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https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/wcso-man-arrested-after-crashing-stolen-truck-into-river-leaving-pregnant-woman-behind/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man accused of evading police Wednesday by crashing a stolen truck into the Tualatin River and allegedly leaving a six-month pregnant woman to fend for herself, has now been arrested.
Officers with the Hillsboro Police Department found 32-year-old Jonathan Michael Laura and arrested him for “unrelated crimes” Thursday, according to authorities.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office had been actively searching for Laura following Wednesday’s incident, during which police said he refused to pull over the stolen 1992 Nissan pickup before he drove the vehicle into the water and swam to shore.
Deputies quickly rescued the pregnant woman who was the passenger, as she had reportedly told them she could not swim.
After being arrested for unrelated crimes, Laura was then sent to the Washington County Jail where deputies also charged him with eight charges in connection to the incident yesterday.
In addition to his other crimes, Laura now faces the following charges:
- Unlawful use of a motor vehicle
- Possession of a stolen vehicle
- Attempt to elude – felony
- Attempt to elude – misdemeanor
- Reckless driving
- Driving while revoked – misdemeanor
- Reckless endangering
- Criminal mischief in the first degree
No other information was immediately available.
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https://www.koin.com/news/animals/dozens-of-dogs-have-been-at-oregon-humane-society-for-up-to-a-year/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Dozens of dogs requiring special or unique homes have been waiting at the Oregon Humane Society for up to a year, and the shelter hopes hosting public walk-throughs will create some love-at-first-sight moments for their future owners.
Oregon Humane Society is currently open for the public to walk through Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. People can also view pets and schedule an appointment online.
Adoptions are still by appointment only, but Oregon Humane Society’s Customer Care Manager Eleena Fikhman said they can typically schedule a same-day meeting if a client comes in.
Oregon Humane Society has more than 50 dogs available for adoption. Of those, dozens have been waiting up to a year to find a home. There is never a time limit for how long a pet can stay at Oregon Humane Society. However, the shelter says the interest in dogs requiring special or unique homes has diminished and not kept pace with the growing need from the community and shelter partners.
“We know Portland loves dogs and we are hoping that members of our community will step up to open their heart and homes to some of these special pets,” Fikhman said.
One of the dogs available for adoption is Lola, who was rescued as a stray after Hurricane Ida in September 2021.
Another is Luca, who’s been at OHS since March 2021 and is part of the Behavior Modification Program. He’s been working with trainers to learn new skills to be successful in a home.
Peanut is originally from Afghanistan and was brought to the U.S. in 2021. She’s looking for a special home that will provide patience and lots of activity.
For anyone who’s unable to adopt a dog at this time, OHS asks people to consider sponsoring a pet, making a tribute gift, or purchasing an item from the OHS Wish List.
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https://www.koin.com/news/crime/ppb-searching-for-suspect-involved-in-car-part-theft-assault-in-portland/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is searching for a man that allegedly assaulted another man after attempting to steal car parts on Thursday morning.
PPB says that the suspect is facing felony charges.
Just before 6:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance outside a house in the 8900 block of North Kimbrell Ave., located in the Portsmouth Neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found a 64-year-old man injured, and multiple neighbors holding down a female suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Kaylynn M. Spencer, who was arrested on-scene.
According to police, when the victim saw someone trying to steal car parts from his vehicle, he went outside to confront the man, which led to an altercation. Spencer, who is believed to be an accomplice of the suspect, allegedly got involved and struck the victim with a metal file. Police say that Spencer was held down by a group of people in the neighborhood, including the victim’s wife, until officers arrived.
The victim suffered injuries to his head in the altercation according to police, but declined to go the hospital.
Spencer was booked into Multnomah County Jail on charges of second degree assault, second degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon. Police are still attempting to locate the male suspect.
If anyone has information about this case or the identity of the suspect, please e-mail crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 22-85658.
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https://www.koin.com/news/crime/woman-found-guilty-of-murdering-two-men-in-clackamas-county-last-year/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon woman has been found guilty of killing two men in unincorporated Clackamas County last year.
Forty-year-old Amanda Kate Gregson shot and killed 56-year-old Jerry Dale Burns of Milwaukie, and 25-year-old Connor James Gaines of Happy Valley at the Reflections apartment complex on SE Causey Loop during a late-night encounter on March 20, 2021.
Court documents show Gregson fled the crime scene before police could arrive, though she was later arrested at the nearby Monarch Hotel where she was reportedly knocking on doors and saying, “people were after her.”
Although Gregson and her lawyer argued that her actions were in self-defense, and she went on record stating she “did not kill those people in cold blood,” during her original arraignment – court documents suggest Gregson’s story was inconsistent and changed many times.
In a February motion, Clackamas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owen wrote, “Additional investigation revealed that the defendant had been acting paranoid in the months leading up to the murders, had been consistently using methamphetamine, and frequently carried a firearm.”
Court documents show Gregson’s mother Deedee Guyette owned the apartment, and later told investigators her daughter did not have a permanent residence and had been staying there when Burns and Gains came over to visit.
According to her mother’s account, Gregson walked in and shot both victims “without warning.”
An investigation determined Gregson’s paranoid behaviors and mental state were worsened by her methamphetamine use.
After the four-day trial, Gregson was found guilty on all charges, including two counts of first-degree murder in the first-degree and two counts of second-degree murder.
Gregson’s sentencing hearing is April 12.
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https://www.koin.com/news/florida-gop-considers-revoking-disney-worlds-right-to-self-rule-over-dont-say-gay-opposition/
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis floated the idea Thursday of changing Florida law to revoke the Walt Disney Company’s right of self-rule in the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the Florida-based seat of the Magic Kingdom.
In the days since DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill into law, which opponents call the “Don’t Say Gay” law, opposition to the legislation by Disney has provoked talk of using state legislation to take away the company’s ability to self-govern its lands. Disney first got the right of legal self-control in 1967, with passage of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act.
According to historical documents from the Reedy Creek Improvement District, then-Florida Gov. Claude Kirk signed the RCID Act into law in May 1967, creating two municipalities: Bay Lake and Reedy Creek, which was later renamed Lake Buena Vista. The location, nestled between Orange and Osceola counties, would later become the site where Walt Disney World was built.
The RCID Charter created a 25,000-acre of land as a special taxing district. At the time, it was considered remote and uninhabitable, but now is the site of one of the busiest theme parks in the United States.
To make Disney’s plan happen, the area had to get special privileges from the state of Florida to essentially run itself.
“In 1967, the Florida State legislature, working with Walt Disney World Company, created a special taxing district – called the Reedy Creek Improvement District – that would act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government,” RCID says on its website.
Enter an era of the Magic Kingdom living a life of self-determination and self-rule.
Now, following the company’s public opposition to HB 1557, DeSantis and other state lawmakers have said they’re considering revoking that charter through a repeal of the RCIA, potentially ending Disney’s right to rule in Central Florida.
State Representative Spencer Roach, R-Fort Myers, tweeted on March 30 that he met with colleagues for a second time to discuss repeal of the decades-old law. In Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday, DeSantis said he wanted to repeal it but not just over the current political fight, and not just the privilege that Disney currently enjoys.
The governor’s words are reminiscent of the state’s 2021 “Big Tech Censorship Crackdown,” in which a law was passed to allow lawsuits against companies like Facebook and Twitter over banning political candidates and equating it to a fight over free speech.
In his speech in Ponte Vedra Beach, DeSantis said the point was to take away the power of “woke” corporations from interfering in Florida politics.
“I would not say that would be retaliatory. The way I view it is there are certain entities that have exerted a lot of influence through corporate means to generate special privileges in the law. I don’t think we should have special privileges in the law at all,” DeSantis said. “Some of these things have developed over the years. I had to deal with this last year, when we passed a law last year to protect Floridians from big tech censorship. The idea was to let them be able to sue under the ‘Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act,’ protect political candidates from being de-platformed, stuff that was good. And it’s being litigated in the courts, which we knew it would. But at the 11th hour, the Legislature slips in a provision in that law that said ‘If you operate a theme park, it doesn’t apply to you.’ And that was meant solely to protect Disney.”
DeSantis said when the provision was added, he had to decide whether to veto the bill and “throw the baby out with the bath water” or allow it to become law as-is, with the protection for theme parks. To be clear, Disney is not the only theme park in Florida. Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Legoland, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove are all in the state, to name a few.
DeSantis claims he isn’t just targeting Disney over his administration’s current disagreements with the company.
“I don’t think it’s retaliatory, I just think that Disney’s posturing has alienated a lot of people now. And so, the political influence they’re used to wielding, I think has dissipated, so the question is ‘Why would you want to have special privileges in the law, at all?'” DeSantis said. “And I don’t think that we should. But it’s not a matter of acting like those were really great policies. I think that those were policies over decades that were embedded in Florida’s law, largely because they wielded a lot of influence. I think because they’ve been able to do that over the years, I think that’s why they’ve gotten so, that’s one of the reasons they’ve got so far over their skis on this parental rights stuff.”
He said he thinks Disney is used to getting their way, and not having lawmakers stop them. DeSantis said he thinks that’s different now.
“They’re not used to having people that will stand in their way and say ‘Actually, the state of Florida’s going to be governed by the best interests of its people in Florida,” DeSantis said. “We’re certainly not going to bend a knee to woke executives in California. That is not the way the state is going to be run.”
Other than the “big tech carve-out” from 2021, he said he’s never given Disney anything while he’s been governor. DeSantis said he wanted to “reevaluate any special privileges of the law,” not just Disney’s.
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https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/hhs-regional-director-examines-oregons-covid-response-salem/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon is getting a closer look from federal government leaders when it comes to how well the state did with the COVID vaccine roll-out.
On Thursday, the regional director of Health and Human Services, Ingrid Ulrey, met with Salem Health about efforts at the state fairgrounds. Ulrey’s also in Salem to thank the hundreds of providers and workers who were on the front lines.
The Salem fairgrounds was the first mass clinic for COVID shots that was up and running quickly.
On January 7, 2021, Salem Health and the National Guard, provided help to get it running on a large scale — as people drove from the Portland metro area, and other places a couple hours away in the rush to get their first vaccine shots at the start of the pandemic.
KOIN 6 News found out hundreds of thousands of COVID vaccines were given at the fairgrounds, which is still offering shots, boosters and testing.
On Friday, Ulrey will head to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland to learn more about the COVID research underway there.
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https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/oha-reports-dip-in-covid-19-cases-deaths-in-thursdays-report/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced 320 new COVID cases along with five COVID-related deaths in Thursday’s report.
This brings Oregon’s total case count to 704,152 and the state’s death toll to 7,144.
OHA also announced Thursday is the last day the Healthcare Surge Unified Command team will be in operation after starting in August 2021 to help with the delta and omicron surges in the state.
The agency noted the team began to demobilize in February after hospitalizations decreased and some team members will continue to work through June.
Across Oregon, there are 108 hospitalized patients with COIVD-19 — an increase by four from Wednesday’s report. OHA also noted there are 17 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, an increase by two from yesterday’s report.
According to OHA, 3,176,337 people have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 2,884,888 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.
The seven-day running average is now 1,929 doses per day.
Cases by county
Benton (15), Clackamas (32), Clatsop (2), Columbia (1), Coos (5), Crook (1), Deschutes (17), Douglas (2), Grant (2), Harney (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (16), Josephine (7), Klamath (2), Lake (1), Lane (38), Linn (9), Marion (17), Multnomah (88), Polk (8), Sherman (1), Umatilla (3), Wasco (1), Washington (44) and Yamhill (6).
Oregon’s 7,140th COVID-19-related death is a 35-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Feb. 12 and died Feb. 15 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 7,141st COVID-19-related death is a 44-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Feb. 2 and died Feb. 6 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 7,142nd COVID-19-related death is a 57-year-old man from Linn County who died Oct. 5, 2021, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 7,143rd COVID-19-related death is a 45-year-old woman from Josephine County who died Sept. 18, 2021, at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco, Wash. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 7,144th COVID-19-related death is a 75-year-old man from Jackson County who died Jan. 15 at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. He had underlying conditions.
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https://www.koin.com/news/ikea-will-pay-you-to-return-old-furniture-at-select-stores/
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(ABC4) – If you’re tired of looking at old furniture that you bought last year from IKEA, the retailer has announced that it will now pay customers to bring back old furniture.
The IKEA buyback and resell option has now been made available for 37 of its U.S. stores, including Portland. As a way to help pave a path toward sustainable living, the company has brought back the initiative that was launched late last year.
How does it work?
You start by filling out a form on IKEA’s website in order to receive an emailed quote of the buyback value for your furniture. Customers are asked to bring a copy of their quote, buyback number, and fully assembled furniture to your participating IKEA store where an employee will assess the furniture’s buyback value.
When you buyback, you will get store credit and your furniture gets a second life in the As-Is department.
What are the buyback requirements?
According to IKEA, the following categories of products are not currently eligible for the furniture buy-back service:
- Non-IKEA products
- Home furnishing accessories including lighting and textiles
- Add-on units and componentry
- Products that have been used outside including outdoor furniture
- Mattresses and bad textiles (such as blankets and mattress toppers)
- Kitchens including bench tops, cabinets, and fronts
- Modular wardrobes and accessories
- Electrical appliances and products
- Chests of drawers
- “Hacked,” modified or painted products
- Non-assembled products
- Market Hall products (including small kitchen goods, art, rugs, and picture frames)
- Upholstered or leather products
- Sofas or armchairs
- Plants
- Items containing glass (including mirrors)
- Children’s and baby products (such as cribs, mattresses, and change tables)
- Beds and bed frames
The retailer said on its website that large quantities and commercially used items are exempt.
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https://www.koin.com/news/map-heres-where-marijuana-is-and-isnt-legal/
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(NEXSTAR) – While the House is expected to pass legislation this week to legalize marijuana, dozens of states already allow residents to access marijuana in various forms.
Thirty-seven states have already approved marijuana for medical use. Among those, nearly 20 have also cleared it for recreational use among adults.
Colorado and Washington were the first to approve adult-use recreational marijuana measures in 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Two years later, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia followed suit.
For 10 states, CBD and products low in THC are available despite marijuana not being legalized for medical or recreational use. And in just three states – Idaho, Nebraska, and Kansas – marijuana isn’t legal in any form.
The below map shows where states stand on the legalization of marijuana based on data from the NCSL.
In January, Idaho lawmakers moved forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar the legalization of marijuana in the state, despite all of its neighbors already having some sort of policy allowing residents to possess marijuana or products low in THC.
In Kansas, lawmakers are still mulling a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. According to Nexstar's KSNT, the bill awaits a committee's approval but has bipartisan support in the legislature. Next door in Nebraska, the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana organization is working to collect enough signatures to put medical cannabis on the November ballot, local news outlet KETV reports.
A 2021 Pew Research study found the vast majority of American adults - 91% - believe in legalizing marijuana in some capacity. Sixty percent support making marijuana legal for medical and recreational use while 31% support legalization for medical use only.
The House could pass its bill to legalize marijuana as early as Thursday. The bill would then go to the Senate, which recently passed a separate bill unanimously that expands scientific and medical research on marijuana and its compounds, according to The Hill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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https://www.koin.com/news/never-got-the-3rd-1400-stimulus-payment-heres-what-to-do-when-filing-taxes/
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(KTLA) – The IRS on Wednesday reminded tax filers to claim any missing third-round stimulus payment on their 2021 income tax return.
The tax season gives eligible people who never got the $1,400 payment the chance to claim it.
Since the IRS is no longer issuing the Economic Impact Payments, people who are missing a stimulus payment, or got less than the amount they’re eligible for, will have to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 or 2021 federal tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Most eligible people have already received their stimulus payments and won’t need to include anything about the payment when they file their 2021 tax return.
The IRS says it has issued more than 175 million third-round payments worth more than $400 billion to people across the country. Most of those payments were sent out in the spring and early summer of 2021.
Still, there are many who haven’t gotten their payments.
Authorities have identified 644,705 potentially eligible people who had not received payments totaling $1.6 billion, according to a report issued last week by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
What to do if you never received the third payment
The IRS encourages residents to double check their bank accounts first to make sure they never got the third payment, especially in early spring and summer of 2021.
People can also access their IRS Online Account to view the total amount of the third-round Economic Impact Payment issued to them. For married couples filing jointly, each person will need to log into their own online account.
Once people confirm they never got the payment, and their IRS online accounts show a payment amount greater than $0, or if they got a Notice 1444-C or Letter 6475, they should contact the IRS as soon as possible to see if a payment trace is needed.
But they do not need to wait until their trace is complete to file their 2021 tax return, officials said.
When completing the Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet, taxpayers have two options: either use the amount on the Letter 6475 (or EIP 3 amount from the online account) to calculate the recovery rebate credit amount on line 30, or use the amount of stimulus payment the taxpayer believes they received to calculate the rebate credit amount on line 30. (Details on that can be found here.)
Those who contact the IRS to trace the stimulus payment amount will receive notification of the results. If it is found that the taxpayer didn’t get the money, the IRS will adjust the recovery rebate credit amount on the tax return and issue any refund.
If people make a mistake calculating the recovery rebate credit and claim an amount on line 30 for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, the IRS will have to correct the amount and send a notice about the changes made. If that happens, there may be a delay in processing the return, officials said.
What if I already filed my taxes?
An amended return may be needed to claim the credit if IRS records show no payment was issued.
For eligible people who didn’t claim a recovery rebate credit on their 2021 tax return (so line 30 is blank or $0), they will need to file a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return to claim the remaining amount of stimulus money — if IRS records don’t show that they were issued a payment.
This includes people who think they didn’t get the full amount of their third-round Economic Impact Payment because their circumstances in 2021 were different than they were in 2020.
People trying to figure out if they should amend their original tax return can use this online tool.
More details on claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can be found here.
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https://www.koin.com/news/washington-dc/bill-seeks-to-put-cap-on-overdraft-fees/
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – For some people, overdraft fees are a frustrating inconvenience. For others, they pose crippling costs. Some lawmakers now want to change how they’re charged altogether.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation called the “Overdraft Protection Act.” The bill includes provisions to cap the amount and number of fees a bank can charge.
“My bill tries to cut down on these unfair and deceptive practices,” the New York Democrat said.
Advocates like Elyse Crawford-Hicks with Americans for Financial Reform say overdraft fees hit low-income families and people of color the hardest.
“Overdraft fees are paid the most by people who can least afford them,” Crawford-Hicks said.
Others say over-drafting is a useful service because it can function like a short-term loan. Paul Kundert is the CEO of UW Credit Union, which recently reduced their overdraft fees and put more limits on how they charge them.
“When prices are fair, we believe consumers do benefit from access to the credit provided by overdraft fees,” Kundert said.
Recently, major banks like Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Bank of America have made changes themselves, by reducing their overdraft fees or eliminating them altogether.
Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, says that demonstrates the legislation is unnecessary.
“The market is naturally, naturally taking care of the issue without government intervention. And we do not need more rules from Washington,” Williams said.
Because banks make billions of dollars in revenue from overdraft fees, George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law Todd Zywicki argues the proposed changes would cost consumers.
“We’ll see higher bank fees, we’ll see higher minimum monthly deposits as basically insurance against over-drafting and we will see a loss of access to free checking,” Zywicki said.
Lawmakers like Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., are promising to continue pushing for the reforms.
“How can we perform such an abusive and predatory practice that punishes people simply for being poor?” Pressley said.
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https://www.koin.com/northwest-grown/northwest-grown-chef-earl-ninsom-a-force-in-portlands-food-scene/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland is home to different types of Thai food and Chef Earl Ninsom is a big part of why the city has so many unique options.
Ninsom has opened several restaurants in the Rose City and is now being considered for a James Beard Award. From collaborations with other chefs to creating different concepts of his own, he’s quite the force in the Portland food scene.
“The food in this kitchen is similar to what you’d find in the southern Thailand city of Hat Yai, which is also the name of this restaurant,” Ninsom said.
The menu includes fried chicken, roti, curry, Southern Pad Thai and brisket curry. Ninsom said these are influenced by where his dad’s side of the family lived.
“So this is something that I grew up seeing every year… every time I go visit my families,” he said.
That personal connection to food is something you can taste in each of his several Portland restaurants — and now the chef and businessman is up for the “Outstanding Restaurateur” James Beard Award.
His impact on the city’s food scene started back in 2008 at a Thai restaurant in the St. John’s area. The next year saw a shift in Ninsom’s focus.
“I just feel like with what’s going on in Portland, as far as like Thai cuisine, we [were] doing the same thing everywhere back then,” he explained. “It’s not something that Thai people wanted to eat.”
Motivated to make more creative dishes, he opened Mee-sen Thai Eatery. Top chefs dined there, which created lots of culinary connections for Ninsom.
Then came Paadee and eventually Langbaan, which opened inside Paadee. “Langbaan” actually means “back of house” in Thai.
As the years went on, Ninsom’s presence in Portland continued to grow. Now in 2022 — the chef is still expanding. Phuket Cafe just opened in Northwest Portland — and while Langbaan closed in February, Ninsom plans to re-open it inside this spot later on.
With all these delicious spots, some are wondering if he’s trying to build some kind of empire.
“Sort of, sort of — but I didn’t think of it that way,” he explained. “[It’s] sort of like a place that people can come to work and not be not getting [a] sort of torture, are not happy.”
He says that’s because it’s about more than just serving food and drinks. Ninsom stresses the importance of having a healthy work environment where people are treated with kindness and respect.
“We wanna make sure people feel safe coming to work,” Ninsom said. “And eventually, your happiness is why you doing what you do.”
Of course, having all these businesses under his belt is very demanding. Ninsom told KOIN 6 News he may take a big step back to spend more time with his family and kids in the next several years — which is why he created a program where he’s empowering his employees to grow, even work on a path to potential ownership.
We’ll find out on June 13 if Ninsom wins the James Beard Award, once the winners are announced in Chicago. That will be a big night for two other Portland chefs as well — Carlo Lamagna and Thomas Pisha-Duffy are both up for Best Chef in our region.
For more information about the James Beard Awards, visit this website.
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https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/community-members-hold-vigil-for-man-killed-in-ne-portland-shooting/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Community members held a vigil for a man who was killed in a shooting Monday night in northeast Portland.
39-year-old Shaani Mohamed was found shot several times near his car at northeast Milton and 82nd.
Community members at Wednesday night’s vigil said he fled violence to come live peacefully in America. Mohamed was the father of eight children and was working as an Uber driver.
During the vigil, his community also called for information from police to comfort his family.
A GoFundMe account has been created for those who want to help Mohamed’s family.
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https://www.koin.com/news/how-much-oil-will-be-left-in-the-us-strategic-reserve-after-bidens-release/
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(NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden is ordering the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While gas prices were already on the rise at the start of 2022, they jumped dramatically following Russia’s invasion, AAA shows. They’ve since stabilized, but the national average remains well above $4 (AAA is reporting the average for a gallon of regular gas sits at $4.22 as of Thursday). Energy prices have also spiked as the U.S. and its allies rolled out a plethora of sanctions against the Russian government and oligarchs.
The planned release from the strategic reserve is a way to increase supplies as a bridge until oil companies ramp up their own production, with administration officials estimating that domestic production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.
What is the strategic reserve?
It’s the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil, according to the Department of Energy. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, was created after the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, according to Bloomberg, and is stored in deep and heavily guarded underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast.
The strategic reserve can house up to 713.5 million barrels of crude oil but previously had a capacity of 727 million barrels. The most it has ever held was 726.6 million barrels. As of March 25, it’s holding more than 568 million barrels.
Tapping the reserve is among the few things a president can do alone to try to control inflation. According to the Department of Energy, the reserve is always “drawdown ready,” meaning it can release crude oil to the market within 13 days of the president’s direction.
Biden’s six-month timeframe will begin in May, according to a Bloomberg report, meaning as many as 180 million barrels will be released from the strategic reserve. That means that even if the U.S. doesn’t add any barrels to the reserve, and no additional releases are ordered, there would still be roughly 388 million barrels in the emergency stock.
This release of oil reserves is the largest the world has ever seen, a statement from the White House reads. The Department of Energy will use the revenue from this release to restock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in future years, once prices have fallen sufficiently.
Ultimately, officials hope the release of reserves will create pressures that may lead to reduced oil prices, though Biden has already twice ordered releases from the strategic reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets. During a Thursday press conference, Biden said the price at the pump could come down anywhere between 10 cents and 35 cents per gallon.
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s Sydney Kalich contributed to this report.
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https://www.koin.com/news/civic-affairs/portland-charter-commission-advances-proposal-to-reform-city-government/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland’s Charter Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to advance a proposal on a new form of government for the city.
The new system would have four districts that would each have three elected leaders – bringing a city council to twelve members.
Those votes would be done with ranked choice voting and the mayor would no longer be a vote on city council.
This new system would also have a city manager nominated by the mayor and approved by the council. That manager would hire and fire bureau directors.
Additionally, the mayor would have executive authority but would not have veto authority.
This plan will now be sent to the city attorney to be written up. Then, in May, there will be more time for changes and public comment before it’s finalized in June.
In July, they and the city council will decide whether to send it to the ballot where the city will vote whether to approve those changes in November.
“This proposal will make Portland’s government more accountable, transparent and effective,” Charter Commission member Candace Avalos said in a press release.
Avalos, who co-chaired the Form of Government Committee continued, “it positions us to get Portland moving in the right direction and address our most pressing challenges – expanding affordable housing, mitigating gun violence, building climate resilience and improving the city’s infrastructure.”
Charter Commission member Becca Uherbelau, who chairs the Community Engagement Committee, noted “the Charter Commission proposal was truly created by – and for – Portlanders.” Uherbelau added “I’m proud that these recommendations are responsive to Portlanders’ calls for change.”
Debbie Kitchin, current co-chair of the Commission, said “Portlanders recognize we are at an inflection point – this is the moment for change.” She added “a decade from now, Portlanders can look back on 2022 and feel proud that we made positive change happen.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/crime/2-teens-arrested-after-shooting-in-se-portland/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two teenagers were arrested on Thursday when police say they began shooting out of a vehicle in SE Portland before being pursued by officers.
Police also confiscated two guns after making the arrest.
According to police, the two teenagers were spotted shooting from a vehicle near 115th and Powell. The Portland Police Bureau’s plane was able to track the vehicle and suspects to the area of SE 28th and Steele near Reed College.
There have been 360 reported shootings in Portland since the start of the year, of those, at least 100 people have been injured and 22 have been killed.
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https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/ne-gresham-roads-blocked-as-police-search-for-1-at-large-3-in-custody/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland police, assisted by Gresham police, have blocked off 172nd from Multnomah Drive to Northeast Glisan in Gresham while they search for a person who ran away from police.
On the scene, police told KOIN 6 News three people are in custody but they are still searching for another person.
Authorities have not said what led up to the incident.
This is a developing story.
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https://www.koin.com/news/portlanders-march-in-honor-of-trans-day-of-visibility/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The transgender pride flag was raised in front of Vancouver City hall on Thursday, as Mayor Ann McEnerny-Ogle recognized Transgender Day of Visibility, while activists in Portland held a march.
Members of Portland’s Democratic Socialists’ of America gathered at Shemanski Park to lead a peaceful march through downtown. The groups was calling for equity, especially after Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed state agencies to investigate cases of transgender children receiving gender affirming healthcare as child abuse last month.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee both offered statements of support for the transgender community.
“To trans people everywhere — especially trans kids, never forget that you are seen, you are loved, and you matter,” Brown said.
“In our consistent pursuit of equality and inclusion, Washington should always be a safe space for people to live freely. To our transgender community, we see you, we hear you and we value you,” Inslee added.
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https://www.koin.com/news/bruce-willis-health-issues-affected-work-for-years-report-says/
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(NewsNation) — Bruce Willis’ aphasia diagnosis was made public by his family Wednesday, but new reporting suggests the 67-year-old actor’s health decline, which caused him to step away from acting, was affecting his work on set for years.
Actress Lala Kent, who played Willis’ daughter in the 2020 film “Hard Kill,” told the Los Angeles Times in one scene they had together, Willis’ character had to protect her from villains.
Her back was to Willis in the scene, and the actor was supposed to deliver a line serving as Kent’s cue to duck before he fired the weapon at a movie “bad guy.”
But Willis ended up shooting the gun, which was filled with a blank, before delivering his line, and Kent didn’t duck.
The same thing happened on the second take. A crew member on set confirmed Kent’s claims, telling the Los Angeles Times that Willis “did fire the gun on the wrong line.”
The film’s armorer denied this happened, but other filmmakers who worked with Willis on his latest projects also said they were alarmed by his condition.
Aphasia can cause varying degrees of impairment in speech or understanding language. It currently affects more than 2 million Americans, the National Aphasia Association estimates.
Concerns about Willis’ health didn’t translate to him making fewer movies, though — he just had less work on set.
“Out of Death” director Mike Burns wrote an email to his screenwriter, asking him to cut down the movie stars’ part, and they filmed all of Willis’ scenes in one day.
Burns made another movie with Willis the next year, after being assured the actor was in better health.
But Burns told the Times that he didn’t end up thinking Willis did bitter.
“I thought he was worse,” he told the newspaper.
Another filmmaker said in the Los Angeles Times that he was so concerned about Willis’ mental state he approached the actor’s team. They told him it would be best to finish filming early.
Two crewmembers said Willis, while on set, asked them, “Why am I here?”
Many are wondering if Willis was using a body double, being fed lines through an earpiece or had scenes shortened. They also want to know why no one from his team stepped in earlier.
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https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/cases-dropping-after-three-weeks-with-no-masks-in-oregon/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s been three weeks since the masks have come off, and cases have gone down everywhere in Oregon.
Dr. Peter Graven, director of advanced analytics at OHSU, says that cases are at a low point in Oregon right now. There may be some increases, but he does not expect large ones.
“You may hear that I don’t sound too worried about it, that’s because I’m not too worried, because we have a lot of immunity that’s built up over time and that’s going to prevent this from becoming a big wave that we saw previously,” Graven said.
Graven also said that preventing deaths are hospital’s top priority and that a hospital stay usually precedes death from COVID-19.
“We only have so many hospital beds in Oregon, which happens to be the lowest number per capita in the country, so Oregon has always had a unique path it’s had to be on because we don’t have the ability to flex out and have a whole bunch of extra people in the hospital every day,” Graven said.
According to Graven, COVID isn’t following a full seasonal pattern yet, so he believes that the state will likely have a mild increase of B.A2, which is the new dominant variant and feels similar to Omicron when one is infected.
When asked if new variants are on track with becoming less viral and more endemic, Graven said that playing the long game can be hard to understand at this point.
“Omicron did follow the pattern of being more transmissible, milder and that’s something that viruses have a tendency towards. But on the other hand the virus is trying to find ways to escape your immunity,” Graven said.
Graven stated that if the state doesn’t see a big rise in cases over the next few weeks, then maybe masks weren’t slowing the spread as much as we thought and that’s something to learn from. He also said that he believes that masks did help because at Oregon’s peak Omicron levels were still lower than other places.
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https://www.koin.com/news/house-set-to-pass-marijuana-legalization-friday/
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(The Hill) — The House is set to pass legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide, an effort that has unprecedented levels of support in both chambers of Congress.
The bill is likely to pass the lower chamber largely along party lines, with most Republicans expected to oppose it.
Proponents argue that legalizing marijuana at the federal level will simply reflect most states’ existing policies that allow it in some form.
They also frame the effort as a way to end the disproportionate punishment of racial minorities and people in low-income communities for possessing and using weed.
And with an overwhelming majority of Americans — as much as 91 percent in a Pew Research Poll last year — backing marijuana legalization for at least medical purposes, Democrats believe it’s a winning issue for them ahead of November’s midterms.
“This landmark legislation is one of the most important criminal justice reform bills in recent history: delivering justice for those harmed by the brutal, unfair consequences of criminalization; opening the doors of opportunity for all to participate in this rapidly growing industry; and decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level so we do not repeat the grave mistakes of our past,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on the House floor on Thursday.
The bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, would eliminate criminal penalties associated with the drug and establish a process to expunge previous convictions from people’s criminal records.
It would further impose a federal tax on marijuana sales to fund programs meant to help communities negatively impacted by so-called “war on drugs” policies beginning in the 1970s.
Friday’s vote will mark the second time that House Democrats have advanced legislation to decriminalize marijuana, after previously passing the measure in December 2020.
But the last effort didn’t gain any traction in the Senate, which was controlled by Republicans at the time.
But now, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said that marijuana legalization is a top priority, and he has been working with fellow Democrats to unveil a bill this spring.
It’s not yet clear, however, if enough Senate Republicans, or even all Democrats, would get on board for the bill to clear a filibuster.
Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), whose states have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic, have both expressed skepticism about broadly legalizing marijuana.
Republicans opposed to the legislation say legalization would do more harm than good.
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), a former police officer, recalled having to make “devastating” visits to inform people that their family members had died in accidents resulting from drivers who were under the influence of drugs. He warned that legalizing weed could lead to an increase in people driving while high.
“We can all sit here and pretend that marijuana is a harmless drug, but it is not. It clouds your judgment and inhibits your reaction time,” Stauber said.
A smaller number of Republicans support legalizing marijuana.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has introduced her own bill to legalize cannabis products. But it currently only has three GOP cosponsors: Reps. Brian Mast (Fla.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) and Peter Meijer (Mich.).
Mace’s proposal would set an age limit of 21 for cannabis use. It would also impose a smaller tax on marijuana sales — 3 percent — than the bill Democrats are bringing to the House floor and establish a 10-year moratorium on any tax increases.
The Democratic bill would first establish a 5 percent tax that would gradually increase to 8 percent over five years.
At least 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia allow cannabis for adult, nonmedical use, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. More than twice as many states – 37 – allow pot for medical use.
“Americans have made their support for cannabis legalization abundantly clear, and states across the country have taken the lead on cannabis legalization. Now it is time for Congress to take action and finally put an end to the failed policy of prohibition,” said Toi Hutchinson, president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group.
Before final passage on Friday, the House will consider amendments from two centrist Democrats, Reps. Conor Lamb (Pa.) and Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), to study the impact of marijuana legalization on workplaces and schools, as well as the methods that law enforcement can use to determine whether a driver is impaired by weed.
Another amendment up for debate from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) would clarify that people could not be denied security clearances because of cannabis use.
While Schumer may face an uphill path to securing 60 votes for broad marijuana legalization in the Senate, proponents may have success with more narrow measures.
The Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent last week that would expand scientific and medical research on marijuana and its compounds.
The House has also passed legislation twice in the last year to allow legally operating cannabis businesses to use banking services and credit cards so that they no longer have to be cash-only.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, predicted that the banking legislation had a shot of securing enough bipartisan support in the Senate to pass.
Unlike the MORE Act, which only won the support of five Republicans in 2020, the measure to allow cannabis businesses to access banking services passed in the House passed handily by a vote of 321-101 just under a year ago.
“We have, I think, probably in the low 60s in the Senate,” Blumenauer said.
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https://www.koin.com/news/navy-to-name-ship-after-ruth-bader-ginsburg/
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(The Hill) – The U.S. Navy will name a future ship after the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced Thursday.
The T-AO 212 replenishment oiler will be referred to as the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“As we close out women’s history month, it is my absolute honor to name the next T-AO after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women’s rights and gender equality,” Del Toro announced.
“As Secretary of the Navy, it is my aim to ensure equality and eliminate gender discrimination across the Department of the Navy,” he continued, adding that Ginsburg was “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.”
Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and was well known for her advocacy for women’s rights in cases such as United States v. Virginia, which ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Virginia Military Institute to bar women from admissions.
Her daughter, Jane Ginsburg, will be the sponsor of the new ship, according to Del Toro.
- Zelensky: Two Ukrainian generals dismissed for being ‘traitors’Energy & Environment
- Biden announces largest-ever oil reserve release
Naval ships are regularly named after significant public figures. The lead ship of the eight T-AOs is named after former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who died in 2020.
T-AO fleet oilers, which primarily serve to transport fuel, have the capacity to carry up to 162,000 barrels of oil each.
The ships, designed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, stretch to 742 feet and possess double hulls to protect against oil spills. They can reach a speed of 20 knots.
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https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/kohr-explores-flowers-in-bloom-at-wooden-shoe-tulip-festival/
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by: Kohr Harlan Posted: Apr 1, 2022 / 05:50 AM PDT Updated: Apr 1, 2022 / 06:48 AM PDT SHARE PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The 38th annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is happening now, and peak bloom for the season is quickly approaching. Kohr Harlan checked out the field in Woodburn with a preview of the 40 acres of tulips.
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https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/several-alaska-airlines-flights-canceled-in-portland/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Those flying with Alaska Airlines in and out of Portland International Airport may get stuck at the airport on Friday.
There are ten flights canceled out of PDX, while another 11 flights headed to the Rose City are canceled. All of those are Alaska Airlines flights.
Alaska Airlines pilots are reportedly picketing across the country on Friday over contract negotiations. A spokesperson with Alaska Airlines told KOIN 6 News that a shortage of pilots has forced them to cancel some flights.
Those employees will be picketing at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel later in the day.
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https://www.koin.com/news/police-offered-to-arrest-will-smith-over-slap-oscars-producer-says/
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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.”
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.
In the longer version on “Good Morning America,” Parker said he initially believed the slap was an orchestrated bit. “I thought it was part of something that Chris and Will were doing on their own. I thought it was a bit. I wasn’t concerned at all.”
Packer said he went up to Rock after the incident. “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’” the producer asked Rock. “And he looked at me and he goes, ‘Yeah, I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,’ as only Chris can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much still in shock.”
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 he refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front-row seat onto 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.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/russians-leave-chernobyl-as-fighting-rages-elsewhere/
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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.
“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.
It was not immediately possible to verify the claim or images that were circulating on social media of the alleged attack. Russia has reported shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka, which are south of the besieged northern city of Chernihiv and located along one of the main supply routes between the city and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, according to Britain’s Defense Ministry.
Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counterattacks to the east and northeast of Kyiv, the ministry said.
Russian forces have subjected both Chernihiv and Kyiv to continued air and ground-launched missile strikes despite Moscow officials saying Tuesday they planned to reduce military activity in those areas.
Western officials said there were growing indications Russia was using its talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up strength for new attacks in the southeast.
“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.”
“There will be battles ahead,” he added.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators planned to resume talks via video on Friday, five weeks into a conflict that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine. There seemed little faith that the two sides would find agreement on their respective demands any time soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said conditions weren’t yet “ripe” for a cease-fire and he wasn’t ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until the negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a Thursday telephone conversation with the Russian leader.
Following a plea from Zelenskyy when he addressed Australian Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country would send mine-resistant armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
He said Friday the four-wheel drive Bushmaster vehicles, specifically requested by Zelenskyy, would be flown to Europe but did not say how many would be delivered 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.
In the encircled strategic port city of Mariupol, Russian forces on Thursday blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government.
Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands of residents managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week. But continued Russian attacks have repeatedly thwarted aid and evacuation convoys.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russians forces at Chernobyl had transferred control of the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster to the Ukrainians in writing. The last Russian troops left Chernobyl early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said.
Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it was seeking more information.
Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986.
Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it “seems unlikely” a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi was in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on Friday for talks with senior officials there about nuclear issues in Ukraine.
In addition to concerns about Chernobyl, nine of Ukraine’s 15 operational reactors are currently in use, including two at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya facility, the IAEA said.
Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along.
But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east.
At a Ukrainian military checkpoint outside Kyiv, soldiers and officers said they don’t believe Russian forces have given up on the capital.
“What does it mean, significantly scaling down combat actions in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas?” asked Brig. Gen. Valeriy Embakov. “Does it mean there will be 100 missiles instead of 200 missiles launched on Kyiv or something else?”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas.
“Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions,” Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and “we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.”
The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its “main goal” now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol.
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https://www.koin.com/news/whistleblower-hertz-using-police-as-repo-men-prompting-false-arrests/
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(NewsNation) — Rental car company Hertz is under fire from lawmakers after hundreds of customers say they were pulled over by police and told the rental car they were driving had been reported as stolen.
Those customers say they rented their cars legally and paid for them but were arrested and sometimes thrown in jail.
Now, a whistleblower is shedding light on what is going on behind the scenes at the company.
Daniel Stokes worked for Hertz for 11 years from 1996 till 2007 and was a branch and city manager in charge of 24 different Hertz locations.
“Being a city manager and knowing what the processes were and learning more about what actually happens to the people, quite honestly, it pissed me off that knowing that it was still going on,” Stokes told NewsNation investigative reporter Rich McHugh.
Stokes believes the way Hertz is managing this current process is wrong.
“I don’t see how it’s legal,” Stokes said.
He says Hertz should not be involving police in most of these cases, but a collections company, instead.
In cases where customers have rented a car and not returned it on the due date, “Hertz is actually using the police department as a repo company and the court system as a collection company,” Stokes said. “All of these supposed embezzlement by thefts are collection issues. They’re not actual thefts.”
In other cases, he says, the car reported as stolen has already been returned and the customer who returned it late has paid restitution. It’s the next person who rents the car, not knowing the car’s history, that gets in trouble, he said.
“It’s after the fact … people are getting arrested,” Stokes said. “That’s pretty jarring to a person’s life.” And he said that’s because Hertz simply isn’t working with computer systems or record keeping that are rapid enough to clear a car’s history before it’s returned to service, leading innocent people to be falsely arrested.
Stokes said he realized the severity of the problem when this happened to him. He says he was out on medical leave and had a Hertz car. He was arrested, prosecuted for embezzlement and ultimately fired as a result of it. He says he’s coming forward now because he has nothing to gain except for goodwill in telling people about this.
Hertz did not respond to NewsNation’s request for comment regarding Stokes’ claims.
The company has issued the same statement since last year, saying in part: “The vast majority of these cases involve renters who were many weeks or even months overdue returning vehicles and who stopped communicating with us well beyond the scheduled due date.”
Hundreds of people are suing Hertz over accusations of mental and emotional damages, including a former federal agent.
The former agent, who would prefer not to be named due to previous undercover work, said Oklahoma City police handcuffed him a few hours after he rented a car in May 2021. The encounter was captured on bodycam footage.
“I’m thinking to myself, this can’t be happening,” he said.
The former agent was later released but told he might get arrested again.
“I thought, ‘This is insanity,'” he said.
He returned the car the next morning and Hertz refunded his money.
Another man, Julius Burnside, was arrested and spent seven months in jail before a Georgia court, after looking at all the evidence, ruled that Burnside had in fact paid for his rental and dismissed the case entirely.
Francis Malofiy is an attorney representing more than 250 Hertz customers suing the company over false arrest. McHugh caught up with him on Capitol Hill as two senators — Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren — have now asked for a congressional investigation.
“Hertz made it clear that unless a court or Congress makes them change their ways, they’re not going to do so,” Malofiy said. “And that’s why we’ve met with many congressional offices and committees — to get broad support on both sides of the aisle.”
A court has ordered Hertz to turn over a database it was trying to block the release of. That database shows that they have reported about 3,000 cars stolen each year for the past few years.
“If the country knew how our taxpayer dollars and our police systems (are) being used … I promise you, I’m sure more legislators would probably involved in stopping this,” said the former agent.
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https://www.koin.com/weather/weather-blog/spring-feelings-may-fool-you-colder-wetter-weather-to-come/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Welcome to Friday, the first day of April. Flowers, pollen and love are in the air.
Thanks to fewer clouds overnight our morning temperatures are in the upper 30s, slightly below normal. Partly cloudy skies are expected by midday and daytime highs warm to the upper 50s.
All those good weather feelings will be doused with rain arriving after the dinner or commuter hour. Up to a tenth of an inch of rain is possible tonight. Sat looks pretty nice with highs in the upper 50s to 60°.
If I didn’t know any better I’d say we left our winter weather in the dust.
Errr, wrong. We have a robust storm brewing out in the Pacific which may arrive by Sunday night. Upwards of 1″ to 2″ of rain is anticipated by Monday night near PDX, 2-4″ for the coast, and 2-3 feet of snow over Mt. Hood with 6-8″ just below mountain passes. With blowing snow that would mean huge impacts on Cascade passes and resorts. Models for the 5,000′ level are advertising sustained winds of 70-80 mph across the Cascades. If you’re flying from anywhere in Asia back to PDX this would be one way to get home fast on a 180kt (200mph) jet stream. The average speed of a jet stream is about 110 mph.
Beach Hazards Statement for the weekend
WHAT…Sneaker waves possible.
WHERE…In Oregon, North Oregon Coast and Central Oregon Coast. In Washington, South Washington Coast.
WHEN…From late Saturday night through Sunday evening.
IMPACTS…Sneaker waves can surge high up the beach without warning, catching an inattentive individual off guard. They can run up significantly farther on a beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties as well as lifting or rolling extremely heavy logs. If you see someone swept into the sea do not swim in after them. Call 911 and keep an eye on them until help arrives.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS…While the greatest threat for sneaker waves at this time will likely occur Sunday, there will be an elevated threat of sneaker waves beginning today that will likely persist through the start of next week.
Those digging for Razor Clams or who will be visiting the beaches should remain vigilant.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Beach Hazards Statement is issued when sneaker waves create potentially life-threatening conditions in the surf zone. Caution should be used when in or near the water. Always keep an eye on the waves, and be especially watchful of children.
https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=PQR&wwa=beach%20hazards%20statement
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https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/hardesty-takes-full-responsibility-for-credit-card-debt/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty says she takes “full responsibility” after she failed to appear in court over credit card debt earlier this week.
Bank of America sued Commissioner Hardesty after she failed to pay $16,000 in overdue debt and fees. A circuit court judge issued default orders after Hardesty and her attorney were no-shows in court.
In a statement released Thursday night, Hardesty said she has made an initial payment and scheduled regular deductions from her wages to pay off the debt.
“I should have done more when I did not see any notice,” said Hardesty. “This is my mistake, and I take full responsibility. This was a personal failing and has no impact on my official responsibilities.”
Further, the commissioner said she regrets that her financial troubles are overshadowing the “good work we have done together for our city like Portland Street Response.”
Below is Hardesty’s full statement:
Earlier this week the Oregonian ran a follow-up on my $16,000 personal debt. I made an initial payment today, and have set up regular deductions from my wages to settle the matter. I should have done more when I did not see any notice. This is my mistake, and I take full responsibility. This was a personal failing and has no impact on my official responsibilities. I regret that it is taking away energy and focus from the good work we have done together for our city like Portland Street Response, which we expanded citywide this week.
On day one I fulfilled my campaign promise to hire an experienced finance director to ensure my office finances are impeccably managed and have their expertise in the bureaus I oversee. At the time we were the only commissioner’s office with this position.
I have made it my priority as commissioner to elevate the voices of our communities and ensure we are included as the city makes decisions and policies that impact our lives. I am learning from this mistake and have faith that it will make me stronger. I will continue to be transparent, own my mistakes, and show up for Portland.
Like most Portlanders, I have worked my whole life. Living paycheck-to-paycheck for 60 years before becoming your commissioner was hard, and I often struggled to make ends meet. In that way, I’m no different than the vast majority of Portlanders. Once I got elected and back to work as your city commissioner, I budgeted my salary to pay down my debts and cover medical expenses.
My reasons for running remain clear – fighting for working families and vulnerable communities in our policy-making; being honest about the problems we face; and creating solutions that are equitable, accountable, and transformative.
Your commissioner and neighbor,
Jo Ann Hardesty
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https://www.koin.com/news/business/cryptocurrency-comes-with-lots-of-risk-according-to-bbb-report/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Cryptocurrency has become all the rage, especially with America’s young investors. But a new study shows that this digital dough comes with a lot of risks.
The Better Business Bureau found cryptocurrency jumping from seventh to second place in its recent Scam Tracker Risk Report.
Logan Hickle from BBB breaks down their new cryptocurrency scams study.
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https://www.koin.com/news/psaki-to-leave-white-house-for-msnbc/
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(The Hill) — White House press secretary Jen Psaki will leave her job for MSNBC this spring, two sources familiar with the deal told The Hill.
Psaki’s upcoming departure was first reported by Axios on Friday, with the sources confirming it to The Hill. Psaki will leave the White House for the network around May, according to Axios.
The news follows speculation over whether the press secretary was looking for a job at MSNBC or CNN and while Psaki has been out of the briefing room this week with COVID-19.
Deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also been out with COVID-19. White House communications director Kate Bedingfield has held most of the briefings, which was seen as an opportunity to effectively audition for the post.
Psaki has worked with the White House counsel’s office about her departure and no contracts have been signed yet, Axios reported. Additionally, she has talked to senior officials about the move but has not formally announced it to the press team.
Psaki was asked at a briefing last month if she could confirm whether she was looking for a new job, but she indicated at the time that she was not ready to leave the podium yet.
“I have more than enough on my plate here. So you can’t get rid of me quite yet. Sorry, Peter, for you on that,” she replied to Fox News’s Peter Doocy.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to the Hill for comment.
Psaki wouldn’t be the first official to leave the White House for MSNBC. Symone Sanders, former spokesperson for Vice President Harris, was hired by MSNBC in January as a host for a new weekend program.
Amie Parnes and Dominick Mastrangelo contributed reporting.
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https://www.koin.com/news/student-loan-forgiveness-heres-where-the-us-stands/
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(NEXSTAR) – For over two years, most federal student loan borrowers haven’t had to make a monthly payment after both Trump and Biden enacted pauses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with payments (possibly) beginning again in May, many are hoping their loans will instead be forgiven.
A recent analysis found close to $200 billion was saved by student loan borrowers under the repayment freeze, The Hill reports, but those borrowers could struggle when the pause lifts.
Although borrowers “will likely face a healthier economy going forward, Direct loan holders have higher debt balances, lower credit scores, and were making less progress on repayment than … prior to the pandemic,” the researchers wrote. The average student loan debt balance now exceeds $37,000, with Americans owing roughly $1.6 trillion to the government.
On Thursday, 96 lawmakers – 21 Senators and 75 members of the House – sent a letter to President Biden, calling on him to not only extend the payment moratorium but to “cancel student debt now.”
“Canceling a meaningful amount of student debt will provide long-term benefits to individuals and the economy, helping families buy their first homes, open a small business, or invest in their retirement. More broadly, canceling student debt would add tens of billions of dollars in GDP growth,” the letter reads.
Does Biden have the power to forgive student loans?
While he and Trump had the power to freeze student loan payments, it’s hard to say whether Biden has the power to forgive loans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said Biden lacks the legal authority. Instead, she said, “That would be an act of Congress.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, has argued that Biden could under the same legal provision Trump used to delay payments and interest accrual at the start of the pandemic, The Hill reports.
Earlier this year, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “We’re still looking at administrative options, but Congress can also send the president a bill that would provide $10,000 in debt relief, and he’d be happy to sign that bill.”
In addition to calling on Biden to cancel upward of $50,000 in student debt per borrower, lawmakers are mulling multiple legislative proposals to forgive student loans, make it easier to refinance, or continue the pause on payments.
Who is already eligible for student loan forgiveness?
Whether or not another pause (more on that later) or loan forgiveness is on the horizon, some borrowers can already have some debt relief.
The Department of Education recently announced nearly 100,000 people are eligible for student loan cancelation due to changes made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in October. The move amounted to roughly $6.2 billion in relief, according to The Hill.
Under the PSLF program, eligible borrowers were promised that their debt would be canceled if they made payments over the course of 10 years. To be eligible for the program, you must work full-time for the government or a not-for-profit organization, have Direct Loans, repay them under an income-driven repayment plan, and make 120 qualifying payments.
Teachers, certain volunteers, and individuals working in specific industries may qualify for student loan cancellation. There are a number of other cases in which your student loans could be forgiven, canceled, or discharged.
Could another payment pause happen?
The Department of Education has reportedly directed companies that service federal student loans not to send notices about payments resuming in May, CNBC reports. According to NPR, the department does have a legal obligation to reach out to borrowers at least six times before payments begin – by telling companies to hold off on reaching out, some believe the administration was signaling another payment moratorium.
This came shortly after White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden wanted to decide on debt cancellation before payments restarted, “or he’ll extend the pause.”
Pushing out another payment pause may also be beneficial for Democrats heading into the midterm elections.
There are, of course, critics of another student loan payment pause. Many point to the costs the deferment has put on the federal government, and taxpayers, which amounts to nearly $50 billion a year.
As it stands now, the student loan payment pause is set to end on May 1.
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s Leland Vittert contributed to this report.
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https://www.koin.com/news/windshield-shatters-during-delta-flight-from-salt-lake-city-to-d-c/
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SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – A flight heading from Salt Lake City to Washington D.C. had to be diverted Thursday due to a shattered windshield.
Passengers aboard the flight say the plane made an unexpected landing in Denver due to the incident.
“We were on our way to the ACC meeting when it was announced that we would need to make an unplanned landing in Denver because the windshield cracked,” wrote passenger Kirk Knowlton in a tweet. “Apparently, it was spontaneous. Fortunately, we landed safely and are about to get back in air. We are grateful for safe flights.”
In a statement, Delta confirmed the unscheduled landing.
“Delta flight 760 from Salt Lake City to Washington D.C. experienced 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.”
Delta says the 198 passengers on board were flown to D.C. on a new plane.
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https://www.koin.com/top-stories/hubble-telescope-spots-farthest-star-ever-seen/
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s taken nearly 13 billion years, but light from the farthest observed star has officially reached earth.
The extremely distant star was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope recently — making it the most distant star we have observed in the universe. The light from that star is so old that it’s like looking back in time.
Scientists say that light formed when the universe was about seven percent of its current age.
Director of Space Science Education at OMSI Jim Todd joined AM Extra to talk about the discovery.
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/actor-ezra-miller-ordered-to-stay-away-from-hawaii-couple/
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HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii judge has granted a couple’s request for a temporary restraining order against Ezra Miller, an actor known for playing “The Flash” in “Justice League” films.
The couple filed a petition for a temporary restraining order Tuesday, alleging that Miller burst into their bedroom and threatened them in Hilo, a small town on the Big Island. The petition also accused Miller of stealing some of their belongings, including a passport and wallet.
The judge’s order, filed in court Wednesday, said it was necessary to grant the couple’s petition to prevent harassment.
Days earlier, Miller allegedly harassed patrons at a karaoke bar. Late Sunday, police were called to Margarita Village in Hilo, where they said Miller yelled obscenities, grabbed a mic from a singing woman and lunged at a man playing darts.
“The bar owner asked Miller to calm down several times to no avail,” police said in a news release.
Miller was arrested at the bar shortly after midnight Monday and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. Miller was released on $500 bail.
Neither Miller nor the actor’s representatives could immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Miller is ordered to appear at a court hearing for the temporary restraining order against harassment in Hilo on April 13.
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/aps-marjorie-miller-named-as-new-head-of-pulitzer-prizes/
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NEW YORK (AP) — Marjorie Miller, vice president and global enterprise editor at The Associated Press, has been named as the new administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes.
Miller spent 27 years at the Los Angeles Times as a correspondent in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. She was the newspaper’s foreign editor when it won a Pulitzer Prize for Russia coverage and was a finalist for Iraq War coverage.
She joined AP in 2010 as the regional editor for Latin America, where her team produced award-winning coverage of cartel violence. In 2015, she moved to New York to help lead daily news coverage and enterprise. Two years later she became the founding leader of AP’s Global Enterprise Team, overseeing reporting projects in all formats, including work from Yemen that won the 2019 Pulitzer for International Reporting.
Her appointment was announced Thursday by the Pulitzer Prize Board and by Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University, which hosts the prestigious journalism awards.
“I cannot think of a better steward for the Pulitzer Prizes, which celebrate excellence in journalism, arts, and letters and recognize the powerful, public service role they play in promoting tolerance, advancing the search for truth, and protecting the free exchange of information and ideas,” Bollinger said.
Miller succeeds acting administrator Edward Kliment, who will stay on as Miller’s deputy. She begins her new role on April 11.
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/grammy-awards-sets-sight-on-las-vegas-for-first-time/
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Grammysmight 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.”
It’s still unclear whether the Foo Fighters will take the stage following the recent death of its drummer Taylor Hawkins. The rock band – nominated for three Grammys – is scheduled to perform during the ceremony, but they recently canceled all upcoming concert dates.
The Grammys will continue to move forward without West, known as Ye, after news surfaced earlier this month that he wouldn’t perform at the show because of his “concerning online behavior.” The Weeknd is still boycotting the awards and Drake said he wanted no part in competing for a Grammy, withdrawing his two nominations.
The three popular performers will be missed, but the show will certainly go on.
The multitalented Jon Batiste enters the Grammys as the leading nominee with 11in a variety of genres including R&B, jazz, American roots music, classical and music video. Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and H.E.R. are tied for the second-most nominations with eight apiece.
The awards will introduce its expanded 10 nominees in three major genres — record, album and song of the year. The growing categories will make the competition stronger but could make choosing a winner a lot tougher.
For album of the year, the Recording Academy expanded the category’s eligibility for any featured artists, producers, songwriters and engineers — even if the music creator co-wrote one song on the project. That means there could be a large amount of winners on stage, depending on who wins.
For example, if Bieber’s “Justice” wins at the show, more than 50 creators could pack the stage. The same could be said for Ye, Doja Cat and H.E.R., who have a plethora of contributors.
But Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” features songs written by the young star and her brother Finneas, who produced all of her tracks. Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga and Rodrigo are sitting in the same boat.
Harvey Mason jr., the academy’s CEO, said the number of creators in a category won’t dictate the winner.
Either way, Noah said he doesn’t mind.
“It’ll be great to see that moment,” he said. “You get to be on stage and celebrated for your work. I’m excited for that. I want to see 25 people on stage celebrating and sharing the love and joy for something they’ve done.”
Before the awards, the academy will hold a couple events including a tribute to Joni Mitchell at the MusiCares Person of the Yearon Friday night. Chaka Khan, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Beck are among those expected to perform.
On Saturday, Grammy winner John Legend will be honored during the academy’s Black Music Collective. The singer will receive his first-ever Recording Academy Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry.
Legend will be celebrated with a performance by Summer Walker, D-Nice and MC Lyte as the voice for the evening. Jimmy Jam will be making remarks.
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/korean-pop-star-luna-readies-for-broadway-debut-in-kpop/
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NEW YORK (AP) — Korean pop star Luna is ready to make her Broadway debut this fall in the musical “KPOP” and she’s already dreaming of who might be there on opening night — like BTS.
“I would be thankful if they showed up on opening night,” Luna told The Associated Press through her translator.
She also wants fans and other stars to show up, too.
“This is New York City, it’s got its own celebrities and also audiences who would enjoy this. So, I would love to see New York celebrities, as well as Hollywood celebrities,” Luna said.
Luna was introduced at a press event for the musical Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center in New York.
Luna began her musical career as a member of the popular K-pop group f(x) before becoming a solo artist. Her latest single, “Madonna,” was released in September.
Her stage resume includes Korean productions of “In the Heights” and “Mamma Mia,” and she’s excited to take her talents to Broadway.
“I have always loved doing all those ever since I was a young child, and I even liked creating some routines,” Luna said.
She added: “For this musical, I get to dance while I sing while I act, that is so exciting, and I cannot wait to do this.”
“KPOP” tells the story of global superstars preparing for a special one-night only concert, when one singer’s inner struggle threatens to dismantle one of the biggest labels in the industry.
The multimedia experience explores the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the international phenomenon.
The musical has a story by Jason Kim and music by Helen Park, who has worked on the show for the past eight years. She said she is excited that audiences will finally get to experience her favorite music genre.
“I know recently a K-pop has been really blowing up and a lot of people love the genre. But when we started writing this musical in back in 2014, I was so eager for the world to see what I see. And I wanted to share it with the world in a language that everyone can understand,” she said.
“I think musical theater is that vessel for people to hear and witness other people’s stories and feel the emotions. I really wanted the show to be doing that with the genre that I love so much,” Park said.
“KPOP” begins previews Oct. 13 at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with an opening night scheduled for Nov. 20.
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/oscars-producer-says-police-offered-to-arrest-will-smith/
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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.”
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.
In the longer version on “Good Morning America,” Packer said he initially believed the slap was an orchestrated bit. “I thought it was part of something that Chris and Will were doing on their own. I thought it was a bit. I wasn’t concerned at all.”
Packer said he went up to Rock after the incident. “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’” the producer asked Rock. “And he looked at me and he goes, ‘Yeah, I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,’ as only Chris can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much still in shock.”
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.”
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
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When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over an Oscars ceremony punchline, other comedians felt the sting.
“I know Chris and I know what it’s like to be on a stage in front of an audience that doesn’t like your material,” said stand-up comedian Judy Gold. “But to be physically assaulted, that’s a whole other thing. It felt like every comedian was smacked across the face. It really felt like that.”
Smith’s act comes during a stressful time for comedy. While boundaries for humor constantly shift — think George Carlin’s 1972 monologue on seven so-called “dirty words” banned by TV — comics say they have felt increased pushback from audiences and society. Comedy great Dave Chappelle drew sharpcriticism last year for what some deemed anti-transgender humor in his Netflix special “The Closer.” Kathy Griffin’s careerwas derailed in 2017 when she was photographed holding a mock-up of former President Donald Trump’s head.
Some comedians expressed concern that Smith’s behavior might embolden other displeased audience members.
“No one went up to Chris Rock and said, ‘Are you OK?’” Sheryl Underwood, co-host of “The Talk,” said on the show Tuesday. “I’m going to say this as a comic, I am afraid now to get on a stage, because in my third show, when everyone’s been drinking, if you don’t like my joke, do you now believe that you can get up and slap me? There’s got to be accountability quicker.”
Griffin tweeted that “now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
“Which is the worst crime here?” veteran comedian Gilbert Gottfried said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Chris Rock being physically assaulted? Or Chris Rock making a joke? That’s it, pure and simple. He made a joke.”
Dean Obeidallah, a lawyer and stand-up comic who hosts a show on the SiriusXM Progress channel, said there is never “a place for a violent response to a joke” but doubted there would be copycat behavior. In his time in comedy clubs, he’s seen yelling, screaming and, once, a glass thrown at somebody. But he’s never seen a punch thrown, nor a comedian slapped.
“If someone were to strike a comedian, they’re going to be prosecuted criminally. They don’t have the privilege that Will Smith has,” Obeidallah said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday that it was aware of the incident, but Rock had declined to file a police report. Smith stayed through the rest of the ceremony Sunday and received the best-actor Oscar.
Gold said she’s been confronted but never struck, and she knows other female comedians have faced difficult circumstances. “People have been getting on stage, people have thrown things,” she said.
Comedian-actor Yamaneika Saunders calls Smith’s behavior upsetting and Sunday a sad day for ”two beloved Black men in entertainment.” She also views what happened through the lens of a “Black woman in comedy.”
“I’m constantly being threatened….by some man who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being a woman, some white guy who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being Black,” she said.
Insult humor isn’t new to high-profile ceremonies, which call on comics to liven up what can be tedious events. Ricky Gervais made a meal of celebrities at successive Golden Globe ceremonies, and they grin — or grimace — and bear it. The most famous bad sport: Trump at the 2011 White House correspondents’ dinner, where he sat stone-faced during then-President Barack Obama’s extended ribbing of him.
Rock wasn’t the first to tweak Smith or wife Jada Pinkett Smith at Sunday’s Oscars. Ceremony co-host Regina Hall made what appeared to be a veiled joke about their marriage in trying, unsuccessfully, to draw Smith into a comedy bit.
Rock’s wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith. “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” the comedian said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore’s in the 1997 movie. Whether Rock was aware that she has a hair-loss condition, alopecia, is unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning to “keep my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth!”
A tearful Smith later accepted the top acting award for “King Richard,” his somewhat remorseful speech eliciting a standing ovation from the Dolby Theatre crowd. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has since condemned Smith’s attack and said it’s reviewing the matter.
Whatever the result, his actions indelibly marred the ceremony and ignited discussions about violence, toxic masculinity and the advantages of fame. Smith, who’d conspicuously left Rock out of his remarks Sunday, apologized to the comic and decried “violence in all of its forms” in a statement the next day issued by his publicist and posted on Instagram.
Pinkett Smith’s first public comment came in an Instagram post in which she said, “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”Rock referred briefly to the slap at a comedy show Wednesday in Boston, saying he was “still kind of processing what happened.” He appeared to become emotional as the audience gave him several standing ovations.
Whatever pushback comedians may encounter on stage, verbal or physical, they have to guard against censoring themselves to avoid it — and they will, said Obeidallah: “They shouldn’t change, and there’s nothing about this that tells me that they will change.”
They can’t because their role goes beyond providing laughs, as comedians see it.
“We are the truth tellers. We speak truth to power,” said Gold, author of the 2020 book, “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble.”
Gottfried cites a favorite Carlin quote — “It’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately” — and can’t resist serving up a punchline.
“If Will Smith is reading this, dear God, please don’t come to my shows,” he said.
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AP Television Writer Lynn Elber reported from Los Angeles, AP Media Writer David Bauder from New York.
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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.
In the U.K., economists warn of the biggest drop in living standards since the mid-1950s, fueled byrocketing energy costs, food prices and preplanned tax increases. Disposable household incomes, adjusted for inflation, are expected to fall by an average 2.2% this year, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Those figures obscure the impact on low-income people being hit disproportionately by the crisis. Because they spend a larger percentage of their budgets on food and energy, the poorest quarter of British households will see their real incomes drop by 6% this year, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a think tank focused on improving living standards.
People who rely on government benefits and state pensions are being doubly squeezed because their annual cost-of-living adjustment was based on annual inflation figures through September — before consumer prices spiked.
That means benefits are set to rise by just 3.1% this year. But inflation jumped to a 30-year high of 6.2% in February and is expected to peak at around 8% this year as the war sends food and energy prices ever higher, the Bank of England predicted.
As costs rise, people are moving their beds near windows so they can read by the light of the streetlamps outside, said outreach workers at Christians Against Poverty, which offers counseling for those in debt. Divorced fathers skip meals so they can afford to buy food for their children when they visit, and an increasing number of people report the pressures make them contemplate suicide.
“The cost-of-living crisis is genuinely costing lives,” said Gareth McNab, the charity’s external affairs director. “Almost every single call to our new inquiries team is mentioning the energy crisis and an inability to cope. And yeah, it’s desperate out there.”
Energy prices for 22 million households will rise Friday as an update of the national price cap kicks in. Regulators adjust it every six months. Analysts expect a third consecutive jump in the cap later this year, which could leave consumers with utility bills that are more than double what they were a year earlier.
Britain relies more heavily on natural gas to meet its energy needs than European Union countries, having less nuclear and renewable energy. Britain also has been slower than its neighbors in insulating and sealing the nation’s aging housing stock, so it takes more energy to heat them.
Britain’s largest gas storage facility also was allowed to close five years ago, leaving the country with the capacity to store just 12 days of supply, compared with about 80 days in Germany, which is also heavily reliant on natural gas. That means in crisis, Britain is more dependent on buying gas through “spot markets” that reflect short-term price swings.
“In normal times, we’re using more energy than (the Europeans) are to heat their houses, but … the price is low enough that you don’t really notice a big difference in the cost of living,” said Arun Advani, an inequality expert at the University of Warwick. “Now that energy prices are going up, they are paying more, but we’re paying a lot more. And so that difference is magnified.”
Even so, some European governments have acted more aggressively than Britain in trying to limit costs. France forced a state-controlled utility to limit electricity price hikes to 4% this year. Spain imposed a tax on energy producers’ windfall profits that will be passed on to consumers.
Britain responded in February with a 9 billion-pound ($11.8 billion) package designed to help offset rising utility bills. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak announced more measures last week, including a cut in the tax on vehicle fuels. But he ignored calls to impose a tax on producers’ windfall profits or delay a planned 1.5 percentage point increase in income taxes, also set for April.
Sunak said the government has to keep spending under control amid uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and after public debt last year rose to the highest level since 1963.
Lawmakers from all parties criticized Sunak for missing the point, suggesting he failed to understand the scale of the problem for low-income people. But he isn’t backing down.
Meanwhile, people who have little are trying to live on less. Chris Price, who runs a community charity called Pecan in south London, says food bank clients are passing up potatoes and other root vegetables because they need to be cooked.
“People are saying, ‘I need to have food which I can cook easily and cheaply because if I put something in the oven for too long, it takes up so much … electricity or gas,’’’ he said. “And they are really uncertain if they can afford it.’’
These are the people also hit hardest by the pandemic and recent cuts in government benefits, leaving them with little to fall back on in the new crisis, said Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action, a charity focused on fuel poverty.
“There’s no cutting back. There’s no smart decisions,” Scorer said. “You just don’t heat your home, and you don’t use your cooker, and you don’t heat water, and you don’t shower. You just don’t do those things because you can’t afford to do those things. There’s no choices for many people.”
Rutherford is one of those running out of choices.
She gets her energy through a prepaid meter, often the only option for people who fall behind on bills. Prepaid meters allow customers to control how much they spend, but they pay high prices and can be left without power if they run out of credit.
That has left her struggling to top up the meter, pay off debt she already owes her energy supplier and keep her son warm when he comes home from day care. She’s tried to save by turning off the lights, living in the dark except for strings of tiny white Christmas tree lights that use less electricity.
“I didn’t have to live like this before,” she said. “I literally have no money — and my electric is going to cut out.”
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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.
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.'”
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Associated Press Writer Jovana Gec contributed.
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VIENNA — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that Russian forces’ departure from the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant is “a step in the right direction” and the U.N. nuclear watchdog plans to be there “very, very soon.”
IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi says he will head a support mission to Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, and that further nuclear safety missions to Ukraine will follow.
Grossi spoke Friday after visits to Ukraine and Russia. He said Russian nuclear and foreign ministry officials didn’t discuss with him why Russian forces left Chernobyl.
Of the overall situation in the area, he said: “The general radiation situation around the plant is quite normal. There was a relatively higher level of localized radiation because of the movement of heavy vehicles at the time of the occupation of the plant, and apparently this might have been the case again on the way out.”
Ukraine’s state power company said Russian troops received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the exclusion zone around the plant. But Grossi said “we don’t have any confirmation” that soldiers were contaminated.
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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
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
MOSCOW — Russian officials say their demand that natural gas be paid for in rubles doesn’t mean supplies will be immediately interrupted.
Gas used for heating and electricity was still flowing from Russia to Europe on Friday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “payments on shipments in progress right now must be made not this very day, but somewhere in late April, or even early May.”
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia would start accepting ruble payments Friday and gas supplies would be cut off if buyers don’t agree to the new conditions.
A decree he signed gave Russian authorities and Gazprombank 10 days to make arrangements. It also says countries could pay foreign currency to the bank, which would convert it to rubles in a second account.
The European Commission’s energy chief tweeted that the European Union was coordinating “to establish a common approach.” Western leaders have said they will keep paying in euros and dollars.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s general staff says the country’s armed forces have retaken control over 29 settlements in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, where Russia has pulled back some of its troops.
The Russian military in the northeast continues to block and shell Chernihiv and Kharkiv, the general staff said Friday.
In the southeast of the country the Russians are trying to seize the cities of Popasna, Rubizhne and Mariupol in order to expand the territory of separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, according to the Ukrainian military.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Authorities in Mariupol say it is not possible to enter the besieged Ukrainian city and that it is dangerous for people to try and leave it on their own.
“We don’t see a real desire from the Russians … to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine,” Petro Andryushchenko, adviser the mayor of the city, said Friday on the messaging app Telegram.
“Since yesterday, the occupiers have categorically not allowed any humanitarian cargo, even in small volumes, to enter the city,” he added.
Russian officials on Friday allowed 42 buses with Mariupol residents to depart from the neighboring occupied city of Berdyansk, which Mariupol residents were able to reach on their own.
A convoy of about 2,000 refugees, escorted by the Red Cross, on Friday afternoon was heading to the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is under Ukrainian control.
The Mariupol city council on Friday said Russia’s actions in Ukraine and in their bombed-out city amounted to genocide.
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WARSAW, Poland — Ukraine’s foreign minister says that now his country’s government is back in control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, it will work with the U.N. atomic agency to determine what the occupying Russians did there and mitigate any danger.
Russian troops left the heavily contaminated nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Russians behaved irresponsibly at the site during the more than four weeks that they controlled it, preventing staff at the plant from performing their full duties and digging trenches in contaminated areas.
Kuleba told a news conference in Warsaw that the Russian government had exposed its soldiers to radiation, endangering their health.
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ROME — Venice is preparing special material to send to Lviv’s National Art Gallery and other museums in the Ukrainian city so artworks can be better protected during the war.
Mariacristina Gribaudi, head of the Venice Civic Museums Foundation, said in a statement Friday that some 65,000 artworks and 2,000 sculptures have been placed in Lviv storerooms as a precaution, but the objects aren’t adequately protected.
The Venice foundation will oversee a shipment of special fabric that can cover paintings and graphic art as well as furniture, costumes and materials made from glass or marble to protect the objects from the majority of solvents and gasses. The fabric also impedes mold and fungus growth while the works are in storage.
Also being sent are polyethylene foam shock-resistant panels.
Venice museums experts also gave advice in a video call with the Lviv gallery’s management about how to best store artworks.
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark — French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says that new sanctions against Russia are needed “to force (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to end this crazy aggression.”
Le Drian, who was in Estonia and spoke through an interpreter, also said Friday that “Russia cannot expect to win this war.”
Le Drian was to travel later in the day to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.
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ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated that he would like to host a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders in Istanbul, in the hope that it would “turn the negative course of events into a positive one.”
Erdogan made the comments on Friday hours before he was scheduled to hold a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, he was expected to renew an offer to host a leaders’ meeting.
Erdogan told reporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with whom he spoke on Thursday, had a “positive outlook” toward such a meeting in Turkey and that Putin’s attitude had been positive in the past.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations held a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul earlier this week during which Ukraine presented a list of proposals, including that it would have neutral status guaranteed by a range of foreign countries.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Talks between Russia and Ukraine have resumed via video link.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky published a picture of the talks under way Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office confirmed to The Associated Press that the negotiations had resumed.
Friday’s talks came three days after the last meeting, in Turkey, between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Medinsky, the Russian lead negotiator, said “our positions on Crimea and the Donbas are unchanged.”
Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014. The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Zelenskyyaddressed 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Talks to stop the fighting in Ukraine resumed Friday, as another desperate attempt to rescue civilians from the shattered and encircled city of Mariupol failed and Russia accused the Ukrainians of a cross-border helicopter attack on a fuel depot.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a fiery raid on Russian soil by two helicopter gunships left two people wounded, though state oil company Rosneft denied anyone was hurt.
“Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, five weeks after Moscow began sending upwards of 150,000 of own troops across Ukraine’s border.
The Russian claim could not immediately be verified. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he could “neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this, simply because I do not possess all the military information.”
Russia has reported cross-border shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace. The Rosneft depot is about 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the Ukraine border.
Meanwhile, Russian troops continued withdrawing from areas around Kyiv, three days after Moscow said it would reduce military activity near the Ukrainian capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to promote trust between the two sides. And Ukrainian forces exploited the pullback by mounting counterattacks and retaking towns and villages.
But Ukraine and its allies warned that the Kremlin is not de-escalating but resupplying its troops and redeploying them to the country’s east for an intensified assault on the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas region, which includes Mariupol.
The latest negotiations, taking place by video, follow a meeting Tuesday in Turkey, where Ukraine reiterated its willingness to abandon a bid to join NATO and declare itself neutral — Moscow’s chief demand. In return, Ukraine proposed that its security be guaranteed by several other countries.
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, wrote on social media that Moscow’s positions on retaining control of the Crimean Peninsula — seized from Ukraine in 2014 — and expanding the territory in eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists “are unchanged.”
The invasion that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine.
On the outskirts of Kyiv, where Russian troops have withdrawn, damaged cars lined the streets of Irpin, a suburban area popular with young families, now in ruins. Emergency workers carried elderly people on stretchers over a wrecked bridge to safety.
Three wooden crosses next to a residential building that was damaged in a shelling marked the graves of a mother and son and an unknown man. A resident who gave her name only as Lila said she helped hurriedly bury them on March 5, just before Russian troops moved in.
“They were hit with artillery and they were burned alive,” she said.
An Irpin resident who gave his name only as Andriy said the Russians packed up their equipment and left on Tuesday. The next day, they shelled the town for close to an hour before Ukrainian soldiers retook it.
“I don’t think this is over,” Andriy said. “They will be back.”
To the south, the International Committee for the Red Cross said it was unable to carry out an operation to bring civilians out of Mariupol by bus. It said a team had been on its way but had to turn back.
City authorities said the Russians were blocking access to Mariupol.
“We do not see a real desire on the part of the Russians and their satellites to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine,” Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He said Russian forces “are categorically not allowing any humanitarian cargo, even in small amounts, into the city.”
The strategic port city on the Sea of Azov has seen some of the worst suffering of the war, with weeks of heavy fighting and shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine. Around 100,000 people are believed left in the city, down from a prewar 430,000.
“We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said.
On Thursday, Russian forces blocked a 45-bus convoy attempting to evacuate people from Mariupol, and only around 600 people were able to leave in private cars, the Ukrainian government said. Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies bound for Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said its “main goal” is gaining complete control of the Donbas. Mariupol’s capture would be a major prize for the Russians, giving them an unbroken land bridge to Crimea.
The Donbas is the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. The separatists have declared two areas independent republics.
Despite its pledge to scale back, Russian forces have continued to bombard both the Chernihiv area and cities on the outskirts of Kyiv. But Ukraine’s military said it had retaken 29 settlements in the two regions amid a Russian withdrawal of some of its troops.
Russian forces in the northeast also continued to shell Kharkiv, and in the southeast sought to seize the cities of Popasna and Rubizhne as well as Mariupol, the Ukrainian military said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces also withdrew from the heavily contaminated Chernobyl site in northern Ukraine early Friday.
Ukraine’s state power company, Energoatom, said Russian soldiers had received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the exclusion zone around the closed nuclear power plant. But the International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm that, and there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.
Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers and did not say how many were affected.
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Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Irpin, Ukraine, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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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 fellto a five-month low in March, a monthly survey showed, 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.
Veronica Wang, a resident of Pudong, as Shanghai’s eastern half is known, said she and many she knows were still under lockdown, with no word on when normal life will be restored.
Wang’s compound had been closed off even before the lockdown began. She said a large part of her days is now spent on trying to hop on to large group orders for groceries and items from soy sauce to toothpaste obtained through personal connections.
“For example, we have one (group order) set up for vegetables, one for eggs, one for bread,” she said.
Shanghai had not previously experienced a sweeping lockdown, although many residents chose to stay at home even without formal orders to do so.
This time, the “whole environment is rather tense,” Wang said, citing a neighbor who waited hours for an emergency call to be answered.
“The mood is different,” she said.
China’s National Health Commission said another 1,787 domestic cases of COVID-19 had been recorded on Thursday, including 358 in Shanghai. Another 5,442 tested positive for the virus without becoming ill, 4,144 of them in Shanghai.
People who tested positive without symptoms are being taken to temporary isolation centers, including gymnasiums and exhibition centers.
Public transport has been suspended and roads closed, bringing the normally bustling metropolis to a standstill. While city residents are being told to stay put, airports and train stations remain open.
The lockdown reflects China’s continuing adherence to its “zero-COVID” approach despite restrictions being eased elsewhere. China set the hard-line tone at the start of the pandemic in 2020 with the 76-day lockdown on the city of Wuhan where the virus was first detected.
The measures have been decried by some Chinese as excessive, although there has been little open defiance. Amid the grumbling, Shanghai authorities have conceded shortcomings in their handling of the surge driven by the omicron variant, after panic buying stripped store shelves of necessities.
“We didn’t prepare sufficiently enough,” Ma Chunlei, a senior Shanghai official said at a news conference Thursday. “We sincerely accept the criticisms from the public and are making efforts to improve it.”
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Seeking to counter international fears over its new security alliance with China, the Solomon Islands said Friday it won’t allow China to build a military base there.
But that insistence will do little to ease concerns about the pact from the nation’s traditional partners that include New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
The leader of neighboring Micronesia added his voice to those expressing trepidation by invoking the bloody battles of World War II and warning that the pact could again see the South Pacific region become a battleground for much larger powers.
The Solomon Islands government said Thursday a draft agreement of the new security pact had been initialed by representatives from the Solomons and China and would be “cleaned up” and signed.
In a statement Friday, the Solomon Islands government said that “contrary to the misinformation promoted by antigovernment commentators” the agreement did not invite China to establish a military base.
“Government is conscious of the security ramification of hosting a military base, and it will not be careless to allow such initiative to take place under its watch,” the statement said.
The statement seemed to more emphatically rule out the possibility of a base after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had earlier told parliament it had no intention of asking China to build a base.
Sogavare said his nation sought only peace and prosperity, citing its foreign policy mantra: “We are friends to all and enemies to none.” He said it wasn’t a secret deal but a sovereign issue.
Under the terms of the draft agreement, China could send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomon Islands “to assist in maintaining social order” and for a variety of other reasons. It could also send warships to the islands for stopovers and to replenish supplies, which had led to speculation about the possibility of China establishing a naval base on the South Pacific islands.
China has denied seeking a military foothold in the islands and accused others of raising tensions.
Apparently referring to the U.S. and its allies, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Friday blamed others for militarizing the South Pacific and said the agreement with the Solomon Islands was predicated on maintaining the safety of lives and property and “does not have any military overtones.”
“When it comes to the militarization of the South Pacific region, individual countries, despite strong opposition from regional countries, are bent on creating a militarized coterie and seriously threatening regional security and stability by introducing the risk of nuclear proliferation into the South Pacific,” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing.
“That wantonly trampled on and damaged the existing stability mechanism in the region,” Zhao said.
China’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Micronesia President David Panuelo wrote a letter to Sogavare saying Micronesia had “grave security concerns” about the “novel and unprecedented” arrangement.
He said the two small nations had become battle grounds during World War II and that it could happen again as China, the U.S. and Australia asserted themselves in the region.
“And is it plausible that, once the spheres have been carved out, that our concerns about climate change — today’s problem — would manifest into all-too-real concerns about a war in our backyards, with our people, our islands, as the playground for children playing as adults?” Panuelo wrote to Sogavare.
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said Friday that while it respected the Solomons’ sovereignty, the deal showed that China was acting aggressively in the region.
“We need to be very cautious here because the Chinese are incredibly aggressive, the tactics that they’re deploying into small island nations are quite remarkable,” he told Sky News.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this week described the possibility of Chinese military forces stationed on the Solomon Islands as “the potential militarization of the region.” And the U.S. State Department said Washington did not believe China’s security forces and methods needed to be exported.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Thursday that “relevant parties should see the China-Solomon Islands security cooperation objectively and rationally and stop making irresponsible remarks.”
“Attempts to provoke, obstruct and undermine China’s friendly relations with the island countries is not popular and will not succeed,” Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.
“China-Solomon Islands cooperation does not target any third party and is not in conflict with Solomon Islands’ cooperation with other countries. Instead, it complements the existing regional cooperation mechanisms in a positive way,” he added.
The Solomon Islands, home to about 700,000 people, switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019 — a contributing factor to riots in November last year between residents of different islands within the country.
Australian police have been in the capital, Honiara, maintaining peace since then under a bilateral security treaty established in 2017. It provides a legal basis for the rapid deployment of Australian police, troops and associated civilians in the event of a major security challenge.
Chinese police are already on the islands conducting a training mission.
The Federated States of Micronesia is home to about 100,000 people. It has diplomatic relations and considers itself a “friend” of China, as well as having a close relationship with the U.S. under a compact of free association.
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https://www.koin.com/news/international/un-authorizes-new-au-mission-in-somalia-to-combat-extremists/
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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to endorse the African Union’s new transitional mission in Somalia and authorized it to take action against al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups and conduct a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somalia’s government.
The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, replaces the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, which has been in the Horn of Africa nation for 15 years trying to build lasting peace and security.
While the resolution adopted by the council recognizes significant changes in the security situation since it authorized AMISOM in February 2007 and improvements in Somalia’s capability to respond to security challenges, it also reaffirms “the need to combat terrorist threats by all means.”
Only in the past few years has Somalia begun to find its footing after three decades of chaos from warlords to the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group and the emergence of Islamic State-linked extremist groups. Last year, a political crisis further postponed long-delayed elections and lower house elections which were to be completed on March 15 are still not complete, further delaying the vote for a new president.
The British-drafted resolution authorizes the new ATMIS mission to support the Somali forces “in providing security for the political process at all levels.”
The Security Council underscored that completing the electoral process without further delay and achieving “a peaceful transition of power” will help Somalia move ahead with its national priorities and support its 2021 transition plan which outlines steps toward the gradual handover of responsibilities for security from international forces to the government.
The council reiterated its objective “of enabling Somalia to take full responsibility for its own security, including through assuming the leading role in countering and addressing the threat posed by al-Shabab.”
The resolution authorizes ATMIS to conduct jointly planned operations with Somali security forces “to degrade al-Shabab and affiliates linked to ISIL,” an acronym for the Islamic State group.
The council authorized AU member nations to deploy up to 19,626 uniformed personnel, including a minimum of 1.040 police, until Dec. 31, and endorsed the AU Peace and Security Council’s decision to reduce the peacekeeping force by 2,000 by that date. It authorized a reduced force of 17,626 between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2023, and noted that a joint proposal including the AU and Somalia envisions further cuts to 14,626 in September 2023, 10,626 in June 2024 and “zero personnel” by the end of December 2024.
The resolution welcomes the Somali government’s intention to generate 3,850 new security forces by December 2022, 8,525 new forces by September 2023 and 10,450 new forces by June 2024.
AMISOM was funded by voluntary contributions, especially from the European Union, with logistical support from the United Nations. The Security Council urged U.N. member nations, including new donors, “to consider providing predictable, sustainable and multi-year support for ATMIS.”
After the vote, Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki thanked council members for their support “in the adoption of this landmark resolution.”
U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills said the resolution “provides a vital opportunity to build on AMISOM’s efforts and take the next steps to roll back al-Shabaab, enabling Somalia to provide the security and stability required for the Somali people to achieve their aspirations.”
“Al-Shabab is a formidable and adaptable threat to Somalia, and to East Africa more broadly,” he said. “As al-Qaeda’s largest and best financed affiliate, al-Shabab represents a threat that requires a vigorous and broad-based response. The ATMIS mandate provides the opportunity to adapt and reinvigorate the African-led, international effort against al-Shabab.”
Albania’s political coordinator Arian Spasse noted al-Shabab’s increased attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months and called on the government again to complete elections.
“It is crucial the newly elected government turn its focus to the deteriorating security situation, to the undertaking of reforms, and to the humanitarian crisis caused by the unprecedented droughts, which is plunging the population into another famine,” he said. “Further delays will give al-Shabaab more time to overshadow the government’s effort to provide peace and prosperity, and will fuel al-Shabab propaganda as an alternative to a democratically elected government.”
Somalia’s U.N. Ambassador Abukar Osman expressed disappointment that the council’s resolution didn’t provide more funding for its security forces, address the need for a unified and centralized command for ATMIS, and greater logistical support
Addressing these issues will ensure that the resolution is aligned with Somalia’s strategic document on security, he said.
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https://www.koin.com/news/international/war-in-ukraine-fuels-fears-among-draft-age-russian-youths/
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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.
Even as President Vladimir Putin and his officials say that conscripts aren’t involved in what Russian authorities call “the special military operation in Ukraine,” many appeared to have been taken prisoner during its initial days. Videos emerged from Ukraine of captured Russians, some being shown calling their parents, and were put on social media.
The mother of one of the prisoners said she recognized her 20-year-old draftee son in a video even though he was shown blindfolded.
“I recognized him by his lips, by his chin. You know, I would have recognized him by his fingers,” said the woman, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Lyubov, for security reasons. “I breastfed him. I raised him.”
The Defense Ministry was forced to walk back its statements and acknowledge that some conscripts were sent to Ukraine “by mistake” and were taken prisoner while serving with a supply unit away from the front.
There have been allegations that before the invasion, some conscripts were forced to sign military contracts that allowed them to be sent into combat — duty that is normally reserved only for volunteers in the army. Some of the captured soldiers said they were told by their commanding officers that they were going to a military exercise but suddenly found themselves fighting in Ukraine.
Lyudmila Narusova, a member of the upper house of the Russian parliament, spoke in early March about an entire company of 100 men who were forced to sign such contracts and were sent into the combat zone — and only four survived. Military officials did not comment on her allegation.
Svetlana Agapitova, the human rights commissioner in St. Petersburg, said Wednesday that relatives of seven soldiers had written to her to complain the men had been forced to sign the contract and sent to Ukraine against their will. She said two of them already had been brought back to Russia.
In recent years, the Kremlin has emphasized increasing the share of volunteer contract soldiers as it sought to modernize the army and improve its readiness. The force of 1 million now has over 400,000 contract soldiers, including 147,000 in the infantry. If the war drags on, those numbers could be insufficient to sustain the operations.
The Kremlin could eventually face a choice: Keep fighting with a limited number of troops and see the offensive stall, or try to replenish the ranks with a broader draft and risk public outrage that could fuel anti-draft sentiment and destabilize the political situation. Such a scenario occurred during the fighting in Chechnya.
Dmitry, a 25-year-old IT expert, has a deferment that should keep him out of the draft for medical reasons. But he’s still nervous like many others, fearing authorities could abruptly waive some deferments to bolster the military.
“I hate the war. I think it’s a total disaster,” said Dmitry, who also asked that he not be identified by has last name, fearing reprisals. “I fear that the government could change the rules and I could face the draft. They also were saying for months that they wouldn’t attack Ukraine, so why should I trust what they say about the draft now?”
Proposed legislation would facilitate the draft by allowing military recruiters to call up conscripts more easily, but the bill has been put on hold for now.
Still, it added to the public’s anxiety.
Alexei Tabalov, a lawyer who advises conscripts, said medical panels at recruitment offices often admit youths who should be exempt from service because of illness. Now, he added, their attitudes could grow even tougher.
“It’s quite probable that doctors may shut their eyes to conscripts’ illnesses and declare them fit for military duty,” Tabalov said.
In addition to lowering the medical standard for draftees, there are fears that the government could try to impose some sort of martial law that would ban Russian men from leaving the country and, like Ukraine, force them to fight.
“We have received a lot of calls from people fearing mobilization,” Tabalov said. “People now are afraid of everything in this situation. No one even thought before about the need to analyze the law on mobilization.”
The Kremlin has strongly denied any such plans, and military officials insist the army has enough contract soldiers to serve in Ukraine. Still, many Russians remain skeptical of the officials’ denials, given their track record.
“What kind of trust could there be if Putin says one day that conscripts will not be sent there … and then the Defense Ministry recognizes that they were there?” Tabalov asked.
An existing law allows for a 21-month alternative civil service in hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities for those who view military duty as incompatible with their beliefs, but military conscription offices often broadly ignore requests for such service.
After the war began, Tabalov said his group saw a large increase in inquiries about the alternative service law, which is vaguely phrased and allows military officials to easily turn down applications.
“We are worried that in the current militarist mood, military conscription offices can take a tougher attitude and reject appeals for the alternative civil service,” he said.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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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.
“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, Barbara Pierce, declined to comment, saying the best forum to discuss its legal position was through the litigation process. 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.
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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.”
Tebah’s concerns echo protests against the swift expulsions of Haitian refugeescrossing 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 Statusto 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 tomore 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.”
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Associated Press video journalist Patrick Orsagos in Columbus, Ohio contributed to this story.
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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.
As to whether others will adopt the same approach to eligibility, Daniels said: “That’s to be decided. …We think that ultimately a more expansive definition will prevail.”
The commission headed by Daniels has taken a position that limiting reparations to slave descendants, or to Americans whose ancestors were free Blacks living during the time of slavery, ignores the effects of racism that persisted for more than a century after emancipation.
“There are always going to be criteria” for reparations, Daniels said. “The problem is the harms have been so gross that almost no Black person is not eligible in some form or another.”
Although there is still debate among historians about when exactly the practice began, chattel slavery in what would become the U.S. dates back to 1619 when about 20 enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown, Virginia — then a British colony. Over the next two centuries, more than 300,000 men, women and children were forcibly taken from Africa to work on plantations in southern colonies and later the Southern states, according to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, a project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and maintained by Rice University.
Slavery in the U.S. officially ended in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. Union Army General William Sherman promised compensation to freed slaves in the form of land and mules to farm it — hence the phrase “40 acres and a mule” — after the North’s victory over the South in the Civil War. But President Andrew Johnson took away the offer.
More than 120 years later, then-Rep. John Conyers, a Detroit Democrat, first introduced H.R. 40, a bill that would create a federal commission to study reparations and make proposals. Conyers reintroduced it in every congressional session until he resigned in 2017. As a candidate, President Joe Biden said he supported creating the commission, but has yet to formally back it as commander-in-chief. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, is currently the lead sponsor of the House bill.
Getting governmental leaders to openly consider slavery reparations has been daunting and taken decades. But progress has been made at both the state and local levels, particularly since the national reckoning on racial injustice that was sparked after the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In Michigan, legislative proposals submitted earlier this year in the House of Representatives call for $1.5 billion in federal dollars to be placed in a racial equity and reparations fund within the state’s treasury. The funds would be issued to various state departments and agencies to provide grants, loans and other economic assistance for businesses and economic developments that promote the Black community.
The bills have yet to receive a hearing in the House.
Last year, Evanston, Illinois, — the first U.S. city to find a source of funding for reparations — began giving eligible Black residents $25,000 housing grants for down payments, repairs or existing mortgages. The program is meant to atone for the history of racial redlining and housing discrimination. Recipients were selected randomly from among the applicants, Black residents who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969.
And in Providence, Rhode Island, the mayor announced a city commission on reparations in February that will look to atone for the city’s role in slavery and systemic racism, as well as the mistreatment of Native Americans.
For Anita Belle, a grassroots activist in Detroit, where residents in the mostly Black city voted in November to create a city reparations commission, getting to this point in the pursuit of reparations is cause for celebration. But what happens next is worrisome, especially when it comes to who gets what and how much, she said.
“I am happy for all of us who have doing the groundwork for all these years,” said Belle, founder of the Reparations Labor Union. “We are somewhat afraid that these people who have jumped on the bandwagon are actually there to sabotage it and make reparations $12.62, if that. There will be those saboteurs — people who look like us, but have hidden agendas.”
“You have some of that fear in California where the scope for reparations was narrowed to the people who can prove they were enslaved,” she added. “The people of California will be like ’why am I paying reparations for someone who was enslaved in Mississippi?'”
In California, the task force is taking the next step with economists to determine the cost of compensating more than 2 million Black residents, although all of them would not be eligible. Following slavery abolition, Black migration to California happened primarily in the immediate decades after World War II, with newly-arrived African Americans settling in cities like Oakland, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Black population there rose from just under a half million residents, or 4.4% of the population, in 1950 to 1.4 million residents, or 7% of the population, by 1970. Decades later, the 2020 census recorded 2.1 million Black residents in California, or about 5.3% of the state’s population.
While proposals and who would be eligible appear to vary, they still are types of reparations, according to Rashawn Ray, senior fellow of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.
“California chose to focus on enslavement of Black people,” Ray said. “In Evanston, it’s red lining and housing segregation. Both are issues that need restitution to them based on what the wrong is.”
But, Ray added, “Federal reparations — without a doubt and hands-down — that’s what we need. What is happening in California should be happening in Congress.”
As a former alderman for the city of Evanston, Illinois, and a longtime reparations advocate, Robin Rue Simmons said reaching consensus on eligibility can be tough because policymakers should be as expansive and inclusive as possible, while also identifying specific harms that they’re seeking to address.
The big step taken by California could help spur action on reparations proposals in other cities and states, Simmons said, and perhaps add pressure for the federal government to act, which she sees as critical.
She doesn’t expect California’s lineage-based eligibility standard to become the norm.
“I don’t think any community should think that another has figured it out for them,” Simmons said, “because every community is going to have their own priorities and their specific history.”
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Bynum reported from Savannah, Ga. AP writers Janie Har in San Francisco and Michael Schneider in Orlando contributed to this story.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/disputed-school-admissions-policy-okd-pending-appeal/
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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 2-1 ruling, said the school board had met the legal requirements for a suspension of Hilton’s order while its appeal is pending.
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.
Fairfax 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.
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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.
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.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/historian-sues-ny-prisons-over-ban-of-attica-uprising-book/
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NEW YORK (AP) — The author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the revolt at the Attica Correctional Facility in 1971 sued New York state prison authorities on Thursday, saying they’ve unconstitutionally banned her book behind bars.
Author Heather Ann Thompson, a University of Michigan professor, brought the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court over the treatment by New York State Department of Corrections officials of her book: “Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971,” published in 2016.
Named as defendants were the department’s acting commissioner and a second official with decision-making authority regarding censorship determinations.
The lawsuit contends that the ban is unconstitutional, particularly because the state has blocked inmates from accessing her book, prevented her from sharing it with inmates and denied her an opportunity to contest the ban.
“People have a right to read, and people have a right to history,” Thompson said in a release. “We also have a right to have our books read. It’s a shame we live in a country where we censor people and ideas.”
In a document issued in late January, the New York State Department of Corrections division of Corrections and Community Supervision said it was department policy to “encourage incarcerated individuals to read publications from varied sources if such material does not encourage them to engage in behavior that might be disruptive to orderly facility operations.”
The document said any materials also “should not incite disobedience towards law enforcement officers or prison personnel.” It added that “incite disobedience” means “to advocate, expressly or by clear implication, acts of disobedience.”
Contacted about the lawsuit Thursday, a corrections spokesperson said the department cannot comment on pending litigation.
The Attica uprising began in September 1971 when inmates angry over living conditions seized control of part of the prison and took some of its staff hostage. Four days later, the disturbance ended when state troopers and guards shot tear gas into a prison yard before firing hundreds of rounds into the smoke.
The gunfire killed 29 inmates and 10 hostages. In all, 11 staff members and 32 inmates were killed in the riot and siege. No law enforcement officers were put on trial for their roles in the massacre.
The lawsuit was brought on Thompson’s behalf by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Civil Rights Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said the state “cannot censor an important historical text like ‘Blood in the Water’ just because it doesn’t like the content.”
Cardozo’s Civil Rights Clinic Director Betsy Ginsberg said: “It is, simply put, a history book, and its denial to incarcerated people runs counter to this country’s core values.”
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Associated Press Writer Michael Hill in Albany contributed to this report.
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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 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 launch still represents a sea change for local law enforcement, taxation officials, commercial growers and residents who thought full-blown legal access to pot would never come.
At a Santa Fe dispensary, recreational cannabis consumers said they were thrilled to openly buy local pot and cut ties with the black market.
“When they legalized it here, I didn’t need my guy anymore,” said Devin Killoy, a painter and handyman in clothes speckled with white.
Antonio Rodriguez, a 38-year-old grocery worker, said he was content to pay new taxes on recreational cannabis: “I want everyone to be legit, even if it’s more expensive.”
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.
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 choose 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 Masterson, 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.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/nsa-employee-charged-with-mishandling-classified-material/
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A National Security Agency employee has been charged with emailing classified national security information to somebody who wasn’t authorized to receive it, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.
Mark Robert Unkenholz, 60, of Hanover, Maryland, was arrested Thursday but ordered released after his initial court appearance in Baltimore.
Unkenholz held “top secret” security clearance, giving him access to the information, according to a 26-count indictment. He worked for an NSA office responsible for the agency’s engagement with private industry.
The indictment accuses Unkenholz of using his personal email address to send information classified as “secret” and “top secret” to somebody else’s private company email addresses on several occasions between February 2018 and June 2020.
The recipient held “top secret” clearance from April 2016 until approximately June 2019, while employed at a company that isn’t named in the indictment. However, from July 2019 until approximately January 2021, the person worked for a different company and wasn’t authorized to access or receive classified information, the indictment says.
A grand jury indicted Unkenholz on Tuesday on 13 counts of willfully transmitting national defense information and 13 counts of willfully retaining national defense informaton. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Federal sentencing guidelines typically recommend sentences far below the maximum.
Unkenholz pleaded not guilty to all 26 counts at his initial court appearance. U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Gesner ordered him released after the hearing, court records show.
Gesner appointed the federal public defender’s office to represent Unkenholz. Federal Public Defender James Wyda declined to comment.
The FBI is investigating.
The case against Unkenholz is the latest prosecution from federal authorities in Maryland, home to some of the most secretive government agencies, alleging mishandling or improper storage of classified materials.
One of the more prominent federal cases involved Harold Martin, a former NSA contractor who was charged in 2016 with storing reams of classified records in his Maryland home, car and shed. The information spanned from the mid-1990s to the present and included personal details of government employees and “top secret” email chains, handwritten notes describing the NSA’s classified computer infrastructure, and descriptions of classified technical operations. He was sentenced in 2019 to nine years in prison.
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Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington, D.C.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/oldest-u-s-active-park-ranger-retires-at-100/
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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.”
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.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/police-student-kills-peer-at-south-carolina-middle-school/
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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.
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.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/surviving-hostage-relates-ordeal-in-islamic-state-captivity/
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federico Motka’s abductors greeted him in English after he and his colleagues were kidnapped near a refugee camp on the Turkish border: “Welcome to Syria, you mutt.”
For the Italian aid worker, it was the beginning of 14 months of brutality at the hands of the Islamic State.
Motka testified about the ordeal Thursday at the terrorism trial of El Shafee Elsheikh, a British national charged with taking a leading role in an Islamic State kidnapping scheme that took more than 20 Westerners hostage between 2012 and 2015.
Four Americans — journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller — were among them. Foley, Sotloff and Kassig were decapitated. Mueller was forced into slavery and raped repeatedly by the Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, before she too was killed.
Motka is the first surviving hostage to testify at Elsheikh’s trial in Alexandria, Virginia.
Born in Trieste, Italy, Motka said he spent much of his childhood in the Middle East and went to boarding school in England. He was an aid worker surveying the needs of refugee camps in March 2013 when he and a colleague, Briton David Haines, were captured and taken hostage.
Motka testified that for the first month of captivity, he was only occasionally mistreated, but that mistreatment frequently came at the hands of three captors whom hostages dubbed “the Beatles” because of their British accents. They learned to speak surreptitiously about their captors, who wore masks and took pains to conceal their identity, since they never knew what would set them off. A dispute over bathroom hygiene prompted a particularly intense beating, he said.
“They said I was a posh wanker because I went to boarding school,” Motka testified. “They said I was arrogant, and they were going to take me down a peg.”
Motka’s use of the term “posh wanker” set off a brief period of uncomfortable laughter in the courtroom, when the judge interrupted and asked what the phrase means, forcing Motka to explain the term’s vulgar meaning of the British idiom.
The British accents and phraseology are an important part of the case, though, as prosecutors seek to prove that Elsheikh is indeed one of the Beatles who tortured hostages, even though the Beatles took great pains to conceal their faces. Motka testified that there were at least three Britons in the group of captors, and the hostages nicknamed them “John,” “George” and “Ringo.”
Prosecutors have said in court that Elshiekh is the one who was nicknamed Ringo.
One way Motka distinguished the three was their preferences for inflicting punishment.
“George was more into boxing,” Motka testified. “John, he kicked a lot. Ringo used to talk how he liked wrestling. He would put people in headlocks.”
He described one instance when Ringo put James Foley in a headlock so tight that he passed out.
Motka also recounted a time in the summer of 2013 when the hostages were held in a facility they nicknamed “the box.” The Beatles excitedly put Motka and his cellmate David Haines in a room with Foley and British hostage John Cantlie for what they called a “Royal Rumble.”
“They were super excited about it,” Motka said of the Beatles about the tag-team style fight they imposed on the foursome. “We were so weak and shattered we could barely lift our arms.”
The group was told that the losers would be waterboarded. Two of the four passed out during the hour-long battle, Motka said. The Beatles deemed him the loser but never waterboarded him, inflicting a beating instead.
As they were transferred to different facilities, Motka said the hostages were sometimes separated from the Beatles for weeks at a time. Those periods were welcome, relatively speaking, because the Beatles were unique in their cruelty, he said.
When they were transferred again to a place they nicknamed “the dungeon” and saw that the Beatles were there, “we crapped our pants,” Motka said. “We had just started to relax a little” as the mistreatment had eased in their absence.
“The box,” where the Beatles were a regular presence, was one of the worst stretches of captivity. Motka said he and other hostages there endured a lengthy “regime of punishment” that included regular beatings and forced stress positions. “George,” another man named Abu Mohamed and a third nicknamed “the punisher” regularly tortured them, Motka said.
“They played lots of games with us,” Motka said, maintaining composure as he clearly struggled with the emotions of describing his captivity. “They gave us dog names. We needed to come and immediately respond” to the dog name to avoid a beating.
Motka was not released until May 25, 2014. His 14 months in captivity were the longest of any hostage in the group.
Defense lawyers, though, have highlighted the difficulties that hostages have in formally identifying each of their captors, who routinely wore masks that covered all but their eyes.
In opening statements, prosecutors referenced only three British nationals — Elsheikh, his longtime friend Alexenda Kotey, and Mohammed Emwazi, who frequently carried out the role of executioner and was known as “Jihadi John.”
Emwazi was killed in a drone strike, and Kotey was captured alongside Elsheikh and also brought to Virginia to face trial. Kotey pleaded guilty last year in a plea bargain that calls for a life sentence.
Jurors also heard testimony Thursday from Danish hostage negotiator Jens Serup, who testified about prolonged efforts to secure the release of Daniel Rye Ottosen in exchange for 2 million euros.
The jury saw photos of huge bruises on Ottosen’s arm and back after he was finally released. Serup testified that the captors told Ottosen the beating was a “farewell present not to forget them.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/ukrainian-archbishop-minority-faiths-at-risk-if-russia-wins/
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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.
Groups at risk include Catholics, Muslims and Orthodox who have broken away from the patriarch of Moscow, Archbishop Borys Gudziak said. He also cited reports that Russian forces have damaged two Holocaust memorials and Moscow’s false portrayal of Ukraine, which overwhelmingly elected a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a “Nazi” state.
“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.
“Ukrainian Catholics, over the last 250 years, every time there’s been a Russian occupation where they live and minister, they’ve been strangled,” he continued.
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. The name of the church, whose members account for an estimated 10% of Ukraine’s population, refers to its loyalty to the pope and its use of Greek or Byzantine liturgy, which is similar to that of Ukraine’s majority Orthodox population.
The archbishop predicted that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — which broke from the Moscow Patriarchate and was recognized in 2019 by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople over fierce opposition from Moscow — “will undoubtedly be crushed if there’s a Russian occupation.”
Guziak did not specifically mention the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is separate from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and has remained loyal to Moscow Patriarch Kirill, a strong supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite that historic fealty, Ukrainian Orthodox Church leaders have fiercely denounced the Russian invasion and in some cases are refusing to mention Kirill’s name in public prayers, a ritually potent snub.
Kirill has backed Putin’s justifications for the war, saying both countries are part of a “Russian world” and alleging that the U.S. and other foreign forces have sought to foster enmitybetween them.
Gudziak also cited the plight of Muslim Tatars who “have been persecuted for these last eight years” since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014.
The U.S. State Department has similarly denounced intimidation and harassment of Tatars and other religious groups in Crimea and areas of eastern Ukraine under control of Russia-backed separatists. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said this month that Moscow’s “aggression toward religious freedom (in those territories) is an indicator that much worse will follow … as Russia expands into Ukraine.”
Gudziak rejected Russia’s claims that it is on a mission to denazify Ukraine, where the Jewish Zelenskyy won election with 73% of the vote. Such altruistic assertions also ring hollow, he argued, given the reported damage to the Holocaust memorials in Kyiv and near Kharkiv.
“All those who desire to live in freedom will lose a lot or everything. If there is an occupation, that is what is at stake for Ukrainians,” Gudziak said. “What is at stake for Europe, for the broader world, is will there be an advance of systems, ideologies and worldviews that crush people?”
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/us-taps-420m-to-boost-water-supplies-hit-by-climate-change/
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials slated millions of dollars for rural water projects in several states, with the Biden administration looking to shore up infrastructure needs made more urgent by long-term drought conditions that have been exacerbated by climate change.
The U.S. Interior Department announced Thursday that $420 million will be spent on projects in New Mexico, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. The work includes construction of water treatment plants, pipeline connections, pump systems and reservoirs to provide drinking water to rural and tribal communities.
The West is experiencing a more than 20-year megadrought. Scientists say the region has become much warmer and drier in recent decades and that climate change will continue to make weather more extreme, wildfires more frequent and destructive, and water supplies less reliable.
From Idaho and Montana south to New Mexico and Arizona, even soil moisture levels have hit record lows as major reservoirs along the Colorado River have plummeted. Earlier this month, Lake Powell hit a record low, spurring concerns about the ability to crank out more hydropower from the dam that holds it back.
Native American tribes that are finally seeing federal money after years of being underfunded are working to get at water they long had rights to but could not access without funds to build the infrastructure. On the Navajo Nation, tens of thousands of people still live without running water, while tribes in the upper Midwest are awaiting pipeline extensions that would tap into reliable sources.
In all, the infrastructure measure included $5 billion for Western water programs, with 20% of that dedicated to rural projects.
Federal officials said the allocations were based on project plans and significant goals that are projected to be reached with the funding.
The largest share — $160 million — will go toward a project decades in the making that will eventually provide water for about 70,000 people who live in communities along the New Mexico-Texas state line, where the Ogallala aquiferis being pumped at a faster rate than it’s being replenished.
The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority will receive additional money from the Bureau of Reclamation and the state of New Mexico. When combined with matching money from the utility, the total for this year will be more than $228 million.
“This will take us far in the construction of this critically important project,” said Michael Morris, chairman of the water authority and mayor of Clovis, a rural community in eastern New Mexico.
Other allocations include $75.5 million for the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System, which spans parts of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. The system is designed to pipe water from the Missouri River to areas as far as 60 miles (97 kilometers) away that have less plentiful resources.
In North Dakota, $51 million will go to a section of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program.
More than $57 million will go to the Rocky Boys/North Central Montana Rural Water System, which serves the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and numerous municipalities. The Fort Peck Reservation in Montana will benefit from $7 million for the water system there.
Tanya Trujillo, assistant Interior secretary for water and science, was flanked by water managers in Albuquerque when she made the announcement.
“The department is committed to bringing clean, reliable drinking water to rural communities to help strengthen resilience to climate change,” Trujillo said.
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https://www.koin.com/news/national/us-will-require-valves-on-new-pipelines-to-prevent-disasters/
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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. officials on Thursday adopted a rule aimed at reducing deaths and environmental damage from oil and gas pipeline ruptures — a long-delayed response to fatal explosionsand massive spillsthat have occurred over decades in California, Michigan, New Jersey and other states.
But safety advocates said the move by the U.S. Transportation Department would not have averted the accidents that prompted the new rule. That’s because it applies only to newly constructed or replaced pipelines — and not to hundreds of thousands of miles of lines that already crisscross the country, many of them decades old and corroding.
The rule requires companies to install emergency valves that can quickly shut off the flow of oil, natural gas or other hazardous fuels when pipelines rupture. It came in response to a massive gas explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people in 2010, and to large oil spills into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River and Montana’s Yellowstone River and other spills.
The National Transportation Safety Board since the 1990s has recommended the use of automatic or remote controlled valves on large pipelines — whether they are existing or new — to reduce the severity of accidents. Following a 1994 gas pipeline explosion and fire that destroyed eight buildings in Edison, Jersey, the safety board urged the Transportation Department to expedite requirements for shut-off valves in cities and natural areas.
But pipeline companies for years resisted new valve requirements because of the expense of installing them and concerns they could close accidentally and shut off fuel supplies.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the more stringent regulations for the industry were needed because too many people have been harmed by pipeline failures.
He said installation of the valves would also protect against large releases of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas blamed for helping drive climate change.
“Today we are taking an important step to protect communities against hazardous pipeline leaks — helping to save the lives, property, and jobs of people in every part of the country while preventing super-polluting methane leaks.” Buttigieg said.
The Pipeline Safety Trust, a Bellingham, Washington-based advocacy group, said the rule marked progress since Congress mandated more stringent pipeline regulations over a decade ago.
But the group said exempting pipelines that are already in the ground means it would not prevent a repeat of the accident at San Bruno, which involved a pipeline that was more than 50 years old.
“This rule falls far short of the NTSB recommendation and will offer no additional safety to communities living near existing pipelines,” said Bill Caram, executive director of the safety trust.
The government estimated it would cost a combined $5.9 million annually for companies to comply with Thursday’s rule. By comparison, industry representatives said a single valve on an existing line could cost up to $1.5 million and it would take billions of dollars to retrofit lines nationwide.
Industry representatives were closely involved in crafting the rule. Their request to allow valves to be more widely spaced along pipelines and remove the requirement for some low-risk pipes was rejected. However, transportation officials adopted some of industry recommendations that will give operators latitude to make adjustments to where valves are placed.
Association of Oil Pipe Lines Vice President John Stoody said the final rule still contains “arbitrary requirements” for pipeline operators that don’t reflect real-world operating conditions or the low risk of spills in some scenarios.
Amy Andryszak, president of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, said her organization and companies it represents were still reviewing the rule but were “generally supportive” of rules that encourage safety.
Experts say automatic valves can help eliminate some human-caused errors that contribute to accidents, such as a delay of more than 17 hours to confirm the 2010 Kalamazoo, Michigan, pipeline rupture because workers ignored alarms indicating a possible spill. The break released more than 800,000 gallons (3,600,000 liters) of crude oil and caused roughly $1 billion in property and environmental damage.
In San Bruno, a 30-inch (76-centimeter) gas pipeline exploded and burned like a massive blowtorch in a suburban California neighborhood for 89 minutes before a manual valve was used to shut it down. An AP investigation found that pipeline operator Pacific Gas & Electric Co. agreed as far back as 1997 that remotely operated valves did a better job of protecting public safety, but opted against using them widely because they weren’t necessary or required.
Officials with the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration did not immediately respond to questions about the new rule.
Also missing from the new rule are standards for equipment that can detect when and where leaks hit, a recurring problem in pipeline accidents, Caram said.
Instead, the rule says pipeline companies must quickly take steps to confirm a spill if they get an alarm or other notification, but the confirmation process itself remains up to the company.
Faulty leak detection systems played a role in recent accidents including a 350,000 gallon diesel oil spill in December into a wetlandsoutside New Orleans and an underwater rupture off California’s coastlast October that fouled the ocean with tens of thousands of gallons crude oil.
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Follow Matthew Brown: @matthewbrownAP
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/5-fetuses-found-inside-dc-home-of-anti-abortion-activist/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Police found five fetuses in the home of a self-proclaimed “anti-abortion activist” who was indicted this week on federal charges alleging that she was part of a group of people who blocked access to a Washington, D.C. reproductive health center.
The Metropolitan Police Department says officers were responding to a tip about “potential bio-hazard material” at a home in Southeast Washington on Wednesday when they located the five fetuses inside.
A local television station, WUSA9, captured video of police searching the home and reported that the home belonged to Lauren Handy. The 28-year-old was one of nine people charged in an indictment that was made public on Wednesday that accused the group of traveling to Washington, blocking access to the reproductive health center and streaming it on Facebook.
The station, which first reported the discovery, said Handy told a reporter that “people will freak out when they hear” what detectives found inside her house. Handy did not respond to a message sent to her Facebook profile seeking comment.
Police said the five fetuses were collected by Washington’s medical examiner and the investigation is ongoing.
In the indictment, prosecutors said Handy had called the clinic pretending to be a prospective patient and scheduling an appointment. Once there, on Oct. 22, 2020, eight of the suspects pushed their way inside and began blocking the doors, according to the indictment. Five of them chained themselves together on chairs to block the treatment area as others blocked the employee entrance to stop other patients from coming inside, the indictment alleges. Another suspect blocked people from coming into the waiting room, prosecutors charge.
Handy and the eight others were charged with conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The federal law, more commonly known as the FACE Act, prohibits physically obstructing or using the threat of force to intimidate or interfere with a person seeking reproductive health services.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/arizona-governor-wont-say-transgender-people-exist/
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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.
“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.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/bargainers-bipartisan-deal-near-on-trimmed-10b-covid-bill/
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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.
The price tag was down from an earlier $15.6 billion agreement between the two parties that collapsed weeks ago after House Democrats rejected cutting unused pandemic aid to states to help pay for it. President Joe Biden requested $22.5 billion in early March. With leaders hoping to move the package through Congress quickly, the lowered cost seemed to reflect both parties’ calculations that agreeing soon to additional savings would be too hard.
The effort, which would finance steps like vaccines, treatments and tests, comes as Bidenand other Democrats have warned the government is running out of moneyto counter the pandemic. At the same time, the more transmissible omicron variant BA.2 has been spreading quickly in the U.S. and abroad.
“We’ve reached an agreement in principle on all the spending and all of the offsets,” Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lead Republican bargainer, told reporters Thursday, using Washington-speak for savings. “It’s entirely balanced by offsets.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and others were more circumspect.
“We are getting close to a final agreement that would garner bipartisan support,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. He said lawmakers were still finalizing the bill’s components and language, and awaiting a cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate health committee and another bargainer, said, “I’m hoping,” when asked about Romney’s assessment.
Once clinched, an agreement would represent a semblance of bipartisan cooperation in battling the pandemic that dissolved a year ago, when a far larger, $1.9 trillion measure proposed by the new president cleared Congress with only Democratic votes. That bill was laden with spending to help struggling families, businesses and communities, while this one would be aimed exclusively at public health.
Many Republicans have been willing to go along with the new expenditures but have insisted on paying for them with unspent funds from previous bills Congress has enacted to address the pandemic.
Half the new measure’s $10 billion would be used for treatments, said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who has helped negotiate the agreement. He said top federal health officials would be given wide discretion on spending the rest of it but it would include research and other steps for battling the disease, which has killed around 975,000 Americans and millions across the world.
Romney and others said savings the two parties had agreed to for the new bill would not include the cuts in state assistance that House Democrats opposed. He said some unused funds would be culled from another pandemic program that gives state and local governments funds for grants to local businesses.
Blunt said both sides had also agreed to savings that include pulling back an unspent $2.2 billion for aiding entertainment venues closed during the pandemic and more than $2 billion still available for assisting aviation manufacturing.
Romney said the $10 billion might include $1 billion for vaccines, treatments and other support for countries overseas. Blunt said that figure seemed unresolved. One third of the earlier, $15.6 billion measure had been slated to go abroad.
The lowered figure for assisting other countries encountered opposition in the House, where some Democrats wanted to boost the figure. Epidemiologists have cited the need to vaccinate more people around the world and reduce the virus’ opportunities for spinning off new variants.
“It’s a problem,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters. “It’s a shame.”
Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, said officials were “very hopeful” an agreement would be reached and prodded lawmakers to include funds to help other countries cope with the disease.
“We’re not going to be able to put this pandemic behind us until we stop the spread and proliferation of new variants globally,” Bedingfield said.
Leaders hope Congress can approve the legislation before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.
Republicans have leverage in the Democratic-controlled, 50-50 Senate because 60 votes are needed to pass most major bills. Romney and Blunt both said they believed a finalized package they described would attract significantly more than the 10 GOP votes needed.
Since the pandemic began, Congress has approved more than $5 trillion to address the economic and health crises it produced. Only a small fraction of that has been for public health programs like vaccines.
In an interview earlier Thursday with Punchbowl News, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the measure’s price tag seemed to have fallen to $10 billion because Democrats weren’t agreeing to additional savings.
Minutes later, Schumer took to the Senate floor and mentioned no figures but suggested its size could fall.
“I’m pleading with my Republican colleagues, join us,” Schumer said. “We want more than you do, but we have to get something done. We have to get something done.”
Asked if he thought an agreement could be reached before lawmakers’ recess, McConnell said, “We’ll see. Hope so.”
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Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/epa-upholds-trump-era-decision-not-to-regulate-contaminant/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Upholding a Trump-era environmental policy, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will not regulate a drinking water contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants.
The agency said the Trump administration’s decision in 2020 not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water was made with the “best available peer reviewed science.” The chemical is used in rocket fuel and fireworks.
At the time, Trump’s EPA said perchlorate was not found widely enough in drinking water or “at levels of public health concern” to warrant federal regulation. The decision was one of many Trump-era rollbacks or eliminations of existing or pending public health and environmental protections. The Biden administration ordered a review of that decision at the start of his term.
EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox said the agency was “applying the right tools to support public health protections.”
Environmental groups slammed the Biden administration’s decision.
“The Trump EPA gave perchlorate a pass; it was a bad decision then, and it’s a bad decision now,” said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council advocacy group. “Tap water across America will remain contaminated by this toxic chemical.”
Perchlorate from runoff contaminates the drinking water of as many as 16 million Americans, the Obama administration said in 2011 when it announced the EPA would for the first time set maximum limits for the chemical compound. It has been used in the U.S. for decades, particularly by the military and defense industries, and is commonly found in munitions, fireworks, matches and signal flares.
Exposure to the compound can damage the development of fetuses and children and cause measurable drops in IQ in newborns, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in 2019, when it called for stringent federal limits. It damages human development by disrupting the functioning of the thyroid gland.
In its 2020 review, the EPA said state-level regulations and cleanup activities at contaminated sites had lowered the health risks posed by the compound. Massachusetts and California, for example, limit perchlorate in drinking water to 2 parts per billion and 6 parts per billion, respectively.
“But the problem is that for the rest of the country the states have not set standards,” said Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council. He said the compound is in “the top tier of problematic chemicals in our water.”
In the Southwest, perchlorate has been detected in groundwater that entered Lake Mead in Nevada. Manufacturing facilities in Henderson, Nevada, were the source of the chemical. The EPA said cleanup activities at two industrial sites in the state between 2002 and 2006 resulted in reduced levels of perchlorate in data provided since then by Nevada environmental and water agencies.
The EPA said Thursday it was considering other steps besides a federal drinking water limit, such as setting standards at open burning and detonation sites, where severe perchlorate contamination is generated from the burning of hazardous byproducts from weapons manufacturing and munitions. One such site is in Colfax, Louisiana, where environmentalists have long advocated for reform.
But environmental advocates said such measures fall short of what’s needed.
“Simply put, toxic chemicals used in rocket fuel do not belong in our drinking water,” said John Rumpler, senior attorney with Environment America.
___
AP reporter Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/got-a-dime-businesses-seek-treasury-help-with-coin-shortage/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Got a dime you can spare? Coins are in short supply — again.
Retailers, laundromats and other businesses that rely on coins want Americans to empty their piggy banks and look under couch cushions for extra change and “get coin moving.”
A group of trade associations that represent individual businesses including banks, retail outlets, truck stops, grocery stores and more is asking the Treasury Department for more help convincing Americans to get coins back in circulation.
The consequences of the circulation slowdown hit people who don’t have an ability to pay for items electronically, they say.
“If retailers are not able to offer change for cash purchases consumers who rely on cash will be vulnerable,” the associations said in a letter to Treasury.
For example, people who do their laundry at coin laundry mats could have a harder time finding change to wash their clothes. And on a larger scale, people who don’t have cash access aren’t able to patronize certain card-only businesses.
It’s not a coin shortage America faces, but a lack of circulation.
“We can’t print our way out of this problem,” said Austen Jensen, a senior vice president for government affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
Jensen’s group, along with the American Bankers Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, and National Grocers Association, is trying to meet consumer demand and wants a new public campaign to increase coin circulation.
Jensen said his group is also encouraging member retailers to find creative ways to deal with the shortage of coins, including rounding-up purchases for charity promotions. And he says businesses with multiple locations could send coins from one store to another.
This is not the first time during the pandemic that the issue of low coin circulation has arisen.
The coronavirus disrupted consumers’ buying habits and shifted purchases largely to plastic cards to such an extent that in July 2020, the Federal Reserve restricted coin orders by financial institutions.
The Fed also convened a U.S. Coin Task Force, made up of representatives from various federal agencies, which led to a campaign encouraging the public to get coins into circulation.
This February, the task force issued a State of Coin report, which said pandemic lockdowns slowed small transactions that generated change and there was a temporary aversion to cash for perceived hygienic reasons. The report also said the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Mint contracted with a third party consultant to review the coin supply chain.
Coin deposit volumes began to increase gradually starting in the summer of 2020, but businesses say the problem has come up again as people have stopped using coins and have stuck to plastic cards.
The issue has had the biggest impact on people who don’t have bank accounts. An estimated 22 percent of U.S. Americans were “unbanked” or “underbanked” in 2019, according to the Federal Reserve.
The Treasury Department has yet to respond to the letter. The government encourages people to help get coin moving by spending it with retailers, taking it to their banks and credit unions, or using a coin recycling kiosk like the ones found at grocery stores.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/house-passes-35-a-month-insulin-cap-as-dems-seek-wider-bill-2/
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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.
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.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs.” Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?” Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden’s social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden’s agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven’t abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden’s economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they’d help people cope with costs. On Thursday,the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That’s done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she’s looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control.It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don’t reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/house-passes-35-a-month-insulin-cap-as-dems-seek-wider-bill/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday 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, 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.
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.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs.” Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?” Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden’s social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden’s agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven’t abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden’s economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they’d help people cope with costs. On Thursday,the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That’s done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she’s looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control.It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don’t reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/judge-strikes-down-parts-of-florida-election-law-cites-race/
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, saying in a ruling Thursday that the Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters.
The law tightened rules on mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods — changes that made it more difficult for Black voters who, overall, have more socioeconomic disadvantages than white voters, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in his ruling.
“For the past 20 years, the majority in the Florida Legislature has attacked the voting rights of its Black constituents,” Walker wrote. Given that history, he said, some future election law changes should be subject to court approval.
Florida’s Republican-led legislature joined several others around the country in passing election reforms after Republican former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Democrats have called such reforms a partisan attempt to keep some voters from the ballot box.
“It was only designed to fuel the narrative around the big lie and that the election was stolen from Trump,” Democratic state Rep. Fentrice Driskell, who is Black, said in a phone interview after the ruling was issued. “What we absolutely can’t have is a system that, I almost feel like, is separate and unequal. Making it harder for Black people to vote is unconstitutional.”
Democratic state Rep. Ramon Alexander said he and others argued before the bill passed that it would disproportionally affect voters of color, and he is glad Walker agreed.
“Florida has a long history of discrimination at the ballot box, and (the bill) was just another roadblock put in front of Black people trying to cast a legal vote,” said Alexander, who is Black.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made the election bill a priority, said the state will appeal Walker’s decision and win.
“In front of certain district judges, we know we will lose no matter what because they are not going to follow the law,” DeSantis said at a news conference in West Palm Beach. He did not say specifically why he believes the ruling is incorrect.
Upon appeal, the case would go to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, which is seen as being more conservative.
Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored the bill, didn’t immediately return a voicemail message seeking comment.
Much of the debate focused on vote-by-mail ballots and how they are collected and returned. Walker overturned a provision of the law limiting when people could use a drop box to submit their ballot, along with a section prohibiting anyone from engaging with people waiting to vote. Walker said the latter provision “discourages groups who give food, water, and other forms of encouragement to voters waiting in long lines from continuing to do so.”
“One way, then, to measure whether this provision will have a disparate impact on Black or Latino voters is to determine whether Black and Latino voters are disproportionately likely to wait in line to vote,” said Walker, citing testimony that showed that to indeed be the case.
Walker, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, also overturned a provision in the law putting new restrictions on groups that register voters, including requiring that people working to register voters submit their names and permanent addresses to the state.
Walker ordered that for the next 10 years, any attempt by the Legislature to write new laws on the issues he overturned will need court approval.
“Floridians have been forced to live under a law that violates their rights on multiple fronts for over a year,” he wrote. “Without preclearance, Florida could continue to enact such laws, replacing them every legislative session if courts view them with skepticism. Such a scheme makes a mockery of the rule of law.”
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/nc-sen-tillis-adds-to-republicans-supporting-cawthorn-rival/
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis endorsed a state legislator Thursday over U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn in their upcoming Republican primary, saying the first-term congressman has “fallen well short” of expectations.
Tillis’ backing of state Sen. Chuck Edwards adds another consequential voice in North Carolina’s GOP willing to oppose Cawthorn, who has received criticisms from a larger swath of Republicans for recent comments, including one in which he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug.”
The top Republican leaders in the state legislature — House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger — also were featured guests at a lunch fundraiser Thursday for Edwards, one of seven Republicans challenging Cawthorn for the nomination in the May 17 primary.
“The 11th Congressional District deserves a congressman who is fully dedicated to serving their constituents,” Tillis said in a news release. “Unfortunately, Madison Cawthorn has fallen well short of the most basic standards western North Carolina expects from their representatives, and voters now have several well-qualified candidates to choose from who would be a significant improvement. I believe Chuck Edwards is the best choice.”
Cawthorn, who was elected in 2020 at age 25, is a strong supporter of Donald Trump. Cawthorn spoke at a rally in Washington on Jan 6, 2021, that questioned the outcome of the White House election won by Democrat Joe Biden. The riot at the U.S. Capitol took place after that rally.
A Cawthorn campaign commercial posted Thursday on Twitter includes what appears to be text from a quote from Trump stating Cawthorn has “my complete and total endorsement.”
Recently, Cawthorn has received negative publicity for being cited three times in five months for traffic violations — speeding and driving with a revoked license among them — and for the video about Zelenskyy. In the same short video, Cawthorn said the Ukrainian government “is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.”
Cawthorn and a spokesperson later attempted to clarify those remarks, with the congressman calling actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his country’s invasion of Ukraine “disgusting.” After recent comments Cawthorn made on a podcast that angered fellow Republicans in Congress, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., met with Cawthorn this week and reprimanded him publicly.
Moore said Thursday that someone like Cawthorn doesn’t deserve to be in Congress.
“If you have clowns in office who aren’t serious about what they’re doing, you can’t get somewhere,” Moore told WNCN-TVwhile attending a fundraiser for Edwards. “I’m just kind of without the words to describe what Congressman Cawthorn is doing and saying. I mean, some of these ridiculous recent comments that continue to build on one another.”
A Cawthorn spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the Republican opposition.
Cawthorn announced in November that he planned to run in a proposed congressional district closer to Charlotte, rather than to keep representing the far western mountains. Moore had also considered a run in that new district but decided against it. That district ultimately was thrown out by judges, and Cawthorn returned to a run in the reconfigured 11th District, which leans Republican.
Cawthorn’s campaign raised $2.8 million in 2021 but had only $282,000 in cash entering this year, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Other primary opponents includes former political ally Michele Woodhouse and Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez, who is being supported by a super political action committee linked to Moe Davis, the 11th District Democratic nominee in 2020.
The top vote-getter in the upcoming primary would have to receive more than 30% of the vote to avoid a July 26 runoff with the second-place finisher.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/taraji-p-henson-chris-paul-named-to-black-colleges-board/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is naming actor Taraji P. Henson and the NBA’s Chris Paul to a presidential advisory board on historically Black colleges and universities.
They are among nine men and nine women Biden is appointing to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the White House announced Thursday.
Several HBCU presidents, the president of United Airlines and the first Black woman to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are among Biden’s selections.
They will join Tony Allen, the president of Delaware State University, and Glenda Glover, the president of Tennessee State University, who are serving, respectively, as chairperson and vice chairperson of the board, which was established during the Carter administration.
Henson is a Washington, D.C., native who studied acting at Howard University, a historically Black school and the alma mater of Vice President Kamala Harris. Paul is a 12-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Besides Allen and Glover, the presidents of five other HBCUs will also join the board. They are Virginia State University, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Alabama State University, Prairie View A&M University in Texas and Dillard University in New Orleans.
Lisa Jackson, who became the EPA’s first Black administrator in the Obama administration, and United Airlines President Brett Hart will also join the board.
Biden also intends to appoint Paige Blake, a 20-year-old junior at Bowie State University, an HBCU in Maryland.
The White House said the administration has committed $5.8 billion in support to these historically Black colleges and universities through a combination of pandemic relief funding, grants and forgiving capital improvement debt.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/trumps-8-hour-gap-minute-by-minute-during-jan-6-riot/
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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.
SORE AT HIS NO. 2
Trump entered the Oval Office at 11:08 a.m. By that time, about 400 pro-Trump demonstrators had already massed at the Capitol. Trump placed a call to Vice President Mike Pence — their only conversation of the day. It didn’t go well: Trump wanted Pence to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, and he was very unhappy the vice president wouldn’t do it.
At 11:38 a.m., the president left the White House to address his rally on the Ellipse, a big grassy oval behind the White House, about a mile or so from the Capitol. It was bitter cold, but that didn’t keep the crowd away. Trump was up on stage by 11:57 and addressed his supporters until about 1:15 p.m.
Among Trump’s challenging final words: “We fight. We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more. My fellow Americans, for our movement, for our children, and for our beloved country. So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to the Capitol.”
‘THEY’RE THROWING METAL POLES’
Growing crowds were migrating to the Capitol. Almost immediately after Trump concluded, a Capitol Police officer called for backup.
“They’re throwing metal poles at us,” the officer said in a panicked voice. “Multiple law-enforcement injuries.”
Would Trump himself head for the Capitol, as he’d suggested in his speech? It was unclear at first, but his motorcade turned to head back to the White House.
At 1:21 p.m., Trump met with his valet at the White House, logs say. At the Capitol, meanwhile, then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund begged for help from the National Guard as the crowd started to swell around the west side of the building and became increasingly violent.
By then the TV networks had picked up the melee and were broadcasting live as the mob broke through metal police barricades and advanced toward the doors of the building where lawmakers were gathered to certify the presidential election results. The surreal images soon filled television screens throughout the West Wing, where staffers watched, stunned.
LOCKDOWN
By 2 p.m. the U.S. Capitol was locked down. At 2:11, Pence was evacuated. At 2:15, congressional leaders were evacuated. At 2:43, demonstrator Babbitt was shot trying to enter the House chamber through a window broken by the mob.
No official record has surfaced yet of what Trump was doing during this time. The next entry in Trump’s daily diary is not until 4:03 p.m., when he went out to the Rose Garden to tape a public address after frantic urging.
But during this time Trump was hardly idle. He was in touch with lawmakers and he was, according to aides, watching the violence unfold on national television. And he was tweeting.
At 2:28, he tweeted not about the violence but to show his pique at his vice president:
“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”
At some point, Trump also talked to lawmakers. Republican Kevin McCarthy told a California radio station that he had spoken to the president.
“I was the first person to call him,” McCarthy said. “I told him to go on national TV, tell these people to stop it. He said he didn’t know what was happening.”
Washington Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler said McCarthy relayed that conversation to her. By her account, when McCarthy told Trump it was his own supporters breaking into the building, Trump responded: “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
Trump also talked to Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, among other GOP lawmakers. Tuberville later said he spoke to the president while the Senate was being evacuated. Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Trump accidentally called him when he was trying to reach Tuberville.
Others, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, tried but failed to get through to the president.
‘IT HAS GONE TOO FAR’
At 3:14 p.m. a Trump tweet at last made a sideways reference to the havoc. “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
At some point, he sequestered himself in the dining room off the Oval Office to watch the violence play out on TV, rewinding and re-watching some parts, according to former aides. Unable to get through by other means, allies including his former chief of staff and communications director resorted to tweeting at him to try to get through. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was getting a flurry of texts from lawmakers, from Fox News personalities and even Trump’s own children.
“Hey, Mark, protestors are literally storming the Capitol. Breaking windows on doors. Rushing in. Is Trump going to say something?” reads one text.
“We are all helpless,” says another.
As the violence continued, the president’s elder son texted Meadows:
“He’s got to condemn this s(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk) Asap,” Donald Trump, Jr. texted.
Meadows responded: “I’m pushing it hard. I agree.”
Trump, Jr. texted again and again, urging that his father act:
“We need an Oval address. He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand.”
‘REMEMBER THIS DAY FOREVER!’
At 4:08 p.m. Trump went out to the Rose Garden. At 4:17 p.m. he released a scripted, pre-recorded video, which included a call for “peace” and “law and order” and finally told his supporters “you have to go home now.”
But they didn’t. Things were still wildly out of control. In fact, the Capitol building was not secured until 5:34 p.m.
At 6:01, Trump’s message was back to indignant: “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” he wrote. “Remember this day forever!”
At 6:27, he went back to the residence, and started calling his lawyers.
Congress did not resume counting electoral votes until 8 p.m. They finished at 3:40 a.m. and certified Biden as the winner.
___
Associated Press Writers Jill Colvin in New York, Nomaan Merchant, Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Mike Balsamo contributed to this report.
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https://www.koin.com/news/politics/washington-oks-1st-statewide-missing-indigenous-people-alert/
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TULALIP, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law a bill that creates a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, to help address a silent crisis that has plagued Indian Country in this state and nationwide.
The law sets up a system similar to Amber Alerts and so-called silver alerts, which are used respectively for missing children and vulnerable adults in many states. It was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Debra Lekanoff, the only Native American lawmaker currently serving in the Washington state Legislature, and championed by Indigenous leaders statewide.
“I am proud to say that the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s and People’s Alert System came from the voices of our Native American leaders,” said Lekanoff, a member of the Tlingit tribe and the bill’s chief sponsor. “It’s not just an Indian issue, it’s not just an Indian responsibility. Our sisters, our aunties, our grandmothers are going missing every day … and it’s been going on for far too long.”
Tribal leaders, many of them women, wore traditional hats woven from cedar as they gathered around Inslee for the signing on the Tulalip Reservation, north of Seattle. Afterward they gifted him with a handmade traditional ribbon shirt and several multicolored woven blankets.
The law attempts to address a crisis of missing Indigenous people — particularly women — in Washington and across the United States. While it includes missing men, women and children, a summary of public testimony on the legislation notes that “the crisis began as a women’s issue, and it remains primarily a women’s issue.”
Besides notifying law enforcement when there’s a report of a missing Indigenous person, the new alert system will place messages on highway reader boards and on the radio and social media, and provide information to the news media.
The legislation was paired with another bill Inslee, a Democrat, signed Thursday that requires county coroners or medical examiners to take steps to identify and notify family members of murdered Indigenous people and return their remains. That new law also establishes two grant funds for Indigenous survivors of human trafficking.
This piece of the crisis is important because in many cases, murdered Indigenous women are mistakenly recorded as white or Hispanic by coroners’ offices, they’re never identified, or their remains never repatriated.
A 2021 report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found the true number of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S. is unknown due to reporting problems, distrust of law enforcement and jurisdictional conflicts. But Native American women face murder rates almost three times those of white women overall — and up to 10 times the national average in certain locations, according to a 2021 summary of the existing research by the National Congress of American Indians. More than 80% have experienced violence.
In Washington, more than four times as many Indigenous women go missing than white women, according to research conducted by the Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle, but many such cases receive little or no media attention.
The bill signing began with a traditional welcome song passed down by Harriette Shelton Dover, a cherished cultural leader and storyteller. Dover recovered and shared many traditions and songs from tribes along Washington’s northern Pacific Coast and worked with linguists before her death in 1991 to preserve her language, Lushootseed, from extinction. Women performed an honor song after the event.
Tulalip Tribes of Washington Chairwoman Teri Gobin said Washington and Montana are the two states with the most missing Indigenous people in the U.S. Nearly four dozen Native people are currently missing in Seattle alone, she said.
“What’s the most important thing is bringing them home, whether they’ve been trafficked, whether they’ve been stolen or murdered,” she said. “It’s a wound that stays open, and it’s something that we pray with (for) each person, we can bring them home.”
Investigations into missing Indigenous people, particularly women, have been plagued by many issues for decades.
When a person goes missing on a reservation, there are often there are jurisdictional conflicts between tribal police and local and state law enforcement. A lack of staff and police resources, and the rural nature of many reservations, compound those problems. And many times, families of tribal members distrust non-Native law enforcement or don’t know where to report news of a missing loved one.
An alert system will help mitigate some of those problems by allowing better communication and coordination between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement and creating a way for law enforcement to flag such cases for other agencies. The law expands the definition of “missing endangered person” to include Indigenous people, as well as children and vulnerable adults with disabilities or memory or cognitive issues.
The law takes effect June 9 and some details are still being worked out. For example, it’s unclear what criteria law enforcement will use to positively identify a missing person as Native American and how the information will be disseminated in rural areas, including on some reservations, where highways lack electronic reader boards — or where there aren’t highways at all.
The measure is the latest step Washington has taken to address the issue. The Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force is working to coordinate a statewide response and had its first meeting in December. Its first report is expected in August.
Many states from Arizona to Oregon to Wisconsin have taken recent action to address the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women. Efforts include funding for better resources for tribal police to the creation of new databases specifically targeting missing tribal members. Tribal police agencies that use Amber Alerts for missing Indigenous children include the Hopi and Las Vegas Paiute.
In California, the Yurok Tribe and the Sovereign Bodies Institute, an Indigenous-run research and advocacy group, uncovered 18 cases of missing or slain Native American women in roughly the past year in their recent work — a number they consider a vast undercount. An estimated 62% of those cases are not listed in state or federal databases for missing persons.
The law is already drawing attention from other states, whose attorney generals have called to ask how to enact similar legislation, said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who called the law “truly groundbreaking.”
“Any time you’re doing something for the first time in this country, that’s an extra heavy lift,” he said. “This most certainly will not be our last reform to make sure that we bring everybody back home. .. There is so much more work that needs to be done and must be done.”
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Flaccus reported from Portland, Oregon.
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Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
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WHAT ARE THE TOP-RATED FACE OILS ON SEPHORA?
From toners to serums to moisturizers, there’s no shortage of skincare products that help address your skin issues. Face oils are a relative newcomer to the scene, but they can be like a magic elixir for getting you the bright, smooth complexion of your dreams.
It may seem counterintuitive since we’ve been warned about oil clogging our pores and wreaking havoc on our skin for years. But face oils can work with your skin’s natural oils to provide additional protection for the skin. They also help soften and hydrate — and some oils even offer anti-aging and antibacterial properties. It’s all about choosing the right oil for your skin type and issues.
Want to introduce a face oil to your skincare routine? Check out these well-loved face oils from Sephora that can help give you beautiful, glowing skin, even without makeup.
Most popular face oils on Sephora for $30-$40
Danessa Myricks Beauty Beauty Oil with Gold Leaf
Featuring a blend of jojoba, sunflower seed, squalane and sweet almond oils infused with gold leaf, this facial oil provides a radiant glow to the skin. It also helps moisturize and create a perfect base for your makeup application. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, too.
Sold by Sephora
This lightweight face oil features 100% pure squalane derived from olives. It’s a non-comedogenic formula that can help balance excess oil, making it an excellent option even for oily skin. It can also help improve the texture and tone of the skin.
Sold by Sephora
This multi-purpose face oil works for multiple skin types. It contains jojoba oil to hydrate and condition the skin, rosehip oil to firm and brighten, and wildcrafted buriti oil for antioxidant protection. The formula is lightweight and absorbs quickly but leaves your skin feeling moisturized for up to 12 hours.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular face oils on Sephora for $40-$50
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil
This facial oil is chock full of super berry antioxidants from maqui, acai and goji berries that deliver instant hydration and leave your skin with a luminous glow. It absorbs quickly and helps brighten the skin with vitamin C, and works well for most skin types, too.
Sold by Sephora
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
This multi-purpose oil offers excellent hydration for not only your face but your hair and nails, too. It is a potent source of antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamin E that moisturize, protect and leave the skin with a lovely glow. The argan nuts are also ethically sourced, and the formula is vegan and cruelty-free.
Sold by Sephora
Volition Beauty Hibiscus Unspottable Correcting Oil
If you have dark spots or discoloration, this daily face oil helps brighten and exfoliate the skin. The hibiscus oil helps shed dead skin cells and soften the look of dark circles, while the licorice root extract illuminates and soothes the skin. It’s an ideal option for normal and dry skin.
Sold by Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrating Oil
Normal, dry and combination skin will appreciate this lightweight, hydrating oil. It contains antioxidants to provide protection against free radical damage to help soften the signs of aging. It also leaves the skin with a visible radiant glow that looks beautiful under makeup.
Sold by Sephora
GXVE by Gwen Stefani All Time Prime Clean Hydrating Prep & Smooth Face Oil
A versatile, lightweight face oil, this formula can provide up to 24 hours of hydration that creates a perfect canvas for makeup. It leaves the skin with a dewy glow and can even be mixed with your foundation for added luminosity. The oil also contains aloe to soothe the skin.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular face oils on Sephora for $50+
Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-in-One Face Oil
This non-comedogenic formula contains a blend of 16 vegan oils that help plump and hydrate the skin. It contains plenty of vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, too, so it can strengthen and protect the skin. Its packaging is also recyclable.
Sold by Sephora
Damdam Rice Drops Vegan Face Oil
An excellent option for normal, dry or combination skin, this weightless face oil absorbs quickly but still moisturizes the skin well. It helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and creates an ideal base for makeup. It gives the skin a healthy glow, too.
Sold by Sephora
Clarins Santal Face Treatment Oil
Offering a blend of 100 percent pure plant oils, this facial oil can help soothe dry, irritated skin. It features hazelnut oil to reduce redness and keep the skin from losing moisture. It can be applied directly to the skin or mixed into your moisturizer to help boost hydration.
Sold by Sephora
StriVectin Super-B Barrier Strengthening Oil with Vitamin B3 and Prebiotics
This clinically proven facial oil may be the perfect treatment for dry or mature skin. It has a lightweight feel but helps soothe dry skin and lock in moisture. It also reduces redness and brightens dull skin. The formula is non-comedogenic, too.
Sold by Sephora
Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 Milligrams of CBD
This plant-based facial oil can help soothe stressed, irritated skin. The argan oil offers antioxidants and essential fatty acids to protect the skin, while the CBD helps calm sensitive skin. It also helps improve the look of dull, uneven skin.
Sold by Sephora
Drunk Elephant A-Gloei Retinol Oil
If you’re looking for a face oil that can address the signs of aging, this retinol-packed formula is for you. It helps improve the look and texture of uneven skin, so it works well for fine lines, dark spots and even blemishes. It also contains ceramides to help boost the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Sold by Sephora
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Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which auto-follow drone is best?
Capturing magnificent scenes with a high-flying drone is a common method used by videographers to create content. The drones are steered with a flight stick or controller and go wherever the pilot directs them.
But sometimes, you want the drone to capture you in action. If there is nobody else to control the drone, you’re going to have a problem. That is where an auto-follow drone comes in, and as the name implies, it will automatically follow you as you run, bike or ski. One of the best auto-follow drones is the DJI Air 2S Quadcopter Drone.
What to know before you buy an auto-follow drone
Know the difference between auto-follow and tracking
The two terms might sound the same, and some companies use them interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. An auto-follow drone doesn’t need a camera and can follow a signal. On the other hand, a tracking drone can memorize a face or object and track it. It will stay a certain distance away and continuously keep the object in the frame.
The size of the drone matters
Not all drones are built the same, and generally larger ones will have bigger batteries and more features. But that’s not to say that smaller, more affordable drones aren’t up to the task. Consider what kind of footage you want to capture and where you’ll be flying, and determine which size drone will be best for your needs.
Preferred method of control
You can operate drones through different control mechanisms. While professional drones use remote controllers and a screen, others operate easily with a mobile phone or a tablet. Consider which controlling method will be the easiest for you, as you can always upgrade to a headset when you get more comfortable.
What to look for in a quality auto-follow drone
Gimballed camera for stability
Under normal circumstances, you operate the drone through remote control. The pilot can steady the drone and capture any footage. But when it follows you, it is doing so automatically. Some stability is built into the flight, but a good-quality drone will have a gimballed camera. This prevents the camera from excessive shaking and will smoothly track the subject.
Obstacle sensing to prevent crashing
You don’t have any control over an auto-follow drone when it is in flight. To prevent the gadget from crashing into trees or buildings, a good-quality drone includes obstacle-sensing technology. This allows it to fly around or over anything that could block its flight path. It also allows the drone to keep track of you without breaking the line of sight.
Great camera for the best footage
If you use an auto-follow drone to capture images while running or going horse riding, you’ll want the footage to be as good as possible. A good-quality drone will capture 4K footage at 60 frames per second and take still photos with at least a 20-megapixel camera. Just bear in mind that you’ll need a suitable data storage device and enough battery power to fly some distance while recording.
How much you can expect to spend on an auto-follow drone
The average cost of an auto-follow drone will largely depend on the capabilities and functions of the device. An entry-level drone that can follow you retails for $150-$200, while professional drones can retail for $800-$1,500.
Auto-follow drone FAQ
How long is the flight time of a drone?
A. That will depend on the drone’s capabilities and the weather condition. On a sky, windless day, a typical drone can fly for around 35 minutes. Having to contend with wind can reduce the flying time to approximately 25 to 35 minutes.
What happens when the drone loses sight of you?
A. Most drones have a return-to-home function where they will fly back to their base station if they lose connectivity to the controller. Some drones go through several processes to re-establish a connection by themselves, like retracing their steps.
What’s the best auto-follow drone to buy?
Top auto-follow drone
What you need to know: For professional-quality footage, this drone will follow you wherever you go.
What you’ll love: This drone has an amazing 1-inch image sensor, making it capable of capturing footage at 5.4K at 30 frames per second or 4K at 60 frames per second. For auto-following, it features DJI’s Spotlight 2.0, ActiveTrack 4.0, and Point of Interest 3.0. It can track an object from as high as 1,600 feet and avoids collisions through environment sensing.
What you should consider: While it is one of the best drones available, the steep price tag could place it out of reach for most.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top auto-follow drone for the money
What you need to know: This affordable drone features a follow-me mode where it will hover automatically and record your movements.
What you’ll love: Capable of recording footage in 2K resolution, this drone has a 120-degree field of vision. It can follow you by GPS tracking, or you can let it fly a custom route. The drone has a control range of 980 feet and comes with two 1,000 mAh batteries.
What you should consider: Some users have indicated that the included batteries only provide for about 10 minutes of flying time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Holy Stone HS720 Foldable GPS Drone
What you need to know: This drone is perfect for shooting 4K content, as it comes with a shock absorption holder to minimize vibrations.
What you’ll love: Capturing footage at a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160, this drone has an adjustable lens that you can rotate 90 degrees. It has three auto-follow options to circle a specific point, fly on a pre-set course or follow your movements while recording. It comes with two batteries that provide 25 minutes of flying time each.
What you should consider: It doesn’t come with an SD card to save footage on, so you’ll have to provide your own.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/best-induction-range/
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Which induction range is best?
In order to create a culinary masterpiece, you need to have the best tools. Induction ranges have come a long way since they hit the market in 1933. While there were initial complaints of slow and uneven cooking, today’s induction ranges are some of the best ranges available.
The Samsung 4-Element Induction Range with Air Fry has a variety of features that bring a professional flair to any at-home cuisine.
What to know before you buy an induction range
Slide-in vs. freestanding
Induction ranges are like any other cooking range in that you can either slide them into a space on the countertop or add it to any other area of the kitchen. Freestanding ranges tend to be slightly less expensive than their slide-in counterparts. They are also more finished on the sides, offering a more aesthetic appeal.
Size of the range
The size of your kitchen will determine what size induction range you can buy. If you have the luxury of designing a kitchen around a stove, you can choose from widths that range from 30-48 inches. Larger induction ranges typically have more burners and may also include other features.
Size and number of elements
The size of your range will determine the number of elements you can cook on. However, there is some variety within this. Look for cooktop elements that fit the pots you generally cook in. Some induction ranges have size-sensing ability, which allows them to detect pot size and heat the appropriate number of coils.
Most standard induction ranges have four elements, but some have a few extra spots. These extra elements are helpful when you need to create complicated dishes.
What to look for in a quality induction range
Pre-programmed settings
Imagine never having to guess if your baked potato is fully cooked or determining the heat setting for boiling a pot of rice. These pre-programmed settings are incredibly helpful, especially for beginner chefs. Make sure to look for an induction stove with pre-programmed settings if you think this would be helpful in your home.
Safety features
You may want to have additional safety features like automatic shut-off or pot detection. These settings keep the stove burners off until they are needed, and turn them off if you leave them unattended. This is a great option for families with small children.
Ample power
One of the ways that manufacturers addressed previous issues with induction ranges was to increase the amount of power in the cooktop. Most induction ranges run 1,000-2,000 watts, but professional-grade appliances can use up to 3,500 watts.
How much you can expect to spend on an induction range
Induction ranges vary in price depending on the brand, size and additional features. You can expect to spend between $1,500-$4,500.
Induction range FAQ
How do induction ranges differ from other ranges?
A. The major difference between an induction range and other ranges is how it heats up. Instead of heating the range’s surface, which then heats a pot, induction ranges only heat the pot. These stovetops use magnetic coils to create a current that heats specialized cookware. This cookware must have a magnetic element in it. Cast iron and stainless steel are compatible with these ranges, but copper, aluminum and glass are not.
Are induction ranges fast?
A. Induction ranges typically heat around 50% faster than electric and gas ranges. This is because it heats the interior of the cookware directly instead of the surface.
Do induction ranges require special care?
A. One of the best parts of this appliance is how easy it is to clean. Spilled food does not bake onto the cooktop’s surface, which makes cleanup easy.
On the downside, the ceramic surface of the cooktop can become scratched if it’s not cleaned properly. There are a few tips to make it easier.
- Make sure the stove is turned off and that the stovetop is cool.
- Use a special cooktop scraper to remove dry food or crumbs.
- Wipe liquid spills off with a damp sponge.
- Used specialized cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub away stubborn dried food.
- Buff the surface with a clean paper towel.
What’s the best induction range to buy?
Top induction range
Samsung 4-Element Induction Range with Air Fry
What you need to know: You can tailor this intelligent, highly functional stove to your preferences.
What you’ll love: It’s a slide-in range featuring smartphone controls. The fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel finish looks great in a variety of kitchens. It has a built-in air fry function for fatless frying. The oven learns how you cook and programs your settings.
What you should consider: Some cooks felt it was a bit loud and expensive compared to other options.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top induction range for the money
Frigidaire Front Control Induction Range with Air Fry
What you need to know: If you want an induction range with plenty of features at an affordable price, this is a great option.
What you’ll love: The oven has a convection fan and a third heating element to evenly circulate air. The stovetop automatically gauges the size of the pan and heats the appropriate number of coils. Spills won’t burn on the surface, making it easy to clean. The stainless steel finish is smudge-proof and beautiful.
What you should consider: It’s easy to turn on if you lean on the stove accidentally.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Worth checking out
Cafe Smart Slide-In Induction Range with Convection
What you need to know: The smart tech of this stove and connectivity make this a fun appliance to experiment with.
What you’ll love: The cooktop has five elements, one of which boils water in under two minutes. It connects to Amazon Echo or Google Assistant for all of your cooking questions, too. The oven has three racks and an in-oven camera to help you keep an eye on what’s inside.
What you should consider: It can be challenging to connect it to your Wi-Fi.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which navigation system is best?
Driving around unfamiliar cities can be stressful if you have no way to check where you should be going. Most smartphones have global positioning systems built-in for this purpose, but they aren’t always accurate.
And if you don’t have a data connection, mobile navigation apps might not work at all. So, in most scenarios, a proper navigation system is the smart choice. The Garmin DriveSmart 61 is one of the best, as it has a large display and detailed maps.
What to know before you buy a navigation system
There are different systems for various activities
It would be easy to assume that there is only one kind of navigation system, as it generally only serves one purpose. But there are several variations with different functions and capabilities. There are marine navigation systems for boat owners and fishers, and for sports lovers, you get golf navigation. Road users have the choice of truck navigation or general road systems.
Consider the mounting options
While your choice of navigation system might be different, all devices must be affixed to the vehicle. These also come in different varieties. Consider which type will be best suited for your mode of transport, as some use suction cups to stick to the window or dash, while you can hold others in place with a vent-mounted carrier.
Controls and functions
Navigation systems have come a long since the days of bulky units with spotty tracking. Many modern navigation systems now have capacitive touchscreens, making it much easier to select the options. Older versions used resistive touchscreens that often caused missed presses or delayed responses. Another addition to modern navigation systems is Bluetooth technology, which allows you to make and receive calls through the device.
What to look for in a quality navigation system
Wide range of points of interest
Getting directions to your location is the primary purpose of a navigation system, but sometimes you also want to know what is along the way. A device with an extensive list of points of interest built-in can make it exciting to plan a trip. Depending on the gadget’s maker and the maps used, these POI can range from national parks, monuments, or sightseeing attractions. Some allow you to download POI from other users.
Battery recharging options
If you rely on your navigation system to get around, you’ll be in real trouble if it suddenly runs out of battery power. Most systems have relatively robust batteries, but some built-in functions can quickly sap more power than you realize. A good-quality navigation system can be charged through a USB cable plugged into a battery pack or directly from an adapter in the vehicle’s cigarette lighter.
Lifetime maps and updates
Nobody wants to drive down a road, only to find that it leads to nowhere, even though the navigation system insists that it carries on. To prevent this from happening, navigation devices must be constantly updated to the latest map versions. A good-quality navigation system will supply users with lifetime map updates, changes and additional POI.
How much you can expect to spend on a navigation system
The average price of a navigation system will depend on what it’s made for, who the manufacturer is and its capabilities. An entry-level device with a small screen can retail for $150-$200. Larger units with more functions regularly retail for $200-$300.
Navigation system FAQ
Can a navigation system make you a safer driver?
A. While the system can’t change your driving habits, it can help you to be more aware of your surroundings. It will make you a safer driver by alerting you to speed limits, sharp bends, nearby schools or speed cameras.
Are there different map styles for systems?
A. Yes, and many navigation systems will give you a choice for your preferred visuals. Some systems will automatically change the map’s colors after sunset for safety and easy viewing.
What’s the best navigation system to buy?
Top navigation system
What you need to know: With the large 6.9-inch touchscreen and easy-to-read visuals, this navigation system is perfect for a cross-country road trip.
What you’ll love: The navigation system has a battery life of up to one hour but can easily be recharged through a USB cable. It includes lifetime map updates from Garmin, Wi-Fi connectivity for software updates and hands-free calling. To keep your eyes on the road, you can ask for directions by simply using your voice.
What you should consider: Some users have indicated that alerts can be too frequent, causing a distraction.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top navigation system for the money
What you need to know: Even though the screen is only 5 inches, the Via is more than capable of keeping you on the right track. It features live traffic updates and comes with free map updates of North America.
What you’ll love: The best feature about this navigation system is that the screen splits when you approach a junction. This clearly indicates which direction you need to travel so that you don’t drive in the wrong lane. It ships with a reversible integrated car mount, can give spoken directions in 30 languages and charges through USB.
What you should consider: The map updates are released four times a year, and you’ll only receive speed camera updates for the first three months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: When paired with your mobile phone, the DriveSmart 55 gives you real-time service updates, such as live parking, locations of traffic cameras and changes in the weather.
What you’ll love: Featuring a 5.5-inch display, this navigation system will route you around traffic so that you can get to your destination faster. You can also use your voice to interact with the device and see TripAdvisor ratings with POI in the area. It is recharged through the included USB cable and can connect to Wi-Fi networks.
What you should consider: It has a resistive touchscreen, which isn’t as accurate or sensitive as a capacitive screen.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/best-rc-tank/
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Which RC tanks are best?
Remote-control tanks provide hours of fun for all ages. Whether you’re staging a battle or traversing rugged terrain, these toys are immersive and just plain cool. There are tons of RC tanks out there, from historic replicas to futuristic armored vehicles. Which you choose will ultimately come down to the kinds of features you want your RC tank to have and how realistic you want it to look.
The best RC tank is the Heng Long Modified Edition Remote Control U.S. M1A2 Abrams Tank Model.
What to know before you buy an RC tank
What is an RC tank?
An RC tank is a type of remote-controlled vehicle modeled after real-life tanks used in warfare. Like real tanks, these toys have tracks that allow them to roll over rocks, mud and other uneven ground. They also have swiveling turrets to lock onto their target. RC tanks are controlled by a handheld transistor and run on battery power.
Types of RC tanks
There are two types of RC tanks: historically inspired models and fantasy/sci-fi-inspired models.
- Historic tanks are modeled after tanks that exist in real life from World War I to the modern era. Popular models are those from World War II, such as the American M4 Sherman and German Panzer, and those found in today’s militaries, such as the M1 Abrams.
- Fantasy and Sci-fi tanks have unique designs that don’t appear in real life. These follow the basic premise of a tank with a turret and tracks, but use futuristic color schemes and weapons.
Difference between RC tanks and RC cars
If you were to pit your RC tank against an RC car in a race, you’d be bound to lose. But a desert battle is another story. Both kinds of remote control vehicles have motors, controllers and batteries (though some RC cars use fuel). Yet, RC tanks don’t have nearly as powerful batteries or engines. They aren’t made for blistering speed or maneuverability. Rather, an RC tank is optimized for play. You won’t have to swap tires on these either, as their tracks are much more durable.
How to control an RC tank
RC tanks use a handheld transistor. Like RC cars, some use what’s called a pistol-grip controller. These have an ergonomic, one-hand design that uses a trigger for the throttle, and a wheel on the body of the pistol to turn the tank.
Traditional stick controllers are the classic square transistors with dual-analogue joysticks. You’re more likely to use one of these if you want a tank with a rotating turret as you’ll need to steer and direct the cannon.
What to look for in a quality RC tank
Battery
There are two kinds of batteries in the remote-control vehicle world. Nickel based Ni-MH batteries and lithium based LiPo batteries.
- LiPo: LiPo batteries are typically reserved for performance-oriented models. These durable batteries are powerful and produce a lot of speed, but they are more expensive.
- Ni-MH: Most tanks will use a Ni-MH battery, which is less powerful, but are much safer and more affordable.
Turret
A good RC tank should have a rotating or dynamic turret — after all, what’s the point of a tank without one of its core features? The turret should be able to rotate more than 180 degrees, with 360 being optimal. You’ll also want a turret that can go up or down. Look for around 30 degrees of vertical maneuverability.
Cannon
If your tank has a turret, check to see what its features are as most RC tanks have a shooting mechanism. If you’re buying for a younger user, you’ll want to use your best judgment when it comes to safety.
- Sound effects: When you press fire on your controller, the tank makes a realistic shooting sound. This is a fun detail that doesn’t require any extra supplies, power or supervision.
- Water: Transforming your tank into a little mobile water gun, water should be safe for all appropriate ages.
- Flame or smoke: Taking the tank to the next level, smoke or flames require oil to fire. These definitely require supervision.
- BB or airsoft: These RC tank cannons shoot small plastic or metal pellets. These should be used by older kids and adults.
Durability
You’ll want your tank to stand up to lots of play as well as to the elements. For this reason, durable, hard plastics are a must. In addition, check if your tank is waterproof before you take it through puddles or the snow, as water can damage the electronics and rust out the metal components. Lastly, you want your tracks to be made from either metal or anti-slip rubber. This will help your tank roll over rough surfaces without damaging components.
How much you can expect to spend on an RC tank
A kid-appropriate RC tank will cost anywhere from $50-$120. High-quality replicas with working cannons can exceed $200.
RC tank FAQ
Does my RC tank require fuel?
A. Most ready-to-roll out-of-the-box RC tanks run on battery power. If your tank makes smoke, you’ll need to top it off with oil to initiate combustion.
Are RC tanks safe?
A. Like any RC vehicle, an RC tank is as safe as the person using it. They do move at a decent clip and can bang shins or damage walls. But if you’re purchasing an RC tank that shoots, for a child you’ll need to make sure its cannon ammunition is age-appropriate and that you supervise play.
What’s the best RC tank to buy?
Top RC tank
Heng Long Modified Edition Remote Control U.S. M1A2 Abrams Tank Model
What you need to know: This tank is completely decked out with immersive effects and a working BB cannon.
What you’ll love: Produced at 1:16 scale, this tank is massive. It has a fully rotating turret, durable metal tracks with metal sprockets for all terrains and a whole slew of sound effects from the engine to the cannon. It also climbs steep slopes easily.
What you should consider: This tank is a little slow.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top RC tank for the money
Beaure WW2 German Tiger Army Tank
What you need to know: Beaure’s interactive replica tank is perfect for pretend play alone or with friends when paired with a second model.
What you’ll love: This 1:28-scale RC Tiger tank has stunning effects and realistic details. It has a 330-degree rotating turret with sound effects when it shoots. This tank has a battle feature that allows you to play with another tank.
What you should consider: Two tanks of the same model cannot fight — you need one of each.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Mostop Remote Control Crawler High-Speed Tank
What you need to know: The Mostop RC tank has a futuristic design modeled after high-tech military-police vehicles.
What you’ll love: This tank is fast with a top speed of over 7 miles per hour. Its rugged antislip tracks are designed to enable drifting and the gearbox has enough torque to climb up 30 degrees of incline. This tank can also wade 5 centimeters.
What you should consider: Some users report that the tracks can slip off their sprockets.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which Replica perfumes are best?
Scent is our most powerfully evocative sense, and perhaps no perfume brand leans more into the relationship between scent and memory than Maison Margiela’s Replica perfumes. These fragrances attempt to capture experiences and moments from specific places and times, like favorite Replica fragrance By the Fireplace does with notes of woodsmoke, chestnut and vanilla. Here’s how to select the best Replica perfume for your fragrance collection.
What to know before you buy a Replica perfume
Most Replica fragrances are unisex
Maison Margiela is an unconventional fashion house, and its Replica fragrances follow suit by largely ignoring standard gendered fragrance categories. Only a handful of the brand’s fragrances are recommended specifically for male or female users, and even within those categories, users of all genders tend to have success wearing a fragrance that isn’t traditionally marketed for them. Don’t be afraid to sample a fragrance that seems outside the box — Replica may pleasantly surprise you.
Most popular Replica fragrances are eau de toilettes
One important consideration in shopping for a Replica perfume is that the majority of the fragrances available are eau de toilettes, not eau de parfums. Eau de parfum is what we typically think of as “perfume,” and its scent tends to be stronger and longer-lasting, but eau de toilette is frequently more affordable. This is due to eau de toilettes having a lower concentration of pricey fragrance oils (generally 8-12%) than eau de parfums (12-18%). While eau de toilettes tend to be lighter and less complex, some of Replica’s most popular eau de toilettes, like By The Fireplace, are as rich and elaborate as eau de parfums.
Experiment with a gift set
There are a lot of Replica perfumes to choose from, and it’s always possible that the most popular scent in the lineup won’t appeal to you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by choice or don’t want to risk buying a perfume you’re not in love with, consider trying a gift set. Replica gift sets typically include 10 mini bottles, each with roughly eight wears — enough to get a feel for the perfume. These mini bottles are also great for travel.
What to look for in a quality Replica perfume
Affordable luxury designer quality
Replica eau de toilettes offer complex, unique fragrances at reasonable price points compared to other, more established designer perfume brands. Plus, with three bottle sizes available as well as a sample set, it’s easy to get the right amount of perfume for your budget.
Spray bottles, not rollerballs
Perfume purists often prefer spray applicators to rollerballs, and with good reason. Atomizers help disperse fragrance more evenly on your skin, and rollerballs can pick up debris from contact with your skin and degrade the perfume’s quality over time. All sizes of Replica perfumes come with atomizers.
Thoughtful packaging
In keeping with the brand’s theme of nostalgia and memory, Replica perfume bottles are modeled after apothecary jars. The white labels are fabric, not paper, and they’re printed with the place and year that inspired the fragrance as well as the fragrance notes. The boxes feature Polaroid photographs that depict the place encapsulated by the perfume.
How much you can expect to spend on Replica perfume
Replica eau de toilette fragrances come in two standard sizes. The full-size, 3.4-ounce bottle costs $144, while 1-ounce bottles cost $76. Travel-size, .34-ounce spray bottles are available for $32.
Replica perfume FAQ
How many Replica perfumes are there?
A. Maison Margiela currently makes three Replica eau de parfum fragrances and 18 eau de toilette fragrances. New scents are added almost every year, but a handful have been discontinued over time.
How long do Replica perfumes last?
A. Replica perfumes are popular more for their unique scents than their staying power. For some, this may be a deal-breaker, but keep in mind that a perfume’s longevity depends on many factors. Replica perfumes can last anywhere from two to six hours.
What’s the best Replica perfume to buy?
Top Replica perfume
What you need to know: This unisex fragrance accurately captures the scent memory of relaxing by a fire.
What you’ll love: The unique perfume has notes of woodsmoke, clove and vanilla. It’s a great fragrance for fall and winter.
What you should consider: It may be one of Replica’s more popular fragrances, but it’s also very unique: its top notes are strongly smoky, and the fireplace-like scent may limit when and where it can be worn.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora and Violet Grey
Top Replica perfume for the money
What you need to know: Themed around going out for cocktails at an upscale club, this fragrance starts off with warm spices and rum before drying down into smoky notes of vanilla and tobacco.
What you’ll love: The warm, smoky notes of this fragrance tend to have better projection and linger longer than some Replica perfumes, so it’s a comparatively good value, especially in the smaller size. Though it’s marketed as a male scent, all wearers love it.
What you should consider: It’s a softer fragrance that doesn’t evolve much over time, and it’s best for fans of smoky, masculine scents.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora and Violet Grey
Worth checking out
What you need to know: The notes of coconut and citrus in this freshly sweet fragrance will transport you to a tropical beach.
What you’ll love: While Beach Walk is a distinctly summery fragrance, it’s also fun to wear off-season when you need a sunny pick-me-up. It’s a good choice for someone new to perfume or who wants a light, non-traditional fragrance.
What you should consider: Some users interpret the scent as too similar to sunscreen for their tastes.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora and Violet Grey
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Laura Duerr writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which rustic lampshade is best?
Rustic decor can make any space feel warm and homey, but as you cozy up with a hot beverage around the fire, your lampshades might stick out like a sore thumb. How do you style something so functional to match the homespun aesthetic of your rustic decor?
From earthy colors to organic materials, rustic lampshades are the perfect accent to a cabin-inspired interior. Whether your vision of rustic is understated and minimal or decadent like a hunting lodge, the best rustic lampshade is Brentwood Collection Oatmeal Tall Linen Medium Drum Lampshade.
What to know before you buy a rustic lampshade
What is rustic?
Rustic is an interior design style inspired by frontier and country living. It emphasizes natural, organic and raw materials typically found in homes built with resources immediately available to those living off the land. Think exposed cross beams, unfinished wood or logs, animal hides and raw leathers, wrought or cast iron, heirloom or antique furniture and warm, thick knit fabrics.
What makes a lampshade rustic?
The modern lampshade is a fairly recent invention, coinciding with the discovery of electricity. So, many rustic lampshades use inspiration from premodern living to imagine a utilitarian, repurposed aesthetic. These are made from raw, organic materials and are typically decorated with a mixture of natural and folk motifs.
If you want a camp-like aesthetic, look for lampshades with silhouettes or stenciling of plants or animals. Many seek to imitate the appearance of animal hide, radiating an amber glow.
If understated and contemporary rustic is your thing, natural colors such as beige, sage green, ocher and amber all look good with raw woods.
Types of lampshades
Lampshades come in all shapes and sizes:
- Empire: These are conical lampshades. They’re shaped so that most of the light emits from the wider bottom, making them perfect for table lamps.
- Bell: These lampshades are similar to empire shades in effect but have a concave curve traveling from the narrow top to their flared bottom.
- Round: Round shades can come in a classic drum or oval shape. They diffuse light in an even, ambient manner, suiting them well to floor lamps.
- Square: These modern, geometric shapes are good at even lighting but might clash with the organic forms of rustic decor.
- Dome: Used with overhead lights or table lamps, these are shallow with wide openings to spill out lots of light.
What to look for in a quality rustic lampshade
Material
- Linen: Elegantly textured, this material is popular for its durability and simplicity, fitting almost any decor.
- Cotton: Cotton is a little more uniform than linen thanks to its tighter weave. It’s lightweight and soft.
- Paper: Paper lampshades have lots of texture and are good at simulating rustic materials. They’re the most translucent material.
- Silk: Silk is a very luxurious material that can class up any room. It’s thick with a classic sheen.
- Fiber: Elaborate lampshade designs can be made from sculptural materials such as wood. Look for wicker, rattan or burlap. Light quality depends on their weave.
Fitter
The fitter is the structural component that attaches the shade to your lamp. There are four kinds:
- Spider: A spider fitter sits at the top of the shade and uses spokes to hold up a center washer that connects to your lamp. You lock it on with a finial.
- Clip-on: Clip-ons use clamping metal tongs to clasp the light bulb of your lamp.
- Uno: These are similar to spider fitters in their design but travel to the bottom of the lamp so they rest at the base of the light bulb.
- Screw-on: Like uno fitters, screw-ons sit beneath the light bulb, screwing onto the lamp fixture.
Finials
These are the little decorative end pieces that screw the fitter onto the lamp. If your lamp fitter requires a finial, think about the design you want. Many ornamental finials are better suited to classically inspired decors, but that doesn’t mean your rustic home has to do without these fun accents. Pine cones, driftwood, sculptural wildlife and other country-living inspired materials or flora and fauna all look great on a rustic lampshade.
How much you can expect to spend on a rustic lampshade
Depending on the material, a rustic lampshade can cost $30-$70.
Rustic lampshade FAQ
What width lampshade do I need?
A. If you’re styling a table lamp, most designers recommend choosing a lampshade whose base diameter measures within 2 inches of your lamp’s height. To get your lamp’s height, measure from the base just up to where the bulb’s socket cap begins. For floor lamps, you have more flexibility — size just so that the bulb has at least 2.5 inches on either side.
What height lampshade do I need?
A. Similar to width, the lampshade should be within a half-inch of the height of the lamp’s harp. The harp is the wire frame that begins at the socket cap and extends above the bulb so you can install your shade. If your lamp doesn’t have a harp, don’t exceed the height of the lamp’s body; aim for two-thirds the height.
How do I match my lampshade to my lamp?
A. When choosing a lampshade shape, you want it to mirror the shape of your lamp. A square base and round body match a lampshade of the same composition. Likewise, an oval shade looks great on a cylindrical lamp, but wonky on a squat, square one. There are no hard and fast rules, but this general guideline typically makes for a good pairing.
What’s the best rustic lampshade to buy?
Top rustic lampshade
Brentwood Collection Oatmeal Tall Linen Medium Drum Lampshade
What you need to know: This drum shade is the perfect balance between contemporary and camp with its rich texture and subtle oatmeal color.
What you’ll love: The lampshade has an elegant brass spider fitter. It’s 14 inches across and 15 inches tall. When lit, the linen takes on a darker umber tone.
What you should consider: Some users found that the material frayed easily.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top rustic lampshade for the money
Millwood Pines Paper Empire Lampshade
What you need to know: With a warm glow when lit, this shade goes great with rustic cabin or lodge decor.
What you’ll love: The lampshade is 9.5 inches tall and 12 inches at its base. It comes in a classic empire shape and uses a spider fitter. When lit, it glows amber and is a papery yellow without lighting.
What you should consider: The fitter is sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
Seaside Village Clear Glass Pendant Shade
What you need to know: Take your rustic decor in a more sophisticated direction by using a glass lampshade.
What you’ll love: When paired with a filament bulb, this bell-style shade gives off an old-timey gas lantern feeling. It looks great on any hanging or pendant light fixtures, such as floor lamps.
What you should consider: Bulb and light fixture are not included.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which telescope is best?
Staring up at the night sky, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the sheer size of the galaxy. There are millions of things to look at, but you need the right equipment. If you’ve already started to peer at objects with binoculars, it might be time to upgrade to a telescope.
The right telescope for you largely depends on what you want to study, but the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is an excellent gadget to get you going. It’s easy to use and powerful enough to see every little detail.
What to know before you buy a telescope
Kinds of telescopes
When most people think of a telescope, they imagine a long tube with an eyeglass at one end. These typical models are called refractor telescopes and are only one type of many. The other popular choice is a reflector telescope, which gathers light through a mirror. There are also compound telescopes, which are wider than others. No matter the telescope type, you’re going to need a telescope bag to safely store and carry it.
The aperture determines what you can see
A telescope’s aperture is one of the most important components. Simply put, the aperture is how large the mirror is on the inside, which is directly related to how much light it can gather. The more light it gathers, the better the details and you can see fainter objects. The aperture is measured in millimeters, and you typically need larger mirrors depending on the surrounding light.
More darkness increases your enjoyment
The best conditions for using a telescope are in an area that has very little light pollution. For example, in a suburban neighborhood, you won’t see as many stars and galaxies as you would in an open field far away from the city. The size of the aperture can only help you up to a point, after which you might need to go somewhere else for viewing — or invest in a bigger aperture.
What to look for in a quality telescope
Lens and magnification accessories
Looking through a telescope lens is exciting, but you often want to see things in greater detail. Look for a telescope that has a variety of eyepieces and accessories. The most common eyepiece you’ll find is the Barlow lens for three-times magnification and the Infinity eyepiece. There are also eyepiece adapters that increase the magnification of the Barlow lens to 120x.
Automated Go-To feature
It’s always a good idea to study the night sky where you live. Make sure that you know which galaxies are where and you can identify the brightest stars. Luckily, you don’t have to pore over maps to see planets and formations; a good-quality telescope should have an automated Go-To feature. Through a handheld remote, you tell the telescope what you want to look at, and after a short calibration, it will automatically turn to align itself with the object.
Phone attachment and Bluetooth remote
It’s a great experience to look at distant planets or even our moon, but it’s more fun if you can take pictures of it, and a quality telescope may have a mobile phone attachment. It looks similar to a car holder, where the device is held in place over the eyepiece. By using the device’s default camera (and to reduce shaking), a Bluetooth remote will trigger the camera to snap a photo of the celestial body.
How much you can expect to spend on a telescope
The average price of a telescope can vary wildly depending on its capabilities and functions. An entry-level or kids’ telescope can retail for $40-$50, while an amateur telescope can retail for $100-$200. Much larger professional telescopes retail for $1,000-$2,000.
Telescope FAQ
Do you need to know where the stars are before using a telescope?
A. Not necessarily, but it will certainly be advantageous. If your telescope can track objects or automatically point toward them, the work is done for you, but if your telescope doesn’t have the function, it’s helpful to at least know where the brightest and most popular objects are.
Do telescopes require batteries to operate?
A. For the most part, they don’t. There are no electronic parts inside the telescope tube or eyepiece. If you’re looking at a model that has auto-tracking and a remote, you’ll need to insert rechargeable batteries into the controller.
What’s the best telescope to buy?
Top telescope
What you need to know: This refractor telescope is the perfect gadget for gazing at nearby planets, faraway galaxies and bright stars.
What you’ll love: The AstroMaster 70AZ has a fully coated 2.7-inch glass optic, a height-adjustable tripod and comes with two eyepieces. It’s powerful enough to see Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons and can easily be rotated with the azimuth mount and handle for panning. It has a magnification of 45x and 90x and comes with an erect image star diagonal and Starry Night Basic Edition astronomy software.
What you should consider: It doesn’t have an auto-alignment feature, so you must point it toward an object yourself.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top telescope for the money
What you need to know: This telescope is perfect for beginners and kids, as it’s easy to operate and you can photograph what you see.
What you’ll love: The AZ70400 has a focal length of 15.7 inches and a 2.7-inch aperture, making it perfect for viewing all objects in the sky. It comes with two replaceable eyepieces and one Barlow lens that magnifies any eyepiece up to three times. To find specific objects, it has a 5 x 24 finderscope with crosshairs. The telescope comes with a smartphone adapter for photography.
What you should consider: It’s a basic telescope that won’t be powerful enough for serious astronomers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope
What you need to know: A serious telescope, this model is fully automated and has a powerful lens to look at almost anything.
What you’ll love: The NexStar 8SE is one of the best telescopes for serious stargazers. It has an 8-inch primary mirror, a red dot StarPointer finderscope, 25-millimeter Plossl eyepiece, visual back and mirror star diagonal. It’s fully automated and will automatically point toward one of the 40,000 objects stored in its memory. It has a magnification of 81x, but also a theoretical magnification of 480x.
What you should consider: Some users have indicated that the battery life is short, and it’s not ideal for taking photos.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which Maytag top-load washer is best?
Everyone needs to wash their clothes and no one likes doing it by hand. Maytag top-load washers have all the features you want and need, and its prices are difficult to beat. And the best Maytag top-load washer is the Maytag 5.3-Cubic-Foot Smart-Capable Top-Load Washing Machine. It has plenty of space for handling large loads, and it’s Energy Star certified.
What to know before you buy a Maytag top-load washer
Pros and cons of a Maytag top-load washer
Maytag top-load washers have several pros and cons.
- Pros: Top-load washers are more affordable than front-loaders, and Maytag is an affordable mid-range brand. They are easier to load and unload and tend to have larger capacities and quicker cycles than front-loaders. They also have a lower leak risk.
- Cons: Top-load washers tend to make more noise as the wash basket knocks against the walls. They use more energy and water than front-loaders, even if they’re high-efficiency. They can’t be stacked, either, which may leave you with too little space in your laundry room.
Size and capacity
Maytag top-load washers have an external size and an internal capacity. The two rarely directly correlate.
- Size determines how much space your washer will take up. As top-loaders can’t be stacked, size is of greater importance with them than with a front-loader. You need to leave room for your dryer, after all.
- Capacity determines how many clothes can be washed at once and is given in cubic feet. Small households can comfortably get by with less than 4 cubic feet while large households will likely need 5 cubic feet or more.
High efficiency
High-efficiency Maytag top-load washers use less energy and water but clean just as effectively. They usually have larger capacities, but you can still find small-capacity models. The only downside is the need to use specialized HE detergent. Using non-HE detergent will break your HE washer.
Impeller vs. agitator mixers
Maytag top-load washers use either impeller or agitator mixers.
- Impeller mixers use a no-post disk that rotates, causing clothes to gently rub against each other to scrub out stains. There’s no risk of tearing but the clothes may not get as clean.
- Agitator mixers use a center post with fins that twists back and forth, forcing clothes to sharply rub against each other to scrub out stains. Clothes tend to get cleaner but there’s a risk of damage.
What to look for in a quality Maytag top-load washer
Cycle options
Most Maytag top-load washers have multiple cycle options outside of the standards such as delicate and large load. Some of the more common cycles include deep-water rinse, extra power and a customizable cycle that can be saved.
Energy Star certification
When a Maytag top-load washer is listed as Energy Star certified, it has been independently examined and observed to meet the minimum requirements for energy efficiency. This means it will have less impact on the environment and your bank account. It’s important to point out “minimum” here, as you’ll need an Energy Star-certified high-efficiency washer for maximum efficiency.
How much you can expect to spend on a Maytag top-load washer
Maytag is an excellent mid-range brand and its prices reflect that. Its best and biggest options rarely exceed $1,000 with most washers costing $800-$1,000. Its cheapest cost around $600.
Maytag top-load washer FAQ
How do I fix a Maytag top-load washer that isn’t draining?
A. There are two likely causes. The first is simply that you overfilled your washing machine. However, if that isn’t the case, the issue is likely with your plumbing — most probably some kind of clog in the line. You’ll need to hire a plumber.
What kind of Maytag top-load washer is quietest?
A. No washing machine will ever be quiet, but there are a few aspects you can prioritize that lead to quieter operation. Look for high-efficiency washers and those with impeller mixers. Also, consider placing your Maytag washer as far from common spaces as possible.
What’s the best Maytag top-load washer to buy?
Top Maytag top-load washer
Maytag 5.3-Cubic-Foot Smart-Capable Top-Load Washing Machine
What you need to know: This has plenty of space for big households.
What you’ll love: It comes in white or silver finishes with impeller or agitator mixers. It offers multiple cycle types — including quick wash and a custom cycle — and has an extra power button to fight the toughest stains. The glass lid lets you check on your clothes without disturbing the wash cycle.
What you should consider: Some consumers had issues with imbalanced washers, while others had troubles with washers that didn’t register the door as closed — and thus wouldn’t clean.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top Maytag top-load washer for the money
Maytag 3.8-Cubic-Foot High-Efficiency Top-Load Washing Machine
What you need to know: This is perfect for the space- and energy-conscious.
What you’ll love: The 3.8-cubic-foot capacity is perfectly sized to a full laundry basket and the special wash cycles — including quick wash, power wash and deep-water wash — provide a deep and effective clean. It has a 10-year limited parts warranty that covers the motor and wash basket.
What you should consider: The small capacity isn’t enough for households larger than two. Some consumers were unhappy with the amount of noise generated by most cycles.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Worth checking out
Maytag 4.7-Cubic-Foot Smart-Capable Top-Load Washing Machine
What you need to know: It’s a heavy-duty washer with an “extra power” button that boosts stain-fighting ability by varying wash temperatures during a single cycle.
What you’ll love: Connecting to the Maytag app lets you start and stop any cycle, troubleshoot any problems and get notifications as soon as a cycle ends. Cycle memory lets you store the details of a custom cycle to save time in the future.
What you should consider: Some consumers were unhappy with the noise levels. Others had issues with the agitator snaring and tearing delicates.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which wheel cleaner is best?
Chrome and polished aluminum wheels are popular car modifications that can be buffed to a mirror finish. But to properly show off your rims, you’ll need to put in a little elbow grease with some good cleaner. Not only will it keep your wheels sparkling, but it will also help protect them from corrosive contaminants on the road.
Chrome and aluminum require specially tailored formulas, which can make choosing the proper cleaner complicated — it’s the difference between restoring your wheels’ luster and destroying their finish. With the right formula, tools and know-how, you can get your wheels back to their factory finish.
Why it’s important to clean your wheels regularly
The roads are covered in corrosive particles and debris that slowly eat away at your wheels, and it’s not just salt, dirt and rocks that can erode your wheels’ finish. The dust produced by your brake pads is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to tarnishing chrome and aluminum.
Over time, these contaminants ruin your wheels’ appearance and resale value while also degrading their structural integrity. Regularly washing, polishing and waxing your wheels every one to two weeks is the only way to keep them shining and protected from environmental damage.
Chrome wheel cleaner
Chrome wheels are made by electroplating multiple layers of metals — usually nickel and copper — with a final layer of chrome. The resulting wheel has a durable composition that stands up to weather and rough road conditions. Cleaner formulated for chrome is designed to restore this final layer and bring out its classic sheen.
Chrome wheel cleaners come in premixed solutions that use a spray bottle or concentrated gel formulas that you mix in water. Like other wheel cleaners, they typically cost $6-$20.
Chrome wheel cleaner pros
- A specially formulated cleaner for chrome won’t risk harming its finish.
- This cleaner foams to lift dust and debris so you don’t end up grinding dirt back into the surface with a cloth or brush — all you have to do is rinse.
- Chrome wheel cleaner performs better than multipurpose wheel cleaners on this specific metal.
Chrome wheel cleaner cons
- Chrome wheel cleaner doesn’t often work in the opposite direction of multi-surface application and can end up damaging polished aluminum wheels.
- Not all chrome wheel cleaners also work on tires.
Best chrome wheel cleaners
Meguiar’s Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner
Made just for chrome, this cleaner sprays on and foams up to lift dirt and debris so you don’t have to scrub. You can’t use this cleaner on aluminum.
Sold by Amazon
Mothers Pro-Strength Chrome Wheel Cleaner
Mothers is a trusted brand in car detailing, and their streak-free formula for chrome is one of the toughest you can get. Just spray it on, let it foam up and rinse. Use a soft wheel brush to get at any crevices.
Sold by Amazon
Chemical Guys Wicked Strong Diablo Gel Wheel Cleaner
This pH-neutral cleaner is safe to use on chrome and other coated wheels. It comes in a gel bottle, so you mix it with water and spray or brush it onto the wheel. Because it’s so versatile, this is a great option for multi-car families or companies, as one bucket of solution can go a long way.
Sold by Amazon
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner
Polished aluminum wheel cleaners are the least abrasive cleaner formula. Finding the right one for the job depends on whether or not your polished wheels are clear coated.
Most cars on the road today have aluminum alloy wheels. These are made from composite metal that’s fabricated as a single block of metal. They’re then sealed off with a layer of clear coat.
Polished aluminum rims are raw-metal wheels that are buffed by hand or machine. They don’t have that protective layer of clear paint. For these aftermarket wheels, you need a non-caustic formula that fights oxidization on uncoated surfaces.
Like most wheel cleaners, solutions for polished-aluminum usually cost $6-$20.
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner pros
- Aluminum cleaner is the gentlest and can be used on many wheel types.
- It won’t harm clear coated brake calipers and suspension components in the case of over-spray.
- These cleaners are pH-balanced so they won’t cause spotting or tarnishing.
Polished aluminum wheel cleaner cons
- When used on chrome, aluminum cleaner isn’t as thorough as chrome-specific cleaner.
- It can be harder to find the right cleaner for uncoated aluminum rims, as many formulas are advertised for aluminum but are actually referring to clear coated, mass market aluminum wheels.
Best polished aluminum wheel cleaners
Meguiar’s Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
If you have uncoated aluminum rims, this is the cleaner to get. It’s designed to remove oxidization, grit and grime without damaging the metal. Because it’s so gentle, you’ll need a soft scrubbing tool like a microfiber towel or brush.
Sold by Amazon
Carfidant Ultimate Wheel Cleaner
This multipurpose wheel cleaner works on just about every wheel type you can imagine. Its pH-neutral formula works especially well on polished aluminum, as it doesn’t discolor. You can even use it on the aluminum trim of tool boxes, appliances and more.
Sold by Amazon
Flitz Multipurpose Polish and Cleaner Liquid
Car geeks swear by Flitz. Its non-abrasive, chemical formula is great at restoring your uncoated metal’s shine. This is a two-in-one cleaner that removes oxidization and then polishes. If your wheels are particularly grimy, you might want to pair this with a stronger cleaner that can remove any grit first.
Sold by Amazon
Should you get chrome or polished aluminum wheel cleaner?
Both kinds of cleaners do their jobs well — it all depends on what type of wheels you have. While multipurpose cleaners that tackle a variety of wheel types are convenient, they’re often not as strong as dedicated formulas. You’re also taking a risk, as manufacturers can’t always guarantee their claims.
If you’re cleaning chrome wheels, get a chrome-specific cleaner, and if you’re cleaning uncoated aluminum, get an aluminum cleaner. Meguiar’s makes two great products for each of these metals.
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which reusable cotton pads are best?
If you’re looking to make your skincare routine more sustainable, swapping out single-use cotton pads for reusable ones cuts back on landfill waste. And they’ll save you money because you won’t need to keep buying packs of disposable pads every time you run out.
Reusable cotton pads can be washed and reused, and are great if you have sensitive skin. If you’re looking to use them for removing makeup, Greenzla Reusable Makeup Remover Pads is the top — and eco-friendly — choice.
What to know before you buy reusable cotton pads
Material
Not all reusable cotton pads are made from 100% cotton. In fact, many are made from bamboo-cotton blends, and some also add polyester into the mix.
Bamboo is highly renewable and also requires less water and pesticides than cotton cultivation. Some reusable “cotton” pads are actually made all from bamboo. They’re generally indistinguishable from 100% cotton pads and are just as gentle and soft on sensitive skin.
Uses
Popular uses for reusable cotton pads include makeup removal with an eye makeup remover, cleansing the face with micellar water, removing face masks and applying toners or astringents to the face. Unlike disposable cotton pads, reusable ones don’t fall apart or separate during more vigorous use, such as removing long-wear and waterproof makeup. Depending on the texture, some reusable pads can also be gently exfoliating and pair well with a facial or lip scrub.
Shape and size
Most reusable pads come in rounds, which are circular, with a diameter ranging between 2.75-3.75 inches. You can find select pads in square or even heart shapes.
Count
After you use a reusable pad once, you’ll need to wash it, which is why they come in multipacks ranging from 10 to 40 pads. Consider how often you’ll realistically do laundry when choosing how many you want to purchase. More pads mean laundering them less often.
Texture
Many reusable cotton pads have a smooth texture that won’t scratch the skin. However, some are double-sided, with a raised, more exfoliating texture on one side and a smooth surface on the other. You can also find packs that mix exfoliating pads, which feature a scrubby terry cloth surface or a raised one, with ones that feature a velour and smooth surface.
What to look for in quality reusable cotton pads
Holder
Many reusable pads come with a holder that keeps your clean pads tidy and stacked. Holders are made from bamboo, cardboard, plastic, metal or basket material. Some holders are more attractive than others. Consider your bathroom or vanity aesthetic when buying pads that come with a holder.
Laundry bag
Many reusable pads also come with a mesh laundry bag that can also be used to store or transport them. This bag features either a string or zipper closure to keep your pads separate from the rest of your laundry in the washing machine.
Organic
Not all cotton is organic. If you have sensitive skin or use non-toxic skincare, be sure that your pads are organic and do not contain pesticides. Typically, bamboo is not treated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers, but it’s always wise to look for that organic label to be on the safe side.
Also called a finger pouch, reusable pads featuring a pocket provide a place for your fingers to slip inside for a more secure hold while you maneuver them. Some reusable cotton pads instead come with a finger strap.
Color
Most reusable pads are white. However, white shows stains, which is why some manufacturers offer black pads. You can also find multipacks that mix colors such as black, gray, pink, blue and green. Be aware that many colored pads are actually made from microfiber, a synthetic material, and don’t contain cotton or bamboo.
How much you can expect to spend on reusable cotton pads
They range in price from 25 cents to $1.50 per pad.
Reusable cotton pads FAQ
How do you wash reusable cotton pads?
A. First, always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. In general, reusable pads can be placed inside a mesh laundry bag and washed in the washing machine on a cold/gentle cycle. You can also hand-wash them.
Do I need to use makeup remover with a reusable cotton pad?
A. Generally, yes. Saturate the pad with liquid makeup remover and wipe until your makeup is gone. There are specific reusable makeup-remover pads that can remove makeup with water alone, but not all reusable cotton pads are designed to do that.
What’s the best reusable cotton pad to buy?
Top reusable cotton pad
Greenzla Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
What you need to know: A blend of organic cotton and eco-friendly bamboo, these ultra-soft pads will last you years.
What you’ll love: They’re thick, soft and work like a charm to remove makeup when paired with a liquid remover. They don’t tug on the skin, and one double-sided pad can take care of all your removal needs. The green trim is attractive. The 20 pads come with a lidded holder and a mesh laundry bag.
What you should consider: For some consumers, these pads aren’t absorbent enough.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top reusable cotton pad for the money
What you need to know: These low-cost reusable pads are organic and Oeko-Tex certified for your non-toxic beauty routine.
What you’ll love: The 18-pack comes in all white or a multi-color option. They are easy to wash in the included mesh laundry bag. With a large surface area, these reusable pads remove makeup better than disposable ones and require less product.
What you should consider: Although marketed as cotton, these rounds are actually made from bamboo.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Odoxia Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
What you need to know: This value pack contains both exfoliating and smooth pads.
What you’ll love: You get three black scrubby pads along with 12 smooth ones— all at a reasonable price. The smooth pads are double-layered and come in white and turquoise. The velour stays soft after multiple washes.
What you should consider: These pads contain 20% polyester, a synthetic fiber.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Ana Sanchez writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/face-makeup-br/best-dior-blush/
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Which Dior blushes are best?
Dior is best known for its beautiful designer clothing and accessories, but the brand also offers a full line of luxury beauty products and fragrances. Dior blushes are one of the brand’s standout products, adding the perfect amount of natural color to give you a healthy glow.
Dior blushes are available in both powder and cream formulas, so there’s an option no matter your skin type. Their high-quality ingredients offer vibrant color that can last all day. If you’re looking for a highly pigmented blush that’s available in a variety of flattering shades, Dior Rouge Blush is the bestselling option.
What to know before you buy a Dior blush
Formula
Dior blushes are available in two formulas: powder or cream.
Powder blushes are the most common option, so they’re the most widely used. They come in a compact and are applied with a brush. Powder formulas have a dry texture that has a lightweight look and feel on the skin. They can be fairly sheer, so they also look more natural on the skin, but you can build them up to get a more intense color if you prefer.
Powder blush works extremely well for oily skin because its dry texture helps absorb oil to reduce shine. It may not be the best option for dry or mature skin because it can settle in fine lines and cling to dry patches.
Cream blushes have a more emollient texture that glides easily over the skin. They contain moisturizing ingredients, making them ideal for dry or mature skin. Because of the hydrating formula, they have a dewy finish, so they can help your skin look fresh and youthful.
Cream blushes come in a small pot, container or compact and can be applied with your fingers, a brush or a sponge. However, they aren’t the best fit for oily skin because they can make you look shiny. A cream blush doesn’t last as long on the skin as a powder formula, either.
Finish
Dior blushes are available in three finish options: matte, satin and shimmer.
- Matte: Dior matte blushes don’t have any shine, shimmer or glitter, so they don’t reflect the light. They have a flat finish that works well for oily or combination skin because it won’t make your skin look greasy. Matte blushes tend to wear longer on the skin.
- Satin: Dior satin blushes have a slight sheen that’s flattering on most skin types. Their finish resembles real skin, so they can look very natural. They don’t contain any noticeable shimmer or glitter particles.
- Shimmer: Dior shimmer blushes contain mica shimmer particles that give them an obvious shine. They’re particularly flattering for dull skin since they help brighten up the complexion.
Shade range
Dior blushes come in a relatively natural shade range, so you can find options that suit most skin tones. You can choose from Dior blushes in pink, rose, peach, bronze, nude and berry shades that coordinate with some Dior lipstick shades to help you create a flattering monochromatic look.
What to look for in a quality Dior blush
Packaging
Most Dior blushes come in plastic compacts that are easy to toss in your bag and bring with you for touch-ups during the day.
Some compacts have a clear plastic lid that allows you to see the shade even when the lid is closed, which can be convenient if you’re searching through your makeup bag for a particular blush. However, other Dior blushes have a solid lid with a mirror on the inside that makes it easy to check your makeup during the day and freshen it up if necessary.
Wear time
Dior powder blushes wear longer on the skin than cream blushes, but all formulas last at least 6-8 hours. Some Dior powder blushes are formulated for even longer wear. They’re highly pigmented, so their color can remain on the skin for up to 12 hours without fading.
Brush
Some Dior blushes include a small brush to apply the color to your cheeks. While these mini brushes don’t work as well as full-size makeup brushes, they can come in very handy for touch-ups when you’re out and about.
How much you can expect to spend on a Dior blush
Dior blushes cost $39-$145. Most formulas range from $39-$50, but some larger palettes that contain multiple blush shades or blush, bronzer and/or highlighter shades cost $75-$145.
Dior blush FAQ
Are Dior blushes fragrance-free?
A. Most Dior blushes contain artificial fragrances to give the products a pleasant scent. However, because chemical fragrances can sometimes irritate the skin, these blushes may not be the best option for sensitive skin.
What’s the best way to apply Dior blush?
A. Dior powder and cream blushes are best applied with an angled blush brush. The shape fits the curve of your cheek to apply the blush smoothly and precisely. You can also use a makeup sponge or even clean fingers to blend a Dior cream blush over your skin.
What’s the best Dior blush to buy?
Top Dior blush
What you need to know: This highly pigmented blush delivers a bold flush of color that can last all day on the skin.
What you’ll love: The blushes are highly pigmented but buildable, so you can achieve a soft wash of color or an intense flush. The blush shades coordinate with Rouge Dior lipstick shades. They’re available in three finish options. The compacts include a mirror and a brush.
What you should consider: Because they’re so pigmented, there can be a learning curve when applying these blushes.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Top Dior blush for the money
Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush
What you need to know: These universally flattering blushes deliver a healthy, natural glow designed to suit your skin tone.
What you’ll love: The Color Reviver technology helps the blush react to your skin’s moisture level to deliver the perfect flush. The formula is buildable to provide custom pigmentation. The color lasts all day on the cheeks.
What you should consider: Because it’s somewhat sheer, it can require several layers to show up well on darker skin tones.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Worth checking out
Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette
What you need to know: This convenient palette contains four shades of blush and highlighter to give your cheeks a lovely glow, though the shade options are limited.
What you’ll love: The shades can be used together or separately. The powders have a finely milled texture that looks natural on the skin. The shimmery finish adds a healthy glow, but it can be built up for a more intense highlight.
What you should consider: It’s only available in three shade options.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
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Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/best-action-camera-body-mount/
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Which action camera body mounts are best?
Action cameras are great devices for capturing exhilarating activities or making the perfect holiday video, but when there’s so much to look at or do, you don’t always want to have one hand occupied holding the camera.
This is where an action camera body mount comes in handy, as it secures the device in place while recording, leaving you free to have fun. If you’re after a Hollywood style of filming, the Stuntman 360 Shoulder Mount is the best choice for you.
What to know before you buy an action camera body mount
Compatibility with your action camera
There are several types of action camera mounts you can use, but the most important factor is compatibility. The protective cases of action cameras are different in size and shape, so it’s important to check if they can be affixed to the mount. Most cameras use the GoPro system of slots and bolts, so it might not be too much of a hassle. Also consider if you want to film using your mobile phone, as there are specific body mounts for that.
Activities you’ll be filming
Action cameras are used to film all sorts of activities, but if you don’t have the correct body mount, you might end up not capturing any footage at all. For example, if you plan on filming underwater, make sure the body mount is in a position to film straight ahead or the seafloor; a wrist mount while swimming is not a good choice.
Action camera kit vs. body mount
Unless it’s a specialized body mount, you might want to consider getting a complete action camera kit instead. Usually, there isn’t much price difference between a body mount and a full kit, making it more value for money. Kits typically include a body, head and wrist mount, attachment accessories and vehicle suction cup.
What to look for in a quality action camera body mount
Strong buckles, clips and straps
The camera is usually secured to the mounting system with nuts and bolts, but the entire mechanism must be securely fastened around your body. Most mounts use buckles and clips, making them perfect for filming action-packed activities like horse riding or motorcycles. Others might use a series of Velcro straps that are easily adjusted but less robust than clips.
Versatility for more positions
A body mount is great for recording what’s going on around you, but sometimes you want to change the camera angle. A basic body mount might not allow you to do that, but a good-quality mount will. By adjusting the strap length, you can change where the mount fits around your body, giving you a different filming perspective.
Durable construction materials
The last thing you want while ripping down the slopes is for your body mount to malfunction due to inferior materials. While strong buckles, clips and straps are important for keeping the mount on your body, the camera needs to stay put as well. A good-quality body mount should have robust and durable materials where the camera is mounted. This is typically made from hard plastic, while others may incorporate metal pieces.
How much you can expect to spend on an action camera body mount
Action camera body mounts are relatively affordable, with chest harnesses retailing for under $10. Body mounts that place the camera at an unconventional location generally cost more, retailing for $20-$50.
Action camera body mount FAQ
Can you put a body mount on an animal?
A. There are some options, yes, but they’re generally for dogs only. Some manufacturers have canine-specific harnesses, which is great if you want to see where your dog goes or their perspective. It isn’t recommended to put a harness on a cat.
Can you charge an action camera while it’s in the mount?
A. In most cases, this won’t be possible. Through the design of the action camera’s external case and the mount, there won’t be an opening to expose the charging port.
What’s the best action camera body mount to buy?
Top action camera body mount
What you need to know: This camera mount is the perfect accessory to give your videos that Hollywood-style, over-the-shoulder action look.
What you’ll love: The mount is incredibly versatile, as it can be used not only for over-the-shoulder filming but several other positions as well. Through the clip and buckle system, you can change the position of the camera mount — it can also go around your waist, your chest or face backward. It’s compatible with almost all action cameras.
What you should consider: It’s a bit more expensive than other body mounts, so it might not be for everyone.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top action camera body mount for the money
Asocea Adjustable Chest Mount Harness
What you need to know: This chest mount is the only accessory you’ll need to keep your action camera steady and pointing forward.
What you’ll love: Through a simple buckle and clip system, this harness places the action camera in the middle of your chest. The waist straps adjust to a maximum of 67 inches, while the shoulder straps adjust to 54 inches. It’s compatible with GoPro and Apeman cameras and comes with a thumbscrew and a J-hook.
What you should consider: There’s no padding on the straps, so it might cause irritation if fastened too tightly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Zookki Action Camera Accessories Kit
What you need to know: This camera accessory kit has everything you need to create the best action content possible.
What you’ll love: This camera kit not only includes a durable chest harness, but several other body mounts as well. There’s a mount for your head to film as closely as possible to what you see, a wrist strap mount and a monopod handle. For water activities, the kit includes a floating handle to keep the camera upright. Several J-hooks, adapters and long screws are included so you can easily change the angle of the camera.
What you should consider: Some users have indicated the kit doesn’t come with any instructions on how to assemble the mount or how the adapters work.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/best-startech-docking-station/
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Which StarTech docking station is best?
While lightweight, compact laptop computers are great for jobs on the go or when you’re away from your office, there are plenty of times when the larger viewing real estate and connectivity of a traditional desktop computer are desired. Thankfully, StarTech provides docking stations that allow you to greatly expand the usability of your laptop computer.
The StarTech.com USB-C Dock includes a wealth of display and data ports that let you fully integrate your laptop with a wide range of other devices and equipment, including speakers, monitors and more.
What to know before you buy a StarTech docking station
Your requirements
Carefully consider the reasons for which you want to convert your laptop computing experience into one that is more akin to using a desktop. Are you editing video and looking to view your work on a monitor that allows for a less cluttered workspace? Are you in need of multiple displays to let you code and compare designs more easily? Or perhaps, you simply want to be able to create a dedicated, centered area within which to get focused work done without outside distractions.
No matter your reasons, choosing the right docking station means imagining the workspace you hope to create and seeking out a dock that will provide you with the flexibility you need to make it your own.
Your equipment
Take stock of what equipment you will be attaching to your laptop computer while shopping for a docking station. Consider the type and age of the connection that your external monitor requires. If you plan on using your computer with a sound system, be sure to know if your speakers are Bluetooth enabled or require a wired connection to your laptop. Paying close attention to the gear you hope to use will help prevent any compatibility issues you may experience after making an uneducated purchase.
Your laptop’s compatibility
USB-C has risen to become the new standard when it comes to connecting devices. Because of this, the majority of StarTech docking stations fully embrace this option. However, older laptops may not have this particular USB type installed. Depending on your hardware, you may need to seek out an adapter or two to ensure compliance with a brand-new dock.
Thankfully, making the leap from one connectivity standard to another is made easier by the wide availability of adapters and dongles that help bridge the gap between yesterday’s tech and today’s trends. Some StarTech docks even include a USB adapter in the box.
What to look for in a quality StarTech docking station
Ports
One of the biggest reasons to use a docking station is to be able to take advantage of the abundance of ports that they provide. From HDMI to various USB and memory card types, there are docks available for every profession and preference. You will be surprised at how quickly your dock becomes fully occupied with chargers and connected devices. Because of this, select a dock with as many ports as possible.
Monitor connectivity
The convenience of a large, luxurious monitor in your workstation cannot be overstated. Be sure that the dock you purchase includes the correct HDMI ports required for today’s displays. Older monitors that connect via other means may require adapters. Because of the fast pace of display technology, some especially old monitors, sadly, may have to be left behind as you build out your desk.
Size
Select a StarTech dock that is large enough to accommodate your needs but not so big as to hog too much of your valuable desk space. Miniature docks are available alongside standard models, although these units tend to lack many of the ports and features that make the devices attractive in the first place. If you require a large dock but don’t want to sacrifice surface area or prefer to keep the majority of your cables out of sight, you may want to consider mounting your dock out of sight behind your desk.
Additionally, portable docks are available and popular for both their space-saving dimensions as well as the ease with which you can bring them along for business on the move.
Aesthetics
As Apple’s design influences have dominated the tech industry over the last two decades, computer accessories have followed suit. StarTech provides gray and aluminum docks to match Apple’s flagship MacBook models, as well as more universal black and white models. For those who prefer matching devices, there are docks available that will complement your gear and blend seamlessly into your work environment.
How much you can expect to spend on a StarTech docking station
Small, portable StarTech docking stations can be purchased for less than $100. However, powerful units that include Thunderbolt ports and other top-tier features can cost $200-$400.
StarTech docking station FAQ
Will a docking station make my laptop faster?
A. No. Docking stations allow you to connect your laptop to external speakers, monitors and more but they do nothing to enhance the performance of your computer. In fact, an underpowered computer may run slower if connected to too many displays.
Can I connect multiple docks together?
A. In some cases, yes. USB, in particular, is an accessible enough connection that users can sometimes “daisy chain” docks together to expand their usage. However, the functionality may vary depending on the power consumption of the devices you wish to use and with regard to other connections such as HDMI.
Do laptop docks provide storage space?
A. No. Laptop docks allow you to connect your computer to external hard drives, but they contain no internal storage.
What’s the best StarTech docking station to buy?
Top StarTech docking station
What you need to know: With a generous array of ports and a clean, modern design, this dock has everything you need to create the workstation of your dreams.
What you’ll love: You can connect your laptop to three external monitors with this device, putting four displays at your fingertips. Its range of ports allows you to integrate everything from external drives to speakers into your workstation.
What you should consider: Some users have noticed compatibility and driver issues with this dock.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top StarTech docking station for the money
StarTech.com USB C Multiport Adapter
What you need to know: This dock is small and great for traveling, allowing you to convert your laptop into a fully connected work machine wherever you go.
What you’ll love: Available in a range of connectivity and power delivery options, this docking station is small enough to fit into your laptop bag.
What you should consider: Not enough connectivity for some users.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
StarTech.com USB C Multiport Adapter Portable Docking Station for Laptop/Tablet
What you need to know: With both current and legacy ports, this dock allows you to bring some of your older technology into the modern age.
What you’ll love: Including various USB ports, a VGA port, a memory card slot and even a headphone jack, this dock expands the usability of your laptop in every way.
What you should consider: This dock sacrifices the number of ports in favor of variety.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Derek Walborn writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which Microsoft Surface tablet is best?
Microsoft Surface tablets are often overlooked in favor of other traditional tablets, but they’re perfect for anyone who wants a lightweight device that can function as a laptop.
Microsoft Surface tablets are high-powered and excellent for all kinds of computing tasks. There are several models, but Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is the best of them all, thanks to its dazzling display and ultra-fast processor.
What to know before you buy a Microsoft Surface tablet
Screen size
Although they’re marketed as two-in-one devices, Microsoft Surface tablets primarily function as tablets. They’re designed to be sleek, lightweight and portable, so they don’t have the screen sizes you typically see on laptops.
The average tablet screen size is 9-13 inches, but Surface tablets are only available in 10-inch and 13-inch models. A larger screen is better for working or streaming movies and TV shows, but it’s not as lightweight or thin as a small screen.
Software
Microsoft Surface tablets all come with the Windows 11 operating system preinstalled. It allows them to function similarly to traditional PCs and is usually the preferred software for those who use their device for work or intensive school projects.
If you’re used to using a different operating system, you might find it challenging to transition to Windows 11, as there’s somewhat of a learning curve for anyone unfamiliar with it.
Battery life
Tablets are meant to be used from viable power sources, so they should last a long time in standby mode. It depends on the duration and type of usage, but a quality tablet lasts around 8 hours on a full charge. Applications vary in power consumption, so naturally, programs that require more will drain a tablet’s battery faster.
What to look for in a quality Microsoft Surface tablet
Storage
While many laptops use hard disk drives for storage, all Surface tablets use solid-state drives. Accessing files on an SSD is faster, making them ideal for tablets.
If you plan to use your tablet for simple tasks like browsing or streaming content, you can opt for a tablet with 64 or 128 gigabytes of storage. However, if you want to use your tablet for work or school, the more storage you have to work with, the better, making models with 256GB or higher more suitable.
Once your tablet’s SSD storage capacity is full, you’ll have to delete or move files if you want to store other data.
Processor
A fast central processing unit is crucial for running applications that require lots of power. You don’t need to worry about this if you plan to use your tablet for light tasks, but it’s an important consideration for anybody looking to use their device for running high-powered programs. However, be advised that the more powerful a tablet’s processor, the more expensive it is.
Random access memory
The more random access memory a device has, the more applications you can run simultaneously without noticing a performance decrease. 4GB of RAM is sufficient for simple browsing and running light applications, but high-powered computing tasks require a minimum of 8GB of RAM to run efficiently.
How much you can expect to spend on a Microsoft Surface tablet
Because of the many different specs that can be customized, the price of a Surface tablet can vary greatly. The entry-level model of the Surface Go 3 is the cheapest at $400, while the Surface Pro 8 with the most high-end specs goes for $1,999.
Microsoft Surface tablet FAQ
Can Surface tablets connect to LTE networks?
A. All models can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, but some also have cellular/LTE network capabilities for using the internet while on the go. However, you’ll have to contact a network carrier and purchase a data plan if you wish to do so.
Is the Surface Pen accessory necessary?
A. It’s not necessary whatsoever, but it makes games and tasks such as note-taking and drawing on your tablet much more accessible.
What’s the best Microsoft Surface tablet to buy?
Top Microsoft Surface tablet
What you need to know: It’s hands-down the best Surface tablet, as it boasts the best battery life, graphics and delivers superior performance for all kinds of tasks.
What you’ll love: The base model of this tablet comes equipped with 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and an Intel Core i5 processor. It has a stunning 13-inch touchscreen display, a kickstand, offers a 120Hz frame refresh rate and supports Fast Charging.
What you should consider: Some find the 8GB of RAM on the base model insufficient for an expensive, high-end tablet.
Where to buy: Sold by Staples and Amazon
Top Microsoft Surface tablet for the money
What you need to know: If you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of processing power, this tablet is an excellent budget-friendly alternative to the Pro 8.
What you’ll love: The base model of this tablet has 4GB of RAM, 64GB SSD and an Intel Core i3 processor. It lasts 8.5 hours on a full charge and has a 10.5-inch touchscreen display, making it lightweight and suitable for traveling.
What you should consider: The screen size is great for streaming media but not as good for those looking for a fully functional computing device.
Where to buy: Sold by Staples and Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It’s an excellent mid-level tablet with less processing power than the Pro 8 but with similar specs in most other areas.
What you’ll love: The entry-level Pro X model comes with 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and a Microsoft SQ1 processor. It’s fast enough for effective multitasking, and although it has a 13-inch display, it’s lightweight, thanks to a 7.3-millimeter thickness design.
What you should consider: Some complained it’s not compatible with many popular programs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/nutrition-br/premier-protein-shake-vs-fairlife-protein-shake/
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Which protein shake is best: Premier or Fairlife?
A protein shake after an exhausting workout can be highly beneficial. Protein is the most critical macronutrient required for efficient muscle recovery, so getting enough of it is crucial if you exercise or lift weights often.
If you’re trying to decide which protein shake is right for you, Premier and Fairlife are two popular brands you should consider. Both supplements contain significant amounts of protein and other vitamins and nutrients, but the right one for you depends on your body and fitness goals.
Premier protein shake
Premier protein shakes are a great way to supplement your post-workout diet and boost the muscle recovery process, letting you get more out of your workouts and potentially see results faster.
Premier incorporates plenty of protein and other vital nutrients and vitamins in their products, making them an excellent snack or post-workout recovery supplement.
Premier protein shake pros
One serving of a Premier protein shake contains 160 calories and 30 grams of protein, which is more than even most whey isolate protein powders, which usually have 20-28 grams per serving. There are also many essential amino acids, including 6.6 grams of branched-chain amino acids, which are vital for significant muscle recovery and growth.
They have just 1 gram of sugar per serving and are available in 12 low-fat flavors. From chocolate to vanilla to coffee, every flavor is gluten-free, soy-free and appropriate for keto, bariatric and kosher diets. It’s also worth noting that the coffee flavor contains caffeine and that a handful of flavors can substitute for coffee cream.
Premier protein shakes come in ready-made bottle-size servings as well as in a protein powder for mixing at your leisure. It’s up to your preference, but it’s important to note that the premixed drinks contain more sugar per serving than the powder.
Premier protein shake cons
Although Premier shakes contain 24 vitamins and minerals, they don’t have enough nutrients to serve as viable meal replacements. They’re suitable as snacks in between meals and as post-workout supplements only.
Premier shakes also contain a high amount of protein, which can be unnecessary and even harmful if you’re already getting enough of it from your regular diet in the form of healthy whole foods. Also, they contain artificial sweeteners, and if you’re lactose-intolerant, you’re going to want to steer clear of Premier protein shakes.
Fairlife protein shake
Fairlife protein shakes are an excellent workout supplement for those looking to boost muscle recovery following rigorous exercise. They’re light, so you won’t feel too full after drinking one, making them an acceptable snack as well.
Fairlife protein shake pros
The original Fairlife Nutrition Plan shakes have the same protein as Premier shakes at 30 grams per serving. It contains just 150 calories per serving, so it’s 10 fewer than the ready-made Premier protein shakes. In terms of nutrients, it has nine essential amino acids and several vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, calcium and potassium.
These shakes have plenty of protein, and their low-carb formula makes them an excellent supplement for those seeking to lose weight while maintaining a solid muscle frame. They’re made with ultra-filtered milk, giving them a smooth, creamy texture that’s delicious.
Also, unlike Premier protein shakes, Fairlife shakes are suitable for anybody who’s lactose-intolerant.
Fairlife protein shake cons
They only come in seven flavors, but some users argue that it doesn’t taste as good as other comparable shakes. They’re also pricey, so you might get more bang for your buck with Premier shakes. Also, there isn’t as much diversity in terms of products as with Premier protein products.
Should you get Premier or Fairlife protein shakes?
Both Premier and Fairlife protein shakes work well as workout supplements since they both have plenty of protein and amino acids necessary for muscle recovery. They both also have vitamins and minerals that make them suitable as meal supplements or daytime snacks.
Fairlife shakes are easier on the stomach since they’re lactose-free, so while Premier shakes are also light, Fairlife is arguably the better choice for those following strict diets. However, Premier shakes are available in more unique flavors, so you can try different ones until you find one you like.
Ultimately, both shakes will give you a protein boost sufficient enough to aid in the muscle recovery process, especially if you exercise or lift weights consistently. Although Fairlife shakes have more calories and protein per serving, making them slightly better for those with muscle-building goals, Premier shakes are low in fat, so they’re excellent for anyone looking to lose weight.
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/best-green-wreath/
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Which green wreath is best?
A green wreath has a classic aesthetic that will never go out of style. Its somewhat traditional design looks nice with many decor schemes. Whether you’re buying one for a specific holiday or for an entire season, you can find a green wreath that suits your tastes.
If you’re in need of the perfect green wreath, consider the Three Posts 24-Inch Red Berries, Pine Cones and Holly Leaves Lighted Wreath. Classic details like holly leaves and red berries give this wreath a look that’s strongly evocative of the holiday season.
What to know before you buy a green wreath
Natural vs. artificial
Live green wreaths will die after a few weeks or, at the most, a couple of months. They can also be quite expensive. While natural wreaths have a limited display time and they’re less affordable than artificial leaves, they offer certain benefits artificial wreaths do not. The pine-branch scent unique to live green wreaths is a top priority for some people and an aspect they are not willing to forgo. And to other people, even the most well-made synthetic wreaths can’t compete with the natural look of live wreaths.
That said, an exquisitely designed and constructed artificial green wreath can masterfully mimic the aesthetic of a natural wreath. Look for materials like silk, which create a more lifelike effect than materials like plastic. Synthetic wreaths also cost less than live wreaths. And you can display them year after year, because they’ll never die.
Year-round vs. seasonal
You might want to display your green wreath year-round or for the entirety of the winter, spring, summer or fall season. If this is the case, avoid wreaths with holiday-specific accents like ornaments, holly berries and mistletoe. Look for design details like ribbons, florals and white string lights instead.
Lit vs. unlit
Speaking of string lights, some green wreaths are pre-strung with them. And not just Christmas wreaths. The main benefit of a lighted wreath is the cheerful glow of the lights on the wreath itself and the surrounding area.
What to look for in a quality green wreath
Fullness
If you want a larger-than-life look from your green wreath, you should choose one with full foliage. Put simply, this means the foliage is substantial in thickness and quantity. As a result, the hole in the center will be smaller. If you prefer a more streamlined style, chances are good that you’ll favor sparse foliage.
Base material
The durability of a wreath is determined in large part by the material that composes the base. Wood and wire are used most frequently. Once the base has been constructed, pine boughs, wheat or straw are wound around it to provide camouflaging.
Type of foliage
The foliage used on a green wreath is determined by the style of the wreath. Leaves in bejeweled fall colors are perfect for autumn. Winter season-themed wreaths typically use pine boughs. And wreaths meant to display in the spring or summer often feature one or more varieties of flowers.
How much you can expect to spend on a green wreath
As stated above, natural wreaths are priced higher than artificial wreaths. A live green wreath might cost you anywhere from $80 to upward of $125. Synthetic wreaths range from $20-$100 in price.
Green wreath FAQ
What kind of design details look nice on a green wreath?
A. While the season ultimately determines the design details used, some are universal. These elements include leaves, fruit, ribbon, string lights and flowers. If you wish to display the wreath in the winter season, you might want to consider a green wreath embellished with white flocking that imitates snow.
What’s the best way to hang a green wreath?
A. You’re no longer limited to using nails to hang your wreath, although this is certainly an option. Instead, you might want to consider brick hangers, command hooks, suction cups, over-the-door wreath hangers or magnetic wreath hangers.
What’s the best green wreath to buy?
Top green wreath
Three Posts 24-Inch Red Berries, Pine Cones and Holly Leaves Lighted Wreath
What you need to know: Finished with design details that epitomize the winter holiday season, this wreath is festive yet understated.
What you’ll love: Faux red berries, pine cones and holly leaves trim the pine branch tips of this seasonal wreath. A light dusting of flocking imitates snowflakes, creating a wintry effect. Fifty pre-strung white LED lights emit a warm glow, welcoming family and friends to your home. The timer turns off the lights for you.
What you should consider: Quality-control issues with shipping were cited by a few buyers, who reported the wreath arrived bent out of shape.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top green wreath for the money
The Holiday Aisle 17-Inch Pine, Magnolia and Apple Plastic Wreath
What you need to know: Red apples add a pop of color to this mini wreath, which is versatile enough to display all winter long.
What you’ll love: If you’re seeking a green wreath that has unique design details, consider this petite one. Artificial magnolia leaves and apples differ from the foliage used in the design of most wreaths. They give the wreath a look that’s suitable for the entirety of the winter season.
What you should consider: At least one buyer felt the wreath didn’t look realistic, and they were also disappointed in its small size.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
Greyleigh Gold Ornaments, Gold Leaves and Pine Cones Elegance Lighted Wreath
What you need to know: Sparkling gold accents inject this wreath with rich hues that elevate the design to elegant effect.
What you’ll love: Glittering gold artificial leaves with a cutout design, along with gold ornaments and pinecones embellished with a gold finish, make this wreath glamorous. The simplicity of the lines and the deep green hue of the pine branches ground the aesthetic keep it sophisticated. One hundred clear white LED lights provide a cheerful glow.
What you should consider: A handful of buyers felt the wreath looked different in real life than it did in the image online.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
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Megan Oster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-coffee-maker-with-grinder/
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Which coffee maker with a grinder is best?
The smell of fresh coffee is one of life’s greatest pleasures. What makes it even better is a coffee maker with a grinder that grinds the beans as you need them for perfect flavor every time.
When you can’t decide whether you want to have coffee or espresso, the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine is a good choice for both.
What to know before you buy a coffee maker with a grinder
Type of grinder
A coffee maker with a grinder can come with one of two types of grinders: blade or burr.
- Blade: Blade grinders are the most economical choice and the simplest to operate. Two or more blades spin to grind the coffee. These blades get the job done, but they can produce inconsistent results. Some coffee beans come out finely ground, while others might remain nearly whole.
- Burr: Grinders are the choice of coffee connoisseurs. Two abrasive grinding surfaces called burrs rub the coffee together between them to grind it. This type of grinder is more expensive, but the results are more consistent and produce a delicious cup of coffee every time.
Drip coffee vs. espresso
Once you decide which type of grinder you want your coffee maker to include, you’ll need to decide whether you want drip coffee or espresso. This is largely a matter of preference, but it’s also a matter of time. Drip coffee can be made with less hands-on time, but espresso requires more attention.
In addition, drip coffee makers make hot coffee for a crowd, but espresso makers can only produce enough for one or two drinks at a time. Espresso is stronger and may not be to the taste of casual coffee drinkers.
Capacity
The capacity of your coffee maker varies depending on whether or not it produces drip coffee or espresso, as well as the size of each of these machines. It’s possible to get a single-serve drip coffee maker with a built-in grinder, and you can also find espresso machines that pull two or more shots at once.
Which you select depends on the number of coffee drinkers in your household, plus the amount of counter or storage space you have. Large espresso machines take up more real estate than a simple drip coffee maker.
What to look for in a quality coffee maker with a grinder
Grind settings
When you’re investing in a coffee maker with a grinder, make sure it has enough grind settings to suit your tastes and the coffee you’re making. If you aren’t particular, a single grind setting may work for you, but for those who like to vary the strength of their coffee, look for different settings such as extra-fine, fine, medium, medium-coarse and coarse. These allow you to customize the strength and flavor of your brew.
Carafe
Carafes are most common with drip coffee makers. Coffee brews directly into a carafe, which keeps it hot for hours. The benefit of a carafe is that the coffee won’t continue to cook on a heated plate.
Timer
There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The best coffee makers with grinders come with a timer that can be programmed the night before to freshly grind beans and brew coffee before you get out of bed.
Auto shutoff
The auto shutoff feature is great for those days when you sleep through the alarm (and the sound of coffee grinding). It’s a safety feature that also protects your coffee from burning and ruining the pot.
Water filter
High-quality coffee makers use filtered water to preserve the subtle flavors of the coffee without interference from any minerals or additives in tap water. If you don’t want to use bottled water to make coffee, look for a coffee maker that features a built-in water filter.
How much you can expect to spend on a coffee maker with a grinder
The price range for coffee makers with grinders is wide and depends on the type of coffee you make, the grinder and other features. Expect to spend $70-$600 or more.
Coffee maker with grinder FAQ
Do freshly ground beans really make a difference?
A. Yes. Different coffee varieties have subtle differences in flavor and even texture that are lost when beans are ground and prepackaged in the grocery store. These grocery store ground coffee beans can be months old, and even sealed, they begin to lose their subtle flavor quickly. Grinding only the amount of beans you need each day for coffee ensures that the freshness, flavor and aroma of your coffee is preserved.
Grinding your own coffee at home also allows you to control the fineness of the grind so you can customize your cup to your specific tastes.
How do you store coffee beans?
A. Coffee beans begin to deteriorate in the presence of moisture, air and light. To keep them fresh longer, invest in an opaque, airtight canister. Store this canister in a cool, dark place (i.e. a cabinet or the top shelf of your fridge). Don’t leave coffee beans out on the counter or next to the stove. The light and heat will cause them to break down quickly.
Without storage in an airtight container, your coffee beans will only last for a week or two before losing their flavor.
What’s the best coffee maker with grinder to buy?
Top coffee maker with grinder
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
What you need to know: This produces coffee shop-quality espresso drinks in your own kitchen.
What you’ll love: The temperature is easy to control for perfect brewing every time. The grinder is easy to operate and clean, and this machine comes with both drip coffee and espresso capabilities. It also has a hot water dispenser and an automatic shutoff.
What you should consider: Plastic parts inside the machine make this less sturdy than its commercial counterparts.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Sur La Table
Top coffee maker with grinder for the money
Black + Decker 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffeemaker
What you need to know: This machine is easy to use and produces a delicious cup of coffee.
What you’ll love: The filter and grinder are integrated for mess-free brewing. It also takes already-ground coffee, if needed. You can customize the strength of your brew with simple programming, and the automatic shutoff feature is available. This is good for a crowd, with a 12-cup capacity.
What you should consider: If you break the carafe or any other parts, you need to order directly from the manufacturer.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
Cuisinart DGB-400 Automatic Grind & Brew Coffeemaker
What you need to know: This coffee maker works well in small kitchens.
What you’ll love: Coffee beans are ground just before brewing for the freshest cup of coffee. It can be programmed for a hands-off morning cup.
What you should consider: There’s only one grind size.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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How to choose the best baseball bat for your needs
Unless you play Major League Baseball, you have a choice when it comes to picking the material for your bat. Your options are wood, aluminum or composite. Each of these materials provides the player with a distinct set of advantages. Each also has an inherent set of drawbacks.
When shopping for a baseball bat, you must consider what your needs are and match the type of bat to those needs. A wood bat still has its place, even though aluminum and composite bats offer a performance advantage.
Wood baseball bats
Because of safety (and other) issues, the MLB only uses ash, birch and maple bats. If you want to play like a pro, this would be your bat of choice. It honors tradition and offers a little more safety, although a pair of quality batting gloves will come in handy to reduce the sting.
Wood baseball bats pros
- From a budget perspective, wood bats are appealing because of their lower cost.
- Wood bats are the best bat for training because they provide the most feedback. This helps the player improve their swing mechanics.
- Wood bats are safer because the bat doesn’t increase the ball’s velocity like other materials.
Wood baseball bats cons
- Wood bats break more easily than aluminum or composite bats.
- The sweet spot on a wood bat is smaller than it is on the other options.
- Wood bats are the heaviest type of bat, which means they are harder to swing and may be smaller in size, so they won’t provide as much plate coverage.
Best wood baseball bats
The Big Stick is certified for MLB play. It is made of maple and employs a heavier barrel, making it ideal for power hitters.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Louisville Slugger Series 3X Ash Bat
This bat is from a trusted name in baseball. It is made of ash and has a natural finish. The large sweet spot and lighter weight make this a favorite.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Wilson Sporting Goods Louisville Slugger
This 27-inch wood bat is cupped for reduced weight. The black design features red lettering so your bat is sharp looking and easy to identify.
Sold by Amazon
Aluminum baseball bats
Aluminum bats were introduced to college baseball in the early ’70s to cut down on the rising costs of replacing broken wood bats. Besides being more durable, aluminum is lighter than wood and provides more pop when hitting a ball. However, aluminum bats are not without their downsides.
Aluminum baseball bat pros
- Aluminum bats are best when they are new — there is no break-in period required.
- Aluminum bats have a larger sweet spot, which makes them ideal for a beginner who is having trouble hitting with any sort of power.
- Aluminum bats have a trampoline effect. When the bat makes contact, some of the energy is transferred to the ball, making it travel farther and faster than a ball hit by a wood bat.
- The lighter weight of an aluminum bat means they can be longer and larger, giving the player greater plate coverage and a faster swing.
Aluminum baseball bat cons
- Although an aluminum bat will rarely break, it can lose its pop over time. The more imperfections the bat gains from hitting balls, the more its performance deteriorates.
- Aluminum bats cost slightly more than wooden bats, but they are less than composite bats.
- With an aluminum bat, there is less feedback sent to the batter, so it can be harder for a beginner to develop proper swing mechanics.
Best aluminum baseball bats
Louisville Slugger Omaha USA Youth Bat
The Omaha USA youth bat features a one-piece construction. It feels solid in the batter’s hands and offers enhanced energy transfer. It has a cushioned leather grip for increased comfort and control.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
The lightweight construction of this bat gives the player increased speed, letting them get more power behind their swing. It has a cushioned grip and is approved for all associations that follow the USA Baseball standard.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
This affordable aluminum bat is for entry-level T-ball players. The ultralightweight design is suitable for ages 7 and under. It has a large sweet spot to deliver greater satisfaction and foster confidence.
Sold by Amazon
Composite baseball bats
A composite baseball bat is made of carbon fiber. These crystalline filaments are thinner than a strand of human hair but become remarkably rugged when twisted together. It is a lightweight material that has incredible strength. Some composite bats are made from a single piece of material, while others are two-piece items: a handle and a barrel. A two-piece bat is better for the average player because it doesn’t transfer as much vibration to the hands after a solid hit. Advanced players with greater speed and power, however, may opt for one-piece bats.
Composite baseball bat pros
- Composite bats are the lightest baseball bats available. This lets manufacturers make longer bats without increasing the weight so players have greater plate coverage.
- Since most composite bats have a two-piece design, they are less likely to sting a player’s hands.
- Composite bats have a larger sweet spot, which makes them best for inexperienced players.
- Over time, the trampoline effect increases on a composite bat.
Composite baseball bat cons
- Composite bats are not as durable as aluminum bats, and it is possible to break them.
- Compost bats cost more than wood bats and aluminum bats.
- A composite bat is not ready to go out of the box. You need to break it in. This process takes anywhere from 150 to 300 hits.
Best composite baseball bats
Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR Bat
This is a high-end composite bat that is best for the serious player. It features a large barrel with a balanced design and a comfortable yet secure grip.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Easton Ghost X Hyperlite Youth Bat
This composite bat from Easton is 29 inches long but only weighs 18 ounces. It has a large sweet spot and a balanced swing weight that makes it a good choice for beginners.
Sold by Amazon
This bat is available in five sizes ranging from 27-31 inches. It features an ultralightweight design to help young players succeed. The lower price adds value.
Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Should you get a wood, aluminum or composite baseball bat?
For the average player, an aluminum bat wins out because it offers the best of all worlds. It has a large sweet spot, a lightweight design, and it is available at a reasonable price. However, if you have an unlimited budget, a composite bat might edge out an aluminum bat. A composite bat won’t help you hit the ball farther, but the larger barrel and lighter weight design could up your batting average. For players who want to perfect their swing mechanics, however, there is no better option than using a wood bat at practice.
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which backpack leaf blower is best?
If you have a yard or patch of land, you may have some difficulty dealing with leaves in the fall. Smaller yards with fewer trees usually clean up easily with a handheld leaf blower. But if you have a large plot that has plenty of foliage, you might want to consider investing in a backpack leaf blower. These handy devices can significantly cut your workload. And there are a number of worthwhile options in every price range.
The best backpack leaf blower for most consumers is the Echo PB-580T due to its budget-friendly price, performance, weight and reliability.
What to know before you buy a backpack leaf blower
They’re perfect for large jobs
Since backpack leaf blowers are considerably more powerful than handheld models, you won’t have to walk as much. They transfer the bulk of the weight to your back, hips and legs instead of your shoulders and arms.
Most importantly, they let you work on your entire property without being tethered to an electrical outlet. It’s this versatility that makes backpack leaf blowers the go-to choice for contractors and commercial lawn care outfits.
Noise factor
Backpack leaf blowers pack more power than handheld models because it has an internal combustion engine. One of the biggest issues with this is how much noise it makes. Four-cycle backpack leaf blowers are usually in the neighborhood of 70-80 decibels, and two-cycle models can easily exceed 90 decibels. Aside from wearing proper ear protection, you’ll need to consider noise level regulations. Some communities have laws prohibiting the use of lawn power tools that exceed 65 decibels.
Fuel blend
Most backpack leaf blowers have two-cycle engines, which use a combination of gasoline and motor oil. It’s extremely important to remember to use this blend since the wrong mixture could wreck your leaf blower. Most use a fuel-to-oil blend, but this can vary based on the model. Take time to review the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure you use the right formula.
What to look for in a quality backpack leaf blower
Airspeed and cubic feet per minute
Both velocity and volume are important considerations. They’re related but not necessarily correlated. These factors vary depending on the design of the specific model and brand. If you want a truly effective backpack leaf blower that can handle a good amount of space, look for leaf blowers with a velocity of nearly 200 mph or more and at least 500 CFM in volume.
Throttle position
The leaf blower’s throttle control location is a subtle but important detail. Most users find that tube-mounted throttles are more convenient and comfortable to use. Leaf blowers with hip-mounted throttles tend to be slightly less expensive, but that depends on the brand. Ultimately, the choice will come down to your personal preference.
How much you can expect to spend on a backpack leaf blower
The most affordable backpack leaf blowers cost just over $200. The best options for private landowners are in the $500-$700 range. Those with landscaping businesses that do multiple jobs a week might want to invest in even more expensive models, some up in the thousands.
Backpack leaf blower FAQ
Are battery-powered backpack leaf blowers worth it?
A. Not really. If you have enough land and debris to need a backpack leaf blower, there aren’t battery-powered models that will last long enough to complete the job. To be clear, some systems allow you to strap high-powered, long-lasting batteries to your back for running specific leaf blowers, but they cost over $1,000.
What’s the best safety equipment for using a backpack leaf blower?
A. Wear work boots with plenty of traction as well as durable pants and long-sleeve shirts. These are important basics when working with any potentially hazardous tools. In addition, you should also use other safety equipment when using a commercial-grade leaf blower, such as protective glasses, earmuffs, earplugs and work gloves. All of these will keep you safe and ensure you’re protected while you’re using this heavy-duty equipment.
What’s the best backpack leaf blower to buy?
Top backpack leaf blower
What you need to know: It combines the performance of a commercial leaf blower with a consumer-friendly cost and lightweight design.
What you’ll love: It’s powerful enough to satisfy homeowners with large plots and plenty of brush. Echo is a well-respected manufacturer, so it’s an investment you can trust. It boasts a maximum airspeed of 215 mph and weighs just over 22 pounds.
What you should consider: One of its few drawbacks is that you can’t adjust or repair the carburetor.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot and Amazon
Top backpack leaf blower for the money
What you need to know: This relatively affordable option doesn’t sacrifice power or comfort.
What you’ll love: It’s one of the rare options that is less than $300 and still offers long-lasting effectiveness. It’s about as light as they come and significantly more powerful than a handheld mode.
What you should consider: It doesn’t quite have the same kind of power that many lawn care professionals need.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Worth checking out
What you need to know: Put simply, this four-cycle model is a beast of a leaf blower.
What you’ll love: It has more raw power and speed than just about any other option. Plus, since it uses a four-cycle motor, the sound it makes isn’t quite as painfully loud as others. If you need premium performance for professional jobs, this one is a great choice.
What you should consider: While it outperforms much of the competition, it may be too much power for the average homeowner.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.koin.com/border-report-tour/dhs-says-title-42-ending-on-may-23-but-removals-of-ineligible-migrants-will-continue/
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EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The Department of Homeland Security on May 23 will no longer expel migrants on public health grounds.
In a statement Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the policy implemented in March 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent cross-border spread of COVID-19 is coming to an end on that date.
“Once the Title 42 Order is no longer in place, DHS will process individuals encountered at the border pursuant to Title 8, which is the standard procedure we use to place individuals in removal proceedings,” Mayorkas said. “Nonetheless, we know that smugglers will spread misinformation to take advantage of vulnerable migrants. Let me be clear: those unable to establish a legal basis to remain in the United States will be removed.”
Mayorkas said the administration has “put in place a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to manage any potential increase in the number of migrants encountered at our border.” That includes increasing capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests and remove those who do not qualify for protection.
“We will increase personnel and resources as needed and have already redeployed more than 600 law enforcement officers to the border. We are referring smugglers and certain border crossers for criminal prosecution,” he said.
Title 42 remains in place over the next eight weeks or so, and during that time DHS will apply COVID-19 protocols and ramp up vaccination programs.
Mayorkas said the administration will continue addressing the root causes of migration flows to the United States, which he said have been increasing since at least over a decade ago.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to pursuing every avenue within our authority to secure our borders, enforce our laws and stay true to our values,” Mayorkas said. “Yet a long-term solution can only come from comprehensive legislation that brings lasting reform to a fundamentally broken system.”
Officials outline preparations for expected new migrant surge
In a Friday call on background with reporters, DHS and State Department officials outlined preparations to cope with the May 23 termination of the Title 42 program.
They said they are anticipating and preparing for an increase in migrants coming across the border but that not everyone may be eligible to remain in the United States.
“Families and single adults who cross the border and are unable to establish a legal basis to remain in the U.S. will be placed in removal proceedings and will be removed. This is how border management was done before, so we will be returning to status quo,” an administration official said.
In the meantime, administration officials emphasized Title 42 will continue to be implemented.
“Individuals arriving at out border before May 23 will be expelled,” the DHS official said.
Efforts to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination of migrants at processing and detention centers start now, with the goal of expanding vaccinations from 2,000 a day at 11 processing centers along the U.S.-Mexico border to at least 6,000 in 27 facilities. Those who refuse the Pfizer or Moderna shots will either be referred for removal or released with more stringent conditions, the officials said.
The administration had been anticipating a rollback of Title 42 for some time and has begun working with non-government organizations and local governments to manage the transition.
“We’ve taken a number of concrete steps to respond quickly and efficiently to any increase in migratory flows and leverage partners at the state and local levels and other key stakeholders,” the State Department official said.
Planning is ongoing to contract “soft-sided” facilities such as tents to process an overflow of migrants and additional DHS personnel is being sent to the border. Also, federal agencies will solicit volunteers to assist with the effort as needed.
The State Department official said an interagency task force would also be in place to ensure smugglers and migrants who may represent a danger be routed for prosecution by the Department of Justice. “We will continue to work actively with them, and also with the government of Mexico, to interdict smuggling organizations with an all-of-government approach to human smuggling,” she said.
The officials also anticipate a continued and even expanded use of the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, also known as “Remain in Mexico,” that a federal court has directed the Biden administration to keep in place.
“MPP is one of the Title 8 processing pathways,” one official said. “We will continue to increase enrollments in MPP in the next few months.”
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NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Howard, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet celebrated for his exuberant monologues of historical figures and a prolific translator who helped introduce readers to a wide range of French literature, has died at age 92.
Howard, a professor emeritus at Columbia University, died Thursday at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York. His husband, David Alexander, told The Associated Press that he had dementia.
Over a 50-year period, Howard’s poetry, essays and translations totaled well over 200 books and established him as a vital literary creator, commentator and interpreter. He won the poetry Pulitzer in 1970 for “Untitled Subjects” and was a National Book Award finalist in 2008 for “Without Saying.” His translation of Charles Baudelaire’s “Les Fleurs du Mal” won the National Book Award (then called the American Book Award) in 1983.
Through “Les Fleurs du mal” and other English-language editions, Howard became essential in broadening the American audience for French writers. His projects included modern and classic French books, from the memoirs of Charles de Gaulle to experimental novels by Alain Robbe-Grillet to the philosophy of Howard’s friend Roland Barthes. In 2000, his edition of Stendhal’s 19th century novel “The Charterhouse of Parma” was a surprise best-seller.
“I first translated for myself and friends,” Howard told the Center for Translation in 1982. “I had read some books I knew I loved, and I wanted to share them with my friends who couldn’t read French. My friends would come over and I would make them dinner and after dinner I would read aloud. The pleasure in translating these books was equaled, I thought, by the pleasure in communicating them.”
A balding man with a light, musical voice, a fondness for monocles and a French bulldog named Gide, Howard was praised for the wit and stylishness of his translations and his ability to make French authors accessible. As a poet, Howard mastered a flowing, rhyme-less style both erudite and conversational, guiding readers on an intimate, informal tour of Western art and culture.
Instead of personal confessions, he channeled the voices of Penelope and Odysseus from “The Odyssey,” the daughters of “Paradise Lost” poet John Milton, and Edith Wharton and Isadora Duncan. He imagined Henry James as a movie critic and composed odes to the photographer Nadar’s portraits of Victor Hugo and Sarah Bernhardt.
One of his personal favorites was “1915: A Pre-Raphaelite Ending, London,” in which the widow of 19th century artist and manufacturer William Morris addresses her middle-aged, unmarried daughter.
“Save it all; you do not know
the value things will come to have until
the world grows dim around you, and your things
—however doubtful in the changing light,
things are what you have
left. And all you have.”
Howard’s other poetry books included “Findings,” “Lining Up” and “Talking Cures.” His influential survey of contemporary poetry, “Alone with America,” was a National Book Award finalist in 1970. Howard was voted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1983 and for years was poetry editor of The Paris Review. A compilation of his essays and criticism, “Paper Trail: Selected Prose, 1965-2003,” was published in 2004.
He was born in Cleveland just weeks before the 1929 stock market crash, and never knew the identity of the biological parents who apparently were too poor to keep him. Adopted as an infant by a middle class couple that gave him the last name “Orwitz” (changed by his mother to “Howard” after her divorce), he enjoyed at least one advantage of joining a relatively affluent family: His childhood home was big enough to include a well-stocked library that Howard would call his “precocious playroom.”
His love for French did not begin in a classroom, but in a car. During a childhood road trip from Cleveland to Miami, he was seated next to a Viennese cousin who decided to fill the long hours by teaching the language. By the time their journey ended Howard had “amassed a formidable vocabulary of nouns and even a rudimentary stock of verbs.” Decades later, De Gaulle would ask him how long it took to understand the language. “Five days, mon general,” Howard responded.
Howard was an undergraduate and graduate student at Columbia University, where he met Allen Ginsberg and became close friends with classmate Robert Gottlieb, later a top literary editor who published Howard’s translation of De Gaulle. Before his time on the Columbia faculty, he taught at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Houston.
Howard was openly gay for much of his adult life. His poetry collection “Fellow Feelings” was a tribute to such artists as Walt Whitman and Marcel Proust and his later works included several elegies for friends who died of AIDS.
He liked to tell the story of waiting backstage with W.H. Auden during a poetry reading in the 1960s. They were discussing the poet Bernie Weinbaum, who had a history of anti-gay, anti-Semitic remarks. Howard explained that since he was “both these things,” he was not a fan of Weinbaum’s.
“My dear,” Auden gushed, “I never knew you were Jewish!”
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https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/the-judds-reunite-for-cmt-music-awards-performance/
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Judds, one of the most successful duos in country music in the 1980s, are reuniting to perform on the CMT Music Awards, their first major awards show performance together in more than two decades.
The mother-and-daughter duo of Naomi and Wynonna will perform their hit “Love Will Build a Bridge” on the awards show on April 11, airing on CBS and Paramount+, during an outdoor shoot in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
It’s a fitting backdrop for the five-time Grammy winners, who will be inductedinto theCountry Music Hall of Fame in May.
“It feels both surreal and what a thrill it is. What a thrill to finally get her back on the stage because she’s been waiting for 20-plus years,” Wynonna told the AP of her mother, Naomi. “As a daughter and as an artist, it’s a win-win.”
Originally from Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse in the Nashville area when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.
The Judds won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music and had more than a dozen No. 1 hits, including “Mama, He’s Crazy” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ’bout the Good Old Days).”
In 1990, Naomi Judd announced her retirement from performing due to chronic hepatitis. Wynonna has continued her solo career and they have occasionally reunited for special performances.
“To have all the incredible opportunities that I have had, being reminded of all that, just makes me very humbled and I just want to bask in the moment,” Naomi Judd told the AP.
This is also their first ever performance together at the CMT Music Awards. Country star Kacey Musgraves will introduce the pair prior to the performance.
“Music is the bridge between mom and me, and it it bonds us together. Even in the not easy times,” said Wynonna Judd. “We show up and we sing because that’s what love is about, right? So what a beautiful celebration.”
Hosted by country singer Kelsea Ballerini and actor Anthony Mackie, the fan-voted awards show will also feature performances by Ballerini, Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce and more.
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This story has been corrected to remove Luke Combs from performance lineup.
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https://www.koin.com/everydaynorthwest/sponsored-content-wooden-shoe-tulip-festival/
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The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn is a great fun place for the whole family with rides for the kids, acers of their famous tulips, tethered hot air balloons, and food! Tickets must be purchased prior to your visit on “Woodenshoe.com.” Or you can call 503-634-2243 for any questions
For more information visit: Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest – Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
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https://www.koin.com/news/house-approves-bill-legalizing-marijuana/
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(The Hill) — The House passed legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide and eliminate the longstanding criminal penalties for anyone who distributes or possesses it.
Lawmakers passed the bill largely along party lines, 220-204, with three Republicans joining all but two Democrats in support.
The measure now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is working with fellow Democrats to introduce a marijuana legalization bill as soon as this spring.
But it’s not clear a bill to broadly legalize marijuana could clear the necessary 60 votes to advance in the Senate.
Schumer may not have enough support within his own Democratic caucus. At least two Democrats who represent states ravaged by the opioid epidemic, Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), have expressed skepticism about the proposal.
So far, nine Senate Republicans have signed on as cosponsors to Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Ore.) companion bill in the upper chamber.
House Democrats previously passed a bill to legalize marijuana in December 2020. But that measure didn’t go anywhere in the Senate, which was still under GOP control at the time.
The bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, would clear marijuana-related convictions from people’s records and formally remove it from the federal list of controlled substances.
The legislation would also impose a federal tax on marijuana sales to fund programs aimed at helping communities harmed by the so-called “war on drugs” policies that established harsh punishments for distributing and using drugs.
The sales tax would start at 5 percent, and gradually increase to 8 percent over five years.
Proponents argued that it’s past time for the federal government to catch up to the majority of states that have legalized marijuana to at least some extent.
“For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chief sponsor of the bill.
“If states are the laboratories of democracy, it is long past time for the federal government to recognize that legalization has been a resounding success and the conflict with federal law has become untenable,” Nadler said.
Before final passage, the House rejected an amendment from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) to clarify that people can’t be denied security clearances over marijuana use due to 12 Democrats joining all but two Republicans in opposition.
Democrats further framed the measure as a way to reverse the disproportionate impact of criminalizing marijuana on racial minorities. Black Americans are nearly four times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession despite both races using the drug at roughly the same rate, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Make no mistake. Yes, it is a racial justice bill,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chair and member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Republicans argued that marijuana is enough of a mind-altering substance to pose a threat to society.
“Record crime, record inflation, record gas prices, record number of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border, and what are Democrats doing today? Legalizing drugs. Legalizing drugs and using American tax dollars to kick start and prop up the marijuana industry. Wow,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
At least 37 states, four territories and the District of Columbia allow the use of marijuana for medical use, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. About half that number – 18 states, two territories and the nation’s capital – allow it for non-medical use.
Some Republicans who support legalizing marijuana opposed House Democrats’ bill on Friday, arguing there should have been a more bipartisan approach.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) called for bringing the legislation on the House floor on Friday closer to her own marijuana legalization bill, which would limit marijuana use to people above the age of 21 and establish a lower sales tax that would not rise for ten years.
“I have incentives for states not to sell to kids or market or advertise to kids,” Mace told The Hill. “My tax is a lot lower at 3 percent. Theirs is eight after three years, and we all know that you’re going to guarantee illicit markets if you make taxes too high.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), a Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chair, wrote in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment, a publication that focuses on marijuana policy, that he would not support the bill on Friday either.
“To responsibly end prohibition, the federal government must simultaneously issue a regulatory framework that works in conjunction with states’ specifics needs. The MORE Act lacks this critical element or any meaningful and immediate regulatory safeguards at all, leaving individual states to sort out issues typically reserved for federal agencies in the interim,” Joyce wrote.
The House has passed legislation multiple times in the past year to allow legally operating marijuana businesses to access banking services and credit cards, so that they don’t have to be cash-only. So far, nine Senate Republicans have signed on as cosponsors to Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Ore.) companion bill in the upper chamber for more narrow marijuana legalization.
Emily Brooks contributed.
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https://www.koin.com/news/in-company-1st-nyc-amazon-workers-vote-to-unionize/
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NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant’s history and handing an unexpected win to a nascent group that fueled the union drive.
Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers rejected the union bid.
The 67 ballots that were challenged by either Amazon or the ALU were not enough to sway the outcome. About 57% of the more than 8,300 workers on the voter list cast their ballots.
Federal labor officials said the results of the count won’t be verified until they process any objections that both parties may file. Any objections are due by April 8.
The victory was an uphill battle for the independent group, made up of former and current workers who lacked official backing from an established union and were out-gunned by the deep-pocketed retail giant. Despite obstacles, organizers believed their grassroots approach was more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past.
Tristan Dutchin, who began working for the online retailer about a year ago, is hopeful that the new union will improve working conditions at his workplace.
“I’m excited that we’re making history,” Dutchin said. “We’re about to unionize a multibillion, trillion-dollar company. This will be a fantastic time for workers to be surrounded in a better, safer working environment.”
Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who has been leading the ALU in its fight on Staten Island, bounded out the NLRB building in Brooklyn on Friday with other union organizers, pumping their fists and jumping, chanting “ALU.” They uncorked a bottle if Champagne.
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.
The union campaigns come at a time of widespread labor unrest at many corporations. Workers at more than 140 Starbucks locations around the country, for instance, have requested union elections and several of them have already been successful.
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.
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 union landscape in Alabama is also starkly different from New York. Last year, union members accounted for 22.2% of wage and salary workers in New York, ranked only behind Hawaii, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than double the national average of 10.3%. In Alabama, it’s 5.9%.
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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