserve Gary Clark added 17 points and rookie Trey Murphy III scored 15.
Pelicans coach Willie Green downplayed the Pelicans’ two losses to end the season, given that his team still has a chance to be part of the NBA playoffs after starting 3-16 and not having injured 2019 top overall draft pick Zion Williamson all season.
“We are proud of our group and where we are right now,” Green said. “The guys understand that they have worked extremely hard. They stayed together and we have a great opportunity.”
The Pelicans’ largely reserve lineup still whittled a 29-point deficit down to 11 late in the third quarter before Thompson put the game away with 15 points in a five-minute span early in the fourth period.
Thompson opened the spurt with an 11-foot turnaround, a reverse layup and then a driving floater as he was fouled, followed by a 15-foot pull-up and consecutive 3s to make it 108-86.
“He’s come back from this long two-and-a-half-year absence, so for him to look the way he has the last couple weeks but also kind of break this game open tonight in the last game of the regular season is significant,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Tonight was sort of a metaphor for Klay being back to Klay.”
TIP-INS
Warriors: Thompson shot 50% from 3-point range against New Orleans. He has 14 games with at least 20 points and six with at least 30 since returning to the lineup on Jan. 9. … Golden State shot 60.5% overall (49 of 81) and 57.6% (19 of 33) from 3-point range. … Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points and Damion Lee added 11.
Pelicans: Ingram missed his third straight game with the hamstring injury, which Green has described as a minor aggravation that shouldn’t keep him out of the play-in game. “He’s feeling much better,” Green said. “Our plan is for him to be ready to play Wednesday. But other than that, he’s working through it. He is getting better. But it just didn’t make sense to put him on the floor tonight.” … Undrafted rookie Jose Alvarado scored 12 points in a reserve role.
CURRY’S STATUS
It’s still not clear whether Warriors leading scorer Stephen Curry will be back for Golden State’s playoff opener. He missed the final 12 games of the regular season because of a sprained ligament in his left foot.
“We’ll see how everything goes with Steph next week. There’s a chance he’ll be ready for Game 1. There’s a chance he might not,” Kerr said. “As the week goes on, we’ll see where Steph is. But I imagine this will go right down to the wire as far as Game 1 is concerned, whether we know his availability or not.”
FREE-THROW LEADER
Poole closed out the season as the NBA leader in free-throw percentage at 92.5%, just ahead of Curry at 92.3%.
“I want to give a shoutout to my mom. Ever since I was young, she told me there was nobody guarding me at the free-throw line, so I shouldn’t be missing too many of them,” Poole said. “It’s pretty cool.”
IRON MAN
Warriors center Kevon Looney played in all 82 regular-season games, an accomplishment that Kerr praised in the context of Looney’s hip and neuropathy problems earlier in his career.
“It’s always an incredible badge of honor for a player to play 82 games and as a coach to be able to rely on somebody 82 times, it’s amazing,” Kerr said. “I’m thrilled for him.”
UP NEXT
Warriors: Open the first round of the playoffs at home against Denver on Saturday night.
Pelicans: Host a Western Conference play-in game against San Antonio on Wednesday night.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/thompson-scores-41-warriors-top-pelicans-to-clinch-3rd-seed/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:50 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/thompson-scores-41-warriors-top-pelicans-to-clinch-3rd-seed/ |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Klay Thompson’s form is now the least of Golden State’s worries.
“The proof is on the court just what he’s looked like over the last couple weeks,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Thompson poured in a season-high 41 points in a 128-107 victory in New Orleans on Sunday night to end the regular season. “He’s been in a great groove now, so it’s a really good sign.”
Thompson’s recent play is among main reasons the Warriors are heading into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. With fellow “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry sidelined by a foot injury, Thompson has scored 30 or more in three straight games.
Since Jan. 9, when he resumed a career derailed more than two seasons by successive knee and Achilles injuries, Thompson has averaged 20 points per game over 32 games.
“I pat myself on the back because when you go through the injuries I did, there’s some really slow days,” Thompson said. “There’s so many tedious exercises and just building up your muscles again to do what you love is a challenge — something I never had to do before. So, to do it twice and come out and average (20 points) is inspiring for myself and just makes we want to keep going, because I’m still juts scratching the surface of what I can become.”
In New Orleans, Thompson looked like the sharp-shooter who could single-handedly take over a game.
He scored 21 first-half points to stake Golden State to a 20-point halftime lead. And when New Orleans tried to make a game of it late in the third quarter, Thompson returned to put it away with 15 points in a five-minute span early in the fourth quarter.
His scoring came on everything from driving reverse layups and floaters to pull-up jumpers, turnarounds and, of course, 3s — seven of them.
Kerr said the scoring display Thompson has put on recently “doesn’t surprise me, actually, because it’s Klay.”
“He’s one of the greatest shooters of all time,” Kerr continued. “The biggest thing is he’s just found his rhythm. He’s gotten his conditioning. Early on, he wanted everything back so badly he was forcing the issue, and it’s just been really fun to watch him settle in.”
Just in time for the third-seeded Warriors’ first playoff series in three seasons. They open their first-round series at home against Denver on Saturday night.
“A lot of ups and downs for myself this season, but I stuck with it,” Thompson said. “I will continue to do that, and some great momentum going into the playoffs. I can’t wait. I’m so excited of the playoffs, Having to watch the last two years was painful.”
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/warriors-thompson-carrying-vintage-form-into-the-playoffs/ | 2022-04-11T11:24:57 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/warriors-thompson-carrying-vintage-form-into-the-playoffs/ |
A big warmup this week for NJ: 60s, 70s, maybe even 80 degrees
The Bottom Line
The first week of April was generally rainy, cloudy, and cool. Some of those days were rather unpleasant. However, I'm happy to report But Mother Nature is about to flip to springy warmth this week, with occasional rain showers too.
Even though Monday is off to a chilly start — with a Frost Advisory posted for most of the state — temperatures will be seasonably by the afternoon, with a bright sky. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will turn even warmer, running about 10 to 20 degrees above normal.
Of course, the forecast also includes some April showers. One batch of potential raindrops late Monday to early Tuesday. Another shower/thunderstorm chance late-day Wednesday. And then the most pronounced and most widespread rain will come Thursday night.
We're also getting a preview of the big Easter Weekend. Unfortunately, the warmth will not last that long.
Monday
Yes, we're talking a lot about warmth there. But temperatures have not started to soar yet. Monday morning is pretty cold, even frosty in spots. The coldest corners of New Jersey (to the northwest, and in the Pine Barrens) are starting just below the freezing mark. Most of the state is in the 30s, with lower 40s along the immediate coast only.
Technically, inland central and southern New Jersey fall under a Frost Advisory until 9 a.m. That doesn't mean much, unless you're a gardener or farmer. It does mean that the growing season hasn't quite started yet.
Given plentiful sunshine to start Monday, temperatures should start to jump up to more comfortable levels by mid-morning. Fair weather clouds will build in the afternoon. But with light winds and seasonable high temperatures approaching 60 degrees, it should be a nice early Spring day overall.
I think the daytime hours will stay dry. Although right around sunset, we have to add the chance for some rain showers to the forecast. Scattered and light — you just might need to flip on the windshield wipers Monday night. It will not be as cold as the previous night, with lows in the upper 40s.
Tuesday
We haven't hit widespread 70s since mid March —technically, it was still Winter back then.
The aforementioned showers will exit early Tuesday morning. And the rest of the day looks fantastic.
Skies will quickly clear to sunshine again, helping high temperatures soar to around the 70 degree mark.
Wednesday
For most of the state, Wednesday will push even warmer. Highs across inland New Jersey will soar to around 70 to 75 degrees. (I unabashedly love temperatures in the 70s, so I'm pretty excited about it.)
However, a light breeze blowing out of the southeast will be enough to keep coastal communities significantly cooler on Wednesday. Temperatures might be stuck in the 50s, perhaps? Still pleasant, but not quite t-shirt weather like those west of the Parkway in the 70s.
With the increase in warmth and humidity will also come a chance for a late-day spot shower or thunderstorm. Not everyone will see rain. But the best chance of some unlucky raindrops will be between about 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. I believe the best forcing for strong/severe storms will stay west of New Jersey, but that's something to watch.
Thursday
The warmest day of the week. Also the last warm day of the week.
Fueled by a strong southwest breeze, highs will shoot for 75 to 80 degrees by midday Thursday. Not quite reaching record high levels, but that is almost 20 degrees above normal for this time of year.
And then along comes a strong cold front — the leading edge of a cooler air mass, expected to sweep west-to-east across New Jersey Thursday afternoon. As it does, we'll likely see a brief burst of rain and wind blow through the entire state. Total rainfall may exceed a quarter-inch — we're not talking about another flood-inducing soaking like last week.
Behind the frontal passage and the rain, temperatures will start to slide back again Thursday night.
The Extended Forecast
Friday's forecast looks good, although noticeably cooler. Mostly sunny skies and highs in the lower 60s? Sounds like another nice April day to me.
The big holiday weekend features mixed news. It is going to rain at some point on Saturday. But how much and how long depends upon which model you believe. So if you have outdoor plans, keep an eye on how this forecast evolves. (Easter Egg hunt, anyone?)
Easter Sunday looks dry, sunny, breezy, and seasonable with highs near 60. Not bad.
Next week's forecast is trending cool and wet again. I also don't like the suggestion of possible snowflakes in North Jersey as early as Monday.
Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter for the latest forecast and realtime weather updates. | https://nj1015.com/a-big-warmup-this-week-for-nj-60s-70s-maybe-even-80-degrees/ | 2022-04-11T11:31:17 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/a-big-warmup-this-week-for-nj-60s-70s-maybe-even-80-degrees/ |
NJ county colleges tackle post-COVID mental health in new project
The uncertainty of how long the COVID-19 pandemic might drag on, the "new normal" it has foisted upon many aspects of daily life, fear of infection from the virus, and loss of loved ones to it are common experiences and emotions for New Jerseyans by now, and that includes students, faculty, and staff at the 18 community colleges across the Garden State.
To deal directly with their heightened mental health concerns and set students on a brighter path toward a four-year degree or a lasting career, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' Center for Student Success has launched "The Every Mind Project: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of New Jersey's Community College Students."
Center for Student Success executive director Jacob Farbman said the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, the state Department of Health, and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education have put their backing behind the effort, funded by the Community Foundation of New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and a grant awarded to NJDOH through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
"It is an overwhelming need, and we are delighted that so many partners have stepped up to the table to work with us on this," Farbman said. "This is about addressing a barrier that our students face that may prevent them from getting on, staying on, and completing their paths to their credentials and degrees, which ultimately will lead to economic mobility for our students."
In just three months, Farbman said, more than 500 faculty and staff statewide have been trained, in professional development sessions, to identify and learn how to attempt to alleviate the various signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis.
'These relationships last lifetimes'
These personnel, along with student leaders on campus, are the "frontliners" of community colleges as Farbman put it, and the goal for many is to be able to eventually "train the trainer," as the program looks to build long-term impact.
For the everyday student, might that mean having a designated mentor who can be available to provide guidance even after that student has moved on from this particular phase of their education?
"These relationships last lifetimes, and this is just another component to that," Farbman said. "So the answer to your question simply is: yes, yes, and more yes."
Resource materials available at staffers' fingertips, as well as certain types of campus events, are also planned parts of The Every Mind Project.
'A significant, significant basic needs issue'
State statistics compiled by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and cited by the Center for Student Success, show two-thirds (66%) of community college students are concerned about their mental health specifically because of the ongoing pandemic, and even as it has waned, 70% are feeling more stress and anxiety than a year ago.
Farbman feels that if some of those fears can be relieved, higher standards of performance can be set by all.
"This is a significant, significant basic needs issue that, compounded as it has become because of the pandemic, is a student success, academic success issue," he said.
For more information, visit njccc.org, njstudentsuccess.org, or mhanj.org.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/nj-county-colleges-tackle-post-covid-mental-health-in-new-project/ | 2022-04-11T11:31:17 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/nj-county-colleges-tackle-post-covid-mental-health-in-new-project/ |
Biden to nominate new ATF chief, release ghost gun rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes, six people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Biden is expected to make the announcement nominating Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, at the White House on Monday, the people said. They were not authorized to discuss the nomination publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
The administration will also release the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The rule is expected to change the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun.
In its proposed rule released last May, the ATF said it was also seeking to require manufacturers and dealers who sell ghost gun parts to be licensed by the federal government and require federally licensed firearms dealers to add a serial number to any unserialized guns they plan to sell.
The rule would also require firearms dealers to run background checks before they sell ghost gun kits that contain parts needed to assemble a firearm.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 unserialized firearms since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T11:32:04 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
Russia hits Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of eastern push
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia said Monday that it destroyed air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of a broad new offensive in the east.
Moscow’s initial invasion stalled on several fronts as it met with stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities. The failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skies has hampered Moscow’s ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the central city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by Sunday’s strike.
Konashenkov said Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Last week, Slovakia said it handed over Soviet-designed S-300s to Ukraine — but Slovakia said it had no evidence that its system was hit.
With their advance in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities. The war has flattened many urban areas, killed thousands of people and left Russia politically and economically isolated. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including a massacre outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station.
Now, Russia is regrouping for a renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.
Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead the effort, according to U.S. officials, though they do not see one man making a difference.
WARNING: Videos may contain graphic content.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meanwhile pleading for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back. Echoing his remarks in an AP interview, Zelenskyy said Sunday that the coming week could be crucial, with Western support to his country — or the lack thereof — proving decisive.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.”
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to U.S. President Joe Biden and other Western leaders for military aid to date but said he had “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needs. In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, he specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.
Those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.
The Russian report of the attack on the S-300s outside Dnipro was the third such strike since the weekend. Konashenkov said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions. The Russian military claims couldn’t be independently verified.
Asked about the Russian claim that it had taken out systems supplied by a European country, Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said Monday he had “no evidence” that the Russians had destroyed the weaponry his country provided. Earlier, his government called reports that the Slovak-supplied system had been hit “disinformation.”
Ukraine already had a number of Soviet-built S-300s and other long-range air defense systems, and it also has received batches of portable, shoulder-fired Western anti-aircraft weapons like Stingers, which are efficient against low-flying aircraft.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — which make up the Donbas — resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most experienced military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity. Russia does not generally announce such appointments, and there was no comment from Moscow.
Dvornikov, 60, gained a reputation for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground. But U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the appointment’s significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault increasingly is focusing on eastern Ukraine — an arc stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port in the Donbas that has been besieged since nearly the start of the war.
Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said Monday that Russians shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours, including a 7-year-old child.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But it said the outcome “remains very much in question.”
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed eight years ago.
In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Russian forces would launch a renewed offensive on Mariupol as well as Kyiv and other cities. “Our offensive work will be not only in Mariupol, but in all the other settlements, cities and villages,” he said.
Mariupol’s residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city. Hundreds of thousands have fled, though Russian attacks have also frustrated evacuation missions.
Vladislav Usovich, an 18-year-old conscript serving in Russia-backed separatist forces, advanced slowly with other fighters through residential areas around a factory in Mariupol on Sunday.
“I thought it would go better, I thought it would be faster. Everything is going slowly,” he said. “The Ukrainians are prepared fighters. NATO trained them well.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that the war began just over six weeks ago, not 10 weeks. ___
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ | 2022-04-11T11:32:10 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ |
Three manholes exploded in Times Square Sunday night, triggering fear as smoke rose from streets in the heart of Manhattan and sending crowds scrambling in any direction away from the loud bangs caused by the blasts, authorities say.
Two police officers were taken to a hospital for ringing in their ears, but no other injuries were reported in the trio of blasts near 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue shortly before 8 p.m.
Firefighters responding to the scene found elevated carbon monoxide levels at a building on West 229th Street and worked to ease the situation in the cellar and subcellar before turning the scene over to utility crews.
Con Edison confirmed at least one manhole explosion was because of a cable fire. No other details on the cause were immediately available early Monday.
Joseph Romero, a comedy show worker in the area at the time of the explosions, says he heard the loud bangs and started to run like many others.
He took video of the aftermath of one of the explosions that shows him in a large crowd, shoulder to shoulder, trying to move out of the way. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/manhole-explosions-send-crowds-running-in-times-square/3639726/ | 2022-04-11T11:41:13 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/manhole-explosions-send-crowds-running-in-times-square/3639726/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Local
Weather
Investigations
Baquero
Video
TV Listings
Our Voices
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
COVID-19
BA.2
Eric Adams
Gun Violence
Times Square
Elon Musk
Russia-Ukraine
Supreme Court
Lifestyle
NBCLX
Expand
As Seen On
As seen on News 4 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/manhole-explosions-send-people-running-in-times-square/3639729/ | 2022-04-11T11:41:20 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/manhole-explosions-send-people-running-in-times-square/3639729/ |
What to Know
The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers' clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
Business
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/kmart-nj-closing/3639771/ | 2022-04-11T11:45:34 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/kmart-nj-closing/3639771/ |
Thousands of Poles have shown kindness toward Ukrainians fleeing a war next door, including many who have welcomed Ukrainian families into their homes. But despite the innumerable individual examples of generosity toward fleeing Ukrainians, concerns are growing that Poland cannot withstand this level of migration.
Poland, a country of 38 million people, has already taken in nearly 2.6 million Ukrainian refugees, or 60 percent of the total exodus since the Russian invasion began at the end of February, according to the United Nations.
Tomasz Szeleszczuk, one district official in charge of nine villages in Poland, said he was proud that his villagers had welcomed Ukrainians. But if many more come, the community will need more help from the Polish authorities, he said. Szeleszczuk said that he was worried about the effects the refugee crisis could have on health care and on the economy countrywide.
“It’s a challenge for the whole system,” he said.
The stream of Ukrainian refugees into Poland has slowed in recent weeks — 28,908 entered on April 9, compared with nearly 141,000 at the peak on March 6, according to the U.N. But many more could come if hostilities in Ukraine escalate. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/a-challenge-for-the-whole-system-poland-feels-weight-of-refugee-crisis/3639791/ | 2022-04-11T11:45:40 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/a-challenge-for-the-whole-system-poland-feels-weight-of-refugee-crisis/3639791/ |
New trailhead and trail extension project to add to NSB’s Marine Discovery Center
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The Marine Discovery Center on Barracuda Boulevard has become a staple of the rich environmental character of New Smyrna Beach.
The center offers its visitors plenty of activities to learn about and have fun in the New Smyrna Beach environment — be it kayaking on the Indian River Lagoon, movie nights at the amphitheater or learning about the sea creatures living in the lagoon.
Later this year, the center will not only add another feature for its visitors, but make the property greener and even more in character with its environmental theme.
More MDC:Marine Discovery Center's New Smyrna donor salt marsh now produces thousands of plants
Rescued sea turtles:'It’s days like today that we remember forever': SeaWorld releases 10 rescued sea turtles in NSB
More:NSB Residents’ Coalition supports historic homes during Charming Homes Tour
The center will be home to a new trailhead project that will also include a trail extension connecting the center to the city trail at the North Causeway.
The paved trail will start at the trailhead and run along the southern part of the site to the west side of Barracuda Boulevard and then down to the south side of the causeway.
“Our concept is that it would be a trail center,” said Chad Truxall, executive director of the Marine Discovery Center, in an interview. “In addition to it being the multi-purpose trail for bikes and whoever wants to use it, it could also be a trail center for our property for walking.”
The trailhead project was approved by the Volusia County Council last month. The Council awarded a $660,510.50 contract to Pierson-based Built-Rite Construction of Central Florida to build the facilities, which will consist of the trailhead and additional restrooms.
The project is funded by Volusia County ECHO trails funds and is expected to take approximately seven months to complete.
The county is building the facilities at the city’s request and then will turn it over to the New Smyrna Beach and the Marine Discovery Center for maintenance responsibility once construction is completed.
Making the trail part of the center
The Marine Discovery Center is a nonprofit organization focused on protecting the Indian River Lagoon and coastal ecosystems through education and restoration activities.
Truxall said that the challenge for staff at the center will be to fit the concept of the trail into their mission.
He said that ideas about how that could be best explored are still in the works. One possibility is having interpretative signage along the center’s segment of the trail where visitors could learn about the Indian River Lagoon and the Marine Discovery Center as they go in or out of the property.
The trail will start at the northwest side of the property and run parallel to Quay Assisi. The current parking space between the street and the projected trail path, Truxall said, will be replaced by new vegetation to make the landscape greener.
Another way of doing it, Truxall said, would be to incorporate the new trail within the existing walking path around the property.
“What we’re hoping to really do is start connecting these (trail paths in the center), so if someone wanted to, they could walk around to see some of the different spots,” Truxall said.
One of these areas is called Mt. Morgan — an earth mound where visitors have a privileged view over the entire Marine Discovery Center.
Truxall said that the project could also help bring even more visitors coming from the trail to the center.
“(The trail) could maybe bring in some new people that have never been here,” Truxall said. “They come here and do a bike ride and afterwards they could go into the center, or maybe they come to the center first and then go (on the trail).”
As the center completes its 25th anniversary in 2022, Truxall said that projects like this give the facility a chance to expand their reach in the community and offer yet another way to fulfill their mission.
“We want people to know who we are and what we do and understand our mission,” Truxall said. “It’s great if at minimum (visitors) see us and have chance to walk in the building, but we really want it to be more active — where we can actually have them do a program and get that emergence.”
The Marine Discovery Center is located at 520 Barracuda Blvd. in New Smyrna Beach and is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/04/10/new-smyrna-beach-marine-discovery-center-feature-new-trailhead-later-year/9511187002/ | 2022-04-11T11:47:36 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2022/04/10/new-smyrna-beach-marine-discovery-center-feature-new-trailhead-later-year/9511187002/ |
Deltona Water to upgrade meters for $9.8M from American Rescue Plan Act funds
Deltona Water meters are getting an upgrade that will have residents feeling more like the Jetsons and less like the Flintstones.
The City Commission unanimously approved the plan to replace the current manually-read meters with data-centric advanced metering infrastructure — or AMI meters for short — for $9,802,758 and change.
The cost will be covered by Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, of which Deltona received $13,972,193, from the American Rescue Plan Act.
"It’s been a wish and a dream, and we didn’t know how we were going to pay for it," Mayor Heidi Herzberg told attendees Thursday during the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce and Orange City Alliance's State of the Region luncheon. "It’s going to make such a difference for the residents."
Acting City Manager John Peters III said in a phone interview Wednesday that the installation likely will begin in late fall and take about six to nine months.
Peters told commissioners during Monday night's meeting that the change should result in annual savings to the utility of approximately $800,000.
"This is a major step to modernizing our Deltona Water system and achieving true cost savings," Peters said.
He said the technology will eventually enable the city to reduce the number of meter readers and customer service employees because "customers will literally be able to go online and look at their meter themselves."
Peters said the technology also will benefit water conservation as the new meters will alert to possible leaks, which will lead to faster fixes.
Commissioner David Sosa said he's looking forward to the improvements coming to fruition as most of the calls or communications he receives from residents are regarding Deltona Water.
He also asked Peters about the plans for the money that will be saved as a result.
"We are going to evaluate whether reducing the debt is the best way or whether it is to reduce the rate that we charge our customers immediately," Peters said.
Additionally, updates to the supervisory control and data acquisition system, also known as SCADA, will allow for controlling the city's water plants remotely, which ultimately will lead to a reduction in the overall number of plants.
The progress comes four years after Commissioner Dana McCool, before she was elected, paid her $500 water bill with pennies in protest of an unexplained spike in cost.
"I just want to say that I feel pretty vindicated," McCool said. "And I would like to thank all of those that helped bring this up for conversation over the last few years, and I would like to congratulate us on moving into the modern world and using these savings to help our residents."
McCool also thanked the commission for moving forward in 2019 with a review of the city's utility to the tune of $200,000.
Related coverage:Study of Deltona Water confirms staffing issues, outdated technology
Related coverage:Some Deltona residents question worth of water study
During that time, while serving in the Florida House of Representatives, David Santiago asked the state to cover the cost, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the budget request. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/04/11/deltona-water-upgrade-meters-9-8-m-federal-covid-19-funds/9466134002/ | 2022-04-11T11:47:42 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/04/11/deltona-water-upgrade-meters-9-8-m-federal-covid-19-funds/9466134002/ |
National Animal Control Officer Appreciation week is celebrated every second full week of April. The week is designed to say thank you and show appreciation to all animal control officers who are dedicated to helping pets and people every day.
Jodi Baird has been with Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control for the past 16 years. She owns three dogs of her own, all rescues from the shelter. “I own small dogs,” she says with a smile. “Because I get dragged around by big dogs all day.” The work she does can be difficult, but rewarding. “One of the things I always hear is, I couldn’t do your job because I love animals too much,” she says. “Well, we love animals enough to make a difference.”
Making a difference is what Baird and her fellow officers do every day. 12 animal control officers completed 19,128 calls of service last year in the city of Fort Wayne and New Haven. Of those calls, 3,772 were to investigate potential cruelty or neglect. Baird says before she started working at the shelter, she didn’t realize how many animals come into the shelter and how many good animals there are. “I cried on my interview,” she says. “It was an eye opener. It was hard.”
But she realized over time that there are situations the animals are put in where being at the shelter is the best place for them. “We are able to be a new beginning and let them know there are better situations for an animal to become part of a family.” You can see wonderful pets up for adoptions on the shelter’s Facebook page.
Baird says it’s important for the community to see the work her and fellow officers do in a positive light. “We no longer want to be the dog catcher that is seen in the cartoons chasing dogs down the street. We want people to know that we’re here to help. This community dedicates huge resources to assisting people with pets.” Baird says it all starts with educating the public. “Food. Water. Shelter. Those are the minimal requirement for any animal in the city limit. It should be the requirement worldwide.”
Baird says a good day is when you resolve a situation and drive past a house and see where a dog that used to be chained up outside, is now inside and living as an indoor dog. “Even though it may only help one or two a day, it helps prevent that dog from being brought into the shelter. It makes you feel good, and feel like you’re doing something positive.”
Pet owners can help animal control officers by licensing and tagging their pets. Microchipping is a great way to identify your animal if they get lost. You’ll also make them happy if you follow regular vaccination protocols. So if you happen to see an animal control officer this week, or anytime for that matter, say “thank you” for what they do and give them a friendly wave if you see them in your neighborhood. | https://www.wane.com/news/animal-control-officer-appreciation-week-is-positively-fort-wayne/ | 2022-04-11T11:51:35 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/animal-control-officer-appreciation-week-is-positively-fort-wayne/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.wane.com/top-stories/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T11:51:41 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/top-stories/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
Biden to nominate new ATF chief, release ghost gun rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes.
The White House confirmed that Biden is announcing the nomination of Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, in a Monday afternoon event. The administration is also releasing the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The new rule changes the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun. It says those parts must be licensed and include serial numbers. Manufacturers must also run background checks before a sale — as they do with other commercially made firearms. The requirement applies regardless of how the firearm was made, meaning it includes ghost guns made from individual parts, kits, or by 3D-printers.
Federally licensed firearms dealers must retain key records until they shut down their business or licensed activity and then transfer the records to ATF as they are currently required to do at the end of licensed activity. Previously, these dealers were permitted to destroy most records after 20 years, making it harder for law enforcement to trace firearms found at crime scenes.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 firearms without serial numbers since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T11:55:10 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
Once a retail giant, Kmart will be down to 3 stores after NJ closing
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T11:55:17 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
Rain Monday morning, continuing to warm up
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - Today’s weather got off to an active start with strong thunderstorms developing within a line of rain. That rain and those storms are continuing to move to the east, and behind them, most of the remainder of this Monday sees dry weather. If you thought Sunday was warm, today will be even warmer!
Today
After the morning rain, Mid-Michigan is in for a dry stretch through the middle of the day. There is the potential for more light showers to move back in later this afternoon and close to dinner, but any active that does come up should be on the lighter-side. We’re also in for a warmer day today, highs will be into the 60s by this afternoon! These numbers will be between 5 and 10 degrees above normal for this day in April. Today’s wind will also be on the breezier-side, occasionally gusting up to 25 mph. Wind direction shifts from southeast to southwest today behind the morning rain.
Tonight
Skies will clear out as we head through the overnight hours. This will allow temperatures to fall off into the 30s. The wind will also slow back down to a speed of only 5 to 10 mph out of the west southwest.
Tuesday
Dry weather carries through the day with sunshine in the morning before partly cloudy skies return in the afternoon. Highs will be comparable to Monday, reaching up to the lower 60s by the afternoon. Tuesday’s wind will be fairly light, only at 5 to 10 mph out of the south southeast.
Wednesday/Thursday System
Another low pressure system will develop in the Rockies starting Tuesday, then swing past the Great Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday. As it taps into Gulf warmth and moisture, periods of rainfall are expected on Thursday and into Friday morning. With some instability, thunderstorms will also be on the table.
The strongest rain and heaviest thunderstorms currently appear to be late Wednesday into Thursday morning as the cold front from this system passes through. There is a chance for severe weather at that time, but we’ll keep an eye on if anything changes. Skies will clear out by Thursday afternoon allowing for a good deal of sunshine.
The full 7-Day Forecast also shows the warm-up associated with this system, before a cooldown by the end of the week. Check it out!
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/rain-monday-morning-continuing-warm-up/ | 2022-04-11T11:55:23 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/rain-monday-morning-continuing-warm-up/ |
Biden to nominate new ATF director, release ghost gun rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes, six people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Biden is expected to make the announcement nominating Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, at the White House on Monday, the people said. They were not authorized to discuss the nomination publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
The administration will also release the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The rule is expected to change the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun.
In its proposed rule released last May, the ATF said it was also seeking to require manufacturers and dealers who sell ghost gun parts to be licensed by the federal government and require federally licensed firearms dealers to add a serial number to any unserialized guns they plan to sell.
The rule would also require firearms dealers to run background checks before they sell ghost gun kits that contain parts needed to assemble a firearm.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 unserialized firearms since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/biden-expected-release-rule-ghost-guns-days/ | 2022-04-11T11:58:31 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/biden-expected-release-rule-ghost-guns-days/ |
Elon Musk no longer joining Twitter’s board of directors
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Less than a week after announcing that Tesla CEO Elon Musk would join its board of directors, Twitter has reversed course.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announced the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk, who is now the company’s largest shareholder, as a member. But it “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
While Musk has been one of Twitter’s loudest critics, the sudden withdrawal from the board, which became official Saturday, could signal that the rapidly evolving narrative between Musk and Twitter will become more acrimonious.
“This now goes from a Cinderella story with Musk joining the Twitter Board and keeping his stake under 14.9% helping move Twitter strategically forward to likely a ‘Game of Thrones’ battle between Musk and Twitter with the high likelihood that Elon takes a more hostile stance towards Twitter and further builds his active stake in the company,” wrote Daniel Ives, who follows Twitter for Wedbush.
That, according to Ives, could mean that Musk will join with another major investor to force “strategic changes at Twitter,” or that he will try to force the company to move in a new direction by rattling board members and executives.
Shares of Twitter Inc., which jumped nearly 30% after Musk’s stake became public last week, fell 2% before the opening bell Monday.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/elon-musk-suggests-twitter-changes-including-accepting-dogecoin/ | 2022-04-11T11:58:38 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/elon-musk-suggests-twitter-changes-including-accepting-dogecoin/ |
Biden to nominate new ATF chief, release ghost gun rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes.
The White House confirmed that Biden is announcing the nomination of Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, in a Monday afternoon event. The administration is also releasing the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The new rule changes the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun. It says those parts must be licensed and include serial numbers. Manufacturers must also run background checks before a sale — as they do with other commercially made firearms. The requirement applies regardless of how the firearm was made, meaning it includes ghost guns made from individual parts, kits, or by 3D-printers.
Federally licensed firearms dealers must retain key records until they shut down their business or licensed activity and then transfer the records to ATF as they are currently required to do at the end of licensed activity. Previously, these dealers were permitted to destroy most records after 20 years, making it harder for law enforcement to trace firearms found at crime scenes.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 firearms without serial numbers since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T11:58:45 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
Officials identify toddler swept away down Whitewater Falls
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - A 3-year-old child has died after falling down a waterfall in Jackson County Sunday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said reports were made at 5:50 p.m. reporting the child, who was visiting Whitewater Falls with her family, had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls and had been carried by the current.
We’re told emergency responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Oconee counties were dispatched to the falls to rescue the child. Just before nightfall, the 3-year-old little girl was found dead and entrapped in an area of the waterfall. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday, April, 11.
The child has been identified as Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Pennsylvania. Her family had been living in Oconee County while working in the area.
“First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall. “With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls. While beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to the falls for any reason brings tremendous danger. Always remain at a distance, follow safety precautions and warnings that are in place, and view waterfalls from designated viewing areas.”
Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/officials-identify-toddler-swept-away-down-whitewater-falls/ | 2022-04-11T11:58:51 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/officials-identify-toddler-swept-away-down-whitewater-falls/ |
Once a retail giant, Kmart will be down to 3 stores after NJ closing
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T11:58:57 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
SC gas prices see double-digit decline, state average at $3.72
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The average price for a gallon of gas in South Carolina dropped by more than 10 cents last week.
GasBuddy’s survey of more than 3,000 gas stations in the state showed a decline of 10.2 cents per gallon, bringing the state’s average price per gallon down to $3.72. That’s 34.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and $1.13 higher than one year ago.
“Gas prices have continued to move in the right direction - down- saving Americans approximately $100 million every day compared to when prices peaked about a month ago,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said. “And, more good news is on the horizon: the national average this week will likely fall back under the critical $4 per gallon mark.”
The cheapest station in the state as of Monday morning posted a price of $3.29 while the highest was $4.59, a difference of $1.30 per gallon.
Click here to find the cheapest gas near you.
The cheapest gas in the Tri-County as of Monday morning was at a station in Goose Creek selling gas for $3.54 per gallon.
The national average also fell, dropping 7.5 cents per gallon to $4.10, 23.3 cents lower than a month ago and $1.25 higher than one year ago.
De Haan says, barring any drastic and unexpected turns, gas prices may have reached their 2022 peak.
“It remains possible that gas prices may have hit their 2022 peak, barring the typical caveats like the Russia war on Ukraine, the economy, hurricane season and Covid don’t take drastic and unexpected turns,” De Haan said. “Diesel prices are also falling and likely to go back under the $5 per gallon average this week. The situation, for now, continues to show signs of improving, with the national average falling back into the $3 range as early as this week.”
Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/sc-gas-prices-see-double-digit-decline-state-average-372/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:03 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/sc-gas-prices-see-double-digit-decline-state-average-372/ |
Russia hits Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of eastern push
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia said Monday that it destroyed air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of a broad new offensive in the east.
Moscow’s initial invasion stalled on several fronts as it met with stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities. The failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skies has hampered Moscow’s ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the central city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by Sunday’s strike.
Konashenkov said Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Last week, Slovakia said it handed over Soviet-designed S-300s to Ukraine — but Slovakia said it had no evidence that its system was hit.
With their advance in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities. The war has flattened many urban areas, killed thousands of people and left Russia politically and economically isolated. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including a massacre outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station.
Now, Russia is regrouping for a renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.
Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead the effort, according to U.S. officials, though they do not see one man making a difference.
WARNING: Videos may contain graphic content.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meanwhile pleading for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back. Echoing his remarks in an AP interview, Zelenskyy said Sunday that the coming week could be crucial, with Western support to his country — or the lack thereof — proving decisive.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.”
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to U.S. President Joe Biden and other Western leaders for military aid to date but said he had “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needs. In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, he specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.
Those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.
The Russian report of the attack on the S-300s outside Dnipro was the third such strike since the weekend. Konashenkov said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions. The Russian military claims couldn’t be independently verified.
Asked about the Russian claim that it had taken out systems supplied by a European country, Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said Monday he had “no evidence” that the Russians had destroyed the weaponry his country provided. Earlier, his government called reports that the Slovak-supplied system had been hit “disinformation.”
Ukraine already had a number of Soviet-built S-300s and other long-range air defense systems, and it also has received batches of portable, shoulder-fired Western anti-aircraft weapons like Stingers, which are efficient against low-flying aircraft.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — which make up the Donbas — resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most experienced military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity. Russia does not generally announce such appointments, and there was no comment from Moscow.
Dvornikov, 60, gained a reputation for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground. But U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” played down the appointment’s significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia’s assault increasingly is focusing on eastern Ukraine — an arc stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine’s defenses, the Ukrainian military said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port in the Donbas that has been besieged since nearly the start of the war.
Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said Monday that Russians shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours, including a 7-year-old child.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But it said the outcome “remains very much in question.”
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed eight years ago.
In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Russian forces would launch a renewed offensive on Mariupol as well as Kyiv and other cities. “Our offensive work will be not only in Mariupol, but in all the other settlements, cities and villages,” he said.
Mariupol’s residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city. Hundreds of thousands have fled, though Russian attacks have also frustrated evacuation missions.
Vladislav Usovich, an 18-year-old conscript serving in Russia-backed separatist forces, advanced slowly with other fighters through residential areas around a factory in Mariupol on Sunday.
“I thought it would go better, I thought it would be faster. Everything is going slowly,” he said. “The Ukrainians are prepared fighters. NATO trained them well.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that the war began just over six weeks ago, not 10 weeks. ___
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:10 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/ukraine-digs-fight-russias-looming-eastern-offensive/ |
Annamycin exhibited robust antitumor activity in experimental colorectal cancer liver and lung metastasis models
Results support advancement of preclinical development toward initiating clinical studies in metastatic colorectal cancer patients
HOUSTON, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting highly resistant tumors and viruses, today announced that preclinical data of Annamycin tested in syngeneic models of metastatic colorectal cancer established in lungs or liver was accepted for poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022, being held April 8-13, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Details of the poster presentation are as follows:
Title: New approach to target metastatic colorectal cancer organotropism with L-Annamycin
Track: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Poster Number: 4048
Session: PO.ET06.05 - New Chemotherapy Agents
Presentation Type: E-Poster presentation
Session Date and Time: Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 9:00 am – 12:30 p.m. CDT
Section: 27
The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of Annamycin in experimental colorectal cancer liver and lung metastasis models. The efficacy of Annamycin was tested in syngeneic models of metastatic colorectal cancer established in lungs or liver. For lung metastasis model, CT26-Luc cells were injected intravenously (IV) into Balb/c mice, followed by weekly IV treatment of Annamycin (4 and 6 mg/kg). The liver metastatic model was established using intrasplenic injection protocol. Mice received six weekly IV injections of 4 mg/kg of Annamycin or vehicle. Bioluminescent imaging (BLI), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computer Tomography (CT) were used to track tumor progression.
Annamycin exhibited robust antitumor activity in both models. In the lung metastasis model, a dose-dependent delay in the tumor progression was visualized by both BLI and CT scan in the Annamycin treated group. Median survival in the group receiving 6 mg/kg Annamycin was 2.72 fold higher than vehicle [median survival (MS) 79d for treated vs 29d vehicle, p<0.0001] and 2.34 fold higher than vehicle for the animals dosed with Annamycin at 4 mg/kg [MS 68d, p=0.0012]. In the liver metastasis model, all vehicle-treated mice showed massive tumors in the liver and peritoneal cavity as monitored by BLI and MRI. In the vehicle group, 13/14 died or were euthanized by 35d (median survival was 34.5d). Yet, no tumors were detected by BLI or MRI in Annamycin treated mice as of 44d and 0/14 mice died (100% survival). This indicates a highly significant (P< 0.0001) extension of survival (ongoing experiment).
"We continue to be encouraged by the growing body of robust preclinical and human clinical data demonstrated by Annamycin. The positive results seen in these preclinical models provide added confidence in the potential follow-on development opportunities we believe Annamycin holds. While metastatic colorectal cancer is not an immediate area of focus for us, this data set continues to provide valuable insight as we advance its clinical development for the treatment of highly resistant tumors," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin.
In summary, the strategy to develop anticancer agents that imitate metastatic colorectal cancer organotropism appears to be highly promising and is supported by these results. This study demonstrating efficacy of Annamycin in colorectal cancer models provides convincing evidence for further preclinical development aimed at initiation of clinical studies in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
Annamycin is the Company's next-generation anthracycline that has been shown in animal models to accumulate in the lungs at up to 30-fold the level of doxorubicin, as well as demonstrating the ability to avoid the multidrug resistance mechanisms that typically limit the efficacy of doxorubicin and other currently prescribed anthracyclines. Importantly, Annamycin has also demonstrated a lack of cardiotoxicity in multiple human clinical trials, including ongoing trials for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) lung metastases, and the Company believes that the use of Annamycin may not face the same usage limitations imposed on doxorubicin, one of the most common currently prescribed anthracyclines. Annamycin is currently in development for the treatment of AML and STS lung metastases and the Company believes it may have the potential to treat a number of additional indications.
Annamycin currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of STS lung metastases, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia.
For more information about the Phase 1b/2 study evaluating Annamycin for the treatment of STS lung metastases, please visit clinicaltrials.gov and reference identifier NCT04887298.
About Moleculin Biotech, Inc.
Moleculin Biotech, Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a broad portfolio of drug candidates for the treatment of highly resistant tumors and viruses. The Company's lead program, Annamycin is a next-generation anthracycline designed to avoid multidrug resistance mechanisms with little to no cardiotoxicity. Annamycin is currently in development for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) lung metastases.
Additionally, the Company is developing WP1066, an Immune/Transcription Modulator capable of inhibiting p-STAT3 and other oncogenic transcription factors while also stimulating a natural immune response, targeting brain tumors, pancreatic and other cancers, and WP1220, an analog to WP1066, for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Moleculin is also engaged in the development of a portfolio of antimetabolites, including WP1122 for the potential treatment of COVID-19 and other viruses, as well as cancer indications including brain tumors, pancreatic and other cancers.
For more information about the Company, please visit www.moleculin.com and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, whether the results described in the poster will be shown in follow on preclinical and clinical development and whether the Company will be able to develop Annamycin to treat additional indications . Although Moleculin believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Moleculin has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our most recently filed Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and updated from time to time in our Form 10-Q filings and in our other public filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Investor Contact:
JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
(833) 475-8247
MBRX@jtcir.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Moleculin Biotech, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/moleculin-announces-presentation-positive-preclinical-annamycin-data-aacr-2022-annual-meeting/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:18 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/moleculin-announces-presentation-positive-preclinical-annamycin-data-aacr-2022-annual-meeting/ |
WAEPA now offering guaranteed coverage with no medical requirements
FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WAEPA (Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies) is now offering $100k in Guaranteed Life Insurance coverage for a limited time.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9031651-waepa-guaranteed-life-insurance-100k/
Civilian Federal Employees under the age of 50 who are not currently WAEPA members are eligible to apply for $100k in Guaranteed Life Insurance coverage with no medical exam required. Approval is guaranteed, and coverage is fully portable for those that leave federal service.
"At WAEPA, we want to provide Civilian Feds with the peace of mind that their family's financial future is secure," said M. Shane Canfield, CEO of WAEPA. "Civilian Feds serve our country every day, and our goal is to serve them. This guaranteed offer provides the opportunity to realize that goal."
This limited time offer expires on May 25, 2022. Existing WAEPA members, spouses, and dependents are ineligible, and you must be a United States citizen to apply. To learn more about WAEPA's $100k Guaranteed Issue Group Term Life Insurance and to apply, please visit: https://www.waepa.org/100k
About WAEPA
Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies (WAEPA), is a nonprofit association (not an insurance company) formed For Feds, By Feds. The goal of WAEPA is to provide access to products and services that promote the health, welfare, and financial well-being of its members. After more than 75 years in business, WAEPA has over 46,000 members. For more information, visit waepa.org, or give us a call at (888) 353-1308.
View original content:
SOURCE WAEPA | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/100k-guaranteed-life-insurance-now-available-through-waepa/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:26 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/100k-guaranteed-life-insurance-now-available-through-waepa/ |
- Data show enhanced antitumor effects and improved survival were observed in a preclinical NSCLC model compared to a naked HER3 antibody
- HER3 targeted radiotherapy represents a novel therapeutic strategy for tumors expressing HER3 and tumors with acquired resistance to HER1/2 therapies.
- Data Supports Actinium Pharmaceutical's research collaboration with AVEO Oncology to develop and advance a HER3 targeted radiotherapy to clinical studies
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company"), a leader in the development of targeted radiotherapies for patients with unmet needs, today announced positive results from preclinical studies evaluating an anti-HER3 antibody, conjugated with an Actinium-225 (Ac-225) radioisotope payload, for targeting HER3-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. These data were presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR 2022) annual meeting, which is being held April 8th – 13th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
AACR Poster Highlights:
- Ac-225-HER3 antibody radio conjugate (ARC) eliminated HER3-postive tumors in an in vivo animal model of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at multiple dose levels with increased survival
- A dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against HER3 expressing cells was observed in vitro with the Ac-225-HER3-ARC
- Biodistribution data demonstrates accumulation of the Ac-225-HER3-ARC in HER3 expressing tumors in the in vivo model of NSCLC
- Conjugation of Ac-225 to the HER3 antibody did not affect the antibody's targeting properties as determined by binding to HER3 expressing cells
Dr. Helen Kotanides, Vice President, Translational Research and Preclinical Development, stated, "HER3 is a well-validated target that is overexpressed in a number of cancers and associated with poor survival in breast, ovarian, lung, gastric and prostate cancer. It is also upregulated in response to HER1 and HER2 targeted therapies as part of acquired resistance against these EGFR therapies. These data show that arming a HER3-targeting agent with Actinium-225 results in potent anti-tumor agent, which improved survival in our NSCLC models. These data support our goal of developing a HER3 targeted radiotherapy for use in a patient population in need of new treatments and give us great excitement for our ongoing collaboration with AVEO centered around HER3."
Sandesh Seth, Chairman and CEO of Actinium, stated, "We are excited to continue to demonstrate Actinium's enhanced R&D capabilities and commitment to developing potent radiotherapies targeting solid tumors. We look forward to sharing these data, which show the efficacy for our novel approach of conjugating Actinium-225 to a HER3 antibody at AACR 2022. The development of Ac-225-HER3-ARC, a product of our validated Antibody Warhead Enabling (AWE) technology platform, represents a departure from conventional HER3-targeting approaches, such as naked antibodies and antibody drug conjugates, that are currently being explored for this tumor antigen. These exciting data highlight Actinium's leadership in developing novel targeted radiotherapy approaches for treating cancers having high unmet needs."
The full poster is available as an e-poster on the AACR 2022 platform and will be presented in-person at the conference with details below:
AACR Poster Details
Title: Targeting HER3 receptor positive cancers with a novel anti-HER3 antibody radioconjugate (ARC)
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Preclinical Radiotherapeutics
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 25
Poster Board Number: 4
Permanent Abstract Number: 3306
The poster will be accessible via Actinium's website here.
About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapies to deliver cancer-killing radiation with cellular level precision to treat patients with high unmet needs not addressed by traditional cancer therapies. Actinium's current clinical pipeline is led by ARCs or Antibody Radiation-Conjugates that are being applied to targeted conditioning, which is intended to selectively deplete a patient's disease or cancer cells and certain immune cells prior to a BMT or Bone Marrow Transplant, Gene Therapy or Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) such as CAR-T to enable engraftment of these transplanted cells with minimal toxicities. Actinium's targeted conditioning ARCs seek to improve patient outcomes and access to these potentially curative treatments by eliminating or reducing the non-targeted chemotherapy that is used for conditioning in standard practice currently. Our lead product candidate, Iomab-B (I-131 apamistamab) has been studied in several hundred patients including in the 150-patient, pivotal Phase 3 Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (SIERRA) trial for BMT conditioning, which completed patient enrollment in the third quarter of 2021. Iomab-ACT, low dose I-131 apamistamab is being studied as a targeted conditioning agent in a Phase 1 study with a CD19 CAR T-cell Therapy with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In addition, we are leaders in the field of Actinium-225 alpha therapies. Actimab-A, our clinical stage CD33 targeting ARC alpha therapy has been studied in nearly 150 patients including our ongoing combination trials with the salvage chemotherapy CLAG-M and the Bcl-2 targeted therapy venetoclax. Underpinning our clinical programs is our proprietary AWE (Antibody Warhead Enabling) technology platform. This is where our intellectual property portfolio of over 170 patents, know-how, collective research and expertise in the field are being leveraged to construct and study novel ARCs and ARC combinations such as with CD47 immunotherapies to bolster our pipeline for strategic purposes. Our AWE technology platform is currently being utilized in a collaborative research partnership with Astellas Pharma, Inc., AVEO Oncology and EpicentRx. Website: https://www.actiniumpharma.com/
Forward-Looking Statements for Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
This press release may contain projections or other "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the private securities litigation reform act of 1995 regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company which the Company undertakes no obligation to update. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with preliminary study results varying from final results, estimates of potential markets for drugs under development, clinical trials, actions by the FDA and other governmental agencies, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, the market demand for and acceptance of Actinium's products and services, performance of clinical research organizations and other risks detailed from time to time in Actinium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including without limitation its most recent annual report on form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.
Investors:
Hans Vitzthum
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Hans@LifeSciAdvisors.com
(617) 430-7578
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/actinium-pharmaceuticals-highlights-potent-anti-tumor-activity-her3-targeted-radiotherapy-aacr/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:32 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/actinium-pharmaceuticals-highlights-potent-anti-tumor-activity-her3-targeted-radiotherapy-aacr/ |
- Data further expand Actinium's leadership in combining targeted radiotherapy with CD47 immunotherapy in solid tumors and blood cancers
- Significant increase in tumor control with the HER3 ARC magrolimab combination compared to magrolimab alone in HER3-expressing NSCLC in vivo model supports further development
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company"), a leader in the development of targeted radiotherapies for patients with unmet needs, today announced that preclinical data highlighting the efficacy of the combination of an anti-HER3 antibody radiation conjugate (ARC) and a CD47 blocking antibody immunotherapy was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2021) annual meeting, which is being held April 8th – 13th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Actinium assessed an Actinium-225 (Ac-225)-conjugated anti-HER3 antibody with magrolimab, an anti-CD47 antibody being developed by Gilead Sciences, in HER3-positive preclinical models.
AACR Poster Highlights:
- Dramatic improvement in tumor growth inhibition is observed in vivo with the Ac-225-HER3-ARC and magrolimab combination therapy compared to magrolimab alone
- The combination of Ac-225-HER3-ARC and magrolimab significantly enhanced phagocytosis in HER3-positive cells compared to either single agent in vitro
- Upregulation of cell surface calreticulin is observed following treatment with 225Ac-HER3-ARC in HER3-positive cell lines
Dr. Helen Kotanides, Vice President, Translational Research and Preclinical Development, said, "We hypothesize that the upregulation of the 'eat me' signal, calreticulin, induced by targeted radiotherapy could enhance the immunomodulatory effects of an anti-CD47 antibody, resulting in increased anti-tumor efficacy. These data presented at AACR corroborate our previous work presented at SITC and support our rationale in targeting both blood cancer and solid tumors with a CD47 targeted radiotherapy combination. We are highly encouraged by the remarkable improvement in anti-tumor efficacy observed with the combination of an Ac-225-HER3-ARC with magrolimab. Collectively, the in vitro and in vivo data support further investigation of this novel combination and we look forward to continuing to advance the first ever targeted radiotherapy CD47 combinations."
Sandesh Seth, Chairman and CEO of Actinium, said, "We continue to demonstrate the potential of combining targeted radiotherapy with a CD47 blocking antibody immunotherapy such as magrolimab. These results support our vision to develop more effective treatments for cancer patients through the expansion of our pipeline into solid tumors and to develop innovative targeted radiotherapy combinations with immunotherapy leveraging our strong technology platform, IP and clinical experience. We are excited to highlight these results showing the potential for adding Ac-225-HER3 ARC to CD47 antibodies to enhance the latter's immunotherapeutic efficacy at AACR. These data along with our recent collaborations with EpicentRx and AVEO Oncology give us strong momentum towards the clinic with highly novel CD47-SIRPα combinations and HER3 targeted radiotherapies."
The full poster is available as an e-poster on the AACR 2022 platform with details below:
AACR Poster Details
Title: Anti-HER3 radioimmunotherapy enhances the anti-tumor effects of CD47 blockade in solid tumors
Session Category: Immunology
Session Title: Immune Checkpoints
Session Date and Time: Sunday, April 10, 2022, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 38
Poster Board Number: 19
Permanent Abstract Number: 609
The poster will be accessible via Actinium's website here.
About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapies to deliver cancer-killing radiation with cellular level precision to treat patients with high unmet needs not addressed by traditional cancer therapies. Actinium's current clinical pipeline is led by ARCs or Antibody Radiation-Conjugates that are being applied to targeted conditioning, which is intended to selectively deplete a patient's disease or cancer cells and certain immune cells prior to a BMT or Bone Marrow Transplant, Gene Therapy or Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) such as CAR-T to enable engraftment of these transplanted cells with minimal toxicities. Actinium's targeted conditioning ARCs seek to improve patient outcomes and access to these potentially curative treatments by eliminating or reducing the non-targeted chemotherapy that is used for conditioning in standard practice currently. Our lead product candidate, Iomab-B (I-131 apamistamab) has been studied in several hundred patients including in the 150-patient, pivotal Phase 3 Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (SIERRA) trial for BMT conditioning, which completed patient enrollment in the third quarter of 2021. Iomab-ACT, low dose I-131 apamistamab is being studied as a targeted conditioning agent in a Phase 1 study with a CD19 CAR T-cell Therapy with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In addition, we are leaders in the field of Actinium-225 alpha therapies. Actimab-A, our clinical stage CD33 targeting ARC alpha therapy has been studied in nearly 150 patients including our ongoing combination trials with the salvage chemotherapy CLAG-M and the Bcl-2 targeted therapy venetoclax. Underpinning our clinical programs is our proprietary AWE (Antibody Warhead Enabling) technology platform. This is where our intellectual property portfolio of over 170 patents, know-how, collective research and expertise in the field are being leveraged to construct and study novel ARCs and ARC combinations such as with CD47 immunotherapies to bolster our pipeline for strategic purposes. Our AWE technology platform is currently being utilized in a collaborative research partnership with Astellas Pharma, Inc., AVEO Oncology and EpicentRx. Website: https://www.actiniumpharma.com/
Forward-Looking Statements for Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
This press release may contain projections or other "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the private securities litigation reform act of 1995 regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company which the Company undertakes no obligation to update. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with preliminary study results varying from final results, estimates of potential markets for drugs under development, clinical trials, actions by the FDA and other governmental agencies, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, the market demand for and acceptance of Actinium's products and services, performance of clinical research organizations and other risks detailed from time to time in Actinium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including without limitation its most recent annual report on form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.
Investors:
Hans Vitzthum
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Hans@LifeSciAdvisors.com
(617) 430-7578
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/actinium-pharmaceuticals-presents-preclinical-data-aacr-showing-her3-targeted-radiotherapy-combined-with-cd47-immunotherapy-magrolimab-increases-anti-tumor-effect/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:36 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/actinium-pharmaceuticals-presents-preclinical-data-aacr-showing-her3-targeted-radiotherapy-combined-with-cd47-immunotherapy-magrolimab-increases-anti-tumor-effect/ |
BEIJING and TEL AVIV, Israel, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd. (SZSE 000553), one of the leading global crop protection companies, announces the appointment of Shahar Florence as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective as of May 1, 2022. As CFO, Shahar will manage and oversee the Company's global financial processes, policies and strategies, as well as work closely with Syngenta Group on all financial aspects of the business. Likewise, Shahar will lead all investor relations activities in ADAMA.
Shahar joins ADAMA with over 25 years of financial experience and a track record as a strategic decision-maker and an innovative financial visionary leader, with proven ability to drive sustainable profitable growth, translating corporate vision into bottom line results. Shahar is joining ADAMA following filling various financial positions at Strauss Group LTD for the last 14 years. Most recently, Shahar held the position of Chief Growth & Innovation Officer, having previously held the position of the Group's CFO. Among others, he was responsible for heading the Finance, Business Development and Investor Relations, as well as driving overall innovation for creating economic and strategic value. Shahar holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Accounting from the Tel-Aviv University, and is a certified CPA.
"Shahar is a strong leader with a track record of proven financial expertise, his global experience and value-enhancing insights will further strengthen our global management team to continue the execution of our growth strategy," says Ignacio Dominguez, President and CEO of ADAMA. "Shahar's wealth of experience, integrity and expertise in international business strategic partnerships and business models, makes him the right person to join our executive management team."
"I am excited to join ADAMA as CFO, to assist the Company in continuing to execute its strategic plans, accelerate sustainable growth and bottom-line results, while delivering value to all stakeholders. I look forward to working with the global team and to build on ADAMA's momentum as we grow and achieve our collective goals," added Shahar Florence.
About ADAMA
ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter® at @ADAMAAgri.
ADAMA Contact:
Efrat Dayan
Public Relations
Email: pr@adama.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE ADAMA Ltd. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/adama-announces-appointment-shahar-florence-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:43 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/adama-announces-appointment-shahar-florence-chief-financial-officer/ |
New member adds 90 advisors, 50 support staff to independent wealth management network
PHOENIX, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group Inc., the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the addition of Gallagher's Retirement Plan Consulting Practice, a 90+advisor team, to the Advisor Group network.
Gallagher joins Advisor Group through its affiliation with network partner Triad Advisors, a network of firms that also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates Inc., SagePoint Financial, Securities America and Woodbury Financial Services.
Gallagher's Retirement Plan Consulting capabilities are driven by the team's extensive experience, expertise, and credibility with defined benefit and defined contribution clients. A consulting model that combines small firm flexibility with the scalability and depth of a large organization made Gallagher and Triad like-minded and natural partners for delivering holistic financial wellbeing solutions to clients.
"Autonomy was a key factor in our decision to consolidate most of our major business lines, including the more than 2,000 retirement plans we oversee. A hybrid model -- with Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC, as the RIA and Triad Advisors as the broker-dealer – provides flexibility to grow our financial planning practice," said John Jurik, Gallagher's National Practice Leader for Retirement Plan Consulting.
Jeff Leonard, Financial and Retirement Services Leader North America, added that "Gallagher chose Triad because of its experience, expertise and focus on partnership."
Michael Gatti, CFP®, Vice President of Business Development at Triad Advisors, said, "Gallagher leadership's decades of experience shepherding corporate clients, financial planning clients and potential merger partners to their goals brings incredible value to our network. We look forward to supporting their needs and those of their clients and building a long-term relationship with the entire team."
"We are thrilled that Gallagher's team recognized Triad's reputation as a leader and pioneer in the hybrid RIA model when they were considering the growing needs of their retirement business practice," said Jeff Rosenthal, President Triad Advisors. "We are honored to have them as part of the Advisor Group family."
Greg Cornick, President of Advice and Wealth Management at Advisor Group, said: "On behalf of the entire Advisor Group family of firms, we welcome the Gallagher team. We are thrilled they chose to build their hybrid RIA with an experienced and proven partner. We look forward to their continued success with Advisor Group."
About Gallagher
Gallagher's Retirement, Investment & Fiduciary Consulting Practices provide retirement, investment advice/consulting and decision-making to institutional investors, which include public and private sector employee benefit plans (including multi-employer plans), charitable institutions, foundations, endowments, labor organizations, state or municipal government entities, hospitals, non-profit organizations, private trusts, and corporations or business entities, high net worth and other individuals. Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC, is a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm.
Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC ("GFA") is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor that provides retirement, investment advisory, discretionary/named and independent fiduciary services. GFA is a limited liability company with Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. as its single member. GFA may pay referral fees or other remuneration to employees of AJG or its affiliates or to independent contractors; such payments do not change our fee. Securities may be offered through Triad Advisors, LLC ("Triad"), member FINRA/SIPC. Triad is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Triad. Neither Triad, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., GFA, their affiliates nor representatives provide accounting, legal or tax advice.
About Triad Advisors
Triad Advisors is part of Advisor Group, one of the nation's largest networks of independent financial professionals. Headquartered in Atlanta, Triad is a national broker-dealer as well as a multi-custodial registered investment adviser firm that was an early pioneer and continued leader in the hybrid registered investment adviser marketplace. The company has more than 600 financial providers on its platform and provides a comprehensive set of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management strategies. For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com.
About Advisor Group, Inc.
Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 10,100 financial advisors and overseeing over $515 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial advisors and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.
Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.
Media Inquiries
Joseph Kuo / Donald Cutler
Haven Tower Group
jkuo@haventower.com or dcutler@haventower.com
424 317 4851 or 424 317 4864
View original content:
SOURCE Advisor Group | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/advisor-group-welcomes-gallaghers-retirement-plan-consulting-practice-its-network/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:49 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/advisor-group-welcomes-gallaghers-retirement-plan-consulting-practice-its-network/ |
VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Alexco Resource Corp. (NYSE: AXU) (TSX: AXU) ("Alexco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement for a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of 7,473,495 common shares (the "Shares") at a price of $1.75 per share, raising gross proceeds of $13,078,616 for the Company.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for general corporate purposes, including to fund the continued ramp-up of mining operations at Keno Hill.
The closing of the Offering is expected on or about April 13, 2022 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American.
The Shares were subscribed for pursuant to a subscription agreement which confirms, among other things, the availability of an exemption from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws in respect of the sale of Shares in the Offering.
The Shares being issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering. None of the Shares will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor there any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.
Alexco is a Canadian primary silver company that owns and operates the majority of the historic Keno Hill Silver District, in Canada's Yukon Territory, one of the highest-grade silver deposits in the world. Alexco is currently advancing Keno Hill to commercial production and commenced concentrate production and shipments in the first quarter of 2021. Keno Hill is expected to produce an average of approximately 4.4 million ounces of silver per year contained in high quality lead/silver and zinc concentrates. Keno Hill retains significant potential to grow and Alexco has a long history of expanding the operation's mineral resources through successful exploration.
Some statements ("forward-looking statements") in this news release contain forward-looking information concerning the Offering, made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the use of proceeds from the Offering and the anticipated closing date of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks involved in fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; the risks and uncertainties related to the Offering not being completed in the event that the conditions precedent thereto (including receipt of requisite regulatory approvals) are not satisfied; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Alexco's annual information form and Form 40-F, and other information released by Alexco and filed with the applicable regulatory agencies. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that management believes are reasonable at the time they are made. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, Alexco has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumptions that all regulatory approvals will be received in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; that general business conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that the Offering will proceed as planned. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Alexco expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
View original content:
SOURCE Alexco Resource Corp. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/alexco-announces-131-million-non-brokered-private-placement-common-shares/ | 2022-04-11T11:59:57 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/alexco-announces-131-million-non-brokered-private-placement-common-shares/ |
AIGIS enables businesses and government agencies to jumpstart AI pipeline
PITTSBURGH, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allvision IO, a geospatial analytics company, is pleased to announce the release of AIGIS (AI for GIS), a fully integrated system that empowers users to leverage or augment mapping workflows with the latest machine learning, AI, and LiDAR processing technologies available. Allvision AIGIS provides transportation, logistics, and telecommunications professionals with the data, platform, and tools needed to train AI models specific to their needs, then execute them in the Allvision cloud to extract location, geometry, or other attributes. With this platform, organizations can automatically pinpoint assets like signage, streetlights, overpasses, paint lines, guardrails, telephone poles, ADA compliant sidewalks, and more with minimal human interaction. As soon as the platform is deployed, it continually improves for unparalleled accuracy and reliability.
Since its founding in 2017, Allvision has developed and deployed its AI capabilities across millions of images, billions of 3D points, and thousands of miles of road and rail. Allvision AIGIS has delivered high quality, validated results to customers in DOTs, AV companies, freight rail, engineering firms, city governments, and beyond. To learn more about AIGIS and Allvision's additional technologies, visit www.allvision.io.
"Allvision AIGIS is just the latest in our line of innovations providing AI to people and services that would normally do things by hand or by feet-on-street," said Dr. Aaron Morris, co-founder and CEO of Allvision. "The power of AI is now available for everyone regardless of the skill level or industry - we can train or customize to any demand and with the benefit of approachable financing."
About Allvision
Allvision develops the platform to enable street level analytics at global scale. We provide the means to make sense of our dynamic environment to solve the world's most pressing problems from the human point of view. The founders have spent their careers at the intersection of the digital and physical worlds and are experts in geospatial analytics and machine learning. www.allvision.io
View original content:
SOURCE Allvision IO | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/allvisions-new-offering-provides-customizable-access-geospatial-ai-platform/ | 2022-04-11T12:00:04 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/allvisions-new-offering-provides-customizable-access-geospatial-ai-platform/ |