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https://wcfcourier.com/entertainment/razzies-rescind-worst-performance-award-for-bruce-willis/article_afa0823d-4fe4-59ed-bdf1-3db0bae31db0.html
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The Razzie Awards are now canceling their 2021 special category for Worst Performance by Bruce Willis despite initially defending their decision to move forward with the dubious award.
"After much thought and consideration, the Razzies have made the decision to rescind the Razzie Award given to Bruce Willis, due to his recently disclosed diagnosis," Razzies co-founders said in a statement to the Wrap on Thursday.
The "Die Hard" star's family announced Wednesday that the veteran actor would be stepping away from the big screen following a diagnosis of aphasia, a cognitive disorder that impairs a person's ability to speak and understand others.
The swift change of heart comes after the Golden Raspberry Awards, which recognize the worst of cinema, faced backlash for an insensitive tweet in the wake of Willis' retirement announcement.
"The Razzies are truly sorry for #BruceWillis diagnosed condition," the organization tweeted Wednesday. "Perhaps this explains why he wanted to go out with a bang in 2021. Our best wishes to Bruce and family."
Bruce Willis poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Glass" in London on Jan. 9, 2019.
Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
In February, the Razzies created a standalone category for Willis after he appeared in eight movies last year.
Photos: Bruce Willis through the years
Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, co-stars of ABC's "Moonlighting," are shown during the Emmy Awards telecast in Los Angeles, Sept. 20, 1986. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cybill Shepard and Bruce Willis laugh as they hold their Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 1, 1987. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
LENNOX MCLENDON
Bruce Willis of ABC's "Moonlighting," reacts after accepting the Emmy award for best actor in a drama series, Sept. 21, 1987, at the 39th Annual Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
NICK UT
Actor Bruce Willis and his wife, actress Demi Moore, arrive at the 61st annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., on March 29, 1989. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Actors Bruce Willis and his wife Demi Moore, center, and mother, Marlene Willis arrive at the premier of his latest film "Die Hard II" in Los Angeles on July 2, 1990. (AP Photo/Kevrok Djansezian)
KEVROK DJANSEZIAN
Bruce Willis; Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, and Sylvester Stallone pose for photographers at the opening of Planet Hollywood restaurant and nightclub in New York, Oct. 23, 1991. The three Hollywood stars and three other investors are the owners of the mid-town Manhattan entertainment complex. (AP Photo/Malcolm Clarke)
Malcolm Clarke
First lady Barbara Bush, actor Bruce Willis, center, and President Bush's son Neil Bush enjoy a light moment on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1992 in Houston during the Republican National Convention in the Houston Astrodome. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander)
Marcy Nighswander
Hollywood action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, right, imprint their hands in cement during the opening ceremony of the Planet Hollywood restaurant at London's Piccadilly Circus, May 17, 1993. (AP Photo/Albert Ferreira)
ALBERT FERREIRA
Actors Bruce Willis, left, and Samuel L. Jackson pose for photographers at Planet Hollywood in New York, May 15, 1995, for the premiere party for the film, "Die Hard With A Vengeance," starring Willis and Jackson. (AP Photo/Paul Hurschmann)
PAUL HURSCHMANN
American actor Bruce Willis, left, and his wife, actress Demi Moore, pose during their visit at the new Planet Hollywood restaurant on the Champs Elysees Ave. in Paris, France, on Aug. 31, 1995. (AP Photo/Patric Picot)
PATRIC PICOT
Actor Bruce Willis, left, gets a little harmonica help from country singer Clint Black, right, while performing with his blues band Saturday, June 22, 1996, during the grand opening bash for the Planet Hollywood in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Christopher Berkey)
CHRISTOPHER BERKEY
Bruce Willis, one of the stars of the new film "The Jackal," and his wife, actress Demi Moore, pose for photographers at the world premiere of the film, Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
CHRIS PIZZELLO
Actor Bruce Willis performs a skit making reference to former President George Bush's parachute jump during a gala to mark the birthday's of Mr. and Mrs. Bush on Thursday, June 10, 1999, in Houston. The former president's 75th birthday is Saturday. Barbara Bush's 74th was on Tuesday. Proceeds from the gala will establish the George and Barbara Bush Endowment for Innovative Cancer Research to support research at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
DAVID J. PHILLIP
Movie star Bruce Willis plays harmonica before a concert in the Taal Afar airfield, 460 kms (280 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
MISHA JAPARIDZE
Bruce Willis, one of the stars of the new film "The Whole Ten Yards," is distracted by his daughter, Tallulah, as he is interviewed at the premiere of the film Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
CHRIS PIZZELLO
Actor Bruce Willis poses with his daughters Rumer, left, Tallulah Belle, center, and Scout LaRue as they arrive for the premiere of "Ocean's Twelve," at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN
American movie star Bruce Willis smiles after receiving the Arts and Letters Award at the French Culture Ministry in Paris, Wednesday, April 13, 2005. Created in 1957, the award is to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves in an artistic or literary field. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
FRANCOIS MORI
U.S. movie stars Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn and Geraldine Chaplin, in front from left, and German pop singer Sarah Connor, in background, pose after the Golden Camera medias awarding ceremony in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday night, Feb. 9, 2005. The annual award is given by German Axel Springer publishing company. (AP Photo/Jan Bauer)
JAN BAUER
Actor Bruce Willis poses in the snow on a terrace at the Regency Hotel in New York on Feb. 12, 2006. Willis stars as over-the-hill NYPD detective Jack Mosley in the new cop movie 16 Blocks. (AP Photo/Jim Cooper)
JIM COOPER
Singer Avril Lavigne, left, and actor Bruce Willis present the award for Favorite Movie Actress at the Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, April 1, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
MARK J. TERRILL
Actor Bruce Willis holds a plaque commemorating the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame he received in the Hollywood Section of Los Angeles, Monday, Oct. 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
MATT SAYLES
U.S. actor Bruce Willis poses for the photographers during a photo call for his new movie 'Die Hard 4.0' in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
MICHAEL SOHN
Actor Bruce Willis stands with some of the items that he is donating from his movie, "Die Hard 4.0" after they were added to the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Wednesday, June 27, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Jacquelyn Martin
Actors Bruce Willis, left, and Sylvester Stallone ride motorcycles after an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Evan Agostini
Bruce Willis poses with fans at the premiere of "The House Bunny" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. His daughter, Rumer, is in the cast.(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Matt Sayles
Bruce Willis speaks onstage at the UNICEF Ball honoring producer Jerry Weintraub in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Matt Sayles
Actor Bruce Willis attends the premiere of "Cop Out" in New York, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
Peter Kramer
Bruce Willis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone at Lionsgate's World Premiere of "THE EXPENDABLES" sponsored by Belstaff on August 03, 2010 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Images)
Eric Charbonneau
Bruce Willis arrives with his wife Emma Heming for the Golden Globe Awards Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Matt Sayles
Actors Bill Murray, left, and Bruce Willis pose during a photo call for Moonrise Kingdom at the 65th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
Joel Ryan
Bruce Willis, left, and Dwayne Johnson, cast members in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," pose together at the Los Angeles premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Thursday, March 28, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello
FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 file photo, U.S. actor Bruce Willis, left, and British actress Emma Heming arrive for the British premiere of the film, "A Good Day To Die Hard," at a central London cinema. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File)
Jonathan Short
U.S. actor Bruce Willis poses during a photo call for his new movie "R.E.D.2" in Munich, southern Germany, on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Matthias Schrader
Actor Bruce Willis arrives for at the 21st Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women on Saturday, May 10, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2014 file photo, Bruce Willis attends the 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall in New York. Willis will make his Broadway debut this fall in a stage adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “Misery.” Producers said Wednesday, March 4, 2015, the "Die Hard" star will star opposite Elizabeth Marvel in the story of a murderous fan united with her beloved romance novelist. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Evan Agostini
Bruce Willis, left, and Laurie Metcalf appear on stage at the opening night curtain call of "Misery" on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
Greg Allen
Actor Bruce Willis poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Glass', in London, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Vianney Le Caer
Actor Bruce Willis smiles after taking batting practice before a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum
FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, file photo, Bruce Willis attends the "Motherless Brooklyn" premiere during the 57th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Charles Sykes
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WASHINGTON (AP) — When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.
Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled.
The array of issues is tied to the coronavirus public health emergency first declared more than two years ago and periodically renewed since then. It's set to end April 16 and the expectation is that the Biden administration will extend it through mid-July. Some would like a longer off-ramp.
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Transitions don't bode well for the complex U.S. health care system, with its mix of private and government insurance and its labyrinth of policies and procedures. Health care chaos, if it breaks out, could create midterm election headaches for Democrats and Republicans alike.
“The flexibilities granted through the public health emergency have helped people stay covered and get access to care, so moving forward the key question is how to build on what has been a success and not lose ground,” said Juliette Cubanski, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, who has been researching potential consequences of winding down the pandemic emergency.
MEDICAID CHURN
Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people, is covering about 79 million people, a record partly due to the pandemic.
But the nonpartisan Urban Institute think tank estimates that about 15 million people could lose Medicaid when the public health emergency ends, at a rate of at least 1 million per month.
Congress increased federal Medicaid payments to states because of COVID-19, but it also required states to keep people on the rolls during the health emergency. In normal times states routinely disenroll Medicaid recipients whose incomes rise beyond certain levels, or for other life changes affecting eligibility. That process will switch on again when the emergency ends, and some states are eager to move forward.
Virtually all of those losing Medicaid are expected to be eligible for some other source of coverage, either through employers, the Affordable Care Act or — for kids — the Children's Health Insurance Program.
But that's not going to happen automatically, said Matthew Buettgens, lead researcher on the Urban Institute study. Cost and lack of awareness about options could get in the way.
People dropped from Medicaid may not realize they can pick up taxpayer-subsidized ACA coverage. Medicaid is usually free, so people offered workplace insurance could find the premiums too high.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” said Buettgens. “The uncertainty is real.”
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, is advising states to take it slow and connect Medicaid recipients who are disenrolled with other potential coverage. The agency will keep an eye on states' accuracy in making eligibility decisions. Biden officials want coverage shifts, not losses.
“We are focused on making sure we hold on to the gains in coverage we have made under the Biden-Harris administration,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We are at the strongest point in our history and we are going make sure that we hold on to the coverage gains.”
ACA coverage — or “Obamacare” — is an option for many who would lose Medicaid. But it will be less affordable if congressional Democrats fail to extend generous financial assistance called for in President Joe Biden's social legislation. Democrats stalling the bill would face blame.
Republicans in mostly Southern states that have refused to expand Medicaid are also vulnerable. In those states, it can be very difficult for low-income adults to get coverage and more people could wind up uninsured.
State Medicaid officials don't want to be the scapegoats. “Medicaid has done its job,” said Matt Salo, head of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. “We have looked out for physical, mental and behavioral health needs. As we come out of this emergency, we are supposed to right-size the program.”
TELEHEALTH STATIC
Millions of Americans discovered telehealth in 2020 when coronavirus shutdowns led to the suspension of routine medical consultations. In-person visits are again the norm, but telehealth has shown its usefulness and gained broader acceptance.
The end of the public health emergency would jeopardize telehealth access for millions enrolled in traditional Medicare. Restrictions predating COVID-19 limit telehealth mainly to rural residents, in part to mitigate against health care fraud. Congress has given itself 151 days after the end of the public health emergency to come up with new rules.
“If there are no changes to the law after that, most Medicare beneficiaries will lose access to coverage for telehealth,” the Kaiser Foundation's Cubanski said.
A major exception applies to enrollees in private Medicare Advantage plans, which generally do cover telehealth. However, nearly 6 in 10 Medicare enrollees are in the traditional fee-for-service program.
TESTS, VACCINES, TREATMENTS, PAYMENTS & PROCEDURES
Widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments rests on legal authority connected to the public health emergency.
One example is the Biden administration's requirement for insurers to cover up to eight free at-home COVID-19 tests per month.
An area that's particularly murky is what happens to tests, treatments and vaccines covered under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
Some experts say emergency use approvals last only through the duration of the public health emergency. Others say it's not as simple as that, because a different federal emergency statute also applies to vaccines, tests and treatments. There's no clear direction yet from health officials.
The FDA has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older and Moderna's for those 18 and older, so their continued use would not be affected.
But hospitals could take a financial hit. Currently Medicare pays them 20% more for the care of COVID-19 patients. That's only for the duration of the emergency.
And Medicare enrollees would have more hoops to jump through to be approved for rehab in a nursing home. A suspended Medicare rule requiring a prior three-day hospital stay would come back into effect.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently told The Associated Press that his department is committed to giving “ample notice” when it ends the public health emergency.
“We want to make sure we’re not putting in a detrimental position Americans who still need our help,” Becerra said. “The one that people are really worried about is Medicaid.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Trump's 8-hour gap: Minute-by-minute during Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lot is known about the few hours that shook American democracy to the core. The defeated president’s incendiary speech, the march by an angry crowd to the U.S. Capitol, the breaking in, the beating of cops, the “hang Mike Pence” threats, the lawmakers running for their lives, the shooting death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. All of that chaos unfolded over about eight hours on one day: Jan. 6, 2021.
But for all that is known about the day, piecing together the words and actions of Donald Trump over that time has proved no easy task, even though a president's movements and communications are closely monitored.
There’s a gap in the official White House phone notations given to the House committee investigating Jan. 6 — from about 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m., according to two people familiar with the congressional investigation into the riot. Details may still turn up; the former president was known to use various cell phones and often bypassed the White House switchboard, placing calls directly.
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And over the past four-plus months a lot has surfaced about what Trump did do and say on Jan. 6 — in texts, tweets, videos, calls and other conversations.
The following account is based on testimony, timelines and eyewitness reporting gathered by The Associated Press and The Washington Post and CBS News, and from officials and people familiar with the events who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
Russians leaving Chernobyl as fighting rages elsewhere
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and began leaving the heavily contaminated site more than a month after taking it over, authorities said Thursday, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses" of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that.
The withdrawal took place amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover while regrouping, resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is seeing “a buildup of Russian forces for new strikes on the Donbas, and we are preparing for that.”
Meanwhile, a convoy of buses headed to Mariupol in another bid to evacuate people from the besieged port city after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. And a new round of talks was scheduled for Friday, five weeks into the war that has left thousands dead and driven 4 million Ukrainians from the country.
As Russia sees tech brain drain, other nations hope to gain
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Russia’s tech workers are looking for safer and more secure professional pastures.
By one estimate, up to 70,000 computer specialists, spooked by a sudden frost in the business and political climate, have bolted the country since Russia invaded Ukraine five weeks ago. Many more are expected to follow.
For some countries, Russia’s loss is being seen as their potential gain and an opportunity to bring fresh expertise to their own high-tech industries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noticed the brain drain even in the throes of a war that, according to the U.N. refugee agency, has caused more than 4 million people to flee Ukraine and displaced millions more within the country.
This week, Putin reacted to the exodus of tech professionals by approving legislation to eliminate income taxes between now and 2024 for individuals who work for information technology companies.
Biden oil move aims to cut gas prices 'fairly significantly'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”
The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago.
An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome – the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being – in research published Thursday in the journal Science. The previous effort, celebrated across the world, was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies of the day weren't able to read certain parts of it. Even after updates, it was missing about 8% of the genome.
“Some of the genes that make us uniquely human were actually in this ‘dark matter of the genome’ and they were totally missed,” said Evan Eichler, a University of Washington researcher who participated in the current effort and the original Human Genome Project. “It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done.”
Many — including Eichler's own students — thought it had been finished already. “I was teaching them, and they said, 'Wait a minute. Isn’t this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? I said, ’No, this time we really, really did it!”
Scientists said this full picture of the genome will give humanity a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer and heart disease.
Early results show Amazon workers in Alabama rejecting union
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Alabama appear to have rejected a union bid in a tight race, according to early results. But outstanding challenged votes could change the outcome.
In New York, union supporters have the edge in a count that will continue Friday morning.
Warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, voted 993 to 875 against forming a union. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees the election, said that 416 challenged votes could potentially overturn that result. A hearing has not yet been set to decide if any the challenged votes will be counted, but it is expected in the next few weeks.
“This is just the beginning and we will continue to fight,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is organizing the union drive in Bessemer, at a Thursday press conference.
The close election marks a sharp contrast to last year, when Amazon workers overwhelmingly rejected the union.
California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say
DETROIT (AP) — In the long debate over whether Black Americans should be granted reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism, California took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality.
The state's reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century.
Whether Tuesday's vote by the task force spurs other states and cities to advance their own proposals, and whether they adopt California’s still controversial standard for who would benefit, remains to be seen. Some veteran reparations advocates disagree strongly with proposals to limiting eligibility to only Black people who can prove they have enslaved ancestors, while excluding those who cannot and leaving out victims of other historic injustices, such as redlining and mass incarceration.
Still, one advocate noted California's move is a step that could lend momentum to stalled reparation proposals elsewhere in the U.S.
“It’s precipitated a debate and it will influence communities,” said Ron Daniels, president of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century and administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission, an advocacy group of scholars and activists.
LGBTQ groups sue Florida over so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gay rights advocates sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday to block a new law that forbids classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
The law has catapulted Florida and DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, to the forefront of the country's culture wars. Critics call it the “ Don't Say Gay ” law and argue that its true intent is to marginalize LGBTQ people and their families.
The challenge filed in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of Equality Florida and Family Equality alleges that the law violates the constitutionally protected rights of free speech, equal protection and due process of students and families.
“This effort to control young minds through state censorship — and to demean LGBTQ lives by denying their reality — is a grave abuse of power,” the lawsuit says.
“The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that LGBTQ people and their families are at home in our constitutional order. The State of Florida has no right to declare them outcasts, or to treat their allies as outlaws, by punishing schools where someone dares to affirm their identity and dignity,” the lawsuit says.
South Carolina's Aliyah Boston wins AP player of the year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aliyah Boston has dominated women's college basketball on both ends of the court this season.
The junior forward helped South Carolina go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, putting up an SEC-record 27 consecutive double-doubles, and she has helped put the Gamecocks two wins away from the program's second national championship.
Boston was honored as The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year on Thursday. She is the second player from South Carolina to be recognized with the award, joining former Gamecocks great A'ja Wilson.
“Not often do you get the complete package. I think this recognition is for what she was able to do on both sides of the ball,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “The player of the year is usually for offensive-minded people who think that when you put the ball in the hole, you should be bestowed the player of the year. She’s the full package. Every single day.”
Boston received 23 votes from the 30-member national media panel that votes weekly for the AP Top 25. Iowa's Caitlin Clark received six votes and Baylor's NaLyssa Smith got one.
Grammy Awards set sights on Las Vegas for first time
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Grammys might be missing stars like Drake, The Weeknd and Kanye West as a performer, but the biggest night in music could still shine bright on the Las Vegas Strip.
The ceremony relocated to Las Vegas for the first-time ever with several artists who could have epic nights including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Jon Batiste. The awards shifted from Los Angeles because of the rising COVID-19 cases and omicron variant in January. Sunday's show will air live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS and the Paramount+ streaming service.
Host Trevor Noah calls Las Vegas a “perfect place to have a celebration” with fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Last year, the Grammys had a music festival vibe with parts of the show held outdoors in an intimate in-person setting with music artists mixed with pre-taped performances.
Noah expects an entertaining show with several performers set to hit the stage including Rodrigo, Eilish, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, Brandi Carlile, Batiste, Silk Sonic, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Leslie Odom Jr. and Brothers Osborne. He said the awards will be a celebration of the music industry coming back to life.
“There’s an element of this (show) that’s like a music camp,” Noah said. "I think it’s going to bring a different energy, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Bipartisan $10 billion Covid-19 aid package deal struck 'in principle'
Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said Thursday that Republicans have struck an "agreement in principle" with Democrats on a $10 billion package to help US efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, a breakthrough that could pave the way for new funds to help the United States' response efforts amid growing fears that critical resources are being depleted.
Romney, the lead GOP negotiator, told reporters the plan is "entirely balanced by offsets." He said the bill text still needs to be drafted and there needs to be a cost estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office before the Senate can vote on the matter. Read more here:
When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.
Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled. Read more here:
The federal government's emergency rental assistance program helped prevent more than one million evictions last year.
An estimated 1.36 million renters avoided an eviction filing in 2021 as a result of the government's unprecedented $46.5 billion rent relief program and other protections, according to a recent analysis by Princeton University's Eviction Lab published earlier this month. Read more here:
Mental health of US teens declined during pandemic
Mental health concerns among high school students in the United States were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to survey results published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been significant increases in high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, considering suicide or attempting suicide over the past decade -- and findings from the new CDC survey suggest youth mental health was even worse during the pandemic. Read more here:
A former Montana Tech football player who admitted raping two women in Butte will do no prison time and could get the crime expunged from his record if he stays out of trouble and meets other requirements for six years.
The Texas teen was behind the wheel earlier this week when a tornado flipped his red pickup truck. He drove away. Video shot by a storm chaser went viral.
Tyre Sampson, 14, was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and over 300 pounds. Lawyers for his family want to know if the park was negligent in allowing someone his size on the ride.
His father and stepmother said they’re learning disturbing details about Tyre Sampson's final moments. “What I’m hearing is his friend was talking to him. He was like … ‘The thing’s not pushing down, you know what I’m saying? And if I don’t make it through then tell my mom and dad I love ’em.’”
The mother of a West High School junior wants her daughter, who has Down syndrome, to complete her senior year, while the district is citing policy that says the soon-to-be 19-year-old is too old.
Things to know today: The fallout from Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at Oscars; Zelenskyy's latest plea; slowly falling gas prices. Get caught up this Monday morning.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/california-records-1st-woman-to-sign-bill-into-state-law/article_28c553b8-bf29-5ec6-a3d7-92d2ae10974c.html
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — For the first time in California's 171-year history, a woman has signed a bill into state law.
Gov. Gavin Newsom normally signs the laws in California, but he left the state on Wednesday night for a family vacation in Central and South America. State law requires Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to act as governor until he returns.
The Legislature on Thursday morning passed a bill to extend a law preventing some renters from being evicted until the end of June. The bill had to be signed into law on Thursday because the old law was set to expire and tens of thousands of renters could have been evicted starting Friday.
It ended up being an historic moment for the nation's most populous state, which despite its reputation as the the country's progressive powerhouse has never elected a woman as governor.
“It was very humbling. And I did feel that sense of history,” said Kounalakis, who also signed a separate bill relating to elections on Thursday. “For many years women have been writing legislation ... but no woman has ever signed a bill into law. And it felt like a moment in history that we should recognize as important.”
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California has elected plenty of women to other offices. Voters elected two women to the U.S. Senate in 1992 with Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, with Boxer retiring in 2017 and Feinstein still serving. California's power was on display during President Joe Biden's recent State of the Union address, when a pair of California women sat behind him — Vice President Kamala Harris, who was elected attorney general and U.S. senator in California, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.
Historically, women don't run for governor at the same rate as they do other offices, according to Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. She said women usually make up about 25% of gubernatorial candidates nationwide. It's one reason there have been just 45 women who served as governors in U.S. history.
“People have these kind of unconscious biases, even against women in the executive position when they are the boss,” said Kim Nalder, professor of political science at California State University, Sacramento. “When they are members of a legislature they are members of a group. That plays into the positive stereotypes people have about women being good at collaboration.”
California is one of 19 states that have never elected a woman as governor. That likely won't change this year as Newsom is favored to win reelection. But it could change in 2026 when Newsom can't run again because of term limits.
California has four women elected to statewide office now while 38 women are in the Legislature — both all-time highs. Along with Kounalakis, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Controller Betty Yee, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins all could run for governor in 2026.
Kounalakis said any woman with a statewide platform should be thinking about running for governor — including herself. But with that election more than four and a half years away, she wasn't ready to commit to running for the office just yet.
“I think that what's important is that the women who could have a chance at being elected governor think about how we honor each other's abilities, because there is plenty of pressure for women to not help each other, when in fact the way that we'll see a women governor in the future is because women help one another,” Kounalakis said.
Newsom is scheduled to return to the state on April 12.
“The governor could have changed his plans. But he’s extremely supportive of elevating people around him, particularly those from underrepresented groups,” Kounalakis said. “And I am very grateful to him for helping to make this happen.”
This story has been corrected to fix two inaccurate spellings of Kounalakis' last name.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/driver-in-shoot-out-chase-with-buffalo-police-arraigned/article_a5b28166-6650-560e-bb92-1b6e0e674fd0.html
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A driver who engaged Buffalo police in a lengthy gunfight, striking and injuring three officers during a haphazard chase that spanned the city, pleaded not guilty Thursday to attempted murder.
Kente Bell, 28, was arraigned from his hospital room, where he is recovering from several gunshot wounds sustained during Tuesday's chase and a final hail of gunfire as it ended in front of a police station at a Buffalo intersection.
Bell was shot in his neck, arm, leg and hand and underwent surgery at Erie County Medical Center, where he appeared before a judge after regaining consciousness, said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, who offered dramatic new details of the events.
“You have a high-speed chase... you've got a guy firing out the driver's side window. You've got blockades, you've got speed on highways, a girl jumping out of the car,” he said at a news conference.
Bell is accused of fleeing two police officers who approached his parked vehicle after noticing its tinted windows around 6 p.m. Tuesday, Flynn said. He cooperated at first but did not get out of the car because he was partially paralyzed in a 2012 shooting and uses medical equipment to walk, the prosecutor said.
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When it appeared there was an issue with his registration, Bell drove off. Armed with an illegal handgun with an extended magazine of ammunition, he fired on police as they pursued him through city neighborhoods and on highways for more than 20 minutes, Flynn said.
Early in the chase, before shots were fired, the passenger exited the moving vehicle.
“He was making a turn and had slowed down at some point. She opened the front passenger door and jumped out of the car while it was moving and ended up rolling on the ground and hit up against a pole of some kind,” he said, “like right out of a movie.”
“She was obviously freaking out probably, to say the least, and wanted to have nothing to do with this," Flynn said.
In the minutes that followed, Bell drove through a police barricade, entered and exited highways and drove wildly through several Buffalo neighborhoods, briefly entering the suburb of Cheektowaga, before turning back toward Buffalo with police officers radioing his route to each other and warning of the danger.
“They’re still shooting. Multiple officers hit!” an officer is heard shouting in a transmission captured by Broadcastify.com.
Three police officers were struck in separate vehicles. All are recovering.
By the time it was over, nine police vehicles were damaged by gunfire, Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said.
Investigators have yet to determine how many shots were fired by Bell, or how many officers fired their weapons, Flynn said.
Bell is due to appear before a county judge at the hospital Friday for an alleged probation violation related to a 2020 illegal firearms charge in the town of Amherst. While on probation, he was prohibited from carrying a weapon.
The attorney who represented Bell at Thursday's arraignment did not return a call seeking comment on his behalf.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/march-set-another-record-for-most-tornadoes-in-march-may-be-sign-of-more-disastrous/article_f7a3795f-2bb6-5670-be47-b332c37361fc.html
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It's the second year in a row the country has endured a record number of tornadoes in March, solidifying a trend toward more severe weather earlier in the year and raising questions among scientists, who've historically seen such weather peak from April to early June.
Meanwhile, more severe storms happening further east in the country could mean more disastrous and deadly tornado outbreaks are possible.
"Our future projections of how severe weather may change in the future are really showing two things," Victor Gensini, an associate professor at Northern Illinois University and one of the country's top tornado experts, told CNN. "They kind of show an earlier start to the severe weather season — so more severe weather in February, more severe weather in March — and then also sort of this eastward increase."
Severe weather season is changing
At least 219 tornadoes have been reported in March, according to the Storm Prediction Center, the highest tally since records began in 1950. There are typically around 80 tornadoes in March.
In March 2021, 191 tornadoes were reported across the country. 2017 was also an extraordinary March for tornadoes, with 187, the third-most.
A major factor contributing to the earlier strike of severe weather is that the Pacific Ocean is currently in a strong La Niña, a pattern known for cooler-than-average ocean temperatures around the equator.
"If you look back through history, some of our greatest or most significant tornado seasons in history have been associated with a La Niña," Gensini said.
The active jet stream along the southern tier of the United States — a consequence of La Niña — along with "bath water" temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, have created an ideal environment in the Mid-South and Southeast for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, Gensini said.
These changes call into question the Great Plains nickname of "tornado alley." The drying out of the region makes the atmosphere less favorable for severe weather and will push storms out of that traditional area, Gensini said.
However, "Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, will still get plenty of tornadoes every year," he noted.
'It means more disasters'
As a result of this shift, more disastrous and deadly tornado outbreaks are possible.
"As you get east of the Mississippi River, the population density rapidly increases. We essentially have more targets to hit on the dartboard," Gensini said.
People are also just more vulnerable in those regions, which increases their risk.
"We have a significant number of mobile homes that are dispersed across the landscape in the Mid-South and Southeast -- way different than anywhere else in the United States," Gensini added, noting that a car or mobile home is the most dangerous place to be during a tornado.
An earlier tornado season also means fewer daylight hours, which means more tornadoes could come while it's dark. In Jackson, Mississippi, for example, there are fewer than 12 daylight hours per day in March, compared to 14 hours per day in May.
"If you're having tornadoes at night, that's a very special type of vulnerability, where you may be sleeping. And if you don't have a way to receive a warning, you know, you could easily become an injury or fatality," Gensini said.
As severe weather seasons shift, being weather aware — and having multiple ways to receive weather alerts — becomes even more important. And people should be prepared for more dangerous storms in February and March, Gensini said.
"I would expect that trend to continue," he said. "And that is certainly what our climate models suggest as well."
Photos: See tornadoes' deadly destruction over the years
May 22, 2011: Joplin, Missouri
April 2011: Southeastern U.S.
Feb. 5, 2008: 'Super Tuesday' outbreak
April 2014: Southeast and Midwest
May 20, 2013: Moore, Oklahoma
March 18, 1925: Missouri, Illinois and Indiana
May 11, 1953: Waco, Texas
Nov. 6, 2005: Evansville, Indiana
May 10, 2008: Southwest Missouri
May 25, 2008: Iowa
Feb. 29, 2012: Illinois
Feb. 11, 2009: Oklahoma
April 28, 2011: Virginia
June 8, 1984: Barneveld, Wisconsin
May 1955: Udall, Kansas
March 2, 2012: Indiana
October 2013: Nebraska
May 4, 2003: Missouri
June 11, 2008: Iowa
July 8, 2014: Upstate New York
Dec. 10-11, 2021: Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio Valley, southern US
A former Montana Tech football player who admitted raping two women in Butte will do no prison time and could get the crime expunged from his record if he stays out of trouble and meets other requirements for six years.
The Texas teen was behind the wheel earlier this week when a tornado flipped his red pickup truck. He drove away. Video shot by a storm chaser went viral.
Tyre Sampson, 14, was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and over 300 pounds. Lawyers for his family want to know if the park was negligent in allowing someone his size on the ride.
His father and stepmother said they’re learning disturbing details about Tyre Sampson's final moments. “What I’m hearing is his friend was talking to him. He was like … ‘The thing’s not pushing down, you know what I’m saying? And if I don’t make it through then tell my mom and dad I love ’em.’”
The mother of a West High School junior wants her daughter, who has Down syndrome, to complete her senior year, while the district is citing policy that says the soon-to-be 19-year-old is too old.
Things to know today: The fallout from Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at Oscars; Zelenskyy's latest plea; slowly falling gas prices. Get caught up this Monday morning.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/police-mom-who-blamed-toddlers-death-on-road-rage-arrested/article_21795851-481e-5107-903e-cc420fcdcb80.html
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DALLAS (AP) — A Texas woman who said her 3-year-old son was killed in a road-rage shooting has been arrested on a child endangerment charge, police said Thursday.
Lacravivonne Monique Washington, 26, kept a handgun in her sport utility vehicle where it was accessible to her children, ages 2-4, who were unrestrained, according to a Dallas police affidavit.
The investigation began Monday when Washington brought her son Jalexus Washington to Medical City of Dallas hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. The child died, and the mother told police that he had been shot by an unknown person in a road-rage shooting.
Investigators found no evidence of a road-rage shooting at the location the mother specified. But they did find a handgun in the glove compartment of Washington’s vehicle, which had no child restraints, the affidavit said.
In a follow-up interview, Washington told police that her children were climbing back and forth from the back seat to the front when she heard two gunshots and found her son wounded, according to the affidavit.
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An autopsy revealed that the boy had powder burns around his wound. That indicated that he had been shot at very close range and ruled out a road-rage shooting, the affidavit stated.
Washington could be sentenced to up to two years in state jail if convicted. She was in Dallas County Jail Thursday with a bond set at $25,000. Court records list no attorney for her.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/police-officer-kills-man-who-armed-himself-while-in-custody/article_74655ad1-d42c-5247-847a-3e3dd5799c17.html
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MIAMI (AP) — A Florida police officer fatally shot a man who was able to arm himself after being arrested Thursday, officials said.
The shooting occurred shortly before noon at a western Miami-Dade home, according to a police news release.
Miami-Dade police officers had been assisting Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service when they took a 53-year-old man into custody, police said. The man complained of feeling ill, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to evaluate him. During the evaluation, the man somehow armed himself, and shots were fired, officials said.
The man died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The shooting is being investigated by state police officials.
Police didn't immediately release the names or races of the dead man or the officer who shot him.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/police-student-kills-peer-at-south-carolina-middle-school/article_267e99cc-be92-5423-92af-700eaf6ee196.html
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GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A 12-year-old student was shot and killed Thursday by another 12-year-old student inside their South Carolina middle school, authorities said.
The shooter was found hiding under a deck at a home not far from Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville about an hour after the shooting and was still armed, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said.
The boy is charged with murder, possession of a firearm at a school and possession of a weapon by someone under 18. He was taken to a juvenile prison in Columbia, Lewis said.
“He was hiding. He's a young man, probably didn't understand the consequences of what had just happened,” the sheriff said at a news conference. “I don't think he knew what to do, honestly, except for to leave the school.”
The boys knew each other, but the sheriff said investigators are still trying to figure out what led to the shooting in a front part of the school and how the boy got the gun.
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No one else was injured in the shooting.
The family of the boy killed released a statement saying he was Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson and asking people to respect their privacy as they grieve.
“We are all devastated by today’s tragedy. We love Jamari dearly,” the family said in a statement released by community justice group Fighting Injustice Together.
A police officer at the school called in the shooting and requested emergency backup around 12:30 p.m. and more than 200 deputies and other law enforcement officers rushed to the school, Lewis said.
Helicopter footage from WYFF-TV showed dozens of officers walking around outside the school with more than two dozen buses lined up. Some students were slowly boarding the buses.
Everyone on campus, including teachers, were taken to a nearby church.
Greenville County Schools Superintendent Burke Royster said he doesn't have any idea how the gun ended up at school and a student killed.
“I'm not sure after a full and thorough law enforcement investigation anyone will really know what was going through the mind of that young person who took this rash act,” Royster said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/science/disputed-school-admissions-policy-okd-pending-appeal/article_3236f285-dde3-5f23-a82a-2a4d102c5f34.html
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court has granted a request from a northern Virginia school system to continue using a challenged admissions policy at a highly selective high school while it appeals a ruling that found the policy discriminates against Asian American students.
A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a ruling Thursday that Fairfax County Public Schools can continue to use its new admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton rejected the new policy in a February ruling, saying that impermissible “racial balancing” was at its core. Commonly known as “TJ,” the prestigious school near the nation’s capital is often ranked as one of the best public high schools in the country.
Earlier this month, Hilton also rejected a request from the school system to delay the implementation of his ruling. But the 4th Circuit, in a 3-2 ruling, said the school board had met the legal requirements for a suspension of Hilton's order while its appeal is pending.
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The 4th Circuit panel agreed with school officials who argued that because the selection process for the incoming freshman class is well underway, implementing Hilton's ruling now would throw the process into chaos.
Judge Toby Heytens wrote that he has “grave doubts” about Hilton's conclusions "regarding both disparate impact and discriminatory purpose” of the new admissions policy.
“In my view, appellant Fairfax County School Board is likely to succeed in its appeal,” Heytens wrote.
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Allison Jones Rushing said putting Hilton's ruling on hold while the school board appeals his decision is not in the public interest. Jones said any logistical difficulties or inconvenience associated with changing the admissions policy at this late date “simply do not outweigh the infringement of constitutional rights.”
“And everyone — even temporarily frustrated applicants and their families — ultimately benefits from a public-school admissions process not tainted by unconstitutional discrimination,” Rushing wrote.
The case has been closely watched as courts continue to evaluate the role that racial considerations can play when deciding who should be admitted to a particular school. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a similar case alleging that Harvard University discriminates against Asian Americans in its admissions process.
Fairfield County Public Schools said the order from the 4th Circuit allows the school board to continue with the current application process to select the Class of 2026 this spring.
“For the 2,500+ students in this application pool, this means the race blind process set out by the School Board in October 2020 will remain in place as an appeal challenging the February court decision plays out,” the board said in a news release.
The parents’ group Coalition for TJ, which filed the lawsuit, said the 4th Circuit judges have made a “grave error” in allowing the school system to continue to use its new admissions process.
“If the judges’ decision stands, we would see Fairfax County Public Schools usher in a second class of students to America’s No. 1 public high school through an unconstitutional race-based admissions process,” the coalition said in a statement.
For decades, Black and Hispanic students have been woefully underrepresented in the student body. After criticism over its lack of diversity, the school board scrapped a standardized test that had been at the heart of the admissions process and opted instead for a process that sets aside slots at each of the county’s middle schools. It also includes “experience factors” like socioeconomic background.
The parents’ group argued in its lawsuit that Asian Americans, who constituted more than 70% of the student body, were unfairly targeted in the new policy.
The school’s current freshman class, which was admitted under the new policy, saw a significantly different racial makeup. Black students increased from 1% to 7%; Hispanic representation increased from 3% to 11%. Asian American representation decreased from 73% to 54%.
The school system has insisted that its new policies are race neutral, and the panel evaluating applicants is not even aware of applicants’ race as it conducts its reviews.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/people/caitlyn-jenner-joins-fox-news-as-a-contributor/article_d1096149-35f4-52d1-9f33-61aa844ec95f.html
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Caitlyn Jenner has joined Fox News as a contributor.
The 72-year-old reality star - who was born as Bruce Jenner and became known for winning Olympic gold in Decathlon during the 1976 games in Montreal before transitioning into a woman whilst starring on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' - is "humbled" to become part of the news network and to be able to "speak directly" to Americans.
In a tweet, she said: "I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to @FoxNews millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people."
The former Republican candidate - who ran as a replacement candidate for Gavin Newsom in the state of California but lost out with only 1% of the vote - is thought to be a "tremendous asset” for the news channel because of her "inspirational journey" and impact on the LGBTQ+ community.
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement: "Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all. She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience. She will offer commentary and analysis across Fox News Channel programming and various Fox News Media platforms."
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Caitlyn - who has daughters Kylie, 24, and Kendall, 26, from former marriage to Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, as well as Burt and Cassandra with first wife Chrystie Scott and Brandon and Brody with second spouse Linda Thompson - is set to make her first appearance on the broadcaster as a guest on Sean Hannity’s programme on Thursday (31.03.22).
This article originally ran on celebretainment.com.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/west-high-students-stage-walkout-to-protest-transgender-athlete-ban/article_11892598-0330-5b12-9e3d-7b0748988022.html
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Waterloo West High School freshman Allison Wallsteadt speaks to students as they participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
Chris Zoeller
Waterloo West High School students participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
Chris Zoeller
Waterloo West High School students participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
Chris Zoeller
Waterloo West High School students participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
Chris Zoeller
Waterloo West High School students participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
WATERLOO — About 100 students walked out of West High School on Thursday afternoon to protest a new law requiring athletes to participate on sports teams that correspond to their biological gender.
Under House File 2416, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds on March 3, transgender athletes can't join a team for the sex with which they identify. The law particularly emphasizes that only biological females may participate in girls' and women's sports at schools, colleges and universities in Iowa.
Shortly before 1:15 p.m., students began trickling out of the building and gathered on the north side of the school. Several carried signs with messages like "Support trans athletes," "It's okay to be gay," "Gay is not a bad word" and "Being yourself and doing what you love should not be illegal."
Freshman Perceus Batista-Pedro, a member of West's gay-straight alliance, addressed the crowd using a bullhorn.
"I organized this protest because I'm angry," she said, recounting Reynolds' signing of the bill on transgender athletes. "That bill is discriminatory, benefits nobody and hurts everybody.
"None of them deserves that," she said of the ban. "You want to play sports, what's so bad about that? ... This horrible bill says it is in place for the fairness of sports."
Batista-Pedro particularly objected to the inclusion of students below the college level, where she said sports are intended "to teach kids skills, give them social connections." Transgender students, she added, want the same opportunities that everybody else has for that.
Organizers chose Thursday for the walkout because it was International Transgender Day of Visibility, which has been marked annually since 2009.
Batista-Pedro said there have been an "astronomical" number of anti-LGBTQ bills going through state legislatures across the country this year. She noted that during 2021 "375 trans people were murdered, and those were only the ones reported."
That was the number reported Nov. 11 by Transgender Europe's Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide research project's annual report.
"The reality that we face, many of us are discriminated against at school, at home, at jobs," said Batista-Pedro. "We want to be ourselves."
A series of other students spoke, their words cheered by those in attendance. Some speakers emphasized the importance of standing up for transgender students even if you don't identify as a member of that group.
"Everyone who is participating is participating to make change in transgender lives," said freshman Allison Wallsteadt.
Students spoke for most of the class period they had walked out of and then chanted "Protect trans youth!" They filed back into the school through the main entrance in time for the next class period.
Waterloo Community Schools spokeswoman Akwi Nji said participants in the student-organized, student-led protest will be counted absent for the period they were out of class, as has been done in similar situations.
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FIRST Robotics Competition - 1
More than 2,000 high school students on 45 teams from seven states compete during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Sean Radke, Mila Haynes and Kylie Buchholz run their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
The Waterloo Unity 4 Tech team, featuring East an West High students, runs their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Mila Haynes, Sean Radke and Kylie Buchholz trade high fives before running their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Ethan Strohm, Sean Radke and Mila Haynes load up their robot between matches on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Sean Radke, Mila Haynes and Kylie Buchholz run their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
The Columbus Catholic robotics team The Coded Collective celebrates after a strong finish during a match on Friday at the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
FIRST Robotics Competition at McLeod Center and UNI-Dome - 3/25/22
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FIRST Robotics Competition - 1
More than 2,000 high school students on 45 teams from seven states compete during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 2
More than 2,000 high school students on 45 teams from seven states compete during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 3
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Sean Radke, Mila Haynes and Kylie Buchholz run their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 4
The Waterloo Unity 4 Tech team, featuring East an West High students, runs their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 5
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Mila Haynes, Sean Radke and Kylie Buchholz trade high fives before running their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 6
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Ethan Strohm, Sean Radke and Mila Haynes load up their robot between matches on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 7
Cedar Falls High School Team 525 members Sean Radke, Mila Haynes and Kylie Buchholz run their robot in competition on Friday during the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
FIRST Robotics Competition - 8
The Columbus Catholic robotics team The Coded Collective celebrates after a strong finish during a match on Friday at the FIRST Robotics Competition at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
I cover local schools and higher education for The Courier, where I’ve been a reporter for the past two decades. I’m a Minnesota native and have previously worked for newspapers there and in Illinois.
Waterloo West High School freshman Allison Wallsteadt speaks to students as they participate in a walkout Thursday in response to the signing of bill HF 2416 by Gov. Kim Reynolds in early March.
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These are some trending topics for today, March 31.
Morbius
Struggling with a rare blood disorder, Dr. M ‘copters into Costa Rica to subject himself to a caveful of vampire bats. His research suggests a blend of human and bat DNA will cure him, and he’ll be able to save his similarly afflicted childhood friend nicknamed “Milo” (played by Matt Smith of “Doctor Who”) as he promised him years earlier.
“Morbius,” a Sony Pictures release slated for theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language.” Running time: 104 minutes. Apparently not worth the watch?
Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner has joined Fox News as a contributor.
The 72-year-old reality star - who was born as Bruce Jenner and became known for winning Olympic gold in Decathlon during the 1976 games in Montreal before transitioning into a woman whilst starring on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' - is "humbled" to become part of the news network and to be able to "speak directly" to Americans.
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In a tweet, she said: "I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to @FoxNews millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people." Learn more about it here:
Severe storms in the south, massive fires in Tennessee
A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight — killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states.
In Florida, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that two were killed and two injured when a tornado touched down in the western Florida Panhandle.
Firefighters, meanwhile, have been trying to get handle on a wildfire spreading near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, amid mandatory evacuations as winds whipped up ahead of the approaching storm front. Read all about today's wild weather here:
Bobby Wagner
Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams.
The Super Bowl champions outmaneuvered several suitors for Wagner, one of the NFL's top inside linebackers after his decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner's deal contains $50 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $65 million.
The Seahawks released the six-time All-Pro anchor of their defense on March 9. Read about it here:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal Thursday to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams.
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Check out more trending topics here:
Trans Day of Visibility
The Biden administration is marking the International Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday with a series of measures in support of transgender Americans as they face efforts to curb their rights across the country.
Chernobyl
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
Bruce Willis
The Razzies canceled a 2021 special category for Worst Performance by Bruce Willis despite initially defending a decision to move forward with it.
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This morning's top headlines: Thursday, March 31
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday by denouncing “hateful bills” being passed at the state level as the White House played host to “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider, the first openly transgender winner on the popular quiz show.
A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight — killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states.
Defense attorneys quickly rested their case Thursday after one of four men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repeatedly said “absolutely not” when asked if he had agreed to abduct her before the 2020 election.
OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — Two crewmembers rescued from the midweek crash of a U.S. Navy aircraft in Eastern Shore waters near the Virginia-Maryland line have non-life-threatening injuries and remain hospitalized, authorities said Thursday.
BOSTON (AP) — Chris Rock received several standing ovations before he told one joke Wednesday at his first comedy show since Will Smith slapped him in the face onstage at the Oscars.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Wednesday said that Will Smith was asked to leave Sunday's Oscar ceremony after hitting Chris Rock but refused to do so.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Christian Pulisic walked across the field with a towel draped around his head, angry after another U.S. defeat.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bruce Arians unexpectedly retired as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a stunning move Wednesday night that the 69-year-old who guided the team to its second Super Bowl title says is not related to health.
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LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — One officer was killed and two others were shot Thursday in Pennsylvania while responding to a domestic disturbance call, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said.
Police officers went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. for the disturbance call when gunfire broke out and officers radioed in they were hit, Capello said at a brief news conference.
All three officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second is in critical condition, but is stable, and a third was in stable condition, Capello said.
The suspect, a 34-year-old man, was killed in the shooting, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said.
The slain officer's name is being withheld pending notification of extended family members.
Police did not release further details.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — For the first time in California's 171-year history, a woman has signed a bill into state law.
Gov. Gavin Newsom normally signs the laws in California, but he left the state on Wednesday night for a family vacation in Central and South America. State law requires Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to act as governor until he returns.
The Legislature on Thursday morning passed a bill to extend a law preventing some renters from being evicted until the end of June. The bill had to be signed into law on Thursday because the old law was set to expire and tens of thousands of renters could have been evicted starting Friday.
It ended up being an historic moment for the nation's most populous state, which has a reputation as a progressive powerhouse but has never elected a woman governor.
“It was very humbling. And I did feel that sense of history,” said Kounalakis, who also signed a separate bill relating to elections on Thursday. “For many years women have been writing legislation ... but no woman has ever signed a bill into law. And it felt like a moment in history that we should recognize as important.”
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California has elected plenty of women to other statewide offices.
In 1992 voters sent two Democratic women to the U.S. Senate. Dianne Feinstein still is serving while Barbara Boxer retired in 2017 and was replaced by Kamala Harris, who previously was state attorney general and now is vice president.
California's female power was on display during President Joe Biden's recent State of the Union address, when Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sat behind him. Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.
Kounalakis, a former president of a real estate development company who served as ambassador to Hungary under President Barack Obama, is California's first female lieutenant governor. She was elected in 2018 and replaced Newsom.
The state’s No. 2 executive has limited power. She casts tie-breaking votes in the state Senate and serves as a University of California regent, among other posts. Those who hold the office sometimes use the post to boost name recognition for future statewide campaigns — as Newsom did.
Historically, women don't run for governor at the same rate as they do other offices, according to Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. She said women usually make up about 25% of gubernatorial candidates nationwide. It's one reason there have been just 45 women who served as governors in U.S. history.
“People have these kind of unconscious biases, even against women in the executive position when they are the boss,” said Kim Nalder, professor of political science at California State University, Sacramento. “When they are members of a legislature they are members of a group. That plays into the positive stereotypes people have about women being good at collaboration.”
California is one of 19 states that have never elected a woman as governor. That likely won't change this year as Newsom is favored to win reelection. But it could change in 2026 when Newsom can't run again because of term limits.
California has four women elected to statewide office now while 38 women are in the Legislature — both all-time highs. Along with Kounalakis, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Controller Betty Yee, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins all could run for governor in 2026.
Kounalakis said any woman with a statewide platform should be thinking about running for governor — including herself. But with that election more than four and a half years away, she wasn't ready to commit to running for the office just yet.
“I think that what's important is that the women who could have a chance at being elected governor think about how we honor each other's abilities, because there is plenty of pressure for women to not help each other, when in fact the way that we'll see a women governor in the future is because women help one another,” Kounalakis said.
Newsom is scheduled to return to the state on April 12.
“The governor could have changed his plans. But he’s extremely supportive of elevating people around him, particularly those from underrepresented groups,” Kounalakis said. “And I am very grateful to him for helping to make this happen.”
This story has been corrected to fix two inaccurate spellings of Kounalakis' last name.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Alabama appear to have rejected a union bid in a tight race, according to early results on Thursday. But outstanding challenged votes could change the outcome.
In New York, union supporters have the edge in a count that will continue Friday morning.
Warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, voted 993 to 875 against forming a union. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees the election, said that 416 challenged votes could potentially overturn that result. A hearing to go through the challenged ballots will occur in the next few days.
Meanwhile, in a separate union election in Staten Island, New York, the nascent Amazon Labor Union is leading by more than 350 votes out of about 2,670 tallied.
The close election in Bessemer marks a sharp contrast to last year, when Amazon workers overwhelmingly rejected the union.
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“This is just the beginning and we will continue to fight,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is organizing the union drive in Bessemer, at a Thursday press conference. “Regardless of the final outcome, workers have shown what is possible. They have helped ignite a movement.”
Appelbaum said RWDSU will be filing objections to how Amazon handled the election but declined to be specific. He also took the opportunity to lash out at current labor laws, which he believes are rigged against unions and favor of corporations.
“It should not be so difficult to organize a union in the United States," he said.
If a majority of Amazon workers votes yes in either Bessemer or Staten Island, it would mark the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the company's history. Organizers have faced an uphill battle against the nation’s second-largest private employer, which is making every effort to keep unions out.
In New York, the ALU has led the charge to form a union along with Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who now heads the fledging group. Turnout for the in-person election was unclear but Smalls was hopeful of victory.
“To be leading in Day One and be up a couple hundred against a trillion dollar company, this is the best feeling in the world,” Smalls said after the conclusion of Thursday’s counting.
While Smalls’ attention has been focused on securing victory in New York, similar efforts in Alabama also weighed heavily.
“I’m not too sure what’s going in Alabama right now, but I know that the sky’s the limit if you can organize any warehouse,” he said, noting that the vote in Alabama could well end up differently. “I hope that they’re successful. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but we know we show our support and solidarity with them.”
The warehouse in Staten Island employs more than 8,300 workers, who pack and ship supplies to customers based mostly in the Northeast. A labor win there was considered difficult, but organizers believe their grassroots approach is more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past.
John Logan, director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, said the early vote counts in New York has been “shocking.” ALU has no backing from an established union and is powered by former and current warehouse workers. The group had also filed for a union election after getting support from about 30% of the facility's workforce, a much lower percentage than what unions usually seek.
“I don’t think that many people thought that the Amazon Labor Union had much of a chance of winning at all,” Logan said. “And I think we’re likely to see more of those (approaches) going forward.”
Though RWDSU is currently lagging behind with challenged ballots outstanding, Logan said that election was also remarkable because the union has made a good effort narrowing its margin from last year’s election.
After a crushing defeat last year, when a majority of workers voted against forming a union, RWDSU is hoping for a different outcome in the Bessemer election, in which mail-in ballots were sent to 6,100 workers in early February. Federal labor officials scrapped the results of the first election there and ordered a re-do after ruling Amazon tainted the election process.
The RWDSU said election there had a turnout rate of about 39% this year, much smaller than last year. Appelbaum blamed the low numbers on high turnover — he believes thousands of people who worked for Amazon in January and were on the official list to be eligible to vote either quit or were fired. He also believes that an in-person election, which the RWDSU had asked for, would have made a difference
Amazon has pushed back hard in both elections. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial U.S. Postal Service mailbox that was key in the NLRB’s decision to invalidate last year’s vote.
Both labor fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them.
The mostly Black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70% Black residents, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $15.80 an hour, higher than the estimated $14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual median household income for Bessemer of $30,284, which could include more than one worker.
The ALU said they don’t have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian.
Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $41 per hour, according to a similar U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Staten Island’s $85,381 median household income.
A spokesperson for Amazon said the company invests in wages and benefits, such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers’ careers.
“As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
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Associated Press staff writers Tali Arbel and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Russians leave Chernobyl site as fighting rages elsewhere
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses" of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that.
The withdrawal took place amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover while regrouping, resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic and that the forces are building up for new powerful attacks in the southeast.
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“We know their intentions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.”
As Russia sees tech brain drain, other nations hope to gain
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Russia’s tech workers are looking for safer and more secure professional pastures.
By one estimate, up to 70,000 computer specialists, spooked by a sudden frost in the business and political climate, have bolted the country since Russia invaded Ukraine five weeks ago. Many more are expected to follow.
For some countries, Russia’s loss is being seen as their potential gain and an opportunity to bring fresh expertise to their own high-tech industries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noticed the brain drain even in the throes of a war that, according to the U.N. refugee agency, has caused more than 4 million people to flee Ukraine and displaced millions more within the country.
This week, Putin reacted to the exodus of tech professionals by approving legislation to eliminate income taxes between now and 2024 for individuals who work for information technology companies.
Trump's 8-hour gap: Minute-by-minute during Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lot is known about the few hours that shook American democracy to the core. The defeated president’s incendiary speech, the march by an angry crowd to the U.S. Capitol, the breaking in, the beating of cops, the “hang Mike Pence” threats, the lawmakers running for their lives, the shooting death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. All of that chaos unfolded over about eight hours on one day: Jan. 6, 2021.
But for all that is known about the day, piecing together the words and actions of Donald Trump over that time has proved no easy task, even though a president's movements and communications are closely monitored.
There’s a gap in the official White House phone notations given to the House committee investigating Jan. 6 — from about 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m., according to two people familiar with the congressional investigation into the riot. Details may still turn up; the former president was known to use various cell phones and often bypassed the White House switchboard, placing calls directly.
And over the past four-plus months a lot has surfaced about what Trump did do and say on Jan. 6 — in texts, tweets, videos, calls and other conversations.
The following account is based on testimony, timelines and eyewitness reporting gathered by The Associated Press and The Washington Post and CBS News, and from officials and people familiar with the events who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
Biden oil move aims to cut gas prices 'fairly significantly'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”
The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.
Report: US military must do more to avoid civilian deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, training, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants, a new RAND report said Thursday.
The report requested by the Pentagon reflects criticism of the military's airstrike campaign that, according to some estimates, killed more than 1,600 civilians in Raqqa, as the U.S.-led coalition worked to destroy the Islamic State caliphate that wrested control of large swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the report, which lays out a series of recommendations to improve military procedures and strategy, will be used as the department develops its own broader plan to reduce civlian harm.
“No other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it,” said Kirby. ”We're going to continue to try to learn from past issues.”
RAND concluded that the battle for Raqqa provided important lessons.
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago.
An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome – the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being – in research published Thursday in the journal Science. The previous effort, celebrated across the world, was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies of the day weren't able to read certain parts of it. Even after updates, it was missing about 8% of the genome.
“Some of the genes that make us uniquely human were actually in this ‘dark matter of the genome’ and they were totally missed,” said Evan Eichler, a University of Washington researcher who participated in the current effort and the original Human Genome Project. “It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done.”
Many — including Eichler's own students — thought it had been finished already. “I was teaching them, and they said, 'Wait a minute. Isn’t this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? I said, ’No, this time we really, really did it!”
Scientists said this full picture of the genome will give humanity a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer and heart disease.
Amazon staff reject union in Alabama, lean toward it in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Alabama appear to have rejected a union bid in a tight race, according to early results on Thursday. But outstanding challenged votes could change the outcome.
In New York, union supporters have the edge in a count that will continue Friday morning.
Warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, voted 993 to 875 against forming a union. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees the election, said that 416 challenged votes could potentially overturn that result. A hearing to go through the challenged ballots will occur in the next few days.
Meanwhile, in a separate union election in Staten Island, New York, the nascent Amazon Labor Union is leading by more than 350 votes out of about 2,670 tallied.
The close election in Bessemer marks a sharp contrast to last year, when Amazon workers overwhelmingly rejected the union.
California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say
DETROIT (AP) — In the long debate over whether Black Americans should be granted reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism, California took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality.
The state's reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century.
Whether Tuesday's vote by the task force spurs other states and cities to advance their own proposals, and whether they adopt California’s still controversial standard for who would benefit, remains to be seen. Some veteran reparations advocates disagree strongly with proposals to limiting eligibility to only Black people who can prove they have enslaved ancestors, while excluding those who cannot and leaving out victims of other historic injustices, such as redlining and mass incarceration.
Still, one advocate noted California's move is a step that could lend momentum to stalled reparation proposals elsewhere in the U.S.
“It’s precipitated a debate and it will influence communities,” said Ron Daniels, president of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century and administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission, an advocacy group of scholars and activists.
Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
South Carolina's Aliyah Boston wins AP player of the year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aliyah Boston dominated women's college basketball on both ends of the court this season.
The junior forward helped South Carolina go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, putting up an SEC-record 27 consecutive double-doubles, and she has helped put the Gamecocks two wins away from the program's second national championship.
Boston was honored as The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year on Thursday. She is the second player from South Carolina to be recognized with the award, joining former Gamecocks great A'ja Wilson.
“Not often do you get the complete package. I think this recognition is for what she was able to do on both sides of the ball,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “The player of the year is usually for offensive-minded people who think that when you put the ball in the hole, you should be bestowed the player of the year. She’s the full package. Every single day.”
Boston's parents and aunt as well as the entire South Carolina team were in the audience of the ceremony that also honored AP Coach of the Year Kim Mulkey.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey refused to say Thursday if transgender people actually exist, twice dodging direct questions on the subject just a day after he signed legislation limiting transgender rights.
The Republican worked instead to defend his signatures on bills that bar transgender girls and women from playing on girls high school and women's college sports teams and barring gender affirming surgery for anyone under age 18.
When specifically asked if he believed that there “are really transgender people,” the governor paused for several seconds before answering.
“I’m going to ask you to read the legislation and to see that the legislation that we passed was in the spirit of fairness to protect girls sports in competitive situations,” Ducey said, referring to the new law that targets transgender girls who want to play on girls sports teams. “That’s what the legislation is intended to do, and that’s what it does.”
Asked again if he believed there are “actual transgender people,” he again answered slowly and carefully.
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“I ... am going to respect everyone, and I’m going to respect everyone’s rights. And I’m going to protect female sports. And that’s what the legislation does,” Ducey said.
Ducey's response was “appalling,” according to the Arizona director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national civil rights group that advocates for equality for LGBTQ people. The organization worked to ensure families and transgender young people came to the Capitol to testify against the bills as the Republican-led House and Senate considered them this session.
“It's quite shocking that he can't even address trans people or even say that he thinks they exist,” Bridget Sharpe said.
Wednesday's signing of the two transgender bills and a third that bars abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and is currently unconstitutional put Ducey right in the middle of two top issues national Republicans are highlighting in the runup to November's midterm elections.
Ducey also signed election legislation that minority Democrats said amounted to voter suppression by requiring longtime Arizonans to be thrown off the voter rolls if they did not prove their citizenship and residence location.
The governor leads the Republican Governors Association, which is charged with helping elect GOP chief executives in U.S. states. He in is the last year of his second term as Arizona governor and term limits bar him from seeking reelection.
The top Democrat in the state House, Rep. Reginald Bolding, called Wednesday “probably one of the darkest days we've seen in the history of Arizona."
“With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Ducey has hurled Arizona backwards to its ugliest past,” Bolding said Wednesday. “And today, he put in jeopardy pregnant people, transgender youth in danger and curtailed voting rights for people of color.”
Social conservative groups and the Arizona Republican Party praised Ducey's action. The Center for Arizona Policy, whose president shepherded the abortion and women's sports bills through the Legislature, called it a victory.
"Thank you, Governor Ducey, for taking a bold stand for women athletes, vulnerable children, and the unborn by putting your signature on (the bills) in the face of intense opposition from activists," Center for Arizona Policy president Cathi Herrod said in a news release she posted on Twitter.
She said the legislation protects the unborn, ensures a level playing field for female athletes and shows that “Arizona will do everything it can to protect vulnerable children struggling with gender confusion” by enacting the surgery ban.
Ducey said the surgery ban protects children from irreversible decisions.
“These are permanent surgeries of reassignment that are irreversible, and those discussions can happen once adulthood is reached,” he said.
The American Civil Liberties Association has vowed to sue over the surgery ban. U.S. Supreme Court precedent currently says women have a constitutional right to abortion until about 24 weeks of pregnancy, although it is considering whether to uphold a 15-week ban enacted in Mississippi and may overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision enshrining a woman's right to choose.
Arizona joins 13 other states in enacting laws preventing transgender girls and women from playing on girls teams. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a transgender sports ban in his state, saying it would harm transgender girls, but the Legislature overrode the veto. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also vetoed a sports bill, but lawmakers hope to override his action as well.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado couple face felony charges in connection with the fentanyl death of their 1-year-old child, whom prosecutors say died after ingesting enough of the extremely lethal drug to kill an adult.
Alonzo Montoya, 31, and Nicole Casias, 30, of the Denver suburb of Brighton were charged with child abuse resulting in death and distribution of a controlled substance in connection with the girl's death on Jan. 2, the 17th Judicial District's Office said in a statement Thursday.
It said the Adams County Coroner had determined that the child died after ingesting fentanyl and that Montoya and Casias “participated in illicit drug activity” in the child's presence at home before and after her death.
Montoya was being held on $250,000 bail at the Adams County Jail. Bail was set at $100,000 for Casias. A status hearing for both was set for Monday.
Telephone and email messages seeking comment from Casias' attorney, Rachel Lanzen, were not immediately returned. Montoya was being represented by the public defender's office, which doesn't comment on pending cases.
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Court records that would provide details on the accusations weren't immediately available from the county district court. Christopher Hopper, a district attorney's spokesman, said he could not provide additional information.
Fentanyl is an unpredictable and powerful synthetic painkiller blamed for driving an increase in fatal drug overdoses. It’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former minor league pitcher ran a major league illegal sports betting operation in California that used other former pro athletes to take bets and took wagers from players still in the game, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Wayne Nix, who threw for Oakland Athletics farm teams, used his connections to recruit three former Major League Baseball players and a former pro football player as fellow bookies, prosecutors said.
The MLB began looking into the matter when it learned of it Thursday, but was unaware any of those involved other than Nix, a spokesman said.
Court records offered no names of the players who worked for Nix or those who placed bets with his business, but they provide a glimpse of the kind of money being wagered, earned and lost.
A professional football player paid Nix $245,000 for gambling losses in 2016. An MLB coach paid $4,000 in losses that same year. It was not disclosed if either bet on their own games or their own sports.
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MLB prohibits players from betting on baseball or gambling illegally on sports. They can bet on other sports if it’s legal. The National Football League policy bars all personnel from betting on football games.
A Los Angeles check cashing business that has agreed to plead guilty to failing to prevent money laundering in the scheme cashed over $18 million in checks from two single bettors, prosecutors said.
One client wagered $5 million on the Super Bowl but it was not revealed if that gambit paid off.
Sports betting is legal in 30 states, but not in California. However, voters will have a chance to legalize it at the polls in November.
Nix, 45, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to run an illegal gambling operation and faces up to eight years in prison. He also admitted he failed to report $1.4 million in income in 2017 and 2018. He has agreed to pay back taxes and interest of $1.25 million and forfeit $1.3 million seized from bank accounts.
Nix began the sports bookmaking business about 20 years ago after his six-year minor league career — with stops in Arizona, Texas and California — ended, prosecutors said.
His client list was created from contacts he had made in the sports world and included current and former pro athletes. The agents he hired helped expand that clientele.
The operation eventually began using a Costa Rican business, Sand Island Sports, to create accounts where bets could be placed and tracked and credit limits set, prosecutors said. Bets were placed online or through a call center, though Nix paid winners and kept most of the money from losing bets.
Those who exceeded credit limits were shut off, though exceptions were made, according to court documents.
A sports broadcaster's account was reactivated in February 2019 after he told Nix he was refinancing his home mortgage to pay off his gambling debts.
In September 2019, Nix increased the credit limit to a baseball player with debts so he could make additional bets.
In November, 2019, Nix's partner, Edon Kagasoff, told a business manager for a professional basketball player that he would increase the maximum wager he could place to $25,000 per NBA game.
Kagasoff, 44, faces the same conspiracy charge as Nix. He also agreed to plead guilty and forfeit over $3 million in funds seized from his home and bank accounts.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The Ukrainian government said Russian forces blocked 45 buses that had been sent to evacuate civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol, and only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars.
Twelve Ukrainian trucks were able to deliver humanitarian supplies to Mariupol, but the supplies were seized by Russian troops, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said late Thursday.
According to Ukrainian officials, tens of thousands of people have made it out of Mariupol in recent weeks along humanitarian corridors, reducing the prewar population of 430,000 to about 100,000 by last week.
Vereshchuk said about 45,000 Mariupol residents have been forcefully deported to Russia and areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Heavy fighting rages near Kyiv as Russia appears to regroup
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— Kremlin decree says foreign currency can still buy natural gas
— As Russia sees tech brain drain, other nations hope to gain
— Ukraine refugees encouraged to find work as exodus slows
— Ukrainians in US mobilize to help expected refugees
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
LVIV, Ukraine — The last Russian troops left the Chernobyl nuclear plant early Friday, according to the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone around the plant.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Russian troops who dug trenches in the forest were exposed to radiation, but that could not be confirmed.
The Ukrainian nuclear operator company Energoatom said Thursday that Russian troops were headed toward Ukraine’s border with Belarus.
Energoatom said that the Russian military was also preparing to leave Slavutych, a nearby city where power plant workers live.
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after Russian troops withdrew from the north and center of the country, the situation has been heating up in the southeast where Russian forces are building up for new powerful attacks.
In his nighttime video address to the nation Thursday, Zelenskyy said it was heartening for all Ukrainians to see Russian troops retreating from north of Kyiv, from around the northern town of Chernihiv and from Sumy in the northeast. By he urged Ukrainians not to let up, saying the withdrawal was just a Russian tactic.
Zelenskyy said he spoke Thursday with European Council President Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while his adviser spoke with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
“We need more support from our partners right now when Russian troops are concentrating additional forces in certain areas,” Zelenskyy said.
WASHINGTON — The top-ranking Ukrainian Catholic cleric in the United States warned Thursday that religious minorities in the Eastern European country stand to be “crushed” if Moscow gains control, as fighting raged on more than a month after the Russian invasion began.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak said groups at risk include Catholics, Muslims and Orthodox who have broken away from the patriarch of Moscow.
Gudziak also cited reports that Russian forces have damaged two Holocaust memorials and Moscow’s false portrayal of Ukraine as a “Nazi” state although Ukraine overwhelmingly elected a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“What is at stake for the people of faith is their freedom to practice their faith,” Gudziak said during an online panel discussion on the war, hosted by the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University.
Gudziak is head of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and president of Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine. He also oversees external relations for the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says an initial half-dozen shipments of weapons and other security assistance have reached Ukraine as part of the $800 million package of aid that President Joe Biden approved on March 16.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the shipments included Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, body armor, medical supplies and other material. He said the 100 Switchblade armed drones that Biden approved as part of the package have not yet been delivered.
Kirby said the $800 million in assistance is likely to be fully delivered within about two weeks. It also includes Mi-17 helicopters, small arms, ammunition, vehicles, secure communications systems, and satellite imagery and analysis capability.
Separately, Kirby said U.S. troops are not training Ukrainian troops in Poland but are acting as liaisons with Ukrainian personnel who cross the border into Poland to take possession of U.S. security assistance. He noted that the standard U.S. military training mission that had existed in Ukraine for years was suspended shortly before Russia invaded.
DOHA, Qatar — A video showing the head of Ukrainian soccer wearing an armored vest on the streets of Kyiv brought the impact of Russia’s war into the FIFA Congress.
Andriy Pavelko used a recorded message to the gathering in Qatar on Thursday to talk about the deaths of footballers even as the sport “has taken a back seat in our country.”
The gathering in Doha featured delegates from Russia, including Alexey Sorokin, the chief executive of Russia’s 2018 World Cup organizing committee.
Russia won’t be in the draw for the World Cup on Friday after being disqualified from playing internationally by FIFA over the war. Ukraine can still qualify but its playoff semifinal against Scotland has been postponed until June with the hope the team will be in a position to return to the field by then.
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s ombudsperson says that at least one person has been killed and four others have been wounded in the Russian shelling of a humanitarian convoy.
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Lyudmyla Denisova said those who came under the shelling on Thursday were volunteers accompanying a convoy of buses sent to the northern city of Chernihiv to evacuate residents.
She said that the Russian forces besieging Chernihiv have made it impossible to evacuate civilians from the city that has been cut from food, water and other supplies.
The Russian shelling continued two days after Moscow announced it would scale back military operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv.
BERLIN — The International Atomic Energy Agency says it has been informed by Ukraine that the Russian forces which were in control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant have “in writing, transferred control” of the facility to Ukrainian personnel.
Ukraine said three convoys of Russian forces have already left the site toward Belarus, while the remaining troops were presumed to be preparing to leave, the agency said Thursday.
The IAEA added that it was in close consultations with Ukrainian authorities on sending a first assistance and support mission to Chernobyl in the next few days.
The agency said it has not been able to confirm reports of Russian forces receiving high doses of radiation while being inside the exclusion zone of the now-closed plant, but is seeking further information in order to provide an independent assessment of the situation.
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his offer to host a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders during a telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A statement from Erdogan’s office said the Turkish president also told Zelenskyy Thursday that a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators who met in Istanbul earlier this week had given “a meaningful impetus” to efforts to end the fighting.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s delegation laid out a framework under which the country would declare itself neutral and its security would be guaranteed by an array of nations, including Turkey.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with a top Turkish Cypriot official that Erdogan also is expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said there’s “no clear evidence” that Vladimir Putin is scaling back military operations around Kyiv and suggested that the Russian president may have ordered some of his advisers fired or placed under house arrest.
Biden told reporters that “there’s some indication” that Putin has taken those steps against some of his advisers. He added, “But I don’t want to put too much stock in that at this time because we don’t have that much hard evidence.”
The White House on Wednesday released unclassified intelligence findings that Putin is being misinformed by his advisors about how badly the Russian military is performing.
The president made the comments after formally announcing that the U.S. would release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve in hopes of easing surging gasoline prices.
Biden also reiterated that his administration remains skeptical that Russia will scale back operations around Kyiv as Moscow announced earlier this week.
Russian forces continued to shell Kyiv suburbs Thursday, two days after the Kremlin announced it would significantly scale back operations near both the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv.
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine says the United Nations and its partners have delivered supplies for thousands of people in the country’s northeast but have been unable to reach some encircled cities in the south.
Osnat Lubrani said Thursday that food rations from the humanitarian organization People in Need and the U.N. World Food Program will benefit nearly 6,000 people in Sumy and areas including Trostianets and Okhtyrka.
In addition, she said, basic household items including blankets and kettles from the U.N. refugee agency will support 1,500 people and sanitation kits will help 6,000 people with hygiene and drinking water.
Lubrani said medical supplies and trauma kits from the U.N. World Health Organization will treat 150 patients needing intensive care for serious injuries while other medical supplies will support 10,000 people for three months.
Shei said the U.N.-facilitated humanitarian notification system with Ukraine and Russia enabled safe passage for the convoy to Sumy on Thursday “but this is clearly not enough.” Efforts over the past month to reach Mauripol, Kherson and other encircled cities in the south have been unsuccessful because of safety concerns.
BERLIN — The U.N. nuclear watchdog says its director-general has arrived in Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad for talks with senior Russian officials.
The International Atomic Energy Agency didn’t specify in a tweet whom exactly Rafael Mariano Grossi will meet on Friday or give further details of his agenda.
He arrived in Kaliningrad Thursday following a visit to Ukraine, where he visited a nuclear power plant and conferred with the energy minister and other officials on efforts to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
Ukraine has 15 active nuclear reactors at four plants -- one of which, at Zaporizhzhia, is under the Russian military’s control.
GENEVA — A team with the International Committee of the Red Cross has arrived in a Ukraine-held city where staff are preparing to take civilians out of the beleaguered port city of Mariupol.
Julien Lerisson, deputy director of operations for the ICRC, said Thursday that the team assembling in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, has medicines, food, water, hygiene items and other essentials.
He said the organization has high-level agreement for the mission but is focused on making sure “the order trickles down the chain of command,” allowing the team to enter and leave Mariupol safely.
The Russian military has said it committed to a cease-fire along the route from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian authorities have said 45 buses would be sent to collect citizens and provide resources to those who remain.
Lucile Marbeau, a staff member with the ICRC team hoping to enter Mariupol, said on Thursday: “We’re here because really, we hope to be able to facilitate safe passage for civilians desperately wanting to flee Mariupol.”
LONDON — Britain’s defense minister says Ukraine’s international allies have agreed to send more military equipment, including artillery ammunition and armored vehicles.
U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace held a conference call Thursday with defense ministers from more than 35 countries, including the United States, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.
Wallace said that as a result “there will be more lethal aid going into Ukraine.” He said that would include “more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly,” to help counter Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine’s cities.
Wallace said Ukraine was “also looking for armoured vehicles of some types, not tanks necessarily, but certainly protective vehicles.”
He said allies were also “looking to see what more we can do” to help Ukraine defend its coastline.
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has sanctioned an employee of a state-affiliated Russian defense firm that developed malicious software that was used to target the energy sector.
The Treasury Department on Thursday sanctioned Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh. He was one of four Russians charged in Justice Department indictments unsealed last week that alleged the hacking by Russia of critical infrastructure around the globe, including in the U.S. energy and aviation sectors.
Among the thousands of computers targeted in some 135 countries were of a Saudi petro-chemical plant where the hackers overrode safety controls.
That hack is singled out in a Treasury Department release announcing sanctions against Gladikh and several other employees of the research firm. In total, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced that it was designating 21 entities and 13 individuals, including in the aerospace, marine and electronics sectors.
LVIV, Ukraine — Russian troops were leaving the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and heading towards Ukraine’s border with Belarus, the Ukrainian nuclear operator company said Thursday.
The operator, Energoatom, said that the Russian military was also preparing to leave Slavutych, a nearby city where power plant workers live.
Energoatom also said reports were confirmed that the Russians dug trenches in the Red Forest, the 10-square-kilometer (nearly four-square-mile) area surrounding the Chernobyl plant within the Exclusion Zone, and received “significant doses of radiation.”
The Russian troops “panicked at the first sign of illness,” which “showed up very quickly,” and began to prepare to leave, the operator said. The claim couldn’t be independently verified.
Energoatom said the Russians have signed a document confirming the handover of the Chernobyl plant and stating that the plant’s administration doesn’t have any complaints about the Russian troops who were “guarding” the facility.
LONDON — The head of Britain’s military says Russian President Vladimir Putin has “already lost” in Ukraine and is weaker than he was before the invasion.
Adm. Tony Radakin at a think-tank seminar Thursday in London said Moscow’s aim to “take the whole of Ukraine” fell apart. He added that the coming weeks “will continue to be very difficult” for Ukraine.
“But in many ways, Putin has already lost,” he said. “Far from being the far-sighted manipulator of events that he would have us believe, Putin has damaged himself through a series of catastrophic misjudgements.”
Radakin also said there was “disquiet” at all levels of Russia’s military about the campaign, from troops who were not told they were invading Ukraine up to senior commanders.
Western officials say Putin’s small inner circle is not giving him the true picture of the war, and his isolation may have contributed to miscalculating the strength of resistance Russian troops would meet.
BERLIN — The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe expressed regret Thursday at Russia’s decision to veto the extension of its observer mission in Ukraine.
The OSCE’s special monitoring mission has been present in Ukraine since 2014, when fighting between Ukrainians and Russia-backed separatists broke out in the country’s eastern regions after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, who holds the OSCE rotating chair, said the observers had played a “crucial role by providing objective information on the security and humanitarian situation on the ground and relentlessly working to ease the effects of the conflict on the civilian population” in Ukraine for the past eight year.
The Vienna-based body’s secretary general, Helga Maria Schmid, expressed gratitude to the mission’s members, several of whom were wounded or killed over the years.
BERLIN — Germany’s economy minister says Europe should impose additional sanctions on Russia to prevent what he described as a “barbaric” war in Ukraine.
Robert Habeck said he discussed what further measures could be taken with his French counterpart during a bilateral meeting in Berlin on Thursday.
“The last package (of sanctions) doesn’t need to be the final one, it should not be the final one,” he told reporters, adding that he and French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire had “identified additional points that could be included in a (sanctions) package.”
Habeck declined to elaborate on what those points might be.
Speaking ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on new rules requiring countries to pay for Russia’s natural gas sales in rubles, Habeck insisted that contracts would be adhered to. These stipulate payment in euros or dollars.
BERLIN — The Austrian and German leaders have underlined their rejection of a halt to Russian energy deliveries at this point.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer noted that several central and eastern European countries depend to one extent or another on Russian gas deliveries.
He and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argued that existing sanctions already are having a significant effect and said they need time to switch to new providers and renewable energy sources.
Nehammer said that “sanctions only make sense … when they hit those they are supposed to hit, and don’t weaken those who carry out sanctions.”
ROME — A Kremlin decree says “unfriendly countries” can continue to pay for natural gas in foreign currency through a Russian bank that will convert the money into rubles.
The decree published Thursday by state media came a day after the leaders of Italy and Germany said they received assurances from President Vladimir Putin.
Putin talked tougher, saying Russia will start accepting ruble payments starting Friday for Western countries that imposed sanctions over its conflict with Ukraine. He said contracts will be stopped if buyers don’t sign up to the new conditions, including opening ruble accounts in Russian banks.
European leaders had rejected paying for deliveries in rubles, saying it would undermine sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.
The decree Putin signed and published by state news agency RIA Novosti says a designated bank will open two accounts for each buyer, one in foreign currency and one in rubles. The buyers will pay in foreign currency and authorize the bank to sell that currency for rubles, which are placed in the second account, where the gas is formally purchased.
ROME — Italy’s leader is urging Europe to “cultivate all available land” as a partial remedy to reductions in agricultural imports, especially of Russian grain, due to the war in Ukraine.
Premier Mario Draghi told reporters on Thursday that under existing agricultural practices in the European Union 10% of land is purposely left fallow, but that must now change as European countries search for ways to reduce dependency on farm imports.
It’s not clear whether Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, maize and sunflower oil, might be able to salvage any of this planting season.
Meanwhile, Draghi noted that Western Europe will be looking to food producers like Canada, the United States and Argentina to help make up the shortfall of imports from Ukraine and Russia.
STOCKHOLM — The deputy director of Sweden’s Military Intelligence and Security agency says Russia has made “a strategic miscalculation when invading Ukraine.”
Daniel Olsson said the invasion of Ukraine “has shown that the Russian leadership is ready to take great risks, larger than previously taken.”
The government agency’s analysis suggested a likely “a western containment of Russia,” including reducing trade in Russian energy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of a downtown Los Angeles building where an explosion injured 12 firefighters has been allowed to enter a judicial diversion program that allows him to avoid jail time and potentially have all charges dismissed.
A court commissioner on Wednesday granted the diversion request for Steve Sungho Lee. He and his companies must pay more than $125,000 in investigative fees, make sure the property meets fire and building codes and arranging for Fire Department training.
Lee owned a commercial building on East Boyd Street in the city's Toy District that caught fire on May 16, 2020. Firefighters had to run for their lives when a ball of flames shot out the building and scorched a fire truck across the street.
Firefighters inside the building had to run through a wall of flames he estimated as 30 feet (9 meters) high and wide, and those on the roof scrambled down a ladder that was engulfed in fire.
Fire officials said the building was a warehouse for Smoke Tokes, a wholesale distributor of supplies for smoking and vaping products including butane hash oil, a concentrated cannabis extract that can be eaten, smoked or vaped. Highly flammable butane is used in the manufacturing process.
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Most of the injured firefighters still haven't returned to work and one, Capt. Victor Aguirre, was hospitalized for more than two months and all of his fingers had to be partially amputated, according to a lawsuit he filed against the building and business owners.
Aguirre alleged that the area contained “hundreds of illegally and improperly stored butane canisters and thousands of illegally and improperly stored nitrous oxide cylinders.”
A fire department report concluded that the blaze, which spread to a nearby building, was fueled by an “excessive quantity” of the containers.
Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that the fire started under a storage rack in the building and that a worker with a lit cigarette was seen in the area. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental.
However, city prosecutors filed more than 300 misdemeanor charges of violating fire and safety codes against Lee, his companies and owners of businesses in the building and nearby properties. That included more than 160 counts against Lee and his companies.
If Lee meets all conditions of his judicial diversion program for two years, the charges will be dismissed.
“Mr. Lee will be deemed by law to have never been charged," said his attorney, Blair Berk. “The exhaustive federal investigation of the tragic fire objectively concluded that the cause was accidental, and there was no finding of any wrongdoing by Mr. Lee or his companies.”
City Attorney Mike Feuer opposed diversion for Lee, noting the severity of the fire, the injuries suffered by the firefighters and Lee's alleged failure “to take steps which could have mitigated the extent of the blaze."
The owners of Smoke Tokes and another business, Green Buddha, agreed in November 2020 to pay $139,000 each to cover investigative costs and to move out of the building. Charges against them were later dismissed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
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The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television."
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mental-health-awareness-breakfast-is-may-13/article_1af7758f-aef1-5ef2-adcb-af7361b69c3e.html
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WATERLOO -- UnityPoint Health–Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center, in partnership with the Allen Foundation, will host a Mental Health Awareness Breakfast May 13.
The event is from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Bien VenU Event Center in Cedar Falls. Proceeds will benefit mental health services in the Cedar Valley at a time when the center has seen significant increases in depression, grief, loss and other mental health conditions.
Keynote speaker is Susan Rolinger, the sister of Matthew Rolinger, who battled an addiction to methamphetamine before losing his life last year.
Tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Contact the Allen Foundation at (319) 274-6710 for more information, or visit unitypoint.org/breakfast to purchase tickets online and learn more about the event.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/1-officer-killed-2-others-hurt-in-pennsylvania-shooting/article_9936515a-e8e9-5170-8793-c5f2a18acd40.html
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LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania police officer was killed and two others injured Thursday during a shooting that occurred while responding to a domestic disturbance call, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said.
Police officers went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. for the disturbance call. Nearly an hour later gunfire broke out and officers radioed in they were hit, Capello said at a brief news conference.
All three officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second was in critical condition, but stable, and a third was in stable condition, Capello said.
“This is an extremely difficult moment for everyone,” Capello said.
The suspect, a 34-year-old man from Lebanon, was killed in the shooting, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said.
“As one can imagine, it's clearly a traumatic event,” Breiner said. “Our guys are strong, but we're human and we have families.”
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Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw “cop car after cop car flying down the street.”
“Then we heard something and weren’t sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min,” Gonzalez said in a text message.
The slain officer's name is being withheld pending notification of extended family members.
Police did not release further details.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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March 25-31, 2022
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and Pacific.
The gallery was curated by AP photo editor Shuji Kajiyama in Tokyo.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — The nation’s oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100.
Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.
Soskin “spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers," a Park Service statement said.
She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that “she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white," according to a Park Service biography.
“Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling,” Soskin said in the Park Service statement. “It has proven to bring meaning to my final years.”
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Soskin won a temporary Park Service position at the age of 84 and became a permanent Park Service employee in 2011. She celebrated her 100th birthday last September.
“Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission,” Director Chuck Sams said. “Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation.”
Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography.
Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.
She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.
She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.
In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House.
In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.
Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Russians leave Chernobyl site as fighting rages elsewhere
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses" of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that.
The withdrawal took place amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover while regrouping, resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic and that the forces are building up for new powerful attacks in the southeast.
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“We know their intentions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.”
Live updates | Ukrainian generals stripped of military rank
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has stripped two generals of their military rank.
Zelenskyy said “something prevented them from determining where their homeland was” and they “violated their military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people.”
According to Zelenskyy, one of the generals had headed internal security at the SBU, the main intelligence agency.
He said the other general had been the SBU head in the Kherson region, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
Zelenskyy didn’t say anything about the fates of the two generals other than them being stripped of their rank.
Trump's 8-hour gap: Minute-by-minute during Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lot is known about the few hours that shook American democracy to the core. The defeated president’s incendiary speech, the march by an angry crowd to the U.S. Capitol, the breaking in, the beating of cops, the “hang Mike Pence” threats, the lawmakers running for their lives, the shooting death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. All of that chaos unfolded over about eight hours on one day: Jan. 6, 2021.
But for all that is known about the day, piecing together the words and actions of Donald Trump over that time has proved no easy task, even though a president's movements and communications are closely monitored.
There’s a gap in the official White House phone notations given to the House committee investigating Jan. 6 — from about 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m., according to two people familiar with the congressional investigation into the riot. Details may still turn up; the former president was known to use various cell phones and often bypassed the White House switchboard, placing calls directly.
And over the past four-plus months a lot has surfaced about what Trump did do and say on Jan. 6 — in texts, tweets, videos, calls and other conversations.
The following account is based on testimony, timelines and eyewitness reporting gathered by The Associated Press and The Washington Post and CBS News, and from officials and people familiar with the events who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
Biden oil move aims to cut gas prices 'fairly significantly'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”
The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.
Report: US military must do more to avoid civilian deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, training, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants, a new RAND report said Thursday.
The report requested by the Pentagon reflects criticism of the military's airstrike campaign that, according to some estimates, killed more than 1,600 civilians in Raqqa, as the U.S.-led coalition worked to destroy the Islamic State caliphate that wrested control of large swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the report, which lays out a series of recommendations to improve military procedures and strategy, will be used as the department develops its own broader plan to reduce civlian harm.
“No other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it,” said Kirby. ”We're going to continue to try to learn from past issues.”
RAND concluded that the battle for Raqqa provided important lessons.
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago.
An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome – the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being – in research published Thursday in the journal Science. The previous effort, celebrated across the world, was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies of the day weren't able to read certain parts of it. Even after updates, it was missing about 8% of the genome.
“Some of the genes that make us uniquely human were actually in this ‘dark matter of the genome’ and they were totally missed,” said Evan Eichler, a University of Washington researcher who participated in the current effort and the original Human Genome Project. “It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done.”
Many — including Eichler's own students — thought it had been finished already. “I was teaching them, and they said, 'Wait a minute. Isn’t this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? I said, ’No, this time we really, really did it!”
Scientists said this full picture of the genome will give humanity a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer and heart disease.
Amazon staff reject union in Alabama, lean toward it in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Alabama appear to have rejected a union bid in a tight race, according to early results on Thursday. But outstanding challenged votes could change the outcome.
In New York, union supporters have the edge in a count that will continue Friday morning.
Warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, voted 993 to 875 against forming a union. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees the election, said that 416 challenged votes could potentially overturn that result. A hearing to go through the challenged ballots will occur in the next few days.
Meanwhile, in a separate union election in Staten Island, New York, the nascent Amazon Labor Union is leading by more than 350 votes out of about 2,670 tallied.
The close election in Bessemer marks a sharp contrast to last year, when Amazon workers overwhelmingly rejected the union.
California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say
DETROIT (AP) — In the long debate over whether Black Americans should be granted reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism, California took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality.
The state's reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century.
Whether Tuesday's vote by the task force spurs other states and cities to advance their own proposals, and whether they adopt California’s still controversial standard for who would benefit, remains to be seen. Some veteran reparations advocates disagree strongly with proposals to limiting eligibility to only Black people who can prove they have enslaved ancestors, while excluding those who cannot and leaving out victims of other historic injustices, such as redlining and mass incarceration.
Still, one advocate noted California's move is a step that could lend momentum to stalled reparation proposals elsewhere in the U.S.
“It’s precipitated a debate and it will influence communities,” said Ron Daniels, president of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century and administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission, an advocacy group of scholars and activists.
Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
South Carolina's Aliyah Boston wins AP player of the year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aliyah Boston dominated women's college basketball on both ends of the court this season.
The junior forward helped South Carolina go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, putting up an SEC-record 27 consecutive double-doubles, and she has helped put the Gamecocks two wins away from the program's second national championship.
Boston was honored as The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year on Thursday. She is the second player from South Carolina to be recognized with the award, joining former Gamecocks great A'ja Wilson.
“Not often do you get the complete package. I think this recognition is for what she was able to do on both sides of the ball,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “The player of the year is usually for offensive-minded people who think that when you put the ball in the hole, you should be bestowed the player of the year. She’s the full package. Every single day.”
Boston's parents and aunt as well as the entire South Carolina team were in the audience of the ceremony that also honored AP Coach of the Year Kim Mulkey.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Russians leave Chernobyl site as fighting rages elsewhere
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops handed control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant back to the Ukrainians and left the heavily contaminated site early Friday, more than a month after taking it over, Ukrainian authorities said, as fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts.
Ukraine's state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses" of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. But there was no independent confirmation of that.
The withdrawal took place amid growing indications the Kremlin is using talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover while regrouping, resupplying its forces and redeploying them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic and that the forces are building up for new powerful attacks in the southeast.
People are also reading…
“We know their intentions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.”
Live updates | Australia sending armored vehicles to Ukraine
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that his country will be sending armored Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically asked for them during a video appeal to Australian lawmakers for more aid.
Zelenskyy addressed the Australian Parliament on Thursday and asked for the Australian-manufactured four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Morrison told reporters the vehicles will be flown over on Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes, but he didn’t specify how many Bushmaster vehicles would be sent or when.
“We’re not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we’re sending our munitions, we’re sending our humanitarian aid, we’re sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things and we’re going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters as well,” Morrison said.
Trump's 8-hour gap: Minute-by-minute during Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lot is known about the few hours that shook American democracy to the core. The defeated president’s incendiary speech, the march by an angry crowd to the U.S. Capitol, the breaking in, the beating of cops, the “hang Mike Pence” threats, the lawmakers running for their lives, the shooting death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. All of that chaos unfolded over about eight hours on one day: Jan. 6, 2021.
But for all that is known about the day, piecing together the words and actions of Donald Trump over that time has proved no easy task, even though a president's movements and communications are closely monitored.
There’s a gap in the official White House phone notations given to the House committee investigating Jan. 6 — from about 11 a.m. to about 7 p.m., according to two people familiar with the congressional investigation into the riot. Details may still turn up; the former president was known to use various cell phones and often bypassed the White House switchboard, placing calls directly.
And over the past four-plus months a lot has surfaced about what Trump did do and say on Jan. 6 — in texts, tweets, videos, calls and other conversations.
The following account is based on testimony, timelines and eyewitness reporting gathered by The Associated Press and The Washington Post and CBS News, and from officials and people familiar with the events who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.
Biden oil move aims to cut gas prices 'fairly significantly'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”
The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.
Report: US military must do more to avoid civilian deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, training, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants, a new RAND report said Thursday.
The report requested by the Pentagon reflects criticism of the military's airstrike campaign that, according to some estimates, killed more than 1,600 civilians in Raqqa, as the U.S.-led coalition worked to destroy the Islamic State caliphate that wrested control of large swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the report, which lays out a series of recommendations to improve military procedures and strategy, will be used as the department develops its own broader plan to reduce civlian harm.
“No other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it,” said Kirby. ”We're going to continue to try to learn from past issues.”
RAND concluded that the battle for Raqqa provided important lessons.
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago.
An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome – the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being – in research published Thursday in the journal Science. The previous effort, celebrated across the world, was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies of the day weren't able to read certain parts of it. Even after updates, it was missing about 8% of the genome.
“Some of the genes that make us uniquely human were actually in this ‘dark matter of the genome’ and they were totally missed,” said Evan Eichler, a University of Washington researcher who participated in the current effort and the original Human Genome Project. “It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done.”
Many — including Eichler's own students — thought it had been finished already. “I was teaching them, and they said, 'Wait a minute. Isn’t this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? I said, ’No, this time we really, really did it!”
Scientists said this full picture of the genome will give humanity a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer and heart disease.
Amazon staff reject union in Alabama, lean toward it in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Alabama appear to have rejected a union bid in a tight race, according to early results on Thursday. But outstanding challenged votes could change the outcome.
In New York, union supporters have the edge in a count that will continue Friday morning.
Warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, voted 993 to 875 against forming a union. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees the election, said that 416 challenged votes could potentially overturn that result. A hearing to go through the challenged ballots will occur in the next few days.
Meanwhile, in a separate union election in Staten Island, New York, the nascent Amazon Labor Union is leading by more than 350 votes out of about 2,670 tallied.
The close election in Bessemer marks a sharp contrast to last year, when Amazon workers overwhelmingly rejected the union.
California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say
DETROIT (AP) — In the long debate over whether Black Americans should be granted reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism, California took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality.
The state's reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century.
Whether Tuesday's vote by the task force spurs other states and cities to advance their own proposals, and whether they adopt California’s still controversial standard for who would benefit, remains to be seen. Some veteran reparations advocates disagree strongly with proposals to limiting eligibility to only Black people who can prove they have enslaved ancestors, while excluding those who cannot and leaving out victims of other historic injustices, such as redlining and mass incarceration.
Still, one advocate noted California's move is a step that could lend momentum to stalled reparation proposals elsewhere in the U.S.
“It’s precipitated a debate and it will influence communities,” said Ron Daniels, president of The Institute of the Black World 21st Century and administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission, an advocacy group of scholars and activists.
Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
South Carolina's Aliyah Boston wins AP player of the year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aliyah Boston dominated women's college basketball on both ends of the court this season.
The junior forward helped South Carolina go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, putting up an SEC-record 27 consecutive double-doubles, and she has helped put the Gamecocks two wins away from the program's second national championship.
Boston was honored as The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year on Thursday. She is the second player from South Carolina to be recognized with the award, joining former Gamecocks great A'ja Wilson.
“Not often do you get the complete package. I think this recognition is for what she was able to do on both sides of the ball,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “The player of the year is usually for offensive-minded people who think that when you put the ball in the hole, you should be bestowed the player of the year. She’s the full package. Every single day.”
Boston's parents and aunt as well as the entire South Carolina team were in the audience of the ceremony that also honored AP Coach of the Year Kim Mulkey.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott put in motion abuse investigations into the parents of some transgender kids, child welfare supervisor Randa Mulanax said what happened next strayed from normal protocols.
There was unusual secrecy, with texts and emails discouraged. Allegations about trans kids received elevated status. In Texas, fewer than three in 10 child welfare investigations end with findings that harm likely occurred — classified as “reason to believe” — but the changes looked to Mulanax like these cases would be predetermined from the start.
“It was my understanding that they wanted to be found ‘reason to believe,'” Mulanax told The Associated Press in her first interview since leaving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, where she worked for six years until quitting last month. “That’s why we were having to figure out a way to staff it up and see how we go about it, since it doesn’t match our policy right now."
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As early as Friday, the Texas Supreme Court could decide whether the state can resume at least nine investigations into the parents of transgender children. They are the first to fall on the radar of child welfare authorities since Texas' Republican governor in February directed the state to begin handling reports of gender-confirming care for kids as child abuse — the first such order issued in the U.S.
The court fight in Texas comes as Republicans across the country are leaning into policies aimed at transgender Americans, most prominently through bans on transgender athletes on girls sports teams. But Texas is the only state where a GOP governor has greenlighted abuse cases against the parents of transgender children, which several current and departing Texas child welfare workers say was rushed into action and has sunk already low morale at their troubled state agency even deeper.
It is unclear how many Texas child welfare investigators — who are tasked with carrying out Abbott's directive — have quit in protest. Mulanax is one of at least two state Child Protective Services workers who are leaving and added their names this week to a court brief that urged Texas' justices to keep the investigations sidelined. Five other investigators who remain at the agency also signed on.
Abbott's instructions to Texas child welfare officials takes aim at treatments for children that include puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, declined comment Thursday, citing the ongoing lawsuit.
“We’re being so closely monitored on those type of cases that you wouldn’t be able to just say, ‘Oh, nothing to see,’" said Shelby McCowen, a child welfare investigator who called the directive the ‘last straw’ and is quitting after less than a year at the agency.
Texas completed more than 157,000 child welfare investigations in the last fiscal year, according to state data. McCowen said the cases involving parents of transgender families were drawing the same attention as child death investigations, and like Mulanax, said instructions were given not to discuss the cases through state emails or phones — only on personal devices, or face-to-face.
The cases were to be referred to as “special assignments” rather than using a case name or number, according to McCowen. She said upper managers told investigators a survey would be sent out internally to address questions about the directive, but none ever arrived.
“I don’t know how many times they go into the cases, but we’re told that if we get one of these cases, the documentation has to be almost instant because it’s being monitored," she said.
Abbott’s directive goes against the nation’s largest medical groups, including the American Medical Association, which have opposed Republican-backed restrictions filed in statehouses nationwide. On Thursday, President Joe Biden marked Transgender Day of Visibility by denouncing such legislation, saying “the onslaught of anti-transgender state laws attacking you and your families is simply wrong.”
In pressing that the investigations in Texas be allowed to continue, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office wrote that “if DFPS cannot investigate possible child abuse, children may be harmed — perhaps irreversibly — in the interim.”
Mulanax said if the investigations were to resume, she considers it unlikely that any children would be removed from their homes around Texas' biggest cities, which are controlled by Democrats and where some county officials have already said they would reject such cases.
But in the event of a finding of harm, Mulanax said, putting in place what are usually other safety plans don't make sense to her either. She said those options typically include required parental supervision or services such as therapy, which Mulanax said some of the families might already be doing.
“It was just a complete betrayal of the department,” she said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/labor-groups-close-in-on-amazon-in-two-tight-union-elections/article_714bb7f8-7904-5e13-a857-a550b183de9f.html
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NEW YORK (AP) — Labor organizers always knew it would be tough to convince Amazon workers to unionize. But a surprisingly strong early showing in a New York election and a still-uncertain outcome in an Alabama election are giving them hope.
In Staten Island, New York, 1,518 warehouse workers have so far voted “yes” to forming a union while 1,154 have voted “no,” according to an early tally Thursday evening by the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing both elections. Ballots will continue to be counted Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, appear to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days.
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If a majority of Amazon workers ultimately votes yes in either Staten Island or Bessemer, it would mark the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the company’s history. Organizers have faced an uphill battle against the nation’s second-largest private employer, which is making every effort to keep unions out.
John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said the early vote counts in New York have been “shocking.” The nascent Amazon Labor Union, which is leading the charge on Staten Island, has no backing from an established union and is powered by former and current warehouse workers.
“I don’t think that many people thought that the Amazon Labor Union had much of a chance of winning at all,” Logan said. “And I think we’re likely to see more of those (approaches) going forward.”
After a crushing defeat last year in Bessemer, when a majority of workers voted against forming a union, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union got a second chance to organize another campaign when the NLRB ordered a do-over after determining that Amazon tainted the first election.
Though RWDSU is currently lagging in the latest election, Logan said the early results were still remarkable because the union has made a good effort narrowing its margin from last year.
Stuart Appelbaum, president of the RWDSU, said on Thursday that the union would be filing objections to how Amazon handled the election in Bessemer but declined to specify. He also took the opportunity to lash out at current labor laws, which he believes are rigged against unions and favor corporations.
“It should not be so difficult to organize a union in the United States," he said.
Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who has been leading the ALU in its fight on Staten Island, remains hopeful of victory.
“To be leading in Day One and be up a couple hundred against a trillion dollar company, this is the best feeling in the world,” Smalls said after the conclusion of Thursday’s counting.
While Smalls’ attention has been focused on securing victory in New York, the efforts in Alabama also weighed heavily.
“I’m not too sure what’s going in Alabama right now, but I know that the sky’s the limit if you can organize any warehouse,” he said, noting that the vote in Alabama could well end up differently. “I hope that they’re successful. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but we know we show our support and solidarity with them.”
Amazon has pushed back hard in the lead-up to both elections. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial U.S. Postal Service mailbox that was key in the NLRB’s decision to invalidate last year’s vote.
In a filing released on Thursday, Amazon disclosed it spent about $4.2 million last year on labor consultants, which organizers say the retailer routinely solicits to persuade workers not to unionize. It’s unclear how much it spent on such services in 2022.
Both labor fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them.
The mostly Black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70% Black residents, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $15.80 an hour, higher than the estimated $14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual median household income for Bessemer of $30,284, which could include more than one worker.
The ALU said they don’t have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian.
Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $41 per hour, according to a similar U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Staten Island’s $85,381 median household income.
A spokesperson for Amazon said the company invests in wages and benefits, such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers’ careers.
“As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
—-
Associated Press staff writers Tali Arbel and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A jury has awarded $504,000 to a one-legged San Francisco jail inmate who was taken from his wheelchair and forced to hop to a cell.
The federal jury awarded damages on Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by Vincent Bell against the city.
Bell, 40, was one of six people charged with taking part in the 2012 murder of a man who was beaten and shot. He's accused of providing the gun used by the alleged shooter and is awaiting trial.
Bell, who had one leg surgically removed, was being held at the jail in January 2018 when he was ordered moved to a smaller, padded “safety cell" because a guard said he had cursed her and was dangerous.
Guards said Bell resisted and put pads on his cell door to block them from entering. But a federal judge who refused to dismiss his suit last year said a video showed him waiting quietly in his wheelchair when they arrived, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
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Bell was taken out of his wheelchair, handcuffed and told to hop to the cell 64 feet (19.5 meters) away. He fell on the way and was carried face-down to the cell, where he was stripped and held for 20 hours, the judge said.
The jury found that a guard, sheriff's Sgt. Yvette Williams, used excessive force and that the Sheriff's Office violated Bell's rights under federal disability laws by failing to properly train its staff.
The verdict should send the city “a very clear message ... that it must accommodate persons with disabilities and that deputies do not get to supplant their personal judgment for the judgment of medical professionals in the jail,” EmilyRose Johns, a lawyer for Bell, told the Chronicle on Thursday.
The city attorney's office remains “adamant that the sheriff's deputies acted reasonably and appropriately when placing and transporting" Bell, who had a history of hiding weapons in his wheelchair, spokesperson Jen Kwart said.
Bell was charged in connection with the December 2012 death of Stephen Reid, 26, who had recently arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area from Georgia.
Prosecutors said Bell, another man and two women stormed into a home on San Bruno Avenue and beat, gagged and hog-tied Reid and an 18-year-old woman, then put them in an SUV where Reid was shot before dumping both on a street. Reid died at a hospital. Authorities say the victims knew their alleged attackers.
Four people pleaded guilty to various charges in the case. The alleged shooter, Montrail Brackens of Oakland, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/pennsylvania-policeman-killed-2-officers-hurt-in-shooting/article_9936515a-e8e9-5170-8793-c5f2a18acd40.html
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LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania police officer was killed and two officers were injured Thursday during a shooting while responding to a domestic disturbance, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said.
Police went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. for the disturbance call. Nearly an hour later gunfire broke out and officers radioed they were hit, Capello said at a brief news conference.
All three Lebanon City Police Department officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second was in critical condition, but stable, and a third was in stable condition, Capello said.
“This is an extremely difficult moment for everyone,” Capello said.
The suspect, a 34-year-old man from Lebanon, was killed in the shooting, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said.
“As one can imagine, it's clearly a traumatic event,” Breiner said. “Our guys are strong, but we're human and we have families.”
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Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw “cop car after cop car flying down the street.”
“Then we heard something and weren’t sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min,” Gonzalez said in a text message.
The slain officer's name is being withheld pending notification of extended family members.
Police did not release further details.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/another-solid-month-of-us-hiring-expected-despite-obstacles/article_5f84c9c7-76a6-5181-a652-04a007cf8efe.html
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Defying a pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the U.S. economy has cranked out more than 400,000 jobs every month for nearly a year — a blazing winning streak in wildly uncertain times.
And despite surging inflation, the hiring wave likely continued last month in the face of yet another jolt: Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has unsettled the economic outlook and catapulted gasoline prices to painful levels.
Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet expect the Labor Department’s jobs report for March to show that employers added 478,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate dipped from 3.8% to 3.7%. That would mark the lowest unemployment rate since just before the pandemic struck two years ago, when joblessness reached a 50-year low of 3.5%.
The government will issue the March jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday.
“With the war in Ukraine, economic uncertainty rising and surging energy prices, we may see a modest slowdown in hiring in March,’’ said Daniel Zhao, senior economist at the jobs website Glassdoor. “However, employer demand remains strong, which should sustain a healthy level of hiring.''
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The booming U.S. job market reflects a robust rebound from the brief but devastating coronavirus recession, which wiped out 22 million jobs in March and April 2020 as businesses shut down or cut hours and Americans stayed home to avoid infection.
But the recovery has been swift. Fueled by generous federal aid, savings amassed during the pandemic and ultra-low borrowing rates engineered by the Federal Reserve, U.S. consumers have spent so fast that many factories, warehouses, shipping companies and ports have failed to keep pace with their customer demand. Supply chains have snarled, forcing up prices.
As the pandemic has eased, consumers have been broadening their spending beyond goods to services, such as health care, travel and entertainment, which they had long avoided during the worst of the pandemic. The result: Inflation is running at 40-year highs, causing hardships for many lower-income households that face sharp increases for such necessities as food, gasoline and rent.
It’s unclear whether the economy can maintain its momentum of the past year. The government relief checks are gone. The Fed raised its benchmark short-term interest rate two weeks ago and will likely keep raising it well into next year. Those rate hikes will result in more expensive loans for many consumers and businesses.
Inflation has also eroded consumers’ spending power: Hourly pay, adjusted for higher consumer prices, fell 2.6% in February from a year earlier — the 11th straight month in which inflation has outpaced year-over-year wage growth. According to AAA, average gasoline prices, at $4.23 a gallon, are up a dizzying 47% from a year ago.
Squeezed by inflation, some consumers are paring their spending. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that consumer spending rose just 0.2%% in February — and fell 0.4% when adjusted for inflation — down from a 2.7% increase in January.
Still, the job market has kept hurtling ahead. Employers posted a near-record 11.3 million positions in February. Nearly 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs, a sign of confidence that they could find something better.
“We’re still seeing a very tight labor market,’’ said Karen Fichuk, CEO of the staffing company Randstad North America, who noted that the United States now has a record 1.7 job openings for every unemployed person.
Even so, so many jobs were lost in 2020 that the economy still remains more than 2 million shy of the number it had just before the pandemic struck. Over the past year, employers have added an average of 556,000 jobs a month. At that pace — no guarantee to continue — the nation would recover all the jobs lost to the pandemic by June. (That still wouldn't include all the additional hiring that would have been done over the past two years under normal circumstances.)
Brighter job prospects are beginning to draw back into the labor force people who had remained on the sidelines because of health concerns, difficulty finding or affording daycare, generous unemployment benefits that have now expired or other reasons.
Over the past year, 3.6 million people have joined the U.S. labor force, meaning they now either have a job or are looking for one. But their ranks are still nearly 600,000 short of where they stood in February 2020, just before the pandemic slammed into the economy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/african-refugees-see-racial-bias-as-us-welcomes-ukrainians/article_fc874cbd-322c-5771-9b03-985aaa8d6420.html
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Wilfred Tebah doesn’t begrudge the U.S. for swiftly granting humanitarian protections to Ukrainians escaping Russia’s devastating invasion of their homeland.
But the 27-year-old, who fled Cameroon during its ongoing conflict, can’t help but wonder what would happen if the millions fleeing that Eastern Europe nation were a different hue.
As the U.S. prepares to welcome tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war, the country continues to deport scores of African and Caribbean refugees back to unstable and violent homelands where they’ve faced rape, torture, arbitrary arrest and other abuses.
“They do not care about a Black man,” the Columbus, Ohio, resident said, referring to U.S. politicians. “The difference is really clear. They know what is happening over there, and they have decided to close their eyes and ears.”
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Tebah's concerns echo protests against the swift expulsions of Haitian refugees crossing the border this summer without a chance to seek asylum, not to mention the frosty reception African and Middle Eastern refugees have faced in western Europe compared with how those nations have enthusiastically embraced displaced Ukrainians.
In March, when President Joe Biden made a series of announcements welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, granting Temporary Protected Status to another 30,000 already in the U.S. and halting Ukrainian deportations, two Democratic lawmakers seized on the moment to call for similar humanitarian considerations for Haitians.
“There is every reason to extend the same level of compassion,” U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, and Mondaire Jones, of New York, wrote to the administration, noting more than 20,000 Haitians have been deported despite continued instability after the assassination of Haiti’s president and a powerful earthquake this summer.
Cameroonian advocates have similarly ratcheted up their calls for humanitarian relief, protesting in front of the Washington residence of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the offices of leading members of Congress this month.
Their calls come as hundreds of thousands in Cameroon have been displaced in recent years by the country’s civil war between its French-speaking government and English-speaking separatists, attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram and other regional conflicts.
The advocacy group Human Rights Watch, in a February report, found many Cameroonians deported from the U.S. suffered persecution and human rights violations upon returning there.
Tebah, who is a leading member of the Cameroon American Council, an advocacy group organizing protests this month, said that’s a fate he hopes to avoid.
Hailing from the country’s English-speaking northwest, he said he was branded a separatist and apprehended by the government because of his activism as a college student. Tebah said he managed to escape, as many Cameroonians have, by flying to Latin America, trekking overland to the U.S.-Mexico border and petitioning for asylum in 2019.
“I will be held in prison, tortured and even killed if I am deported,” he said. "I’m very scared. As a human, my life matters too.”
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TPS and other humanitarian programs, declined to respond to the complaints of racism in American immigration policy. It also declined to say whether it was weighing granting TPS to Cameroonians or other African nationals, saying in a written statement only that it will “continue to monitor conditions in various countries.”
The agency noted, however, that it has recently issued TPS designations for Haiti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan — all African or Caribbean nations — as well as to more than 75,000 Afghans living in the U.S. after the Taliban takeover of that Central Asian nation. Haitians are among the largest and longest-tenured beneficiaries of TPS, with more than 40,000 currently on the status.
Other TPS countries include Burma, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, and the majority of the nearly 320,000 immigrants with Temporary Protected Status hail from El Salvador.
Lisa Parisio, who helped launch Catholics Against Racism in Immigration, argues the program could easily help protect millions more refugees fleeing danger but has historically been underused and over-politicized.
TPS, which provides a work permit and staves off deportation for up to 18 months, doesn’t have limits for how many countries or people can be placed on it, said Parisio, who is the advocacy director for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.
Yet former President Donald Trump, in his broader efforts to restrict immigration, pared down TPS, allowing designations for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa to expire.
Although programs like TPS provide critical protections for vulnerable refugees, they can also leave many in legal limbo for years without providing a pathway to citizenship, said Karla Morales, a 24-year-old from El Salvador who has been on TPS nearly her whole life.
“It’s absurd to consider 20 years in this country temporary,” the University of Massachusetts Boston nursing student said. “We need validation that the work we’ve put in is appreciated and that our lives have value.”
At least in the case of Ukraine, Biden appears motivated by broader foreign policy goals in Europe, rather than racial bias, suggests María Cristina García, a history professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, focused on refugees and immigrants.
But Tom Wong, founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego, said the racial disparities couldn’t be clearer.
“The U.S. has responded without hesitation by extending humanitarian protections to predominately white and European refugees,” he said. “All the while, predominately people of color from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia continue to languish.”
Besides Cameroon, immigrant advocates also argue that Congo and Ethiopia should qualify for humanitarian relief because of their ongoing conflicts, as should Mauritania, since slavery is still practiced there.
And they complain Ukrainian asylum seekers are being exempted from asylum limits meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while those from other nations are being turned away.
“Black pain and Black suffering do not get the same attention,” says Sylvie Bello, founder of the D.C.-based Cameroon American Council. “The same anti-Blackness that permeates American life also permeates American immigration policy.”
Vera Arnot, a Ukrainian in Boston who is considering seeking TPS, says she didn’t know much about the special status until the war started and wasn’t aware of the concerns from immigrants of color. But the Berklee College of Music sophomore hopes the relief can be extended to other deserving nations.
Arnot says TPS could help her seek an off-campus job with better pay so she doesn’t have to rely on her family’s support, as most in Ukraine have lost their jobs due to the war.
“Ukrainians as a people aren’t used to relying on others,” she said. “We want to work. We don’t want welfare.”
For Tebah, who is staying with relatives in Ohio, TPS would make it easier for him to open a bank account, get a driver’s license and seek better employment while he awaits a decision on his asylum case.
“We’ll continue to beg, to plead," Tebah said. “We are in danger. I want to emphasize it. And only TPS for Cameroon will help us be taken out of that danger. It is very necessary.”
Associated Press video journalist Patrick Orsagos in Columbus, Ohio contributed to this story.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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March 24 – March 31, 2022
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was curated by AP Photojournalist Ramon Espinosa in Havana, Cuba.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/cynthia-ann-cindy-harmon/article_a01eee0f-683c-5ef7-8a64-934601a02a4d.html
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May 11, 1949-March 30, 2022
Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Harmon, 72, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at home with her daughters by her side.
She was born May 11, 1949, in Waterloo, the daughter of Marshall C. and Evelyn N. (DuVal) Harmon.
Cindy graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1967 and then attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega.
In October of 1969, her career path was set when she became a flight attendant for United Airlines. She retired in 2003 after 34 years of work flying all over the world. During this time, she made lifelong friends, had countless adventures and had several side businesses over the years including Creative Circle and her jewelry business.
In 1971, Cindy married Bob Kayser and they had two daughters together. They later divorced. She married Dennis Johnson in 1994 and they later divorced.
Cindy devoted her life to the service of others with an entrepreneurial spirit. Cindy even donated a kidney to her brother, Skip, in the early 90’s. She was a proud member and past president of the P.E.O. Chapter KL in Cedar Falls and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, serving in many roles including Sunday School teacher, wedding coordinator, Vacation Bible School, and various other committees.
She had a passion for traveling. Cindy absolutely loved spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren.
Survived by her daughters, Cori (John) Sauer of Cypress, TX and Jessica (Jake) Nauholz of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, Gillian, Andrew, and Sydney Sauer, Clare and Jacob Williams, and Gracie and Nora Nauholz; brother, Jay Harmon of Naples, FL; sister-in-law, Marian Harmon of Geneva, IL; special family friends, Sandy and Mike Lewis and their children, Emma, Olivia, and Ian; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents; brother, Marshall “Skip” Harmon; and sister-in-law, Karolyn “Dee” Harmon.
Memorials may be directed to P.E.O STAR Scholarship Fund or to Cedar Valley Hospice.
Visitation: 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at Locke on 4th Street (1519 W. 4th Street in Waterloo)
Services: 10:30 am on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Westminster Presbyterian Church
Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery
Online condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralServices.com
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Dawn Murdock, 57, of Aplington, died Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at MercyOne Cedar Falls. Arrangements: Richardson Funeral Service.
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Dawn Murdock, 57, of Aplington, died Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at MercyOne Cedar Falls. Arrangements: Richardson Funeral Service.
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February 7, 1927-March 30, 2022
WATERLOO-J. Elizabeth “Liz” Porter, 95, of Waterloo, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 30, at home. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Rivers Edge Church with inurnment later in Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 4, and for an hour before services on Tuesday, all at the church. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is assisting the family. Condolences may be left with www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.
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March 30, 2022
CLARKSVILLE-Judith Chester, 77, of rural Clarksville, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Unity Point Health-Allen in Waterloo.
Funeral services will be on Monday, April 4, 2022, at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church – Western Douglas with Pastor Kim Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Lawn Cemetery in Plainfield. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly. Memorials can be directed to the Chester family and online condolences for Judy may be left at www.kaisercorson.com.
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https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/ask-amy-friendship-falters-on-anti-vaxx-posts/article_3eb06ee6-d7f4-57ef-a3bb-40bd6019856d.html
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Dear Amy: I met “Shari” through other friends. We got along well, and always had a great time. I thought we had an amazing bond.
However, once the pandemic hit, I started to see a different side of her.
She is very anti-vaxx and has refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the pandemic. She has ramped up the anti-vaxx posts on social media.
I did send her a message about one post, stating that it wasn’t true, and she sent a tirade back at me, rehashing a number of points about COVID-19 and the vaccine that are all untrue.
I don’t make friends easily. I have serious trust issues, but I don’t see being able to maintain a friendship with someone who is so diametrically opposed to my values and views.
I am willing to accept her being against vaccinations, but she is posting pure falsehoods, and is argumentative when called out with facts, stating that anyone who disagrees with her or counters her arguments is brainwashed by the government and media.
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I keep thinking that once we get past the pandemic, maybe things will be better.
I try not to bring it up, but when I see some of the posts, and when we are together with other friends, it comes up.
I put my head down and keep quiet, but this is eating me up.
My challenge is — how do I end the friendship? I am afraid to end it, as we are part of a group of friends, and if I need to pull my friendship away from her, I will lose those friends, who are my only friends right now.
But I wonder if being alone would be better than this.
– Stuck
Dear Stuck: You see this as an “all or nothing” situation, where because of this person’s behavior, all of your other friendships are at risk, but she is not in charge of your other relationships. You are.
You should completely disengage from her on social media. She is not reasonable and does not want to engage in an exchange of ideas, so remove your access to her on this platform. Quietly “hide,” “block,” or “unfriend.”
Change the channel.
There is no need to abruptly end the friendship by declaring it to be over.
You simply need to back away from the relationship. Detach from her.
Don’t gossip about her with others. If she asks you why you are distant, you can truthfully tell her that you’ve become exhausted by her declarations and tirades, which run counter to your own values.
Dear Amy: My mother-in-law is a smoker. Her own house is permeated with the smell of cigarettes. Even though I don’t like it, I can handle this when we’re visiting.
I know it is her house and she has the right to do what she wants when she’s at home, but I cannot stand it when she lights up at our place.
We have a balcony, and I am fine with her smoking on the balcony if she wants to, but – please – not in our townhouse.
My husband doesn’t want to say anything to her, but I do.
Do you have any ideas?
– Puffed-Out
Dear Puffed-Out: Smoking anywhere indoors has become so rare that at this point it is almost taboo.
Many rental units and condo associations ban smoking – even inside units – because of the risks associated with second-hand smoke. You should check to see if there are any rules within your townhouse development, and if even smoking on a balcony is permitted (balconies are sometimes considered “common areas”).
If smoking is banned inside units where you live, you should notify your mother-in-law.
Otherwise, even if your husband won’t say anything to his mother, you should.
Keep your tone neutral, and simply say: “I hope you won’t mind standing outside to smoke.”
If she says, “Why yes, I do mind,” you’ll have to say – “Well, smoke really bothers me, so I’d appreciate it if you could do that for me.”
Dear Amy: The writer signing her question: “Just Say: Get Well Soon!” said she had shared the fact that she was getting surgery on Facebook, but she didn’t like the fact that one friend queried her about the details.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious: When you post personal news on social media, you don’t get to control how people respond!
– Aggravated
Dear Aggravated: My own life without a personal Facebook presence (I maintain a professional page) has been a little less colorful, but a lot less aggravating.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.
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Weekly honors continue rolling in for the UNI softball team.
Freshman shortstop Kylee Sanders earned Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after posting a big weekend on the road against Evansville.
Her best effort came in the first game of the series, an 8-2 Panthers win. Sanders put up a strong performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the first contest of the weekend.
Sanders finished the weekend with five hits in 11 at-bats, four RBIs and three runs.
Sanders joins fellow freshman Mya Dodge (twice) as the only two Panthers to receive Newcomer of the Week honors this season.
Softball prepares for conference home opener: The conference leading Panthers return to Cedar Falls to host the second ranked Missouri State Lady Bears this weekend.
The three-game series marks the first contests at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex this season and first home games for UNI since the UNI-Dome Classic, which took place Feb. 12-13.
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UNI head softball coach Ryan Jacobs said he is not sure how his team will respond to playing at home for the first time in over six weeks. However, he did add that the home opening weekend usually motivates his squads.
“I always look forward to this weekend,” Jacobs said. “Every year you just do not know how they are going to respond. Traditionally, every team we have had, when we get at home, it is another energy shot for us, but we have not done it with this group yet.”
The Panthers and Lady Bears will matchup in a double-header on Saturday, April 2 with the first game starting at 1:30 p.m. The series wraps up on Sunday, April 3 with one game at 12 p.m. All three games will be available on ESPN3.
Bermel snags top-15 finish at Daughtery Invite: UNI women’s golfer Hannah Bermel secured her second top 20 finish of the season at the Diane Daughtery Invite in St. Charles, Missouri.
In her first two rounds of action on Monday, the Cedar Falls native recorded scores of 77 and 78 to position her in a tie for ninth place heading into the final 18 holes.
On Tuesday, she fell just two strokes shy of remaining in the top 10 as she finished in 15th with a score of 80. Bermel recorded a three-round total of 235 strokes.
As a team, the Panthers came in 15th place.
UNI Soccer cancels first home game
A combination of weather and field conditions caused the first home game of the UNI women’s spring soccer season to be cancelled according to a press release from the university.
Set to take on Missouri Western State on Friday at 3 p.m., the Panthers will now start their season Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in the UNI-Dome.
In the spring season, UNI will host four opponents in Cedar Falls during the month of April and travel to Minneapolis for a matchup against North Dakota State.
UNI Volleyball starts spring season against Cyclones
The UNI volleyball team begins its 11-game spring season at the Iowa State Spring Tournament in Ames on Saturday, April 2.
The Panthers will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at 10 a.m. and the Iowa State Cyclones at 11:15 a.m. before wrapping up the tournament against Drake at 1:30 p.m.
All three games are open to the public and will take place at the Hilton Coliseum.
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is bringing sales of recreational marijuana to the doorstep of Texas, the largest prohibition state, as the movement toward broad legalization sweeps up even more of the American West.
As of midnight Friday in New Mexico, anyone 21 and older can purchase up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana — enough to roll about 60 joints or cigarettes — or comparable amounts of marijuana liquid concentrates and edible treats.
New Mexico has nurtured a medical marijuana program since 2007 under tight restrictions. Friday's changes still represent a sea change for local law enforcement, taxation officials, commercial growers and residents who thought full-blown legal access to pot would never come.
Across the state, would-be marijuana farmers are bidding for water rights and learning to raise their first cannabis crops, as experienced medical cannabis producers ramp up production and add new retail showrooms.
New Mexico is among 18 states that have legalized pot for recreational use, with implications for cannabis tourism and conservative Texas, where legalization efforts have made little headway.
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In Clovis, New Mexico, a high plains town of about 40,000 residents less than 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Texas, Earl Henson and two business partners have pooled resources to convert a former gun shop and shooting range into a cannabis store and companion growing room at a Main Street address.
“I can't explain how happy I am,” said Henson, a former real estate agent who says his affection for marijuana was a burden in the past. This week, he began harvesting the first crop for a cannabis store titled Earl and Tom's. “I think these cities that are near Texas, for the next two years it is going to change their economies.”
In the state capital of Santa Fe, marijuana is going on sale across the street from the city's newly built visitors center on a block lined with galleries, clothing boutiques and restaurants.
LeRoy Roybal, manager of Minerva Canna's downtown cannabis store, said he hopes the stigma of cannabis use quickly fades.
“I think we're liberating a lot of hearts and souls," he said. “It's going to be like getting a cup of joe at Starbucks."
Supportive lawmakers hope that broad legalizing of marijuana will stamp out black markets, boost employment and provide stable new sources of government income.
Consumers initially will rely heavily on supplies from 35 legacy marijuana businesses that took root over the past 15 years. Cannabis regulators have issued more than 230 new marijuana business licenses so far — to growers, retailers and manufacturing facilities for extracts and edibles.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday said that broad marijuana legalization responds to popular demands and is generating small business opportunities.
“This is what consumers want,” said Lujan Grisham, up for reelection in November. “We have the potential for 11,000 more workers, jobs in places where young people can work and stay, like Torrance County and Texico and Tucumcari and Raton.”
Local governments can’t ban cannabis businesses entirely, though they can restrict locations and hours of operation. Public consumption is prohibited under threat of a $50 fine for first-time infractions.
New business licenses for cannabis cafes or lounges haven’t been requested yet — leaving people to indulge in their homes or designated hotels, casinos and cigar shops.
In southern New Mexico, Mayor Javier Perea of Sunland Park says marijuana retailers can set up anywhere across the small city flanked by the Rio Grande and fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico.
He said about 30 marijuana business have sought authorization in the city of just 17,000 residents, banking on tourism from nearby El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.
Perea hopes the industry creates economic opportunity and tax income to bolster city services. Local governments will receive a minority share of the state's 12% excise tax on recreational marijuana sales, along with a share of additional sales taxes. Medical cannabis remains tax-free.
“The one thing that we are going to struggle with is we are going to run out of buildings" for new businesses, he said.
Legal experts warn that people who purchase cannabis in New Mexico and chose to return home to other states could risk criminal penalties, arrest and incarceration — most notably in Texas.
Paul Armento, deputy director of the drug policy group NORML, said Texas is among the leading states for marijuana-possession arrests, and that possession of marijuana concentrates, which are legal in New Mexico, is punishable in Texas by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Marijuana also remains illegal under federal law to possess, use or sell — a standard that applies across vast tracks of federal land and Indian Country in New Mexico.
New Mexico’s cannabis industry, still reliant on cash to avoid running afoul of federal law, is gaining access to banking services through an alternative certification system for credit unions and banks supported by state attorneys general.
The state also plans to underwrite $5 million in low-interest loans to small cannabis businesses that can't access traditional credit.
Lawmakers in New Mexico have sought to reverse harm inflicted by marijuana criminalization on minority communities and poor households by automatically dismissing or erasing past cannabis convictions, encouraging social and economic diversity in employment and reducing financial barriers for startup businesses.
The state's micro-business license to cultivate up to 200 plants for a flat $1,000 fee is attracting first-time commercial growers such as recently retired U.S. Marine Kyle Masterson and wife Ivy, a Hispanic Army veteran with business consulting experience. They are raising three children and making a mid-life career shift into cannabis.
The Mastersons, residents of suburban Rio Rancho, searched more remote areas for an affordable building to cultivate high-grade marijuana under lights, settling on a vacant former movie theater in tiny Cuba, New Mexico, at the base of the Jemez Mountains.
“It felt right, it felt good and out of a vision of what we could do,” said Kyle, who served in four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. “We're used to working out of austere environments without much direction and doing our best.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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DENVER (AP) — A federal jury’s $14 million award to Denver protesters hit with pepper balls and a bag filled with lead during 2020 demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis could resonate nationwide as courts weigh more than two dozen similar lawsuits.
The jury found police used excessive force against protesters, violating their constitutional rights, and ordered the city of Denver to pay 12 who sued.
Nationwide, there are at least 29 pending lawsuits challenging law enforcement use of force during the 2020 protests, according to a search of the University of Michigan’s Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse.
The verdict in Denver could give cities an incentive to settle similar cases rather than risk going to trial and losing, said Michael J. Steinberg, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. It could also prompt more protesters to sue over their treatment at the hands of police.
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“There’s no doubt that the large jury verdict in Denver will influence the outcome of pending police misconduct cases brought by Black Lives Matter protesters across the country,” said Steinberg, whose law students have been working on a similar lawsuit brought by protesters in Detroit.
Lawyers for the claimants argued that police used indiscriminate force against the nonviolent protesters, including some who were filming the demonstrations, because officers did not like their message critical of law enforcement.
“To the protest of police violence they responded with brutality,” one of their attorneys, Timothy Macdonald, told jurors.
People who took part in the protests have already made similar allegations in lawsuits filed across the country.
In Washington, DC, activists and civil liberties groups sued over the forcible removal of protesters before then-President Donald Trump walked to a church near the White House for a photo op. The claims against federal officials were dismissed last year but a judge allowed the case against local police to continue.
Several lawsuits alleging protesters were wrongfully arrested or that police used excessive force have been filed against New York City and its police department, including one brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James that claims police used excessive force and wrongfully arrested protesters. In Rochester, New York, people who protested the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who lost consciousness after being pinned to the street by officers during a mental health call in 2020, claim police used extreme force against them in a lawsuit that also alleges city officials have allowed a culture of police brutality against racial minorities to fester.
One of their attorneys, Donald Thompson, said he plans to raise the Denver award in settlement talks with the city and note that unlike most of the Denver protesters, some of his clients suffered lasting injuries including the loss of an eye and scarring from being hit in the face with a tear gas canister. Thompson also thinks the Denver verdict shows that the public, in the age of cellphone and body camera videos, is not as willing to give police the benefit of the doubt anymore.
"Now people see how this policing really works. You can’t be naïve,” he said.
A spokesperson for Rochester did not return a call and an email seeking comment. When the case was filed, the city said it had already revised the way police responds to protests.
Over the last two months, the city of Austin, Texas has agreed to pay a total of $13 million to four people who were hit in the head with bean bag rounds fired by police.
Even before the Denver ruling last week, the police department made some changes in response to criticism that arose from the protests, including eliminating the use of 40mm foam rounds for crowd control and changing the way officers are permitted to use pepper balls.
Denver’s Department of Public Safety, which includes the police department, said in a statement that the city was not prepared for the level of sustained violence and destruction. During the trial, lawyers and witnesses said over 80 officers were injured as some in the crowds hurled rocks, water bottles and canned food at them.
The department said it continues to evaluate its policies to “better protect peaceful protestors while addressing those who are only there to engage in violence.”
Still, the large award is not expected to lead to an overhaul of how officers respond to what experts say are inherently chaotic situations that are difficult to prepare for.
Ed Obayashi, a use-of-force consultant to law enforcement agencies and a deputy sheriff and legal adviser in Plumas County, California, said society may have to bear the cost of such settlements because innocent people can be injured during protests as outnumbered police try to react on the fly, including to people intent on violence.
“It really goes south in an instant because there are individuals out there who want to cause chaos,” he said.
Obayashi said there is not much police training for protests, which have been relatively rare. He said it would be prohibitively expensive to have officers practice deploying equipment such as tear gas canisters. Because projectiles used in crowds and considered “less lethal” by police, such as rubber bullets and pepper balls, have less velocity and less power to hurt people, it is harder to ensure they hit their intended target, he said.
Lawyers representing people who have also alleged police misconduct and violation of their constitutional right to protest can now use the Denver damage award as part of their own settlement negotiations, said Mark Silverstein, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented some of the winning Denver protesters.
The decision came nearly two years after thousands of people angry about Floyd’s death took the streets nationwide, a relatively quick result for the legal system and soon enough for others who allege misconduct by police to file a claim. In Colorado and many other states, there is a two-year statute of limitations for such lawsuits Silverstein said, leaving only a few months for others to sue.
The city attorney’s office said it has not decided whether to appeal the verdict, but appeals in such big cases are common, said Gloria Browne-Marshall, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Outside lawyers will also scrutinize the case to try to determine if there are unique circumstances that may have led to a “lightning in a bottle” verdict that is less likely to be repeated.
However, she thinks the verdict sends a significant message that regular people respect the right of protest and demand change from the government, which she believes police and prosecutors have been undermining.
"It should send a message to both, but whether or not they listen is a different issue,” Browne-Marshall said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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MARCH 25 – 31, 2022
The war in Ukraine continued to dominate coverage, from refugees arriving in Poland to a private zoo being evacuated in Yasnohorodka; this photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa.
The selection was curated by AP photographer Ben Curtis in Nairobi.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has fostered close ties with Russia and refused to impose sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, is expected to extend his almost 10-year grip on power in the Balkan country when it holds national elections on Sunday.
Polls predict that Vucic, a populist who has boasted about his personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will win another five-year term as president. His right-wing Serbian Progressive Party also is expected to continue to dominate the country's parliament.
But polls indicated a close local government race in the capital, Belgrade. A loss for Vucic's party there could undermine his increasingly autocratic rule.
Most political parties taking part in the presidential, general and municipal elections lean right, reflecting the conservative stands prevalent among Serbia's 6.5 million voters. But a new Green-left coalition campaigning on the need to tackle long-neglected environmental problems also is fielding candidates.
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Opposition party officials say Russia's war in Ukraine has only strengthened Vucic’s dominance of Serbian politics and the mainstream media. Soon after Russian tanks entered Ukraine, the president's election slogan changed to “Peace. Stability. Vucic.”
“The war has diverted public attention from what is happening in Serbia and of course, with media support, enabled Vucic to blame the crisis for everything that is wrong in Serbia,” Dragan Djilas, a leader of the biggest opposition coalition United Serbia, said in an interview.
“Articles are published here every day about how a kilogram of bread costs 9 euros in Italy and Germany, how they have no fuel, how they will have food stamps and how great we are,” Djilas said. “People are scared, and it always suits the authorities because people say, ‘Let’s not change anything now.’"
Serbia, a traditional Russian ally, has rejected calls from the European Union and the United States to join in sanctions against Moscow, citing national interests. The country's representative to the United Nations did vote in favor of a resolution condemning Moscow’s attack on Ukraine as a violation of international law.
Despite the Serbian government saying it is seeking EU membership, Vucic and his allies have refrained from condemning Russia over the invasion, a possible sign they want to avoid alienating pro-Russia voters ahead of Sunday’s election.
Much of the pro-Russia sentiments among Serbs comes from their hatred of NATO; the Western military alliance bombed the country in 1999 to stop a bloody Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians seeking independence for Kosovo, a Serbian province at the time.
Former Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that imposing sanctions on Russia would be tantamount to “political suicide” because Moscow has blocked U.N. membership for Kosovo which declared independence in 2008.
“If we are ready to give up Kosovo, then we can impose sanctions on Russia,” Dacic said. “But if we are not ready, then we cannot.”
Thousands of people in Serbia have turned out for pro-Putin rallies during the five-week invasion, waving Russian flags and displaying the letter Z - a symbol seen on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine. The support for Moscow makes Serbia somewhat of an outlier in Europe.
Opposition officials said that despite Vucic’s almost full control of the media and the pro-Russian narrative that has been created leading up to the elections, they expect a good result on Sunday.
“As far as we are concerned, the situation in Ukraine was very clear. It is about Russian aggression, and we immediately condemned it,” Dobrica Veselinovic, who is running for mayor of Belgrade as the candidate of the environmentalist We Must coalition.
Election polls predict Vucic will win the presidential election outright on Sunday. If he does not receive more that 50% of the vote, he would face an unpredictable runoff in two weeks, likely against opposition candidate Zdravko Ponos, a Western-educated former army general.
The election for National Assembly lawmakers was not scheduled until 2024, but Vucic called an early vote after criticism from the EU that Serbia's 2020 election had not been free and fair. The opposition boycotted that election.
“I don't see any difference between these elections and those two years ago," political analyst Slobodan Stupar said. “A parliament will be formed in which Vucic will have fewer lawmakers than now. He will be able to tell Europe, ‘Yes, we are a democratic country. See how many enemies I have in parliament.'"
Associated Press Writer Jovana Gec contributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — An accident in a mine in central Serbia killed at least eight people and wounded 20 Friday, state Serbian television RTS reported.
The accident in the Soko coal mine happened around 5 a.m. (0300 GMT). The RTS report says part of the mine pit collapsed trapping the miners inside.
The head of the medical center in nearby Aleksinac, Rodoljub Zivadinovic, said that 18 people have been hospitalized there, mostly with light injuries.
The TV report said that 49 miners were inside when the accident happened. No more details were immediately available.
The Soko mine, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Belgrade, has been operating since the early 1900s. An accident in the mine in 1998 killed 29 miners.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Mac and cheese is already a pretty perfect food, but sometimes you just feel like gilding the lily. Should you find yourself wanting to up your mac and cheese game, I’m here to tell you that bacon is the answer. This classic mac and cheese is loaded with bacon flavor, thanks to a combination of bacon fat and crispy bacon. It’s stick-to-your-ribs food that’s both comforting and a crowd-pleaser.
What ingredients do I need for bacon mac and cheese?
- Plenty of bacon. Don’t be skimpy! You need twelve ounces to get enough bacon-y flavor. I prefer regular over thick-cut here because the bacon cooks up thin and crispy, which is a nice contrast to the soft, cheesy pasta. And we’re not wasting the precious bacon fat. It serves as the base for the cheese sauce.
- A combination of cheeses. Although cheddar and bacon is a classic combo, using some Monterey Jack in addition to the cheddar keeps the sauce smooth and creamy.
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- The remaining sauce ingredients. You’ll also need milk, flour, mustard powder, and salt to make the sauce.
- Macaroni. And of course, macaroni! Go with the classic shape, or small shells work great too.
How to make bacon mac and cheese from scratch
Start by cooking chopped bacon until it’s nice and crisp while the pasta water comes to a boil. Drain the bacon on paper towels and reserve some of the fat. Cook the macaroni, then use the same pot to make the sauce: Cook the bacon fat with flour and mustard, then add milk and simmer until the mixture starts to thicken. Add all the cheese and stir until it turns into a luscious cheese sauce.
Add the macaroni and half of the bacon to the sauce and cook until bubbling. It will seem like a lot of sauce, but trust me — the macaroni will absorb it, and no one ever complains about too much sauce in mac and cheese. (Plus, all of this sauce means that leftovers will reheat nicely.) When you’re ready to serve, top the mac and cheese with the rest of the bacon for a crispy topping.
What to serve with bacon mac and cheese
This rich dish calls for something green on the side. Go with a salad dressed in a light vinaigrette to counteract all the cheesiness, or some sauteed green beans.
Bacon Mac and Cheese
Serves 6 as a main dish; 8 to 10 as a side dish
- 12 ounces sliced bacon (9 to 12 slices, not thick-cut)
- 1 pound dry elbow macaroni
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard powder
- 5 cups whole or 2% milk
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
1. Bring a large pot or Dutch oven of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, cut 12 ounces sliced bacon crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a large frying pan and use your hands to separate any large clumps of bacon. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, 10 to 14 minutes.
2. Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour 1/3 cup of the bacon fat into a heatproof measuring cup and discard any remaining fat or save for another use.
3. When the water is boiling, add 1 pound dry macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Meanwhile, grate 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese and 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups each).
4. When the pasta is ready, drain. Dry off the pot and add the reserved 1/3 cup bacon fat. Heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard powder and cook, whisking constantly, until fragrant and darkened in color, about 1 minute.
5. While whisking constantly, slowly pour in 5 cups whole or 2% milk. Bring to a full simmer, whisking often. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, whisking frequently, until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the cheeses and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and whisk until melted and smooth.
6. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring often, until heated through and bubbling, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add half of the bacon and stir to combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. (If you’d like a thicker sauce, let sit for 2 to 5 minutes for it to thicken up.) Top with the remaining bacon.
Recipe notes
- The bacon and cheese sauce can be cooked up to two days ahead. Once cooled, refrigerate in separate airtight containers. Rewarm the cheese sauce in the pasta pot before adding the cooked pasta.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to four days.
(Christine Gallary is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)
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Better than new! Situated on a great lot, this beautiful ranch home features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and fantastic upgrades throughout including kitchen appliances and ceiling height cabinetry. Also offering amazing new landscaping with a gas firepit, a piped-in gas line to the grill, and a private backyard, this is one you won't want to miss! Stay Tuned! **This is part of our Coming Soon Program: This property is in a "Delayed Showing" status. The date and time a showing may occur is 4/3/2022**
5 Bedroom Home in Cedar Falls - $515,000
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Owner Donald Elderkin, 80, will comply and has plans to have it demolished April 5 for $5,800.
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Waterloo Schools recently boosted pay for support staff by $2 with another $1 increase in the fall.
CEDAR FALLS – Police are investigating the theft of an ATM from a Cedar Falls bank early Wednesday morning.
A Waterloo woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend
Cedar Falls police recovered two stolen vehicles following chases through the city on Tuesday morning
The owner of Waterloo's casino will fly gamblers and vacationers directly from Waterloo to its casino in Nevada in April.
Police arrested a Waterloo after finding drug and a pistol during a search
A Waterloo man has been arrested in connection with opiate sales
Police are investigating an early morning shooting that sent one person to the hospital
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WATERLOO – Mayors of several cities made their cases this week to the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors in hopes of securing federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for expensive local projects.
On Tuesday morning, the mayors of Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, La Porte City, Gilbertville, Elk Run Heights and Evansdale, and the mayor pro tempore of Raymond described major infrastructure improvements needed in their cities. Each city has received ARPA funds of its own, but the amounts are not nearly enough to cover the essential projects. Black Hawk County received $25.5 million.
“It’s not glamorous, it’s not exciting, but we’re trying to use the funds as reasonably, as prudently as possible,” Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green said.
Green said Cedar Falls received $6.5 million in ARPA funding that will be used on two major projects. Main Street reconstruction downtown will include roundabouts at Seerley Boulevard, and 12th and 18th streets. According to Green, $1.9 million will go toward the downtown project, relieving the tax burden and letting that money go toward other road repairs.
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The second major project will be updating the city’s wastewater treatment plant to reduce nutrient pollution under orders of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The remaining $4.6 million of the city’s ARPA funds will go to this project, expected to cost $127 million over five years.
Mayor Michael Schares of Dunkerton says his town has been approved for $120,000 in federal funds, and has received half of it. That $60,000 will go toward the new water filtration plant the city is building, estimated to cost $1.5 million. The other $60,000 will be used to rebuild Dunkerton Road, which will probably cost around $1 million.
“That’s about the extent of our ARPA funds,” Schares said. “Like I said, it’s not much, but we’ve got big-money projects that we need to do to.”
La Porte City received a little over $300,000 in federal money. Mayor Jasmine Gaston said the first half will fund sewage treatment plant reconstruction, a project that hasn’t been done since 1988. The cost is estimated at $9.8 million, but will almost definitely rise with construction costs.
Raymond is in a similar boat. It started to raise funds for its plant several years ago, but costs have risen to $10 million. The city received $118,000 in ARPA funds. Evansdale is also looking at $9 million for its wastewater treatment plant, while work on a local lift station and other projects will cost more than the $710,773 in federal funds the city received.
Elk Run Heights is making road repairs, and Gilbertville is seeking help to build a new 82x160-square-foot public safety building estimated to cost $1.3 million, well over the $120,000 it received.
Speaking after the presentations, Supervisor Dan Trelka expressed his support for the projects.
“I view this a reinvestment in our local communities as a whole,” Trelka said. “I’m certainly willing to help out any one of these cities, consider their requests, and then identify how much we should provide them in assistance.”
However, Linda Laylin expressed concern about moving too quickly, stating the county board should first focus on directing federal aid to county needs.
“Selfish or not, I guess I’m looking at our needs first but still keeping these projects in mind, and if there are ways we can help,” Laylin said. She acknowledged all are worthwhile. “But I wouldn’t be comfortable at this point making any motion on what we would have available for these communities until we have more of our decisions made.”
Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart was also present, but did not make any requests, having come to present his eight-point plan for the city’s future.
5 times Black Hawk Co. supervisors meetings got really interesting in 2021
From dust-ups between elected officials and their department heads to residents demanding to be heard, here are five times the county board of supervisors meetings were especially interesting in 2021. Stories from Courier reporters Sydney Czyzon and Amie Rivers.
"We are watching," said Nilvia Reyes Rodriguez. "We are taking note of what you are doing. And we will hold you accountable in elections."
"It is not always the most popular thing, but in my estimate, it is the right thing," Waterloo City Council member Sharon Juon told supervisors.
"I'm a law-abiding gun owner, I enjoy the rights of gun ownership and I don't want them to be infringed at all."
The county won't join others across the state in allowing expanded use of off-road vehicles, saying the increase in registration fees wouldn't outweigh the potential dangers and damage to county parks.
"To make an assertion that a deputy on the first floor makes us look bad, I take personal offense to, because I think that's bullsh--."
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/economic-development-corp-mulls-cedar-falls-housing-needs-study-after-council-delayed-funding/article_4641d3cc-4e90-586d-9b62-eff34add94af.html
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CEDAR FALLS – The Cedar Falls Economic Development Corporation is looking into funding a housing needs assessment recommended by the Racial Equity Task Force but pulled from the fiscal year 2023 budget by the City Council and postponed to the following year.
Jim Brown, one of its founders, confirmed the board approved exploring the cost and possible scope of a study. As the “ultimate optimist,” he’s confident “one way or another we’ll get it done” in a few months despite members not yet having given the green light.
That final decision is expected in mid-April.
Before it was cut, $35,000 — equating to an additional $1 in property taxes per $100,000 of value — had been allocated by the council for the study, which the task force in a special report said “focuses on how to provide housing variety to promote affordable housing options for all.”
In a 5-2 vote, with Councilors Kelly Dunn and Simon Harding dissenting, that decision was upheld despite a task force member’s plea for it to be restored.
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“Housing is a serious, serious issue. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice property prices are skyrocketing and that’s very problematic because we don’t have enough of the right kind of housing,” said Melissa Heston, also a member of the Housing and Human Rights commissions, in March right before the budget was formally adopted. “My little bedroom starter home from 1952 is approaching $150,000 to $160,000. That’s good for me, but I don’t think it’s good for young families who want to move into the area.
“I don’t think it’s good for the other people who work in our community who can’t afford to live here. I think housing is a critical factor in what makes a community worth living in, and we’re letting housing become an exclusionary factor.”
The CFEDC, a 501C(4) advocacy nonprofit formed last year as a “concierge” between developers and the city – working with the city but not part of city government. It is backed by the city through a public-private partnership, but also by individuals and businesses.
The council approved its request for an initial $75,000 in September. Twenty private entities also committed about $10,000 each for an additional $200,000, said Brown.
The housing assessment “ties into our mission,” Brown said, in terms of being “proactive” in finding ways to attract residential development, especially affordable options, to Cedar Falls.
City Council gave little direction Monday night to staff when further discussing the future of the triangle-shaped, 1.64 acres for an hour at a work session.
He said the group “wouldn’t be reinventing the wheel” and would tap the typical stakeholders involved if council had approved the funding.
CFEDC has been in contact with city staff and the Housing Commission, Brown said.
Whether it’s applying for state assistance or talking with an area employer or prospective builder, he said the study “comes up in almost every application and conversation.”
Examples of state programs include Community Development Block Grants, Workforce Housing Tax Credits, or others involving the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/judith-chester-obituary?id=33985605
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Judith Chester
March 30, 2022
CLARKSVILLE-Judith Chester, 77, of rural Clarksville, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Unity Point Health-Allen in Waterloo.
Funeral services will be on Monday, April 4, 2022, at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church – Western Douglas with Pastor Kim Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Lawn Cemetery in Plainfield. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly. Memorials can be directed to the Chester family and online condolences for Judy may be left at www.kaisercorson.com.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/cynthia-harmon-obituary?id=33985606
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Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Harmon
May 11, 1949-March 30, 2022
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Harmon, 72, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at home with her daughters by her side.
She was born May 11, 1949, in Waterloo, the daughter of Marshall C. and Evelyn N. (DuVal) Harmon.
Cindy graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1967 and then attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega.
In October of 1969, her career path was set when she became a flight attendant for United Airlines. She retired in 2003 after 34 years of work flying all over the world. During this time, she made lifelong friends, had countless adventures and had several side businesses over the years including Creative Circle and her jewelry business.
In 1971, Cindy married Bob Kayser and they had two daughters together. They later divorced. She married Dennis Johnson in 1994 and they later divorced.
Cindy devoted her life to the service of others with an entrepreneurial spirit. Cindy even donated a kidney to her brother, Skip, in the early 90's. She was a proud member and past president of the P.E.O. Chapter KL in Cedar Falls and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, serving in many roles including Sunday School teacher, wedding coordinator, Vacation Bible School, and various other committees.
She had a passion for traveling. Cindy absolutely loved spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren.
Survived by her daughters, Cori (John) Sauer of Cypress, TX and Jessica (Jake) Nauholz of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, Gillian, Andrew, and Sydney Sauer, Clare and Jacob Williams, and Gracie and Nora Nauholz; brother, Jay Harmon of Naples, FL; sister-in-law, Marian Harmon of Geneva, IL; special family friends, Sandy and Mike Lewis and their children, Emma, Olivia, and Ian; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents; brother, Marshall "Skip" Harmon; and sister-in-law, Karolyn "Dee" Harmon.
Memorials may be directed to P.E.O STAR Scholarship Fund or to Cedar Valley Hospice.
Visitation: 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at Locke on 4th Street (1519 W. 4th Street in Waterloo)
Services: 10:30 am on Monday, April 4, 2022 at Westminster Presbyterian Church
Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery
Online condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralServices.com
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/j-porter-obituary?id=33985607
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J. Elizabeth "Liz" Porter
February 7, 1927-March 30, 2022
WATERLOO-J. Elizabeth "Liz" Porter, 95, of Waterloo, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 30, at home. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Rivers Edge Church with inurnment later in Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 4, and for an hour before services on Tuesday, all at the church. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is assisting the family. Condolences may be left with www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.
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https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/closing-arguments-next-in-michigan-gov-whitmer-kidnap-plot/article_7edc6557-c0a3-5aad-9635-c6d8608e72c9.html
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Jurors will hear closing arguments Friday in the trial of four men accused of a brazen conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a case built with informants, undercover agents, secret recordings and two people who pleaded guilty and cooperated.
Only one defendant, Daniel Harris, chose to testify in his own defense. But his denial of any crime Thursday was met by an aggressive cross-examination in which prosecutors used his own words to show his contempt for Whitmer and even suggestions about how to kill her.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr. and Brandon Caserta declined to testify, and defense attorneys called only a few witnesses. The four deny any scheme to get Whitmer at her vacation home in fall 2020, though they were livid with government as well as restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police after a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area.
Defense attorneys, however, insist they were under the spell of informants and agents who got them to say and do violent, provocative things.
Harris repeatedly answered “absolutely not” when asked by his lawyer if he was part of a plot. His testimony was perilous because he exposed himself to numerous challenges by prosecutors who had been offering evidence against the group for days.
Harris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Roth sometimes talked over each other. At one point, Harris snapped, “Next question.”
“Everyone can take it down a notch,” U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker said later.
Roth confronted Harris with his own chat messages about posing as a pizza deliveryman and killing Whitmer at her door. He reminded Harris, a former Marine, that he worked with explosives while training with the group, especially in Luther, Michigan, in September 2020, about a month before their arrest.
Roth played a conversation of Croft talking about militias overthrowing governments in various states and “breaking a few eggs” if necessary.
“When this man talks to you at a diner about killing people, you don’t stand up and walk out, do you sir?” Roth asked. “You don’t say, ‘This group is not for me,’ do you sir?”
“No,” Harris answered.
A “shoot house” that was intended to resemble Whitmer's second home was a key part of the Luther training weekend, according to the government. Harris admitted that he brought materials but said he didn’t build it with her house in mind.
He didn't participate in an evening ride to Elk Rapids, Michigan, to scout Whitmer’s home and a bridge during that same weekend. Harris said he had purchased $200 of cheap beer and cigarettes so he could return to the camp and “get wasted” with others.
Two more men, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. Garbin last week said the group acted willingly and hoped to strike before the election, cause national chaos and prevent Joe Biden from winning the presidency.
Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the kidnapping plot, though she referred to “surprises” during her term that seemed like “something out of fiction” when she filed for reelection on March 17.
She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case. Whitmer has said Trump was complicit in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Find AP’s full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
White reported from Detroit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/ap-news-in-brief-at-6-04-a-m-edt/article_e633f97e-9d9c-5617-b41c-31fc3f18ce2d.html
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Russians leave Chernobyl; Ukraine braces for renewed attacks
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, as residents in parts of eastern Ukraine braced for renewed attacks and awaited blocked supplies of food and other humanitarian relief.
Ukraine’s state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm the exposure claim.
In what would be the first attack of its kind, if confirmed, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships across the border on Friday morning and striking an oil depot.
The depot run by Russian energy giant Rosneft is located about 35 kilometers (21 miles) north of the Ukraine-Russia border. The helicopter attack set the facility ablaze, and two people were injured, according to a Telegram post by Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
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“The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike from two helicopters of the armed forces of Ukraine, which entered the territory of Russia at a low altitude,” the governor wrote on the messaging app.
War in Ukraine fuels fears among draft-age Russian youths
As Moscow's forces bog down in Ukraine, many young Russians of draft age are increasingly jittery about the prospect of being sent into combat. Making those fears particularly acute is an annual spring conscription that begins Friday and aims to round up 134,500 men for a one-year tour of military duty.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu pledged at a meeting of the military brass this week that the new recruits won't be sent to front lines or “hot spots.”
But the statement was met with skepticism by many in Russia who remember the separatist wars in the southern republic of Chechnya in the 1990s and early 2000s, when thousands of poorly trained young men were killed.
“I don't trust them when they say they won't send conscripts into combat. They lie all the time,” said Vladislav, a 22-year-old who is completing his studies and fears he could face the draft immediately after graduation. He asked that his last name not be used, fearing reprisals.
All Russian men aged 18-27 must serve one year in the military, but a large share avoid the draft for health reasons or deferments granted to university students. The share of men who avoid the draft is particularly big in Moscow and other major cities.
Shanghai moves to 2nd part of lockdown as testing lines grow
BEIJING (AP) — About 16 million residents in Shanghai are being tested for the coronavirus during the second stage of the lockdown that shifted Friday to the western half of China's biggest city and financial capital.
Meanwhile, residents of Shanghai’s eastern districts who were supposed to be released from four days of isolation have been told their lockdowns could be extended if COVID-19 cases are found in their residential compounds.
The lockdown in Shanghai, being done in two phases over eight days to enable testing of its entire population, has shaken global markets worried about the possible economic impact. China’s manufacturing activity fell to a five-month low in March, a monthly survey showed Thursday, as lockdowns and other restrictions forced factories to suspend production.
For four days starting Friday, residents of Puxi on the west side of the Huangpu River dividing Shanghai cannot leave their neighborhoods or housing compounds. The gates at some compounds were locked from the outside, with groceries and meals delivered to collection points.
Government workers and volunteers wearing full protective equipment went door-to-door with megaphones in the city with 26 million people, calling on residents to report for testing at designated sites where they were met by long lines and waits of more than 90 minutes.
African refugees see racial bias as US welcomes Ukrainians
Wilfred Tebah doesn’t begrudge the U.S. for swiftly granting humanitarian protections to Ukrainians escaping Russia’s devastating invasion of their homeland.
But the 27-year-old, who fled Cameroon during its ongoing conflict, can’t help but wonder what would happen if the millions fleeing that Eastern Europe nation were a different hue.
As the U.S. prepares to welcome tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war, the country continues to deport scores of African and Caribbean refugees back to unstable and violent homelands where they’ve faced rape, torture, arbitrary arrest and other abuses.
“They do not care about a Black man,” the Columbus, Ohio, resident said, referring to U.S. politicians. “The difference is really clear. They know what is happening over there, and they have decided to close their eyes and ears.”
Tebah's concerns echo protests against the swift expulsions of Haitian refugees crossing the border this summer without a chance to seek asylum, not to mention the frosty reception African and Middle Eastern refugees have faced in western Europe compared with how those nations have enthusiastically embraced displaced Ukrainians.
Analysis: High oil prices, Ukraine war at Saudi pivot point
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A spike in global energy prices benefits Saudi Arabia as the world’s top oil exporter, but problems remain for the kingdom’s impulsive crown prince.
Whether trying to find jobs for a growing number of unemployed youth or finding a way to end the long war he launched in Yemen, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his father King Salman now face a potential pivot point for the kingdom amid Russia's war on Ukraine.
Can the ruling Al Saud family reset a now-troubled relationship with the United States, long the security guarantor for the wider Persian Gulf, as tensions simmer with Iran and higher fuel prices squeeze Washington? Or does the kingdom tip toward further toward China, now its biggest buyer of crude, or Moscow?
An American rapprochement seems unlikely. Asked in a recent interview about what he'd want President Joe Biden to know about, Prince Mohammed bluntly said: “I don’t care.”
“It’s up to him to think about the interests of America,” the prince added.
Another solid month of US hiring expected despite obstacles
Defying a pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the U.S. economy has cranked out more than 400,000 jobs every month for nearly a year — a blazing winning streak in wildly uncertain times.
And despite surging inflation, the hiring wave likely continued last month in the face of yet another jolt: Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has unsettled the economic outlook and catapulted gasoline prices to painful levels.
Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet expect the Labor Department’s jobs report for March to show that employers added 478,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate dipped from 3.8% to 3.7%. That would mark the lowest unemployment rate since just before the pandemic struck two years ago, when joblessness reached a 50-year low of 3.5%.
The government will issue the March jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday.
“With the war in Ukraine, economic uncertainty rising and surging energy prices, we may see a modest slowdown in hiring in March,’’ said Daniel Zhao, senior economist at the jobs website Glassdoor. “However, employer demand remains strong, which should sustain a healthy level of hiring.''
Labor groups close in on Amazon in two tight union elections
NEW YORK (AP) — Labor organizers always knew it would be tough to convince Amazon workers to unionize. But a surprisingly strong early showing in a New York election and a still-uncertain outcome in an Alabama election are giving them hope.
In Staten Island, New York, 1,518 warehouse workers have so far voted “yes” to forming a union while 1,154 have voted “no,” according to an early tally Thursday evening by the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing both elections. Ballots will continue to be counted Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, appear to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days.
If a majority of Amazon workers ultimately votes yes in either Staten Island or Bessemer, it would mark the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the company’s history. Organizers have faced an uphill battle against the nation’s second-largest private employer, which is making every effort to keep unions out.
John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said the early vote counts in New York have been “shocking.” The nascent Amazon Labor Union, which is leading the charge on Staten Island, has no backing from an established union and is powered by former and current warehouse workers.
High energy costs are hitting UK. It's about to get worse
LONDON (AP) — Tia Rutherford is worried about her 3-year-old son.
As energy prices soared last fall, she tacked fleece blankets over her doors and windows to keep the cold out and started serving Jacob breakfast in his room so she didn’t have to heat the living room. But she's consumed by worry that she can’t pay her utility bills and that her son isn't warm enough.
“There are effects on his health,’’ said Rutherford, a 29-year-old single mother who lives in southeast London. “He’s constantly catching colds.”
People across the United Kingdom will face similar choices in coming months with energy costs for millions of households set to rise by 54% on Friday. It is the second big jump in energy bills since October, and a third may be ahead as rebounding demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and now Russia's war in Ukraine push prices for oil and natural gas higher.
Energy costs are the main driver of rising consumer prices. While inflation is a worldwide phenomenon, it's a bigger issue in Britain because it's more exposed to rising natural gas prices than even its gas-reliant European neighbors, where utility bills and other costs also have soared. Prices for natural gas, which is used for electricity and heating, have more than doubled in the past year.
$14M jury award for protesters could resonate around US
DENVER (AP) — A federal jury’s $14 million award to Denver protesters hit with pepper balls and a bag filled with lead during 2020 demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis could resonate nationwide as courts weigh more than two dozen similar lawsuits.
The jury found police used excessive force against protesters, violating their constitutional rights, and ordered the city of Denver to pay 12 who sued.
Nationwide, there are at least 29 pending lawsuits challenging law enforcement use of force during the 2020 protests, according to a search of the University of Michigan’s Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse.
The verdict in Denver could give cities an incentive to settle similar cases rather than risk going to trial and losing, said Michael J. Steinberg, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. It could also prompt more protesters to sue over their treatment at the hands of police.
“There’s no doubt that the large jury verdict in Denver will influence the outcome of pending police misconduct cases brought by Black Lives Matter protesters across the country,” said Steinberg, whose law students have been working on a similar lawsuit brought by protesters in Detroit.
Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/mine-accident-in-central-serbia-kills-8-injures-18/article_301cd8f1-20b1-56ff-b341-e11d55ea5ace.html
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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — An accident in a mine in central Serbia killed eight people and wounded 18 Friday, authorities said.
The accident in the Soko coal mine happened shortly after 4 a.m. (0200GMT). Officials said an investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened.
“Inspectors, police and all relevant authorities are at the scene, doing what is necessary to determine the cause of this tragedy,” said the Mining and Energy Minister Zorana Mihailovic.
MIhailovic visited the site on Friday and expressed condolences to the families of the victims, promising state help.
The state RTS television and other local media said the accident happened when part of the mine pit collapsed, releasing the methane gas inside and trapping the miners.
Drago Milinkovic, the Soko coal mine manager, said initial information suggested a “sudden release of methane” gas into the mining area.
“Soko coal mine is a dangerous coal mine, dangerous from the aspect of methane,” he said. "Security measures are at the highest level in the coal mine, but this time there was a sudden release of methane and simply the monitoring and the equipment that were in place did not help.”
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Doctors in nearby Aleksinac, where injured miners have been brought, said their injuries mostly are not serious.
The Soko mine, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Belgrade, has had several serious accidents since it started operating in the early 1900s. An accident in the mine in 1998 killed 29 miners.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/glass-artist-rhonda-scott-carries-the-torch-for-lampwork-bead-making/article_82f5fa22-d113-5e3d-87f1-920a94178575.html
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WATERLOO – In lampworking, an oxygen-propane torch is used to melt and shape molten glass using simple tools and gravity. After three weeks in her first class in making lampwork beads, Rhonda Scott still hesitated to light the torch on her own.
“I’m a scaredy-cat about a lot of things, and the torch scared me at first. But I didn’t give up.”
That was 15 years ago. Now Scott teaches classes in making lampwork beads – “and I’m understanding of people who have a healthy fear of the torch. It’s important to be cautious, but I coach people through it. I can teach people to light their own torches on the first day,” she said, laughing
On Saturday, Scott will teach a day-long “Lampwork: Glass Bead” class at the Waterloo Center for the Arts that has proven so popular every space has been filled for several weeks.
Lampworking is an art that spans centuries across every continent. “A thousand years ago Vikings were making glass beads. My family comes from Denmark, and I’ve been to museums and seen ancient lampwork beads that don’t look all that different from what I’m making today,” explained Scott.
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Venetian artisans used oil lamps to melt glass; in other countries, a live fire in a stove did the job. Today, glassmakers use oxygen-propane torches or other gases mixed with oxygen. “Flameworking” is sometimes the modern term for lampworking.
“Lampworking is a very interesting process because you’re watching something shift right in front of your eyes. Some people find it meditative. It’s like looking into a campfire. Then as the glass melts, you begin to shape it,” Scott explained.
She usually uses traditional Italian glass rods in her classes to teach lamp-wound or bead-wound techniques. Rods are a little thicker and longer than a pencil and come in transparent and opaque colors.
“In one hand, you’re holding the glass rod and in the other hand, a steel rod (mandrel) over the torch. As the glass melts, you are winding it around the rod. Whenever you’re making a multicolored bead, you use different rods of glass.”
Glass doesn’t “mix” together; instead one color sits on top of another. “You use transparent and opaque glass to make all kinds of designs that look like they’re blended together instead of separated into layers. That gives the glass a lot of depth,” said Scott. “When the steel rod is cooled, it is removed, and you’re left with a bead that you can use to make jewelry or whatever.”
Participants in Saturday’s class will walk out with a handful of beads they’ve made themselves.
Scott lives in Ames where she regularly teaches at the Memorial Union Workspace. She uses her beads in jewelry making and sells her work, although she describes herself as a “teaching artist rather than a production artist.”
In addition to lampworking, she works with metal clay for making jewelry without soldering or filing. When the piece is fired in a kiln, it becomes fine silver.
“I’m drawn to things that are hard to explain,” Scott said. “I’m a curious person, and I keep learning more about glass. I also love teaching because it’s a good way to learn. Students ask all kinds of questions, forcing me to think more deeply – and know when I can break the rules.
“My mission is to have a safe place for people to learn to be creative.”
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Highs in the 50's are expected today in the Waterloo area. It looks like it will be a crisp 51 degrees. A 33-degree low is forecasted. Today's conditions are expected to be clear, so there shouldn't been too many clouds in the sky. The Waterloo area should see a light breeze, with forecast models showing only 8 mph wind conditions coming up from Southwest. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Keep an eye on wcfcourier.com for forecast information and severe weather updates.
Here is today's weather outlook for Apr. 1, 2022 in Waterloo, IA
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Pretty quiet during the day today, but storms look likely tonight in central and western Iowa. Damaging wind gusts and hail cannot be ruled out. Here's everything you need to know.
Conditions will be quite different from west to east across Iowa today thanks to a cold front. See when rain and snow are most likely for our area in our updated forecast.
Watch now: Dry across Iowa today, but the chance for showers and a few severe storms returns Tuesday
While we'll be warming a little Monday and Tuesday across Iowa, another cold front will begin to push into the state Tuesday evening. See when showers and storms are most likely for our area.
Hail is a possibility amid strong and severe thunderstorms, putting a lot of valuables in danger. So what can you do about it?
Snow showers for the Quad Cities this morning, but dry across the rest of the state. The dry period won't last long though. See when rain will return in our updated forecast video.
It will be a cold day in Waterloo, with temperatures in the 30s. It should reach a bitter 37 degrees. Today's forecasted low temperature is 22…
Cool, 40 degree weather is predicted for Waterloo today. It looks to reach a cold 41 degrees. 26 degrees is today's low. Thursday's winds coul…
This evening in Waterloo: Considerable cloudiness. Low around 30F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. The forecast is calling for cold temperatures in …
Waterloo's evening forecast: Periods of rain and snow showers in the evening, becoming snow late. Becoming windy. Low 31F. Winds NNW at 20 to …
Winds will be gusting 50 to 55 mph across the state today and could cause isolated power outages. See how long the strong winds will stick around and what temperatures are expected for the weekend.
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Today is Friday, April 1, 2022. Let's get caught up.
Here are today's top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:
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FIRST, THE WEATHER
A mixture of rain and snow for the Northeast, and elevated fire danger for the southern Plains. CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis has the latest forecast.
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TOP STORIES
House passes $35-a-month insulin cap as Dems seek wider bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
Experts say the legislation, which passed 232-193 Thursday, would provide significant relief for privately insured patients with skimpier plans and for Medicare enrollees facing rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. Some could save hundreds of dollars annually, and all insured patients would get the benefit of predictable monthly costs for insulin. The bill would not help the uninsured.
People are also reading…
But the Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms. For the legislation to pass Congress, 10 Republican senators would have to vote in favor. Democrats acknowledge they don't have an answer for how that's going to happen.
Keep scrolling for links to full versions of these top stories.
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White House hosts transgender 'Jeopardy!' star Amy Schneider
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday by denouncing “hateful bills” being passed at the state level as the White House played host to “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider, the first openly transgender winner on the popular quiz show.
Schneider met with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who joined Rachel Levine, the assistant health secretary and the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate, for a conversation with transgender kids and their parents.
Schneider used the moment in the Washington spotlight to speak out against bills affecting transgender people.
“They’re really scary and some of them in particular that are denying medical services to trans youth, those are, those are lifesaving medical treatments," Schneider told reporters. "These bills will cause the deaths of children and that’s really sad to me and it’s really frightening.”
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Click on the links below for full version of today's top stories. Keep scrolling for a look back at this day in history and today's celebrity birthdays:
This morning's top headlines: Friday, April 1
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Emergency relief and evacuation convoys for the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol remained in doubt Friday following re…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have moved to the brink of shaking hands on a scaled-back bipartisan compromise providing a fresh $10 billion to combat COVID-19, a deal that could set up final congressional approval next week.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Transgender Day of Visibility on Thursday by denouncing "hateful bills" being passed at the state level as the White House played host to "Jeopardy!" champion Amy Schneider, the first openly transgender winner on the popular quiz show.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
LONDON (AP) — Inflation in Europe soared to another record, in a fresh sign that rising energy prices fueled by Russia’s war in Ukraine are sq…
Defying a pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the U.S. economy has cranked out more than 400,000 jobs every month for nearly a year — a blazing winning streak in wildly uncertain times.
DENVER (AP) — A federal jury’s $14 million award to Denver protesters hit with pepper balls and a bag filled with lead during 2020 demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis could resonate nationwide as courts weigh more than two dozen similar lawsuits.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Jurors will hear closing arguments Friday in the trial of four men accused of a brazen conspiracy to kidnap Michiga…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the A…
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MORNING LISTEN
Did you know some new rules allow debt collectors to use a different tactic to contact you? Host Teri Barr is talking with Sara Rathner, Personal Finance Expert with NerdWallet, to learn what you can do to protect yourself and your money.
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IMAGE OF THE DAY
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TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1985, Villanova shocks Georgetown with a 66-64 victory to win the NCAA title. See more sports moments from this day in history:
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BRUSSELS — The European Union’s executive arm is proposing that the 27-nation bloc’s countries allow the millions of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine to exchange their hryvnia banknotes into the currencies of host member nations.
The European Commission said Friday its proposal aims at promoting a coordinated approach within the region.
“This approach was necessary in light of the fact that the National Bank of Ukraine had to suspend the exchange of hryvnia banknotes into foreign cash in order to protect Ukraine’s limited foreign exchange reserves,” the commission said.
“As a consequence, credit institutions in EU Member States have been unwilling to carry out the exchanges due to the limited convertibility of hryvnia banknotes and exposure to exchange rate risk.”
According to EU figures, more than 3.8 million of people fleeing the war have arrived in the European Union. More than 4 million have fled Ukraine.
The Commission proposed a maximum limit of 10,000 hryvnias (306 euros) per person, without charges, at the official exchange rate as published by the National Bank of Ukraine.
People are also reading…
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukraine top of agenda as China, EU prepare to meet at summit
— Russians leave Chernobyl; Ukraine braces for renewed attacks
— UK, Russia foreign ministers visit India amid Ukraine crisis
— Kremlin decree says foreign currency can still buy natural gas
— War in Ukraine fuels fears among draft-age Russian youths
— African refugees see racial bias as US welcomes Ukrainians
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
BERLIN — The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog says he will head a team to the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine “as soon as possible.”
Rafael Mariano Grossi wrote on Twitter that the International Atomic Energy Agency “assistance and support” mission to Chernobyl “will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to Ukraine.”
Grossi’s comments followed his visits to Ukraine and then to Russia this week. He didn’t elaborate on his plans or give a more precise timeframe. He was due to hold a news conference in Vienna later Friday.
Russian forces took control of Chernobyl, the site of a 1986 nuclear disaster, at the beginning of the war. But authorities say the troops have now left after returning control to the Ukrainians.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Norwegian government is proposing a national 14.4 billion kroner ($1.7 billion) crisis package for the war in Ukraine, including spending on refugees and national defense.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told a press conference Friday, “We should take good care” of the Ukrainian refugees while they are in Norway. “This will demand the best of us,” he said.
If the proposal is passed by parliament, as expected, some 7.1 billion kroner ($815 million) will be spent on the refugees, police and the Norwegian immigration agency. Norway expects to receive 35,000 refugees this year.
Money is also going to strengthening the country’s military and civilian defense. Earlier the government has said it wants an extra allocation of 3.5 billion kroner ($402 million) for 2022 to strengthen NATO member Norway’s Armed Forces and civilian preparedness.
MOSCOW — The Kremlin says reports that Ukrainian helicopter gunships attacked a fuel depot inside Russia, setting it ablaze, are not conducive to talks between the two sides in the war.
Asked if the reported incident could be viewed as an escalation of the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks.”
Russia-Ukraine talks were expected to continue Friday via video link.
The governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships into Russian territory early Friday morning and targeting the oil depot, in what if confirmed would be the first attack of its kind.
It was not immediately possible to verify the report.
Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been informed about the reported fire. He told a daily conference call with reporters that Russian authorities were taking measures to ensure fuel supplies in the region were not disrupted.
BEIJING — China is accusing the United States of instigating the war in Ukraine and says NATO should have been disbanded following the break-up of the Soviet Union.
“As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. has led NATO to engage in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades after 1999,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing Friday.
“The number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30, and they have moved eastward more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) to somewhere near the Russian border, pushing Russia to the wall step by step,” Zhao said.
While China says it is not taking sides in the conflict, it has declared a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has refused to condemn the invasion, opposes sanctions on Russia and routinely amplifies Russian disinformation about the conflict, including not referring to it as an invasion or a war in keeping with Russian practice.
Zhao’s comments came as Chinese and European Union leaders were meeting virtually for a summit at which Ukraine was expected to dominate discussions. EU officials say they are looking for a commitment from China not to undermine sanctions and assist in efforts to halt the fighting.
GENEVA — The International Committee of the Red Cross says it’s not sure that a planned delivery of aid into Mariupol and an evacuation of civilians out of the besieged Ukrainian city will happen Friday.
Spokesman Ewan Watson told a U.N. briefing in Geneva that the humanitarian group has sent three vehicles toward Mariupol and a frontline between Ukrainian and Russian forces, but two trucks carrying supplies for the city were not accompanying them.
Dozens of busses that have been put together by Ukrainian authorities to take people out also have not started approaching the dividing line, he said Friday.
Watson called it an “extremely complex” operation, adding that “not all details are in place to ensure that this happens today.”
He said the hope was that “thousands” of people could be ferried out, and their destination would be into parts of Ukraine less affected by the fighting that has been ongoing since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Europol, the European Union police agency, has sent teams to countries bordering Ukraine in an effort to protect refugees from criminals.
The Hague-based agency said Friday its teams are supporting local authorities by running secondary security checks and seeking to “identify criminals and terrorists trying to enter the EU in the refugee flow and exploit the situation.”
The Europol teams are operating in Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova and are planning to deploy to Romania, too.
The agency says they also are gathering intelligence to feed into criminal threat assessments across Europe.
The United Nations says that more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Police in Norway say they have intensified information and intelligence gathering as a result of the security situation in Europe.
The move is to help “prevent and detect crime as a result of the migration flow and the tense security policy situation,” National Police Commissioner Benedicte Bjørnland said in a statement Friday.
She added that “we are particularly aware of the crime challenges that may arise as a result of the migration flow.” She did not elaborate.
More than 7,800 Ukrainians have sought asylum in Norway.
TOKYO — Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi says he is heading to Poland later Friday to assess the need for the war-displaced Ukrainians in that country and assist those who seek refuge in Japan.
Hayashi, during his five-day trip through Tuesday, is set to meet with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and other top officials, as well as international organizations. Officials are still making arrangements for a possibility of his government plane bringing some Ukrainians on his way back, Hayashi said.
“In order to support the Ukrainian people facing the difficulty and to show our solidarity with Ukraine, Japan is pursuing our effort to accept those who fled to a third country,” Hayashi said.
Japan’s government last month launched a taskforce to prepare accepting Ukrainian war-displaced as part of humanitarian support — a rare move for a country known for its strict and reluctant refugee policy. Several municipalities, including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Ibaraki and Osaka, have offered to be their host towns and provide support for medical needs, education, jobs and housing.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky told reporters Friday that some 300 relatives of Ukrainian residents in Japan have been granted entry, and more arrivals are expected from next week.
BRUSSELS — The president of the European Parliament says she is traveling to Kyiv.
Roberta Metsola announced the trip to the Ukrainian capital city on her Twitter account late Thursday, posting a picture of her standing in front of a railcar.
Metsola is the first president of an EU institution to travel to the Ukrainian capital since the war began on Feb. 24. Details about her travel plans and who she will meet have not been announced.
SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that his country will be sending armored Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Australian Parliament on Thursday and asked for the Australian-manufactured four-wheel-drive vehicles and other aid.
Morrison told reporters the vehicles will be flown over on Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes, but he didn’t specify how many Bushmaster vehicles would be sent or when.
“We’re not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we’re sending our munitions, we’re sending our humanitarian aid, we’re sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things and we’re going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters as well,” Morrison said.
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has stripped two generals of their military rank.
Zelenskyy said “something prevented them from determining where their homeland was” and they “violated their military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people.”
According to Zelenskyy, one of the generals had headed internal security at the SBU, the main intelligence agency.
He said the other general had been the SBU head in the Kherson region, the first major city to fall to the Russians.
Zelenskyy didn’t say anything about the fates of the two generals other than them being stripped of their rank.
LVIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government said Russian forces blocked 45 buses that had been sent to evacuate civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol, and only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said late Thursday that 12 Ukrainian buses with humanitarian aid left Melitopol for Mariupol, but the Russian forces stopped the buses and seized the 14 tons of food and medicines.
According to Ukrainian officials, tens of thousands of people have made it out of Mariupol in recent weeks along humanitarian corridors, reducing the prewar population of 430,000 to about 100,000 by last week.
Vereshchuk said about 45,000 Mariupol residents have been forcefully deported to Russia and areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
LVIV, Ukraine — The last Russian troops left the Chernobyl nuclear plant early Friday, according to the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone around the plant.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Russian troops who dug trenches in the forest were exposed to radiation, but that could not be confirmed.
The Ukrainian nuclear operator company Energoatom said Thursday that Russian troops were headed toward Ukraine’s border with Belarus.
Energoatom said that the Russian military was also preparing to leave Slavutych, a nearby city where power plant workers live.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Associated Press
RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — The nation's oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100.
Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.
Soskin "spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers," a Park Service statement said.
FILE - National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin smiles during an interview at Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, Calif., July 12, 2016.
AP Photo/Ben Margot, File
She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that "she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white," according to a Park Service biography.
Keep scrolling for a look at the most popular national parks in America
"Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling," Soskin said in the Park Service statement. "It has proven to bring meaning to my final years."
Soskin won a temporary Park Service position at the age of 84 and became a permanent Park Service employee in 2011. She celebrated her 100th birthday last September.
"Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission," Director Chuck Sams said. "Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation."
Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography.
Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.
She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.
She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.
In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House.
In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.
Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.
Most popular national parks in America
Intro
Approximately 237 million people visited American national parks in 2020, representing a 28% year-over-year decrease attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020.
President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 signed the act creating the National Park Service to leave natural and historic phenomenons "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Since then, our national parks have welcomed visitors from around the world to experience some of the best the country has to offer and showcase the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Today, the country's 63 national parks contain at least 247 species of endangered or threatened plants and animals , more than 75,000 archaeological sites, and 18,000 miles of trails.
Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus .
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Lucky-photographer // Shutterstock
#50. Great Basin National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 120,248
- Percent of total national park visits: .18%
Located in Nevada, Great Basin National Park has both warm desert valleys and mountains that reach up to 13,000 feet. Visitors can see fossils, caves, rock formations, and even a glacier. Thanks to its wide elevation range, the park is home to a large spread of biodiversity, including 73 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, and more than 800 plant species.
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock
#49. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 151,256
- Percent of total national park visits: .22%
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas has the four highest peaks in the state and protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, making the park a geologist's paradise. The Guadalupes were once home to the Mescalero Apache Native Americans, and pictographs from early settlers can still be seen in the park's caves. At one point, the Guadalupe Mountains were all underwater in the Delaware Sea.
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock
#48. Pinnacles National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 165,740
- Percent of total national park visits: .24%
Pinnacles National Park in California was born after several volcanoes erupted, forming the unique landscape of the park, which is packed with canyons, rock spires, and woodlands. When the park was established in 1908, it was only 2,060 acres, but has now grown to 26,000. Because of hot summer temperatures, Pinnacles is most popular in the winter months.
Yhelfman // Shutterstock
#47. Channel Islands National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 167,290
- Percent of total national park visits: .25%
The gorgeous Channel Islands National Park in California is comprised of five islands, each with a unique history. The northern islands were once home to the native Chumash people and eventually European explorers who harvested fish from the channel waters. The unique environment surrounding the islands contributes to a huge amount of biological diversity that represents 1,000 miles of the West Coast of North America.
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock
#46. Virgin Islands National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 167,540
- Percent of total national park visits: .25%
Virgin Islands National Park comprises two-thirds of the island of St. John and almost all of nearby Hassel Island. First inhabited between 2,500 and 3,000 years ago, St. John was home to the Taino people, colonial Europeans, and enslaved Africans. Today the park offers stunning beaches, hikes to what were once plantations when sugar monopolized the economy, a bird-viewing deck overlooking a salt pond, and petroglyphs carved by the pre-Columbus Taino.
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#45. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 183,835
- Percent of total national park visits: .27%
Located in southern New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park's 119 caves were born when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone millions of years ago, leaving behind a treasure trove of caverns. The Big Room in Carlsbad Cavern is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America and takes an hour and a half to cross, according to the National Park Service. Birders from around the globe flock to Rattlesnake Spring to see some of the 300 documented bird species.
Doug Meek // Shutterstock
#44. Voyageurs National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 263,091
- Percent of total national park visits: .39%
Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is 40% water, so many visitors navigate the park by boat. The park is known for its spectacular view of the stars, and the aurora borealis is sometimes visible. Moose, wolves, and black bears are just a few of the animals that call the park home year-round.
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#43. Redwood National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 265,177
- Percent of total national park visits: .39%
While Redwood National Park in California is famous for the tallest trees on the planet, the park also protects coastline and prairies. Visitors can watch the gray whale migration at the Klamath River Overlook and walk on gray sands at Gold Bluffs Beach with remains from the state's mining era. Animals including Roosevelt elk, California sea lions, eagles, and banana slugs call the park home.
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
#42. Mesa Verde National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 287,477
- Percent of total national park visits: .42%
Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado protects nearly 5,000 archaeological sites that have preserved the history of the ancestral Pueblo people. They inhabited the land for almost 700 years, building dwellings into the cliffs and establishing communities before moving away. Visitors can both see and explore several of the cliff dwellings through tours and hiking trails.
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock
#41. Mammoth Cave National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 290,392
- Percent of total national park visits: .43%
Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park is known for housing the world's longest cave system, which stretches 400 miles. Though famous for its caves, the park also has more than 70 threatened or endangered species that include birds, crustaceans, and fish. It is believed that the first human entered Mammoth Cave 4,000 years ago.
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Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#40. Haleakala National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 319,147
- Percent of total national park visits: .47%
Haleakala National Park in Hawaii is home to a volcano with a 10,000-foot summit, and is the highest point on Maui. Native Hawaiians have lived on this land for more than 1,000 years, making this an important cultural site. According to the National Park Service, many of the legends surrounding Haleakala focus on the demigod Maui, and natives consider the summit to be the place where Maui snared the sun in order to slow its passage through the sky.
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
#39. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 341,620
- Percent of total national park visits: .50%
The canyons and rock spires at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado can reach a surface temperature of up to 120 degrees. Many of the desert creatures that call the park home use ephemeral pools in rocks as their main water source. Some of the canyon's formations are up to 500 million years old, and contain sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous stones.
SL-Photography // Shutterstock
#38. Petrified Forest National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 384,483
- Percent of total national park visits: .57%
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is home to the gorgeous Painted Desert and Crystal Forest, where petrified logs shine with quartz crystals. The site in the park known as Newspaper Rock contains more than 650 petroglyphs between 650 and 2,000 years old. The landscape of the park features mesas and buttes created by erosion.
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
#37. Big Bend National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 393,907
- Percent of total national park visits: .58%
Big Bend National Park in Texas offers spectacular views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape as well as the Rio Grande. Visitors to the park can even enter Mexico through the park's Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry. Big Bend has more species of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the United States.
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock
#36. Biscayne National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 402,770
- Percent of total national park visits: .59%
Biscayne National Park located just next to Miami is an ocean-lover's paradise, with crystal clear waters, colorful coral reefs, and more than 500 species of reef fish. Visitors also have the chance to spot manatees, sea turtles, and pelicans. Though the park comprises several islands, 95% of the park is actually water.
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NPS // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Kings Canyon National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 415,077
- Percent of total national park visits: .61%
Kings Canyon National Park in California boasts giant sequoia trees, a tall granite dome with sweeping views, and a marble cavern known as Crystal Cave. Because the park has an elevation gradient of more than 13,000 feet, it plays host to around 1,300 plant species and 300 animal species.
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock
#34. White Sands National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 415,383
- Percent of total national park visits: .61%
The park is aptly named, featuring wavy white sands over nearly 300 square miles in New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin. This is the world's largest gypsum dunefield, and the park preserves a major part of it. Visits can include the park’s historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lucero Ranch on the shore of Lake Lucero and the White Sands Missile Range Museum and Trinity Site, where in 1945 the first atomic bomb was tested.
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#33. Wind Cave National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 448,405
- Percent of total national park visits: .66%
Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is famous for its rare boxwork cave formations that consist of paper-thin intersecting lines of calcite. Other unique formations include popcorn, frostwork, dogtooth spar crystals, and flowstone. Exploration of the cave began in 1881 when brothers Jesse and Tom Bingham discovered a small hole in the ground, which was the cave's sole natural opening.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#32. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
- Recreational visits in 2020: 461,532
- Percent of total national park visits: .68%
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is famous for the tallest sand dunes in North America, that stretch 30 miles across. The park is also home to five alpine lakes, forests, meadows, and grasslands. Popular activities in the park include sand sledding and sand boarding as well as horseback riding and swimming in the Medano Creek.
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
#31. Gateway Arch National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 486,021
- Percent of total national park visits: .72%
Unlike many other national parks, the Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri is located in a major city and isn't focused on preserving wildlife. The park contains the 630-foot Gateway Arch monument and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. The courthouse was where the first two trials of the landmark Dred Scott case were held in 1847 and 1850. The arch is the nation's tallest monument.
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Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
#30. Canyonlands National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 493,914
- Percent of total national park visits: .73%
Utah's Canyonlands National Park features a unique landscape of canyons, mesas, and buttes formed by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Even though the park is considered a desert, its high elevation gives it a varying climate; temperatures here can fluctuate as much as 50 degrees in a day. This, combined with the low annual rainfall, make the park a perfect home for drought-resistant plants such as cacti, yuccas, and mosses.
Manamana // Shutterstock
#29. Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 542,274
- Percent of total national park visits: .80%
Each rock at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California is a result of a volcanic eruption, given that the park has been volcanically active for 3 million years. The world's four volcanic types—shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome—are all present at the park and located in close proximity to each other. Park visitors can also check out the park's several fumaroles, mud pots, and boiling pools.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#28. Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 551,303
- Percent of total national park visits: .81%
Located in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park's dominating feature is the badlands, which are colorful, rolling hills consisting of rock that are millions of years old. Erosion and other natural processes like lightning strikes and prairie fires continue to shape the badlands today. The park is of course named for the U.S. president who first came to the Dakotas in 1883 to hunt bison.
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock
#27. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 589,775
- Percent of total national park visits: .87%
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the Kilauea Volcano and periodically erupting Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa has the most mass of any mountain on Earth, occupying a volume of about 20,000 cubic miles. The park was created to preserve the natural setting of both Kilauea and Mauna Loa, as well as the Big Island's native plants and animals.
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock
#26. Crater Lake National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 670,500
- Percent of total national park visits: .99%
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon was formed when a volcanic eruption at Mount Mazama triggered the collapse of a tall peak, forming the deepest lake in the United States. The crater, also known as a caldera, is 5 to 6 miles long and 3,900 feet deep, making it the seventh-deepest lake in the world, the National Park Service reports. Because the lake doesn't have any inlets or outlets, the water comes entirely from precipitation, giving it a clear blue hue.
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Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
#25. Everglades National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 702,319
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.03%
Everglades National Park is of such biological importance that it is also a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance. The park protects rare and endangered species, including the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther. Bird watching is a popular activity in the park, with blue herons, bald eagles, and red-shouldered hawks to spot.
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock
#24. Saguaro National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 762,226
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.12%
As its name suggests, Saguaro National Park in Arizona protects giant saguaro cacti, a symbol of the American West. The average lifespan of one of these cacti is 125 years old, and it produces sweet fruits. The park is also home to a variety of animals, many of which can only be found in the southern part of the state, including kangaroo rats, roadrunners, and horned lizards.
kojihirano // Shutterstock
#23. Sequoia National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 796,086
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.17%
Sequoia National Park is adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park in California and was the first park established to protect a living organism: its native sequoia trees. Since World War II, Sequoia and Kings Canyon have been administered jointly. In 2014, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep were reintroduced to the park for the first time in 100 years as part of a recovery effort for this endangered species.
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
#22. Death Valley National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 820,023
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.21%
Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada is home to the driest, lowest, and hottest spot in North America. The park was once home to a variety of different people, including the Timbisha Shoshone Native Americans, Chinese workers, the Basque people, and Japanese American internees, according to the National Park Service. Today, visitors can experience the park's sand dunes, salt flats, and a dry lakebed known as the Racetrack Playa.
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
#21. Badlands National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 916,932
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.35%
The striking landscape of Badlands National Park in South Dakota contains one of the world's richest fossil beds. At one point, it was home to the rhino and saber-toothed cat. The Badlands were formed nearly 70 million years ago by erosion and deposition of sediment when an ancient sea was located where today's Great Plains are. Erosion will eventually entirely erase the Badlands.
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Matt Ragen // Shutterstock
#20. Capitol Reef National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 981,038
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.44%
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is famous for the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline extending almost 100 miles and considered a "wrinkle on the earth." The fold was formed 50 to 70 million years ago as a warp in the Earth's crust, and erosion has exposed the fold at the surface. The park has some of the darkest night skies in the United States, so much so that it has been designated an International Dark Sky Park.
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock
#19. New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,054,374
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.55%
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve consists of 70,000 acres along the New River, a whitewater river in southern West Virginia that despite its name is one of the oldest on the continent. From the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the sides of the valley fall almost 900 feet into the deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can go whitewater rafting or canoeing, rock climbing, bird watching, camping, hiking, or biking along an old railroad grade.
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
#18. Mount Rainier National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,160,754
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.71%
Located in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park is famous for housing the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. Mount Rainier is the highest volcano in the Cascade Range, and experiences about 20 small earthquakes a year. Some of the animals that visitors regularly spot at the park include mountain goats, ravens, elk, and black bears.
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
#17. Arches National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,238,083
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.82%
Arches National Park in Utah lives up to its name and has more than 2,000 natural stone arches, the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. These sandstone geological formations are the result of erosion and a thick layer of salt beneath the rock surface. The arches are impermanent, however; the 71-foot Wall Arch collapsed in 2008.
Manamana // Shutterstock
#16. Hot Springs National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,348,215
- Percent of total national park visits: 1.98%
Known as "The American Spa," Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas has thermal waters with soothing properties. Typically, hot springs pop up in areas with volcanic activity and are rare in the central part of the continent. These hot springs are situated along a fault on the western side of Hot Springs Mountain.
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#15. Bryce Canyon National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,464,655
- Percent of total national park visits: 2.16%
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah has the world's largest collection of hoodoos, pillars of rock left standing after erosion. Bryce Canyon contains a series of natural amphitheaters and bowls, the most famous being Bryce Amphitheater, which is full of the park's iconic hoodoos. The park is one of three national parks to house the Grand Staircase geological formation, which is a giant sequence of sedimentary rock layers.
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock
#14. Shenandoah National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,666,265
- Percent of total national park visits: 2.45%
Just 75 miles from the nation's capital, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia showcases the Blue Ridge Mountains and is home to 90 perennial streams, many of which turn into cascading waterfalls. While many native species have been lost over time, today the park has more than 200 bird species, 50 mammal species, and more than 35 fish species, the National Park Service reports. The park is popular with hikers, with 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail.
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
#13. Glacier National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 1,698,864
- Percent of total national park visits: 2.50%
Glacier National Park in Montana is responsible for housing streams that flow into the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson's Bay. Because of this, it has become home to a variety of plants and animals, so much so that it has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. The park was carved from glaciers dating back 10,000 years, exposing bedrock that has helped scientists understand the Earth's movement.
Pung // Shutterstock
#12. Yosemite National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,268,313
- Percent of total national park visits: 3.34%
Yosemite National Park in California is home to the 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls, the largest waterfall in North America. With 800 miles of hiking, there's plenty to explore, including enormous granite mountains, such at Mt. Lyell, the park's tallest point. Visitors can enjoy the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees, the peaceful Hetch Hetchy Valley, and rock formations carved by ancient glaciers.
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock
#11. Indiana Dunes National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,293,106
- Percent of total national park visits: 3.38%
With 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline for swimming, surfing, and paddling, beachgoers may forget they’re in Indiana. For those interested in hiking and biking, there are more than 50 miles of trails of varying difficulty through dunes, wetlands, forests, and prairies, with a handicap accessible trail at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. Note that the only area with lifeguards present is West Beach—also the only site with a fee—during the summer months.
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Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock
#10. Joshua Tree National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,399,542
- Percent of total national park visits: 3.53%
Joshua Tree National Park in California was named after its picturesque, spiky Joshua trees. Mormon immigrants named the trees after the biblical Joshua after noticing that the limbs looked as if they were outstretched in prayer. Many of the park's animals, including the Scott's orioles, wood rats, and desert night lizards, depend on the tree for food and shelter. Keys View in the park offers an incredible view of the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault, and San Jacinto.
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
#9. Olympic National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,499,177
- Percent of total national park visits: 3.68%
Olympic National Park in Washington has temperate rainforests, glacier-topped mountains, and more than 70 miles of coastline. The park was established in 1938 to protect some of the state's quickly vanishing forests, and now protects one of the largest remaining blocks of temperate rainforest in the lower 48 states. Visitors to the park can see Mount Olympus, which stands 7,980 feet high, on a clear day.
f11photo // Shutterstock
#8. Acadia National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,669,034
- Percent of total national park visits: 3.93%
Acadia National Park in Maine protects the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline in the United States, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern coast of the country. Granite ridges in the park were formed by glaciers that measured up to 9,000 feet thick, and evidence of their presence is visible throughout the park.
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock
#7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,755,628
- Percent of total national park visits: 4.06%
Near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves the beauty of the Cuyahoga River and showcases the historic route of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Popular attractions at the park include the 65-foot Brandywine Falls waterfall, Beaver Marsh, and the National Park Scenic train. The park is home to an astounding 900 plant species, 194 bird species, and almost two dozen reptile species.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#6. Grand Canyon National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 2,897,098
- Percent of total national park visits: 4.26%
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is synonymous with its world-famous canyon that is 18 miles wide and 1 mile deep. The park encompasses more than 1 million acres and consists of raised plateaus and structural basins. The Grand Canyon is considered one of the best examples of arid land erosion in the world. It has a rich and diverse fossil record, and the land offers a detailed record of three out of the four geological eras.
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Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
#5. Grand Teton National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 3,289,638
- Percent of total national park visits: 4.84%
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has a rich history beginning 11,000 years ago when nomadic paleo-Indians harvested berries, crafted stone tools, and fished in lakes, leaving behind evidence for historians. The weather in the park can get unbearably cold: The lowest temperature ever recorded was -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The center line of the 2017 solar eclipse was visible from the park, sending it into totality against the backdrop of its glacier-carved landscape.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#4. Rocky Mountain National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 3,305,199
- Percent of total national park visits: 4.87%
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is home to some of the highest mountains in the continental United States. Sixty mountain peaks measure in at more than 12,000 feet high, making the park a popular destination for hikers. Visitors can fish at more than 50 lakes and streams.
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
#3. Zion National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 3,591,254
- Percent of total national park visits: 5.29%
Zion National Park was Utah's first national park and is famous for its landscape of giant colorful sandstone cliffs. Around 12,000 years ago, the first people to visit this land tracked mammoths, giant sloths, and camels until those animals died about 8,000 years ago, the National Park Service says. Because of the range in elevation in the park, it has more than 1,000 diverse plant species.
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#2. Yellowstone National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 3,806,306
- Percent of total national park visits: 5.60%
Yellowstone National Park spans three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. As the world's first national park, Yellowstone has plenty to offer, including the famed Old Faithful geyser, Mt. Washburn, and the Mammoth Hot Springs. The park is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth, making it home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states.
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock
#1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Recreational visits in 2020: 12,095,720
- Percent of total national park visits: 17.81%
Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee is the most biodiverse park in the National Park system, with more than 19,000 documented species. The Smokies are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. On average, more than 85 inches of rain falls in the park each year, fueling 2,100 miles of streams and rivers that flow through the park.
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Dave Allen Photography // Shutterstock
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Joyce A. Adams
May 22, 1939-February 27, 2021
COAL VALLEY-Joyce A. Adams, 81, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Saturday, February 27, 2021, in Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Joyce Ann Luella Laube was born May 22, 1939, in Waverly, Iowa, to Robert and Frieda (Garbes) Laube. She married Paul Litterer on September 19, 1958, in Clarksville, IA, and then married Larry Adams on June 14, 1980, in Davenport, Iowa. She held eclectic jobs such as telephone operator and entertainment director in the hotel business. She was employed by Deere and Company as a secretary in the engineering department for 25 years, retiring in 2001. She enjoyed reading, entertaining, playing cards, and doting on her grandchildren. Her laughter, smile, and fun sense of humor will be missed by many.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Larry; a daughter, Kimberlee Law of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; two granddaughters, Jessica and Melissa Law; and brothers, David Laube of Bloomington, Illinois, and Jerry Laube of Indianola, Iowa.
Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory under the direction of Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. There will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Joyce's family invite friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.
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Fred Harlan Emkes
November 13, 1937-March 6, 2021
Fred Harlan Emkes, 83, of Cedar Falls passed away on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at the Martin Suites at Western Home Communities. He was born November 13, 1937, in Grundy Center, son of Anton and Jennie (Hempen) Emkes. Fred graduated in 1956 from Fredericksburg High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960-62 as an aviation machinist/SP5 with the 591st T. Company in Germany, then as a reservist until 1966. He married Suzanne Ashby on June 22, 1963 in Fredericksburg. Fred worked for John Deere for 35 years retiring in 1994.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Herman Emkes; and a brother-in-law, John Kottke. He is survived by his wife; 2 sons, Ed (Tammy) of Cedar Falls and Jack (Tammy) of Marion; 5 grandchildren: Anthony (Caitlin) Emkes of Mosinee, WI; Amber and Tyler Emkes of Cedar Falls; Cassy (Clay) Schommer of Davenport; and Christine (Caleb) Hess of Cedar Falls; 4 great-grandchildren: Oliver and Finn Emkes of WI; and Theo and Lily Schommer of Davenport; a brother, George (Molly) of Albuquerque, NM; a sister Jeanette Kottke of New Hampton; a sister-in-law, LaVonne Emkes of Waverly; 3 nephews; and 2 nieces.
Per Fred's wishes and due to COVID, there will be a private family service with burial at Garden of Memories. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com and memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.
Fred was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 653 in Denver and Local Union UAW 838 in Waterloo. He was a hard worker and tinkerer who could fix anything. When his health allowed, Fred was an avid gardener and enjoyed growing fruits and vegetables for his family and friends.
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Shirley Ann Frandsen
September 7, 1928-March 3, 2021
CEDAR FALLS-Shirley Ann Frandsen, 92, of Cedar Falls, passed away at NewAldaya Lifescapes on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, of natural causes. She was born September 7, 1928, in Cincinnati, Iowa, daughter of Paul and Cora (McEwan) Jarman. Shirley graduated as salutatorian from Seymour High School in 1945 where she was the top scorer in girl's basketball for three years earning a place in the Iowa High School Sports Girl's Basketball Hall of Fame. She remained an avid lifetime fan of all Iowa teams and sports with season tickets to UNI football and basketball games until her health no longer allowed. Shirley was Homecoming Queen and earned her Bachelor's degree in education and textiles at the Iowa State Teacher's College (UNI). She taught school, first, in Iowa Falls then in Cedar Falls after her marriage to John B. Denny on June 19, 1949. They had five sons together, later divorcing. Shirley married Richard Frandsen on December 28, 1973 in Mundelein, IL. She owned the Hall Tree women's clothing stores with locations in Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Marshalltown.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Richard. She is survived by her 5 sons: John (Gail) Denny of Fairfax; Steve Denny of Waverly, Jim (Diane Berry) Denny, Jeff (Lori) Denny and Bob Denny, all of Cedar Falls; 7 grandchildren: Sarah, Alex, Zach, Matt, Brett, Nicole and Scott; 5 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Barb Munsell of Clearwater, FL.
Shirley's funeral service will be at 1:30 pm on Thursday, March 11th, 2021, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Attendees must bring and wear a mask and practice social distancing. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery of Cedar Falls. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com and memorials may be directed to her family in care of the funeral home.
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GRUNDY CENTER-Dennis R. Regan, 67, passed away at home on March 3, 2021 in Grundy Center with his wife Valorie present. He was born June 5, 1953, in Waterloo, Iowa, son of Richard and Virginia Regan.
Published by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier on Mar. 9, 2021.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
MEMORIAL EVENTS
To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.
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Jennifer Marie Rice
February 2, 1995-March 4, 2021
LA PORTE CITY-Jennifer Marie Rice, 26, of La Porte City, died Thursday, March 4 at Mercy One Waterloo.
She was born February 2, 1995 in Enterprise, AL, the daughter of Douglas and Catherine Ritz Rice.
Jennifer graduated from Union Community High School and was an avid Waterloo Black Hawks and WWE fan.
Survivors include: her parents, Douglas and Catherine Rice of La Porte City; her maternal grandmother, Mildred Ritz of Killeen, TX; her boyfriend, Wesley Franzen of Fayette.
Preceded in death by: her paternal grandparents, Bobby and Colleen Rice; her maternal grandfather, Thomas Ritz.
There will be no services at this time. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is assisting the family.
Memorials: may be directed to the family.
Online condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com
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Clarence D. Voss
November 30, 1928-March 7, 2021
GRUNDY CENTER-Clarence D. Voss, 92, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at Creekside Living in Grundy Center, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Visitation will be held at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Masks are required to attend and due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no fellowship held following the committal service. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.abelsfuneralhomes.com
Clarence was born on November 30, 1928 on the family farm in Palermo Township, Grundy County, Iowa. He was the devoted son of Rudolph and Fannie (Itzen) Voss. Clarence was raised on the family farm and attended country school through the 8th grade. He then went on to graduate from Grundy Center High School in the class of 1947. After graduation, Clarence began working for local farms and later entered the United States Army, serving our country for 2 years. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home and worked a milk route for Walnut Dairy which later became Anderson Erickson Dairy. In 1963, Clarence took over the family farm after the passing of his father Rudy. He worked the family farm until his retirement in 2012.
Clarence was a member of the American Lutheran Church where he served the church as a council member. He enjoyed snow skiing in Colorado for several years; taking bus trips to the Black Hills as well as Nashville and really enjoyed playing slots at the Meskwaki Casino. He loved visiting all of his friends at the casino and the employees at the casino treated him so well he felt like they were family.
Clarence is survived by his sister Ina (Joe) Ross of Grundy Center; many nieces, nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and he will be missed by all of his friends both in and out of the casino. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Harold, Paul, Carl, Ron, and Bill Voss; and his sister Leona Sparenborg.
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Maxine Margaret Yanda
July 28, 1933-March 7, 2021
TRAER-Maxine Margaret Yanda, 87, of Traer, passed away Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 12, 2021 at 10:30 AM St. Paul Catholic Church in Traer with Father Michael Hutchison as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Clutier. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass at the St Paul Catholic Church. It is recommended that everyone attending wear a mask and social distancing should be practiced as well. The Mass will be live streamed on Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page.
Maxine was born on July 28, 1933, in rural Tama County near Clutier, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Frances (Zmolek) Yuska.
She graduated from Clutier High School in 1951.
On April 27, 1954, she was united in marriage to Norman Yanda at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining, Iowa. After graduation, Maxine did office work for Funk Brothers Seed Company in Traer and then worked at Vokoun Motor Company in Traer, retiring after twenty-five years. She was a former member of the Clutier Immaculate Conception Church and Rosary Society and was currently a member of St. Paul Catholic Church and Women's Society in Traer. Maxine had a big heart and was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include three children, Dan Yanda of Lake View, Cindy (Steve) Hatzky of Mason City, and Carol (Tom) Kladivo of Traer; seven grandchildren, Danielle Rutkowski, Aubrey (Bobby) Fennell, Tyler Yanda, Deidra (Adam) Overbeck, Megan (Nate) Hummel, and Jesse (Karisa) Kladivo and Kailey Kladivo; eight great-grandchildren, Ivey, Sam and Macey Overbeck, Jackson and Brynlee Hummel, Hunter Rutkowski, and Kolton and Kody Kladivo; two brothers, Clarence Yuska of Toledo, and Ron (Ruth) Yuska of Tama; two sisters, Albina Krizek of Waterloo, and Betty Krezek of Traer; sister-in-law, Dorothy Yuska of Georgia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Norman; five sisters, Eleanor Novotny, Helen Zmolek, Leona Krezek, and Martha Untiedt, and Dorothy Adams; and four brothers, Harry Yuska, Stanley Yuska, Melvin Yuska, and Joseph Yuska in infancy.
A memorial fund will be established.
Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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America's employers extended a streak of robust hiring in March, adding 431,000 jobs in a sign of the economy's resilience in the face of a still-destructive pandemic and the highest inflation in 40 years.
The Labor Department's report Friday showed that last month's job growth helped reduce the unemployment rate to 3.6%, the lowest level since the pandemic erupted two years ago.
Despite the inflation surge, persistent supply bottlenecks, the damaging effects of COVID-19 and now a war in Europe, employers have added at least 400,000 jobs for 11 straight months.
Inflation may be starting to weaken consumer spending, the main driver of the economy. Americans increased their spending by just 0.2% in February, down from a much larger gain in January. Full story here:
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https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/jury-urged-to-convict-4-in-plot-to-kidnap-gov-whitmer/article_7edc6557-c0a3-5aad-9635-c6d8608e72c9.html
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A prosecutor is urging jurors to convict four men in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, saying they were “filled with rage” and intent on igniting a civil war.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler was giving a closing argument Friday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy. Three of the men also face additional charges involving weapons.
“They were filled with rage,” Kessler told jurors. “They were paranoid because they knew what they were doing was wrong and they feared they could be caught.”
The four men deny any scheme to get the Democratic governor at her vacation home, though they were livid with government as well as restrictions that she imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Jurors will hear closing arguments Friday in the trial of four men accused of a brazen conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a case built with informants, undercover agents, secret recordings and two people who pleaded guilty and cooperated.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker first took jurors through instructions about key elements of the alleged crimes.
"Deciding what the facts are is your job, not mine,” the judge said.
Only one defendant, Daniel Harris, chose to testify in his own defense. But his denial of any crime Thursday was met by an aggressive cross-examination in which prosecutors used his own words to show his contempt for Whitmer and even suggestions about how to kill her.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr. and Brandon Caserta declined to testify, and defense attorneys called only a few witnesses. The four deny any scheme to get Whitmer at her vacation home in fall 2020, though they were livid with government as well as restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police after a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area.
Defense attorneys, however, insist they were under the spell of informants and agents who got them to say and do violent, provocative things.
Harris repeatedly answered “absolutely not” when asked by his lawyer if he was part of a plot. His testimony was perilous because he exposed himself to numerous challenges by prosecutors who had been offering evidence against the group for days.
Harris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Roth sometimes talked over each other. At one point, Harris snapped, “Next question.”
“Everyone can take it down a notch,” Jonker said later.
Roth confronted Harris with his own chat messages about posing as a pizza deliveryman and killing Whitmer at her door. He reminded Harris, a former Marine, that he worked with explosives while training with the group, especially in Luther, Michigan, in September 2020, about a month before their arrest.
Roth played a conversation of Croft talking about militias overthrowing governments in various states and “breaking a few eggs” if necessary.
“When this man talks to you at a diner about killing people, you don’t stand up and walk out, do you sir?” Roth asked. “You don’t say, ‘This group is not for me,’ do you sir?”
“No,” Harris answered.
A “shoot house” that was intended to resemble Whitmer's second home was a key part of the Luther training weekend, according to the government. Harris admitted that he brought materials but said he didn’t build it with her house in mind.
He didn't participate in an evening ride to Elk Rapids, Michigan, to scout Whitmer’s home and a bridge during that same weekend. Harris said he had purchased $200 of cheap beer and cigarettes so he could return to the camp and “get wasted” with others.
Two more men, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. Garbin last week said the group acted willingly and hoped to strike before the election, cause national chaos and prevent Joe Biden from winning the presidency.
Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the kidnapping plot, though she referred to “surprises” during her term that seemed like “something out of fiction” when she filed for reelection on March 17.
She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case. Whitmer has said Trump was complicit in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Find AP’s full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
White reported from Detroit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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America’s employers extended a streak of robust hiring in March, adding 431,000 jobs in a sign of the economy’s resilience in the face of a still-destructive pandemic and the highest inflation in 40 years.
The Labor Department’s report Friday showed that last month’s job growth helped reduce the unemployment rate to 3.6%, the lowest level since the pandemic erupted two years ago.
Despite the inflation surge, persistent supply bottlenecks, the damaging effects of COVID-19 and now a war in Europe, employers have added at least 400,000 jobs for 11 straight months.
Inflation may be starting to weaken consumer spending, the main driver of the economy. Americans increased their spending by just 0.2% in February, down from a much larger gain in January.
Still, the job market has continued to rebound with unexpected speed from the coronavirus recession. Job openings are at a near-record level, and applications for unemployment benefits have dropped to near their lowest point since 1969.
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The still-solid U.S. job market reflects a robust rebound from the brief but devastating coronavirus recession, which wiped out 22 million jobs in March and April 2020 as businesses shut down or cut hours and Americans stayed home to avoid infection.
But the recovery has been swift. Fueled by generous federal aid, savings amassed during the pandemic and ultra-low borrowing rates engineered by the Federal Reserve, U.S. consumers have spent so fast that many factories, warehouses, shipping companies and ports have failed to keep pace with their customer demand. Supply chains have snarled, forcing up prices.
As the pandemic has eased, consumers have been broadening their spending beyond goods to services, such as health care, travel and entertainment, which they had long avoided during the worst of the pandemic. The result: Chronically high inflation is causing hardships for many lower-income households that face sharp price increases for such necessities as food, gasoline and rent.
It’s unclear whether the economy can maintain its momentum of the past year. The government relief checks are gone. The Fed raised its benchmark short-term interest rate two weeks ago and will likely keep raising it well into next year. Those rate hikes will result in more expensive loans for many consumers and businesses.
Inflation has also eroded consumers’ spending power: Hourly pay, adjusted for higher consumer prices, fell 2.6% in February from a year earlier — the 11th straight month in which inflation has outpaced year-over-year wage growth. According to AAA, average gasoline prices, at $4.23 a gallon, are up a dizzying 47% from a year ago.
Squeezed by inflation, some consumers are paring their spending. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that consumer spending rose just 0.2%% in February — and fell 0.4% when adjusted for inflation — down from a 2.7% increase in January.
Still, the job market has kept hurtling ahead. Employers posted a near-record 11.3 million positions in February. Nearly 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs, a sign of confidence that they could find something better.
Even so, so many jobs were lost in 2020 that the economy still remains more than 2 million shy of the number it had just before the pandemic struck. Over the past year, employers have added an average of 556,000 jobs a month. At that pace — no guarantee to continue — the nation would recover all the jobs lost to the pandemic by June. (That still wouldn’t include all the additional hiring that would have been done over the past two years under normal circumstances.)
Brighter job prospects are beginning to draw back into the labor force people who had remained on the sidelines because of health concerns, difficulty finding or affording daycare, generous unemployment benefits that have now expired or other reasons.
Over the past year, 3.6 million people have joined the U.S. labor force, meaning they now either have a job or are looking for one. But their ranks are still nearly 600,000 short of where they stood in February 2020, just before the pandemic slammed into the economy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) — The pilots on a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. decided to bring their jet down in Denver after the cockpit windshield shattered above 30,000 feet. The crew repeatedly told passengers to remain calm until they landed.
“They came on the loudspeaker saying that the windshield had shattered, and we were diverting to Denver in about 10 minutes," Rachel Wright, one of the 198 passengers on the plane, told KUTV.
A photo of the windshield taken by a passenger shows the glass, though lined with cracks, didn't fall from its frame. Commercial airline pilots said jetliner windshields can be two inches thick, with several layered panes of glass, the station reported.
The crew announced the diversion about 90 minutes into the flight, after the plane reached cruising altitude, which is above 30,000 feet, passengers said.
“They kept coming on saying for everyone to stay calm, to be calm, and we were calm so being told to stay calm while we were calm made us feel a little panicky,” Wright said.
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Passengers were able to see the shattered glass once they landed in Denver.
“I’m really good at playing what-if? And so, my mind goes to kind of what could have happened, worst case scenario and I’m grateful,” Wright said. “It could have been really bad, it could have gone very differently."
Another passenger, Kirk Knowlton, snapped a picture and tweeted that the crew had announced that the windscreen appeared to crack spontaneously.
Delta gave a statement to KUTV calling it “a maintenance issue mid-flight.”
"Out of an abundance of caution, the flight crew diverted into Denver and the plane landed routinely. Our team worked quickly to accommodate customers on a new plane, and we sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans,” the airline statement said.
Passengers boarded a new plane in Denver and continued on to Washington. Wright praised Delta for bringing the jet down safely, and said the airline was very accommodating.
“I’ve never been more grateful to spend an extra three hours in an airport,” Wright said.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, KUTV-TV.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/new-vehicles-must-average-40-mpg-by-2026-under-us-standards/article_8b58f151-af36-5f2e-9dd1-4fcc3609380f.html
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DETROIT (AP) — New vehicles sold in the United States will have to travel an average of at least 40 miles per gallon of gasoline in 2026 under new rules unveiled Friday by the government.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its fuel economy requirements will undo a rollback of standards enacted under President Donald Trump. The new requirements increase gas mileage by 8% per year for model years 2024 and 2025 and 10% in the 2026 model year.
For the current model year, standards enacted under Trump require the fleet of new vehicles to get just over 24 miles per gallon in real-world driving.
Keep scrolling for charts tracking gas prices in our state and across the nation
Agency officials say the requirements are the maximum that the industry can achieve over the time period and will reduce gasoline consumption by more than 220 billion gallons over the life of vehicles, compared with the Trump standards.
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Trump's administration rolled back fuel economy requirements so they rose 1.5% per year, which environmental groups said was inadequate to limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.
But the new standards won't immediately match those adopted through 2025 under President Barack Obama. NHTSA officials said they will equal the Obama standards by 2025 and slightly exceed them for the 2026 model year.
The Obama-era standards automatically adjusted for changes in the type of vehicles people are buying. When they were enacted in 2012, 51% of new vehicle sales were cars and 49% SUVs and trucks. Last year, 77% of new vehicle sales were SUVs and trucks, which generally are less efficient than cars.
Some environmental groups said the new requirements from NHTSA under President Joe Biden don't go far enough to fight global warming.
"Climate change has gotten much worse, but these rules only require automakers to reduce gas-guzzling slightly more than they agreed to cut nine years ago," said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Center at the Center for Biological Diversity.
He said the final rule is about 2 mpg short of the strongest alternative that NHTSA considered.
Officials said that under the new standards, owners would save about $1,400 in gasoline costs during the lifetime of a 2029 model year vehicle. Carbon dioxide emissions would drop by 2.5 billion metric tons by 2050 under the standards, the NHTSA said.
The agency did not give figures for how much the standards would increase the cost of vehicles. Auto dealers say more stringent requirements drive up prices and push people out of an already expensive new-car market.
The NHTSA sets fuel economy requirements, while the Environmental Protection Agency develops limits on greenhouse gas emissions. NHTSA officials said their requirements nearly match rules adopted in December by the EPA, so automakers don't have to comply with two rules.
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Gas prices: Track how they're changing in our state and nation
High gas prices have been frustrating American drivers for months — and now, the war in Ukraine is pushing oil and gas costs into a new gear.
Inflation has become an ongoing financial strain for millions of Americans filling up at the gas station, lined up at a grocery checkout lane, shopping for clothes, bargaining for a car or paying monthly rent.
But gas prices vary widely from state to state because of different taxes and regulations, as well as the local cost of doing business. Take a look for yourself.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/ny-mobster-who-killed-3-escapes-federal-custody-in-florida/article_42e071e8-b7b1-5f83-91e9-06a299701a34.html
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A New York mobster who killed three people and attempted to kill two others has escaped from federal custody, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
Dominic Taddeo, a hit man from a Rochester-area crime family, escaped on March 28, according to the Bureau of Prisons website.
Taddeo, 64, pleaded guilty in 1992 to racketeering charges that included the killings of three men during mob wars in the 1980s.
A federal judge in western New York denied Taddeo's request for compassionate release last year, rejecting his claim that health problems including hypertension and obesity put him at risk for serious complications from COVID-19. Prosecutors said medical records did not show that Taddeo was particularly unhealthy.
Taddeo had been imprisoned at a medium-security lockup in Florida before being transferred to a residential halfway house, also in Florida, in February.
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A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson did not immediately return a call seeking information about the circumstances of Taddeo's escape.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/us-navy-will-name-a-ship-after-ruth-bader-ginsburg/article_cafb693f-8c9e-508c-99a5-a0ffbc9c9809.html
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The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg served more than two decades on the US Supreme Court, developed a rock star status and drew standing ovations when she spoke in public. Now the late "Notorious R.B.G." will add another entry to her long list of accomplishments.
The Navy will name a ship after her.
On the final day of women's history month, the Navy announced that the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ship, designated T-AO 212.
Keep scrolling for a photo gallery of Ruth Bader Ginsburg through the years
"It is my absolute honor to name the next [replenishment oiler] after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg," said Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in a statement. "She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women's rights and gender equality."
Ginsburg, who died in September 2020 at the age of 87 due to complications from metastatic pancreas cancer, had served as the senior member of the Supreme Court's liberal wing, delivering progressive votes on some of the most polarizing social issues of the day, including abortion rights, same-sex marriage, voting rights, immigration, health care and affirmative action.
She was the second woman to serve on the US Supreme Court behind Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ships, used to refuel carrier strike groups at sea, are traditionally named after those who fought for civil and human rights. Rep. John Lewis, who died in July 2020 at the age of 80, was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, challenging segregation and leading the march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. The second ship in the class is named for Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, became a leader in the fight against anti-gay initiatives.
Other ships in the class are named for Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth and Thurgood Marshall.
"She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts," said Del Toro.
Del Toro also named Ginsburg's daughter, Jane Ginsburg, as the ship's sponsor. The daughter of the famous jurist will participate in the milestones for the ship, such as its keel laying ceremony, christening and commissioning.
A look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg's career, in photos
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Martin Ginsburg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Clinton, William Rehnquist
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
GINSBURG KENNEDY BREYER
PEOPLE GINSBURG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
State of Union
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Antonin Scalia, Elena Kagan, Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr., Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony M. Kennedy
Tyre Sampson, 14, was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and over 300 pounds. Lawyers for his family want to know if the park was negligent in allowing someone his size on the ride.
His father and stepmother said they’re learning disturbing details about Tyre Sampson's final moments. “What I’m hearing is his friend was talking to him. He was like … ‘The thing’s not pushing down, you know what I’m saying? And if I don’t make it through then tell my mom and dad I love ’em.’”
A former Montana Tech football player who admitted raping two women in Butte will do no prison time and could get the crime expunged from his record if he stays out of trouble and meets other requirements for six years.
The mother of a West High School junior wants her daughter, who has Down syndrome, to complete her senior year, while the district is citing policy that says the soon-to-be 19-year-old is too old.
Things to know today: The fallout from Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at Oscars; Zelenskyy's latest plea; slowly falling gas prices. Get caught up this Monday morning.
A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight, killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, celebrating her 20th anniversary on the bench, is photographed in the West conference room at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 30, 2013.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is poised to open higher Friday as investors await monthly jobs data for March, while a resurgence in Russian attacks dashed hopes for a cessation of widespread violence in Ukraine.
Futures for the Dow industrials and S&P 500 rose 0.5% in premarket trading and prices for U.S. crude oil dipped below $100 per barrel. Shares in Asia were mixed, while European benchmarks gained.
Despite surging inflation, the U.S. economy has cranked out more than 400,000 jobs every month for nearly a year. The hiring wave likely continued last month even as Russia invaded Ukraine, unsettling the global economic outlook and catapulting gasoline prices to painful levels.
Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet expect the Labor Department’s jobs report for March to show that employers added 478,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate dipped from 3.8% to 3.7%.
Shares in Europe rose despite a report that consumer prices in the 19 countries that use the euro currency rose by an annual rate of 7.5% in March, the fifth straight monthly record. Spiking energy costs are the main factor driving inflation in Europe, with those prices surging 44.7% last month, up from 32% in February, Eurostat said.
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Oil and gas prices had already been rising because of increasing demand from economies recovering from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. They jumped higher after Russia, a major oil and gas producer, invaded Ukraine, on fears that sanctions and export restrictions could crimp supplies.
Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.2%, Germany’s DAX rose 0.4% and France's CAC 40 added nearly 0.6% in midday trading.
In Asia, Bank of Japan's closely watched quarterly gauge of business sector sentiment, the “tankan,” showed the benchmark indicator for large manufacturers dropped for the first time in seven quarters, losing three points from a survey in December to 14 points from 17 points.
The war in Ukraine, coming on top of supply chain disruptions at top manufacturers caused by COVID-19 restrictions and growing worries about inflation are clouding the outlook for already fragile growth in the world's third-largest economy.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.6% to finish at 27,665.98.
Shares in electronics and energy giant Toshiba Corp. jumped 6.5% on news that Bain Capital might make an offer to acquire the company and take it private. Toshiba said it was not involved in any such talks.
South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.7% to 2,739.85. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down less than 0.1% to 7,493.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.2% to 22,039.55, while the Shanghai Composite jumped 0.9% to 3,282.72.
Rising COVID-19 cases in China are adding to the worries of a regional slowdown. The lockdown in Shanghai entered its second phase of extended restrictions, while restrictions were lifted in hard-hit Jilin.
Oil prices fell as President Joe Biden ordered the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve. The move to pump more oil into the market is part of an effort to control energy prices, which are up nearly 40% globally this year.
U.S. benchmark crude fell $1.70 to $98.58 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell 7% on Thursday. Brent, the international pricing standard, shed $1.54 to $103.17 a barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 122.48 Japanese yen from 121.69 yen. The euro cost $1.1053, down from $1.1071.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/diana-brandt-obituary?id=23288234
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Diana Marie Brandt
May 13, 1938-September 15, 2021
PARKERSBURG-Diana Marie Brandt, 83, of Parkersburg, died Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, of natural causes.
Private Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021, at Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Parkersburg.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Parkersburg is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com
Diana was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on May 13, 1938. After graduation from high school, she was employed as a telephone operator. Later she worked as a secretary and payroll clerk for the personal director at Northern Engraving.
On September 28, 1963 she was united in marriage to Larry Brandt at Lynxville, WI. They made their home in Parkersburg, IA where he established an optometric practice. She assisted at the office as needed until she became a fulltime homemaker and mother to their two daughters. Her pastimes were gardening, sewing, knitting, quilting, and reading.
When the girls started school, she began volunteering at the elementary school. She received the Governor's Volunteer award for her years of service. She also enjoyed volunteering at the library and food bank.
Diana trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior on June 23, 1948. Larry and she fellowshipped at the Hitesville Gospel Hall where they served in many areas. In July 2020, they transferred to the Cedar Falls Gospel Hall after moving to the Western Home Communities.
Diana is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, her two daughters, Beth (Mark) Fitch Omaha, NE and Sara Brandt Schaumburg, IL, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her mother and step-father Ethel and Charles Briggs, her grandmother Nellie Krogman who raised her.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/gerald-burggraf-obituary?id=23289318
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Gerald (Jerry) Jacob Burggraf
February 9, 1934-September 12, 2021
Gerald (Jerry) Jacob Burggraf passed away on September 12, 2021 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. He was born February 9, 1934 in Jesup, Iowa to Clarence and Violet Burggraf.
He attended schools in Fairbank and Jesup Iowa. He worked at Rath Packing Co. in Waterloo, Iowa and ADM in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife, Betty of 66 years; sons, Steve of East Lansing, Michigan and Alan of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; sisters, Carolyn Farris (Dale) of Waverly, Iowa and Nadine Brimeyer (Ron) of Denver, Iowa; brother, Greig (Diane) of Fredricksburg, Iowa; brother-in-law, Rodger Schubel of Montezuma, Iowa; grandsons, Adam and Travis Burggraf; granddaughters, Holly Kasper and Samantha and Jessica Burggraf; and six great grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Darlene Schubel and Donna Nelson Brustkern.
Jerry enjoyed fishing, camping, playing cards, woodworking, and Texas. Jerry and Betty wintered many years in Weslaco, Texas.
Celebration of life will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 11115 Hanson Blvd NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433 on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/charles-baier-obituary?id=23288341
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Charles Francis "Charlie" Baier
September 10, 1952-September 16, 2021
WATERLOO-Charles Francis "Charlie" Baier, 69 of Waterloo, died Thurs., Sept.16, 2021 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. He was born on Sept.10, 1952 in Pittsburgh the son of Charles W. and Hazel Devereaux-Baier. Charlie served in the US Army for 8 years until his honorable discharge. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a Master's degree from Aurora University. He married Karen Blackburn, they later divorced. He married Judy Sherrets-Smith on July 19, 1997. Charlie was most recently employed as a Juvenile Court Officer for Juvenile Court Services in Cresco. He had previously been the ISU County Extension Director in Howard County and the Executive Director for the American Red Cross in Waterloo. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo and Waterloo American Legion post #138. He had been a member of Rotary and the Kiwanis Club. Survived by: wife, Judy; 3 sons, Zachary (Jennifer) Baier, Altoona, Jeremy (Teresa) Smith, Waterloo, and Joel Smith, Hudson; 3 daughters, Julie (Dave) Hensch, Waterloo, Ariane (Robbert) O'Daffer of PA, and Hannah Baier, Cedar Rapids; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; brother, Tom (Diana) Baier, Pittsburg, PA; and sister-in-law, Mary Carol Baier of Cincinatti, OH. Preceded by: his parents, and brother, Joseph Baier. Visitation is 5~7 pm Mon., Sept. 20, at Kearns Funeral Service. Funeral service is 11:00 am Tues., Sept. 21 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. Burial at Fairview Cemetery in Waterloo. Military rites by Waterloo American Legion Post #138 and Iowa Army National Guard Honor Guard. Memorials may be directed to the family. Go to www.kearnsfuneralservice.com for more.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/bruce-diestler-obituary?id=23289969
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Bruce Eugene Diestler
July 4, 1944-July 29, 2021
WATERLOO-Bruce Eugene Diestler, 77, formerly of Waterloo who resided for the last 13 years at the Iowa Veterans' Home in Marshalltown, passed away peacefully on July 29. Bruce was born on July 4, 1944, the son of Donald Gene and Isabelle Rosetta Diestler. He grew up in Waterloo and served in the Army in the Vietnam War. He was active in the DAV, AMVETs and VFW. He was a jack-of-all-trades who was a master salesman and truck driver. He enjoyed traveling and raising standard poodles.
On August 8, 1964, Bruce married Elizabeth Craft and they were married for 43 years. She predeceased him on April 10, 2008. He is survived by his son Donald (Tanya), granddaughter Megan, brothers Dale and Daryl, and brother-in-law Robert (Rhonda) Craft.
Bruce was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth and brothers Mike and Kenny.
A celebration of Bruce's life will be held on Saturday, October 2 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Heartland Vineyard Church in Waterloo. Military honor ceremony will be at 1:00 PM. Come join friends and family in remembering Bruce and celebrating his life.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/shirley-galanits-obituary?id=23289325
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Shirley Ann Galanits
September 22, 1935-August 7, 2021
WATERLOO-Shirley Ann Galanits was born on September 22, 1935, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Edwin and Anna (Messerschmidt) Peterson. She attended schools in Cotton and Duluth and worked in the blood bank at the Duluth Hospital. On December 29, 1962, Shirley was united in marriage to Steve Galanits in Duluth. The couple moved to Cedar Rapids and then Minneapolis before settling in Waterloo. Shirley was a cook for Byron Avenue Preschool and then worked as a proofreader for the printing company, Professional Office Services for 24 years. She was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Waterloo. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts, gathering with friends and family around food, entertaining, playing cards, and reading. Shirley also mastered Hungarian cooking without recipes. Most importantly, she was all about her family. Shirley died at the age of 85 on August 7, 2021, at MercyOne Hospital in Waterloo. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Richard Peterson. Shirley is survived by her husband, 4 sons, John, Richard, David (Terri), and James (Michelle) Galanits; 7 grandchildren, Whitney, Kayla, Jonah, Nicole, Logan, Jon, and McKenna; 8 great grandchildren; 2 nieces; and a sister-in-law, Joanne Peterson. Funeral arrangements are pending. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. For the safety of everyone, masks will be required unless when eating.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/arley-hahn-obituary?id=23289127
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Arley Clarence Hahn
January 19, 1940-August 16, 2021
TRIPOLI-Arley C. Hahn, 81, of Tripoli, died Monday, August 16, 2021, at the Waverly Health Center.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Tripoli Welcome Center. Memorials may be made in Arley's name to the Bremer County Conservation Educational Program.
Arley Clarence, son of Clarence and Belva May (Crabtree) Hahn was born January 19, 1940, in Fredericksburg. He attended Dresden #2 Country School, rural Fredericksburg prior to graduating from Fredericksburg High School in 1958. While in high school, he was a pitcher for the baseball team. Arley served in the United States Army National Guard from 1959 before being honorably discharged in 1965. He married Shirley Bloem in 1964 and to this union, four children were born, Sheila, Stacy, Corey, and Tina. The couple would later divorce. Arley's working career began at Meinerz Creamery before working at the Fredericksburg Lumber Yard. He worked as a feed truck driver for a few years, prior to working a long career at Cardinal Construction. Some of the projects he helped build were the UNI Dome, Friendship Village and Bartels. On October 21, 1995, he was united in marriage with Carol Spier. The couple made their home in Tripoli. Arley was an avid bass fisherman, catching 1,200 – 1,400 per year. He also concentrated on catching larger bass, making sure he sent the measurements to the D.N.R., setting many records. He also reported the weather to the National Weather Service for many years. His interest in the weather was mainly to aide in his ability to catch more fish. In addition to his love for fishing, he taught line dancing at the Electric Park, assisting with fishing programs for the youth through the Conservation Board, and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their activities.
Arley is survived by his wife, Carol of Tripoli; four children, Sheila (Andy) Seichter of Cedar Falls, Stacy (Tracy) Hahn of Janesville, Corey (Dawn) Hahn of St. Charles, Missouri, and Tina (Brett) Miller of Denver; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two step-sons, Aaron (Beth) Huck of Aldie, Virginia and Joshua (Kelly) Huck of Waterloo; and sister, Laurley Parkinson of Phillips, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, who died in infancy.
Please add Becker & Son Funeral Home in Tripoli is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.
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James Paul Gerholdt
October 14, 1947-September 14, 2021
EVANSDALE-James Paul Gerholdt, 73, of Evansdale, passed away at Allen Hospital on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 following a myriad of health conditions with his wife and two daughters by his side. He was born in Cedar Falls on October 14, 1947, son of Mads and Inez (Crangle) Gerholdt. Jim graduated from New Hartford High School in 1965. On April 29, 1967, he married Marilyn Faye Dirks at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Parkersburg. Jim worked for Clay Equipment 1965-1978 and then Viking Pump from 1978, until his retirement, with his wife, in 2006.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Bridget Maher; a brother, Carl (in infancy) and two sisters, Rose Ridder Loftsgaarden and Lois Nelson; and 2 grandchildren, Adyn and Aline Frisch. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marilyn; daughters, Anita Smith and Yvette (Matthew) Muters; three grandchildren, Abigale and Amelia Frisch, and Elias Muters; and a sister-in-law, JoAnn (Larry) McKinnon.
Jim's visitation is Sunday, September 19, 2021, 2-5:00 pm at the Dahl Van Hove Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls and again on Monday an hour prior to the funeral at Immaculate Conception Church in Gilbertville. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, September 20, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Church, Gilbertville, with a luncheon to follow at the Gilbertville American Legion. Private family burial at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation and condolences can be left at www.dahlfuneralhome.com.
Jim's passion has been building, flying, and teaching others about RC airplanes. You could also see his love for flying because he and his family were often found chasing/crewing for hot-air balloons. Jim was a volunteer fireman for the New Hartford Fire Department for many years. Jim and Marilyn were avid travelers, visiting all 50 states. They enjoyed hopping in the car, going and wherever the road took them, Jim found someone to talk to. Some say he had the gift of gab and never met a stranger.
Beyond work and family, Jim found time to be a Cantor and member of the Resurrection Choir at Immaculate Conception Church in Gilbertville. He enjoyed taking spins in the Waterloo 4th Street Cruise in his grandpa's 1941 International pick-up that he called Charlie (after his grandpa). And to wind down, he and his kitty, Annie, were often together in the recliner with Jim having his phone in one hand and the TV remote in the other.
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Randall "Randy" S. Hankins
October 29, 1954-September 14, 2021
CEDAR RAPIDS-Randall "Randy" S. Hankins, 66, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, joined God in Heaven on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Visitation will be held from 2 - 3:30 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2021, followed by Celebration of Life from 3:30 - 4 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion.
Randy was born on October 29, 1954, and raised in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area, the son of Earl and Joan Hankins. Randy was united in marriage to Judy Werner on September 26, 1998. Randy was a master plumber of 44 years before retiring in 2017. Randy was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors. But mostly loved his family.
Randy is survived by his wife, Judy; Son, Shane (Summer) Hankins; Daughter, Tanya Hankins (Damien); eight grandchildren; siblings, Deb (Mike) Overman, Mike (Diana) Hankins, Roxanne Hemmer (Darrel Drewes), Rod Hankins, Tena Lindgren, Clint (Marilyn) Hankins, Tammy Balvanz and Mikell Hankins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Joan Hankins; brother, Earl Hankins; Brother-in-law Tom Hemmer.
Memorials in Randy memory may be directed to the family.
Please share a memory of Randy at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/kathleen-hogan-obituary?id=23288653
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Kathleen Mae (Kate) Hogan
January 26, 1928-September 9, 2021
Kathleen Mae (Kate) Hogan, age 93, passed away peacefully on the evening of September 9, 2021, in her home off Michigan Avenue, after watching her favorite show. Kathleen was born on January 26, 1928, in Dyserville, Iowa, the third of six children to Edward Hogan and Anastasia Ungs. The family moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 1940 where Kathleen attended St. John's Catholic Middle School, then graduated from Our Lady of Victory Academy in 1946. Following high school, she attended Ottumwa Heights College, a private women's liberal arts school in Ottumwa, IA, operated by the Sisters of Humility.
After several years in office work at the former Rath Packing Co., big city life became appealing and she moved to the Chicago land area, taking a position with Avon Products in Skokie, IL. In 1958, Kate accepted a position at The Northern Bank & Trust Co. in Chicago. As she advanced in her career as an Investment Officer in the Trust Department, she also completed her formal education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from De Paul University in Chicago. After her retirement from the bank, she became a licensed financial advisor and worked officially in that capacity serving many clients until the age of 90 - she asked about how the market performed, until the very end.
Katheen was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings: Virginia Weidner (Hamilton), James E. Hogan, Kenneth C. Hogan, Rev. Monsignor Robert G. Hogan, brother-in-law Richard Reyhons and a beloved nephew James P. Hogan. She is survived by her sister, Carol Reyhons of Davenport, IA, sister-in-law Lois Hogan Meyers, of Muskegon, MI, sister-in-law Marlene Hogan of Waterloo, IA, and twelve treasured nieces and nephews.
Kate was an eager and frequent world traveler always immersing herself in all the adventure. She enjoyed her adopted city of Chicago and all it had to offer - its restaurants, theatre, shopping, and the Magnificent Mile. She adored her family , was the staple at every gathering, and the always last to leave. She had a giving way and was a generous patron to many wonderful charitable organizations. Most importantly, she was deeply rooted in and devoted to her faith in God. She will be missed, she will never be forgotten.
Services will be 10:30 Monday, Sept. 20 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church with burial in My. Olivet Cemetery, both in Waterloo. Public visitation will be for one hour before services at the church. Masks are required for this event.
The mass will be livestreamed on the parish website. www.queenofpeaceparish.net.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/timothy-holschlag-obituary?id=23288244
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Timothy J Holschlag
May 6, 1949-September 10, 2021
Timothy J Holschlag, age 72, died Friday, Sept 10, 2021, at his home in Norway, Michigan. Tim was born in New Hampton, Iowa, on May 6, 1949, the son of Carl Holschlag and Maurine (Johnson) Holschlag. He grew up in New Hampton, then lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Norway, Michigan.
He was a nationally recognized authority on smallmouth bass fishing, the owner of SmallmouthAnger.com, and the author of several books and DVDs and hundreds of magazine articles.
Tim Holschlag is survived by his sister, Geraldine Brummond, his wife Lyn Verthein, former wife Elizabeth Michael of Iowa City, Iowa; seven nieces and nephews: Becky Schoenfeld, Kathy Roethler, Randy Brummond, Cindy Kellogg, Dan Brummond, Brad Holschlag, and Craig Holschlag; and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Tom Holschlag, brothers-in-law LaVern Brummond and Bob Clasen, nephews Dick Brummond and Ryan Holschlag; step-nephew Miles, great-niece Mandy Brummond, and great-nephew Matthew Schoenfeld.
A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held in New Hampton Iowa. Memorial arrangements are at Erickson-Rochon-Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain, Michigan. (WWW.ernashfuneralhomes.com).
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/diane-lenton-obituary?id=23288524
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Diane L. Lenton
June 29, 1953-September 9, 2021
Diane L. Lenton, 68, of Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, formerly of Waterloo and Preston, died Thursday, September 9, 2021 unexpectedly at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She was born June 29, 1953, in Waterloo, daughter of Lorimer R. Cosby and Myra A. Segebarth (Guelner). She attended Waterloo East High School and then later obtained a technical certification associate's degree from Hawkeye Tech in 1975. She married Steven C. "Herbie" Lenton on May 9, 1970, in Lancaster, Missouri; they later divorced. She then started a long-term relationship with Alan Hanson that lasted for many years. They later parted ways. She was a machinist at John Deere for several years and later worked at Waterloo Industries, Chamberlain's Mfg., and Aramark over the years. She was a former member of UAW Local 838. She enjoyed collecting painted rocks and crocheting blankets. She made blankets for everyone in her family, especially the grandchildren. She loved to travel and spent the last several years traveling Europe. Survived by: one son, Darrin Lenton of Waterloo; three daughters, Lori Lenton of Bellevue‚ Dawn (Johnny) Brown of Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, and Shantelle (Dean Margeson) Hanson of Andrew; 11 grandchildren, Seth, Andrew, Sara, and Maria Kilburg, Tory Bradford, Jarod Lee, Drew Ostdahl, Brianna, and Zoe Lenton, and Donaven and Dillon Brown; three sisters, Linda Ackerman of Florida‚ Myrna Cosby of Missouri, and Patricia (H.L.) Watts of Waterloo; a brother, Joseph (Abby) Cosby of Florida. Preceded by: parents; ex-husband, Steve "Herbie" Lenton; step-father, Melvin "Mel" Guelner; brother, Craig Cosby; and maternal grandmother, Olinda Segebrath. Funeral Services: 2 PM Wednesday, September 22 at Locke Funeral Home with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo; Visitation two hours prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the family. Condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralHome.com.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/mavis-loonan-obituary?id=23288333
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Mavis Ione Loonan
August 4, 1923-August 14, 2021
AMES-Mavis Ione Loonan, 98, of Ames, Iowa, passed away on Saturday August 14, 2021, at Northridge Village Healthcare in Ames, Iowa. Mavis was born on August 4, 1923, on a farm near Spring Valley, Minnesota, to John and Belle Lichty. The family moved to Waterloo, Iowa, before Mavis began grade school. She was a 1940 graduate of West Waterloo High School. Immediately following high school she went to work in the accounting office at the Waterloo John Deere Plant where they manufactured tank transmissions during World War II.
Mavis married Clayton Hinson in Waterloo on March 4, 1945, and she became a farm wife living southwest of Hudson. Three children were born to this union, Cathleen, Cheryl and Craig. On June 6, 1960, Clayton passed away, and Mavis moved the family into Hudson.
On December 7, 1964, Mavis married Daniel Loonan of Gilbert, Iowa. The combined family grew to eight children with six still being at home. After her marriage to Dan, Mavis was a stay at home mom. When the children were older, she worked at accounting positions in Ames and in Columbia, Missouri, where she and Dan lived from 1975 until 1984. Following Dan's retirement in 1984 they returned to Ames. Dan passed away on May 26, 1987.
Mavis has been member of the First United Methodist Church, Ames, Iowa, since returning to Ames. Mavis spent her retirement years enjoying time with family and friends, traveling with Dan and with her sisters and friends, and volunteering for several organizations. She enjoyed sharing her baking skills with her family and friends, baking wonderful pies, kringla and many other delicious treats. She also created quilts and cross stitch samplers for each of her eight children.
Mavis is survived by her children: Phyllis (Dr. Phillip) Conran; Patricia DeBerg; Cathleen (Don) Rimathe; Nancy (Dr. Michael) Hirleman; Jim (Juanita) Loonan; Cheryl (Paul) Hillmer; Joe (Sue) Loonan; Craig (Jo) Hinson. Also surviving are her eighteen grandchildren, thirty seven
great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and sister Helen Cockerham of Waterloo and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her sisters Betty Phillips and Lorene Dobson, and her brothers Ronald Lichty and John (Jack) Lichty.
A Celebration Of Life Service will be held on September 25, 2021, at 10am at the First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg, Ames, Iowa. The family will greet friends from 9-10 am prior to the service. Guests are asked to wear a mask into the church. In the sanctuary masks are optional The service will be online at www.http://bit.ly/amesfirstumclivestream and later it will be on you tube at Ames Frist United Methodist Church.
A graveside service will be at 3 pm at the Hudson Cemetery, Hudson, Iowa. Memorial gifts may be directed to the UMW (Church Women) at First United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral home, and online condolences may be left for Mavis' family at www.adamssoderstrum.com.
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Rosemary Miller
September 17, 2021
Rosemary Miller, 91, formerly of Cedar Falls, died Friday, September 17, 2021, at her home in Cody, Wyoming. She was the daughter of Hugh Byers and Hazel Warfield and a graduate of Cedar Falls High School. Rosemary was married to Clark Miller for almost 60 years. She loved reading, baking, and spending time with her family. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband Clark, her daughters Kay Miller and Vicki Miller, her parents, and her brother Kenneth Byers.
She is survived by her son, Kent Miller of Cody, Wyoming, daughter Karol (Boone) Vuletich of Cody, Wyoming, daughter Karen (Steven) Wohlwend of Bloomington, Indiana, five grandchildren, Brandi Nenow, Neil Leitz, Scott Cutler, Michael Wohlwend, Gregory Wohlwend, and five great- grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with burial at Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 12-1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/richard-novy-obituary?id=23377959
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Richard "Dick" Bruno Novy
January 5, 1939-September 15, 2021
DENVER-Richard "Dick" Bruno Novy, 82, of Denver, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at his residence.
Dick was born January 5, 1939, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Antone and Louise (Jeansch) Novy. He graduated from Menomonee Falls High School (WI) in 1957. He completed further education as a tool and die designer. In 1958, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed his basic training in New Mexico. He was then stationed in Okinawa, Japan until his honorable discharge in 1962. On June 27, 1964, he was united in marriage to Kathie Scott in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The couple made their first home in Wisconsin. Dick was a tool and die designer working for several different companies over the years. He transferred to Kansas City and then to Iowa where they would settle in Denver. In addition to his skills with tool and die, Dick was a skilled woodworker. He worked for several years at Omega Cabinets in Waterloo, retiring in 2006.
Dick was a longtime member of Saint Paul's United Church of Christ in Denver. He was active with the Boy Scouts where he served as Scout Master for over 20 years. Along with Kathie, they served as foster parents for 43 years and hosted numerous foreign exchange students. He was an avid bowler and loved the Green Bay Packers. Dick was very skilled with the scroll saw, he created and distributed over 1,600 "Thank You For Your Service" plaques for Veterans.
Dick felt strongly about helping people and being a positive influence during his 82 years. Even in his death, his giving spirit will be felt. It was Dick's wish to donate his body for scientific research to the Deeded Body Program at The University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, a cause he felt was very important.
Dick is survived by his wife, Kathie of Denver, six children; Rick (Ricarose) Novy of Scottsdale, AZ, Doug (Valarie) Novy of Colorado Springs, CO, Julie (Brian) Ruddell of Greenwood, MO, Kori (Barry) Stevelman of Thousand Oaks, CA, Nesha (Edward) Malek of Marysville, OH and Kenny Novy of Waterloo, nine grandchildren; Dalton (Krysta) Ruddell, Auston (Shelby) Ruddell, Haley Ruddell, Audrey Novy, Reanna Novy, Russell Novy, Olivia Novy, Addison Malek, Jordyn Malek, one brother, Ronald (Thelma) Novy of Conway, AR, one sister, Teresa Gronemeyer of Germantown, WI. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Raymond Novy.
A Memorial Service in Dick's honor will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at Saint Paul's United Church of Christ in Denver with Rev. Craig Henderson officiating. The Acker-Mathias American Legion Post #653 will give military honors at the church immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to the church or University of Iowa Cancer Research. On-line condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com.
Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Denver is in charge of arrangements. 319-984-5379
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/linda-renslow-obituary?id=23288254
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Linda L. Renslow
November 6, 1953-September 15, 2021
Linda L. Renslow was born November 6, 1953, the daughter of Donald F. Sr. and Lauretta L. (Halverson) Renslow. She was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles and enjoyed crocheting, cross stitching, playing cards and board games. She was loved dearly by all her family and she loved her family dearly.
Linda passed away on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at MercyOne, at the age of 67. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Lorrinda (David) Ackerman, and nephew, Scott Schroeder. Linda is survived by two brothers, Donald F. Renslow, Jr. and Michael E. Renslow; two sister-in-laws, Marcia (Mike) Maledy and Cindy (John) Spencer; many aunts and uncles, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to the family. A visitation will be held at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, 965 Home Plaza on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 10:30 am with burial at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories is in charge of arrangements. 319-232-3235. Condolences may be left at www.parrottandwood.com.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/james-sutton-obituary?id=23285171
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James Harold Sutton
July 6, 1937-September 15, 2021
SHELL ROCK-James Harold Sutton, age 84, of Shell Rock, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at his home.
Jim was born on July 6, 1937, in Butler County, Iowa, the son of Harold B. and Mildred (Smith) Sutton. He graduated from Shell Rock High School in 1955. Jim then worked at Redi-Mix and also the Walther's farm in Waverly. He served in the United States Army and upon returning home Jim worked at Juhl's Standard Station in Waverly, Iowa. On June 3, 1961, Jim was united in marriage to Sharon Colleen Winegard at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. In 1958, Jim started his career at John Deere in the Tool and Die Department becoming a supervisor in 1979. Jim retired from John Deere in 1986. During those years at Deere, he also ran a farrow to finish hog farm and had over 1,000 acres of crop ground south of Shell Rock, along side his wife and children.
Jim was a lifetime member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Shell Rock and St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly. Jim may be best known as a passionate conversationalist and he took every opportunity to engage you in it. He loved meeting strangers and wouldn't end a conversation before considering you a friend.
Jim's memory is honored by his wife Sharon Sutton of Shell Rock, Iowa; five children, Kevin (Kelly) Sutton of Waverly, Iowa; Doug Sutton of Greene, Iowa, Christy (Mike) Briggs of New Hartford, Iowa, Brian (Kelly) of Winterset, Iowa, and Janet (Mark) Nolan of Lakewood, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Kathleen (Steve) Pauley of Butler, Missouri; four brothers, David (Joan) Sutton of Darlington, Pennsylvania, Vernon (Marge) Sutton of Cumberland, Wisconsin, Maurice Sutton of Nevada, Iowa, and Steven Sutton of Washburn, Iowa. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Brian; and brother-in-law, Greg Winegard.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 19, at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 20, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock. Memorials may be directed to Jim's family. Online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com. 319-352-1187
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/audrey-sides-obituary?id=23289331
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Audrey "Jean" Sides
December 24, 1927-September 15, 2021
LA PORTE CITY-Audrey "Jean" Sides, 93, of La Porte City, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 at La Porte City Specialty Care. She was born Dec. 24, 1927, in Garrison, daughter of Harry and Irene Cross Merchant. She attended Garrison Schools and graduated from La Porte City High School in 1945. She received her teaching certificate in 1947 and obtained her bachelors degree in 1954, both from Iowa State Teachers College. She married Harold E. Sides Dec. 27, 1952, in La Porte City; he died June 20, 1995. She taught in Radcliffe and Van Horne before marrying. She then taught at La Porte City Junior High School for many years until teaching Title 1 Reading in the elementary school, retiring in 1992. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, La Porte City, and sang in the choir. She was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and held all offices – more than once or twice. She volunteered with the La Porte City Senior Center and Council on Aging. In 2013, she received the Governor's Volunteer Award. Survived by two daughters, Jackie (Melford) Sides Garvin, Byron Center, MI, and Terri (Rick) Calhoon, Buckingham; two sons, Earl (Kathy) Sides, Rock Rapids, and John (Heidi) Sides, Edina, MN; eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Preceded by parents and husband; three brothers, Clyde, Myron, and Charles Merchant (in infancy); and three sisters, Kay Jensen, Maxine Kearns, and Marion Foss. Funeral Services 10:30 am Monday, Sept. 20 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with burial in West View Cemetery, both La Porte City; Visitation: 4-6 pm Sunday, Sept. 19 at the church with a 6:00 p.m. Eastern Star service. Memorials: St. Paul United Methodist Church, La Porte City. La Porte City Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visit www.KearnsFuneralService.com to leave condolences.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/jesse-yokem-obituary?id=23285403
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Jesse William Yokem
November 4, 1954-September 8, 2021
CEDAR FALLS-Jesse William Yokem, 66, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, IA. He was born November 4, 1954 in Pittsfield, IL, the son of Jesse and Betty (Kattelman) Yokem. Jesse married Vicki (Cue) Fitzhugh on July 3, 1988. She preceded him in death on January 2, 2016. Jesse worked at Black Hawk Engineering and later at Iowa Beef Processers in both Storm Lake, IA and Waterloo. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings, fishing, cooking and spending time with his family and friends.
Jesse is survived by his step son, Jeff Fitzhugh of Des Moines, IA and his step daughter, Kristi (Wade) Christensen of Brandon, SD; his step daughter-in-law, Renee Fitzhugh, of Des Moines; five step grandchildren, Brendan Fitzhugh and Jordyn, Abby, Carter & Steeven Christensen; three brothers, Charles "Chuck" Yokem, Craig Yokem & Carl Yokem, all of Cedar Falls, and his sister, Grace Amy (Matt) Shook, of Janesville, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife; a sister, Jodie Gutknecht, and his sister-in-law, Julie Yokem.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with burial at Hillside Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 4-7:00 p.m. Friday, and one hour before service Saturday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.
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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wcfcourier/name/george-zucker-obituary?id=23288848
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George Kenneth Zucker
September 16, 2021
George Kenneth Zucker, 81, of Tampa, Florida, formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away peacefully September 16, 2021. He retired to Tampa in 2004 after 36 years in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
He was a lifelong educator and spent most of his career teaching Spanish at University of Northern Iowa. He was well known for his contributions to Sephardic studies and Judaism.
George was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years Jane and his oldest son Craig. He is survived by his brothers Elliott (Margaret) and Leslie (Jeanne), sons Eric (Cathy), David (Lezlie), daughter Lisa, and Craig's widow Kim, and her children Lucus and Garrett, as well as grandchildren Aaron (Jenna), Dara, and Charlie.
A memorial service will be held Sunday September 19 at Beth Am Synagogue 2030 W Fletcher Ave, Tampa, Florida at 2pm Florida time, 1pm Iowa time.
For those joining on Zoom, please use Meeting ID: 802 978 8051 Password: 2030 or click https://bit.ly/3a7XD6c to join the service.
A private interment will follow in Iowa.
The family asks that you not send flowers, but instead make a donation in George's memory to OLLI, which honors his passion for education and knowledge.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave NEC 116, Tampa, FL 33620-6758, USFSeniors.org
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/david-hyde-pierce-shines-behind-the-chef-star-in-julia/article_83200bea-ca06-56de-a743-76f470b0282d.html
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NEW YORK (AP) — David Hyde Pierce returns to TV this spring playing a familiar part — an erudite man who adores fine food, wine and art. But this has nothing to do with “Frasier.”
Pierce is playing Peter Child, husband and chief cheerleader of Julia Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her TV series and books.
“These are two people of great depth, of great complexity of character, who found each other, and I think we all are luckier for it,” said Pierce. “I really loved Paul, having come to study him.”
HBO Max’s eight-part “Julia” traces its culinary heroine’s unlikely arc from home kitchen cook to national icon, all the while supported by her husband, a diplomat-turned-artist. “You’re teaching Americans how to taste life, and they’re listening; that’s (expletive) huge,” he tells her.
Viewers will see Peter Child evolve from a snob who refuses to allow a television set in their home to a man eager to hold cue cards for his wife on the kitchen set of “The French Chef.”
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“I think about him in comparison to the character of Niles on 'Frasier' because they're two characters who obviously both love food and wine and stuff like that,” said Pierce. “But I think of Niles as a person who lived in spite of his body. And Paul is a man who lives completely in his body.”
Opposite him is Sarah Lancashire as the title character, nailing Julia’s vocal and physical tics, the clucking and cooing, lurching movements and sudden gales of laughter. They make a fascinating couple — she impulsive and charmingly awkward and he more introspective and careful.
Viewers will instantly recognize Julia, but may know nothing of her husband, who didn't make appearances on her show and whose influence is more subtle. Take her kitchen: Paul was the one who drew outlines of every single pot and pan on a pegboard so that they would always go back to the right place.
“That combination of Julia’s spontaneity and his meticulousness really was part of what made them such a great pair,” said Pierce.
The cast also includes Isabella Rossellini, Fran Kranz, Brittany Bradford, James Cromwell, Jefferson Mays, Judith Light and “Cheers” alumna Bebe Neuwirth.
Created by Daniel Goldfarb, the series examines workplace politics, feminism and the downside of celebrity. The role of Peter is also an interesting model of what it means to be an ally. “It can’t be easy having a woman steal your shine,” he is told.
“It was just as Julia's star is ascending when his was starting to dim,” said Pierce. “It is a credit to him and a really important part of the relationship to examine that, especially at that time given men’s roles and women’s roles.”
Goldfarb, a co-producer of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” said the marriage was unusual in that it evolved, starting in the old-fashioned 1950s and growing into a modern partnership that was playful and lusty.
“It’s one of the great love stories of all time,” he said. "It sort of grew and changed, and they play different roles and different times of their life."
Chris Keyser, the showrunner and executive producer, credits Paul Child with bravery for being able to see that the world was changing and going along with it.
“This is something I think very moving about figures of history who bridge two different periods and are able to do that,” he said. “We find him really moving and remarkable.”
The project was filmed during the pandemic, making research challenging. Paul Child died in 1994 and Pierce was unable to access the couples' cache of letters and writings at Harvard University because of the shutdown. But librarians read excerpts to him over the phone, and Pierce consulted Paul's twin brother's memoir.
Pierce found in Paul Child a complex man, a one-time merchant marine, who had a black belt in judo, played the violin and had a fear of heights. He had once gotten a job in Paris repairing stained glass in cathedrals. He recognized talent and cheered it — especially when it came from his wife.
“He realizes suddenly that she’s a star. The things that he sees in her — the thing that makes her just glow in his eyes — is something that is bigger than both of them,” said Pierce.
Later episodes deal with the costs of that pivot, the toll it takes when someone willingly steps behind their partner and lets their own dreams slip aside.
“There are moments when you sit by yourself and look at your life and think, ’Wow, am I done? I mean, I love doing this, but are all those achievements that I started to make behind me now?'” Pierce said.
Those kind of questions have real relevance as we emerge from the pandemic, Pierce said. The pause has given us a chance to ask deep questions about where we are going and what we really want to do.
"COVID made so many people have to take a step back from their lives. Many people, after two years plus, looked at their lives that they were just taking for granted and were suddenly thinking, ‘Is this what I want to be doing? Should I explore something else?’ So there’s a funny parallel there.”
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A police lieutenant killed on duty in Pennsylvania was one month away from retirement when a man suspected of breaking into a family member's home opened fire on responding officers, authorities said Friday.
Lebanon City Police Lt. William Lebo and three other uniformed officers were met with immediate gunfire when they entered the home on Forest Street, Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said at a news conference.
Two other officers were injured and remain hospitalized. The suspect, 34-year-old Travis Shaud of Lebanon, was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Graf said Shaud had a record of domestic assaults as well as mental health issues.
“Family attempts to intervene, to provide assistance, were met with his utter resistance," she said.
Shaud had previously lived in the home but not for some years, she said. A man listed as a co-owner of the home declined comment when reached by phone early Friday.
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Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said the injured officers are Ryan Adams, 34, and Derek Underkoffler, 32, both with seven years on the force. Lebo had planned to retire May 1 after 40 years with the department.
A family member arrived home after work Thursday and realized Shaud had broken into the rear of his home, so he called police, Graf said.
“When police attempted to enter the residence, four officers encountered immediate gunfire,” Graf said. Shaud used a gun from the home to shoot at police, Graf said.
Officers returned fire and Shaud was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not said who shot who and did not take questions about what Graf called an ongoing investigation at news conferences Thursday and Friday.
“As one can imagine, it's clearly a traumatic event,” Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said Thursday night. “Our guys are strong, but we're human and we have families.”
Lebanon resident Angelo Gonzalez, 17, was working at a pizzeria down the road from the shooting when he said he saw “cop car after cop car flying down the street.”
“Then we heard something and weren’t sure what it was and the street filled up with cops and ambulance in a matter of 15 min,” Gonzalez said in a text message.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/what-is-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve/article_19bec683-6b82-5f48-9f67-8347509ac515.html
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DALLAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is again dipping into the nation's petroleum stockpile to try to corral rising energy prices.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden ordered the daily release of 1 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months. Biden will also ask Congress to penalize oil and gas companies that lease public land but aren't producing energy.
The administration hopes that tapping the petroleum reserve will buy time and tamp down gasoline prices long enough until domestic producers can boost output.
Global oil prices were rising even before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. When Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports in early March, he acknowledged it would come at a cost to American consumers.
This is the third time Biden has turned to the strategic petroleum reserve in a little over four months. Back in November, he ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil. Then, in his state of the union speech in March, Biden announced another 30 million barrels as part of a multi-nation effort to boost the oil supply.
Tapping the reserve among the few things a president can do alone to try to control inflation, which makes Americans poorer and often creates a political liability for the party in control of the White House.
Tyre Sampson, 14, was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and over 300 pounds. Lawyers for his family want to know if the park was negligent in allowing someone his size on the ride.
His father and stepmother said they’re learning disturbing details about Tyre Sampson's final moments. “What I’m hearing is his friend was talking to him. He was like … ‘The thing’s not pushing down, you know what I’m saying? And if I don’t make it through then tell my mom and dad I love ’em.’”
A former Montana Tech football player who admitted raping two women in Butte will do no prison time and could get the crime expunged from his record if he stays out of trouble and meets other requirements for six years.
The mother of a West High School junior wants her daughter, who has Down syndrome, to complete her senior year, while the district is citing policy that says the soon-to-be 19-year-old is too old.
Things to know today: The fallout from Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at Oscars; Zelenskyy's latest plea; slowly falling gas prices. Get caught up this Monday morning.
A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and high winds ripped across the Deep South overnight, killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle.
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