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The European Central Bank policy meeting is Thursday next week, September 8.
Goldman Sachs have joined the chorus looking for a 0.75% rate hike, jumping on board after the strong CPI data on Wednesday:
More here ICYMI:
There were ECB speakers on Wednesday also, a hawkish lot they are right now! | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/icymi-goldman-sachs-forecasts-an-ecb-75-bps-rate-hike-in-september-20220831/ | 2022-08-31T22:50:44Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/icymi-goldman-sachs-forecasts-an-ecb-75-bps-rate-hike-in-september-20220831/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Headlines crossing the newswires that a ship has run aground in the Suez Canal.
Via Reuters
-
More:
- AFFINITY V is an oil tanker with a Singapore flag
- Its reporting that it has run aground in the Suez Canal
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Remember this? The blockage disrupted global shipping back in 2021. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/another-ship-has-run-aground-in-the-suez-canal-20220831/ | 2022-08-31T22:50:51Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/another-ship-has-run-aground-in-the-suez-canal-20220831/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nikkie carried the report overnight, that Toyota Motor will increase the price of automotive steel it sells to parts makers by a record of around 40,000 yen ($289) per tonne in the October-March half.
Nikkei link for more (gated)
--
Toyota is Japan’s largest buyer of steel.
Toyota is responsible for sourcing the metal for use both in-house and by its suppliers.
Its purchase price serves as a benchmark for contracts in a range of industries. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/icymi-toyota-to-hike-price-of-steel-supplies-for-parts-makers-by-up-to-30-20220831/ | 2022-08-31T22:51:03Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/icymi-toyota-to-hike-price-of-steel-supplies-for-parts-makers-by-up-to-30-20220831/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The news:
Another ship has run aground in the Suez Canal
The ship Evergiven blocked the Canal in 2021 when it ran aground. It took 6 days to free the ship.
This disrupted global shipping.
More:
- AFFINITY V is an oil tanker with a Singapore flag
- Its reporting that it has run aground in the Suez Canal
---
Wheel out the digger again! | https://www.forexlive.com/news/navigation-through-the-suez-canal-has-stopped-due-a-ship-running-aground-20220831/ | 2022-08-31T22:51:09Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/navigation-through-the-suez-canal-has-stopped-due-a-ship-running-aground-20220831/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TSA confiscates meat cleaver, saw blade from passenger’s carry-on bag
Published: Aug. 31, 2022 at 5:56 PM EDT|Updated: 54 minutes ago
(Gray News) – The Transportation Security Administration shared pictures of a few scary-looking items they confiscated from a passenger’s carry-on bag.
The TSA in the Great Lakes region posted the pictures on Twitter on Aug. 30.
The items they confiscated at a checkpoint in O’Hare National Airport in Chicago included a meat cleaver and a saw blade. The items were among other tools the passenger removed from their bag and placed into a bin to be checked by security.
The TSA said in the tweet that sharp objects are not allowed to be carried onto flights and should be wrapped and packaged safely in a passenger’s checked baggage.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/31/tsa-confiscates-meat-cleaver-saw-blade-passengers-carry-on-bag/ | 2022-08-31T22:51:47Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/31/tsa-confiscates-meat-cleaver-saw-blade-passengers-carry-on-bag/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Gold Corporation (Aris Gold or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (OTCQX: ALLXF) announces the publication of its 2021 Sustainability Report highlighting its progress, initiatives and commitments in the areas of health, safety, environmental, social, and governance management for the calendar year. The report is Aris Gold's second annual disclosure of the Company's approach and performance on a range of material environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics, as well as the Company's plans and priorities for 2022 and beyond. The report is available on the Company's website at www.arisgold.com under Sustainability.
Aris Gold anuncia la publicación de su segundo Informe de Sostenibilidad que destaca el avance, las iniciativas y compromiso en las áreas de gestión de salud, seguridad, ambiente, sociedad y gobierno en el año calendario. El informe es el segunda informe anual que publica Aris Gold sobre el enfoque y desempeño de la Compañía en una variedad de temas de ambiente, sociedad y gobierno (ASG) significativos, así como los planes y prioridades de la Compañía para el 2022 y más allá. El informe está disponible en el sitio web de la Compañía en www.arisgold.com bajo Sostenibilidad.
Aris Gold's 2021 Sustainability Report is guided by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals & Mining Sustainability Accounting Standard. It also demonstrates how Aris Gold's approach aligns to select UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Aris Gold CEO Neil Woodyer stated: "We are very pleased to release our second annual sustainability report. After our first full year operating as Aris Gold, we continue our commitment to achieving our ESG goals and creating value that benefits all stakeholders by balancing the expectations of shareholders with the needs of our employees, host communities and the environment. In 2021 we fared well while operating for a second year during the pandemic, achieving a vaccination rate of over 90% for employees. Further, we were able to reduce lost time injury frequency, increase the number of women in the workforce, implement upgrades to our TSF and continue our community investment programs throughout the year."
Aris Gold is a Canadian mining company listed on the TSX under the symbol ARIS and on the OTCQX under the symbol ALLXF. The Company is led by an executive team with a demonstrated track record of creating value through building globally relevant gold mining companies. In Colombia, Aris Gold operates the 100%-owned Marmato mine, where a modernization and expansion program is under way, and as of April 12, 2022, operates the Soto Norte joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new gold mine. Aris Gold also owns the Juby project, an advanced exploration stage gold project in the Abitibi greenstone belt of Ontario, Canada. Aris Gold plans to pursue acquisition and other growth opportunities to unlock value creation from scale and diversification.
Additional information on Aris Gold can be found at www.arisgold.com and www.sedar.com.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" or forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein are forward-looking, other than statements of historical fact. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "will continue" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aris Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward-looking statement.
There can be no assurance that the forward-looking information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The Company has and continues to disclose in its Management's Discussion and Analysis and other publicly filed documents, changes to material factors or assumptions underlying the information and forward-looking looking statements and to the validity of the information, in the period the changes occur. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Aris Gold disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.
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SOURCE Aris Gold Corporation | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/aris-gold-publishes-2021-sustainability-report/ | 2022-08-31T22:52:00Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/aris-gold-publishes-2021-sustainability-report/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 75-year-old man was killed Tuesday when he crashed his vehicle in West Valley, according to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
Kenneth Charley Nichols of Chelan was driving in the 19000 block of Cottonwood Canyon Road about 12:30 p.m. when the crash occurred, the sheriff’s office said.
Nichols, the only one in the vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt and the cause of the crash is unknown at this time, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Casey Schilperoort said motorists need to remember the importance of wearing a seatbelt. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/chelan-driver-killed-in-west-valley-crash-tuesday/article_9f70d05c-296e-11ed-a438-d37c176e75be.html | 2022-08-31T22:59:24Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/chelan-driver-killed-in-west-valley-crash-tuesday/article_9f70d05c-296e-11ed-a438-d37c176e75be.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The death of a Toppenish woman found June 24 in a car near a Wapato tire shop has been ruled a homicide.
The manner of death for Anna Mae Comenout is homicide, Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice said Wednesday, and the cause of her death is homicidal violence.
There are five manners of death — natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined. Cause of death is the injury or disease that leads to death.
Comenout, 38, was found in the back seat of a car near a tire shop on Donald Road around 12:30 p.m. June 24. Wapato Police Chief Nolan Wentz has said Comenout was in distress and was unresponsive. Emergency responders administered CPR, but Comenout was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wentz said in early July that Comenout did not have obvious injuries, but there was blood in the car. A family member was at the scene.
Investigators had been awaiting histology, toxicology and forensic pathology reports after the coroner’s office was unable to determine the cause or manner of death at the autopsy.
Comenout was laid to rest early this week. The FBI and Yakama Nation Tribal Police are investigating, the FBI has said. Comenout was a citizen of the Yakama Nation so Wapato police turned the case over to the FBI, which is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes within Indian Country. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/lower_valley/death-of-woman-found-near-wapato-in-june-ruled-a-homicide/article_db115d54-295d-11ed-b629-b7d717c1b317.html | 2022-08-31T22:59:30Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/lower_valley/death-of-woman-found-near-wapato-in-june-ruled-a-homicide/article_db115d54-295d-11ed-b629-b7d717c1b317.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
California drivers will be taking their foot off the gas, and Washington may not be far behind.
California last week approved new regulations that will end the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee immediately signaled his intention to join in California’s standards. In a tweet the same day, he said Washington would adopt California’s regulations by the end of the year.
It’s a lot to take in. What’s changing? What are these new regulations? Why should anyone care about California? Here’s a look the changes and how they might play out in Washington.
What changed last week?
In 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order phasing out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) codified that goal when it approved its new goals last week.
If Washington adopts CARB’s rules, there will be mandates that a certain amount of new vehicles be zero-emission.
Specifically, new passenger cars, trucks, vans and SUVs will be electric, hydrogen-fuel cell or plug-in hybrid vehicles. In California, 35% of new vehicle sales will meet that standard by 2026 and that threshold will increase by 6% to 9% each year. So 68% of new vehicles will be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid by 2030, 88% by 2033 and 100% by 2035.
Many states, including Washington, base their standards on California’s, which are usually more strict than federal standards. That’s why the new regulations are sending ripples across the country.
How is that different than what was in place earlier?
Washington was already on the road to zero-emission vehicles. The Legislature set a goal to make all new vehicle sales electric by 2030 in March, but that is only a goal, not a law or a mandate. Manufacturers, dealerships and buyers will be incentivized to go electric, but there were no hard and fast requirements by 2030.
While Washington will still work to meet its 2030 goal, officials have called it their “ceiling,” with 2035 as the latest date for the state’s transition away from gas-powered vehicles.
Policy for the 2030 goal and the 2035 regulation would likely complement each other in Washington.
Why are we following California?
Right? Why does one board in California affect vehicle sales for the entire state of Washington?
California has stricter vehicle emissions standards than the rest of the country, an effort which dates back to Los Angeles’s legendarily ugly air pollution in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.
California was the first to implement catalytic converters, for example. While cities like Los Angeles still don’t have the most beautiful air, air quality has improved greatly in the last 60 years.
According to the Guardian, 17 other states choose to follow some or part California’s rules rather than the federal ones. Washington is one of those states.
In 2020, Washington passed Senate Bill 5811, which directed the Washington State Department of Ecology to “adopt rules to implement the motor vehicle emission standards of the state of California,” and “amend the rules from time to time, to maintain consistency with the California motor vehicle emission standards.”
Will all new cars have to be electric? What about hybrid vehicles?
State Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said more attention should be given to plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Washington’s 2030 goal focused on electric vehicles.
“I do not support bans like this one — we do not know if the benefits will be greater than the expense,” King said in a news release, pointing out there is still a lot to learn about the long-term environmental consequences of electric vehicles.
“I do support incentivizing hybrid vehicles, along with funding research of emerging technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cell energy,” he added.
CARB’s 2035 mandate creates paths for hydrogen-powered vehicles and plug-in hybrids. According to the regulations, 20% of new vehicles sold can be plug-in hybrids in 2035, as long as they have an all-electric range of 50 miles, said Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for Gov. Inslee.
In addition, hydrogen fuel-cell cars, which use hydrogen to create electricity, would be available for sale. Hydrogen-fuel cells generally re-fuel faster than electric vehicles, but are less popular.
Does this change anything for my current gas-powered vehicle?
No. Before and after 2035, you can still drive a gas-powered car. After 2035, you can still buy a used gas-powered car.
The CARB regulations are specific. They apply to new vehicles for each model year. For example, if 35% of new vehicles in 2026 must be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid, that means 35% of vehicles made in 2026.
What’s next?
Washington doesn’t immediately use California’s new regulations. The Department of Ecology will start its own rulemaking process which will include opportunities for community feedback.
There likely will be opportunities for public comment in the fall before rules are finalized for Washington. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/q-a-how-californias-new-electric-vehicle-standards-might-affect-wa/article_eb97d54a-28c2-11ed-98ac-ab4620850d45.html | 2022-08-31T22:59:36Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/q-a-how-californias-new-electric-vehicle-standards-might-affect-wa/article_eb97d54a-28c2-11ed-98ac-ab4620850d45.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Hearts hope for busy deadline day with new signings as Robbie Neilson admits: 'You can see we need a few'
Robbie Neilson admitted Hearts “need a few” new signings following the Premier Sports Cup exit against Kilmarnock at Tynecastle Park.
The Edinburgh club hope to be busy on transfer deadline day after a series of injuries and a busy fixture list weakened their squad. Innes Cameron’s header knocked them out of the League Cup with Craig Halkett, Liam Boyce Stephen Kingsley, Jorge Grant and Beni Baningime all absent.
Manager Neilson was reluctant to reveal which positions are the priority but stated he wants new recruits with 24 hours of the summer transfer window left. He will also look at free agents after the deadline but said Burton Albion striker Louis Moult is not an option being considered.
“I don’t like to put a number on it but you can see that we need a few to give us more,” admitted Neilson. “When we’re asking these guys to go again and again, you are going to get those performances at times.
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“You want to be in European football but it has its effects on players, especially with the number of injuries we have. It’s the match-winners who have that spark to go by people. If you don’t have that sharpness it’s difficult to break teams down. You could see that.
“We’re disappointed with the performance. I think we are better than that but you can see the fatigue in the players. It was a frustrating night. We had loads of possession but didn’t really do a lot with it.
“Killie scored the first goal with their first attack and that let them sit in and kill the game. We just didn’t have that spark that we’d normally have. A culmination of a number of games back-to-back and all the effort that’s been put in, we’re asking players to go again and again.
“Because of the injuries we’ve not had a chance to rotate and I think that had a big influence on the game. We knew we had to get bodies in anyway. We couldn’t rotate the squad or take the chance to get people off the pitch for key games. So it’s about recruiting but also getting these guys ready for Saturday [at Livingston].” | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-hope-for-busy-deadline-day-with-new-signings-as-robbie-neilson-admits-you-can-see-we-need-a-few-3826591 | 2022-08-31T23:02:44Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-hope-for-busy-deadline-day-with-new-signings-as-robbie-neilson-admits-you-can-see-we-need-a-few-3826591 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kansas Football redshirt-junior wide receiver Trevor Wilson has been suspended indefinitely from the team, according to KU Athletics. Wilson appeared in court on Tuesday to set his preliminary hearing in October.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Tanaka Scott will miss Friday's season opener against Tennessee Tech. Scott joined the team at practice Monday morning.
Head coach Lance Leipold spoke to the media for the first time since the incident occurred on Thursday.
"Definitely disappointed — disappointed that those young men put themselves in that situation but equally disappointed in myself," said Leipold. "As a head coach, it is my responsibility to put out messages and to put it on young men to make great decisions in wherever it may be and wherever that takes place. So, obviously, I haven't done enough in my role to prevent those situations and I'll continue to work to be better." | https://www.kansan.com/news/kansas-football-s-trevor-wilson-is-suspended-indefinitely-tanaka-scott-suspended-for-one-game-by/article_af0aea80-28af-11ed-96b1-3b25812871e5.html | 2022-08-31T23:03:05Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/news/kansas-football-s-trevor-wilson-is-suspended-indefinitely-tanaka-scott-suspended-for-one-game-by/article_af0aea80-28af-11ed-96b1-3b25812871e5.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Junior quarterback Jalon Daniels has already been named the starter for week one against Tennessee Tech. However, redshirt senior quarterback Jason Bean is playing some of his best football yet, according to Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
“He had a great camp,” Kotelnicki said. “He’s playing the best football I've seen him play.”
Though having parity like this can be helpful at times, it also creates competition. Competition can often have negative impacts in the locker room, but that’s not the case for the quarterbacks.
“Sometimes competition creates strife, and can be unhealthy for a program,” Kotelnicki said. “In that room in particular, I think they're happy for the other guy's success.”
The relationship between Daniels and Bean is even stronger outside of football, adding to a healthy competition.
“Me and his relationship is just so off field,” Daniels said. “We support each other, whatever we do. You know, even if we're going to do something outside of football, he's gonna support me in it.”
The support is evident, even during the mishaps that can occur throughout practice.
“If my head is down in practice, he's gonna be the guy to come up to me and say ‘next play JD,’ and vice versa," Daniels said. "If he's down, I'm gonna go to him like ‘The next play, you're good, next throw.”
This competition creates confidence among the two, and makes it an even greater feeling knowing that it will make them better.
“Bean has a tremendous amount of abilities,” Daniels said. “His speed, the amount of throws he's able to make all across the field, I just feel like it definitely gives me confidence, but to know that me and him are competing with each other to make each other better just makes me make me feel great as well.” | https://www.kansan.com/sports/competition-creates-confidence-for-kansas-quarterbacks/article_3edcd74c-28ae-11ed-a582-23884d4966d2.html | 2022-08-31T23:03:11Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/sports/competition-creates-confidence-for-kansas-quarterbacks/article_3edcd74c-28ae-11ed-a582-23884d4966d2.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Lem Wash, 2020-2021 Gatorade Kansas Football Player of the Year and Tennessee Tech sophomore, is in good spirits ahead of his first game in his home state since Nov. 2020, when he quarterbacked Derby High School to a state championship.
“It’s a surreal feeling because once I committed to Tennessee Tech, I thought I’d never really play a game close to home, let alone in Kansas,” said Wash.
Friday’s game presents the opportunity for the Wash family to see him play in person for the first time in his career.
“Last year, they weren’t able to actually come to any games. they had to watch everything on ESPN+," Wash said, "So it's really exciting for all of us."
Wash’s younger brother, Miles, will simultaneously be playing his season opener for Derby as they take on Manhattan High School, which their dad will be in attendance.
Wash said that most of his family will make the trip to Lawrence.
Wash will play against some notable alumni of Kansas high school football who decided to stay in state for their collegiate careers. He was on the winning end of Derby and Topeka High's 6A state semi-final playoff game in 2019, in which Kansas redshirt sophomore running back Ky Thomas sat on the losing end for the Trojans.
Wash was quick to recall playing against sophomore running back Devin Neal again.
“We played them in high school, my senior year, and he was a really good player. So, I’m looking forward to sharing the field with him again,” said Wash.
Lastly, Wash gets to play against former Derby teammate, freshman defensive line Andon Carpenter, who he’s hopeful to see. “I’m going to talk to him, at least go up to him after the game," said Wash. Carpenter and Wash shared three state championships together at Derby.
While the opportunity for Wash to play in his home state is great, the season opener is not what he looks forward to the most. Instead, he hopes to see his family at a home game this year.
“I feel like they’ll be able to make the trip out, which they’ll let me know when they can," said Wash, "Those will be the games I’ll be really excited for.”
Wash has been battling for playing time with graduate senior quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall. Oatsvall transferred in from Memphis, where he didn’t play but gained experience as a starter during his career at Austin Peay. Wash is the only quarterback listed on Tennessee Tech’s roster to have taken any snaps last year, but if anything happens with Oatsvall, he will be the one to step in. | https://www.kansan.com/sports/former-kansas-high-school-stand-out-returns-to-play-in-home-state/article_8ce52226-295f-11ed-89ee-7ba6f2870afa.html | 2022-08-31T23:03:17Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/sports/former-kansas-high-school-stand-out-returns-to-play-in-home-state/article_8ce52226-295f-11ed-89ee-7ba6f2870afa.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Gambling is fast gaining popularity in town. This is because of the rush to ‘get rich quick’. Everyone wants a double return for their money without investing or working for it.
Gambling comes in various forms. It can be through gaming such as bingo, card games, and so on. Betting is also another form of gambling that allows people to bet on any kind of sport.
Most people gamble in order to win money, to escape life’s problems, to socialise and for economic reasons.
Gambling is a risky game. It’s either a win or a loss; you can never be caught in between. Sadly, most people end up being addicted to it.
Gambling is not a male thing. A lot of females are into it also.
This article will point out some of the reasons you need to stop gambling or tell your loved ones to resist gambling.
1. Gambling leads to addiction
When an individual is used to cashing out at all times, it attracts such a person to keep investing his/her money into it. And if the person loses, he/she will keep investing illegally to get back what was lost. By this, the person becomes addicted.
Addiction sets in when you don’t feel comfortable until you spend your last penny on betting. You should refrain from gambling in order to avoid becoming addicted. Once you get addicted ,it might be hard to recover from it.
2. It leads to stealing
Gambling leads to stealing in such a way that when an individual is out of cash and has no source of getting money to gamble, he/she will be left with no choice but to steal.
Gamblers find every possible means to get money to place bets. Some go as far as stealing from people around them.
3. Gambling leads to depression
Constant loss of money in gambling leads to depression. A gambler who loses money won’t focus on anything other than how to get more money to invest in gambling, in order to win back his / her lost money.
As a result of his loss, he takes to drinking and smoking. These have high tendencies to cause depression. Most gamblers tend to get frustrated when they lose. This is because they have unrealistically high expectations.
4. Gambling leads to greed
Every gambler becomes very greedy sooner or later. This is because they never get satisfied even when they keep winning. They keep on investing their winnings to get more.
5. No room for savings
There is a saying that “whatever one does not work hard to earn usually does not last.” Gamblers spend the monetary gains gotten from gambling on frivolities such as hard drugs, cigarettes, alcohol etc. They assume they’d get more money as long as they keep doing it. A larger percentage of gamblers don’t have financial discipline because to them the money is a bonus.
6. It tarnishes one’s image
Gambling reduces one’s reputation in society. Gamblers are tagged as unserious beings and are usually ridiculed. You wouldn’t want to be seen as an unserious person. This is why you need to refrain from it.
Gambling makes you associate with people of low caliber. Touts, drug addicts, smokers, street boys are found at the betting arena. You get to converse with them once in a while, whether you like it or not. Your conversation makes you become like them sooner or later.
7. Do you know gambling could lead to suicide?
Yes, you read that right. People who do so want to put all the money they can get, especially when there is a high bid. Some even take loans from people, using the people’s money entrusted in their hands to place a bet and eventually lose the game. You can imagine the financial embarrassment such a person will face. This could frustrate the person into taking their life. The earlier you refrain from gambling, the better for you.
Gambling is not appropriate for you. Yes, you get to win more money, but think of the other effect mentioned above. It outweighs the so-called benefit.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE | https://tribuneonlineng.com/do-you-gamble-heres-why-you-should-have-a-rethink/ | 2022-08-31T23:03:43Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/do-you-gamble-heres-why-you-should-have-a-rethink/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Batteries are a backup for various gadgets and equipment. They also have expiry dates just like other manufactured items. However, you might be cutting short the life of a battery if it is not properly maintained before its expiry date.
The way you use your battery is very important and it goes a long way in prolonging the lifespan of the battery or reducing it.
There are certain habits you should stop in order to make your phone’s battery last longer, especially if it is an in-built battery.
To save your battery from malfunctioning, you should avoid the following.
1. Charging overnight
Almost everyone is guilty of this, especially due to the incessant powerlessness supply in the country. Most people charge their phones overnight to enable them to charge fully, but this is gradually causing great damage to your phones. This is because by charging over the might, it causes your battery to be overcharged, which is harmful to the health of your battery.
2. Using inappropriate chargers
Do you know that there are specific chargers for different phones? Your phone’s manufacturer specifically created a special charger for your phone. They created it to match your phone’s properties and capacity.
Using someone’s charger can be detrimental to your battery performance. Most times it slows down the charging and affects the battery.
In case your original charger gets damaged, make sure you consult trusted phone technicians or visit the manufacturer’s outlets around you to get an original charger.
3. Avoid using your phone while charging
This cannot be overemphasized. There have been consistent warnings against using our phones or even receiving calls while they are charging.
Pressing our phones while charging reduces their battery performance. This is because a lot of applications will be working in the background, and this will slow down the charging.
Most phones overheat when you use them while charging. This shortens the lifespan of your battery.
4. Avoid charging constantly
Charging your phone all the time terminates the life of your battery gradually. It is advisable that you charge your phone when it is at 15% or 20%. Recharging it consistently and unnecessarily will shorten its lifespan.
5. Reduce apps running in the background
A lot of apps drain your phone’s battery secretly. Using third party apps is detrimental to your battery performance. These apps run constantly in your background and allow unnecessary advertisements that might break down your phone’s security walls.
6. Reduce your brightness
Did you know screen brightness drains your battery? Aside from the fact that it affects your eyes, it also affects your phone battery. The best way to reduce power consumption is to reduce your brightness to the lowest setting.
You can also download apps that help you manage your phone battery or use features provided in your phone, such as smart battery mode which helps you reduce things that cause power or battery drainage.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE | https://tribuneonlineng.com/things-you-should-avoid-to-have-a-healthy-phone-battery/ | 2022-08-31T23:04:35Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/things-you-should-avoid-to-have-a-healthy-phone-battery/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bivalve, Md. --- It was a perfect day for construction on Cove Road Beach. The beach, just south of Bivalve, first closed in early August to bring it back to life after taking a toll from past storms and nor'easters'. Chuck Rousseau is the deputy director of Wicomico County Recreational Parks, he says the project is moving right along.
"The contractors have been on sight since August 15th and they're making real good progress out there at cove beach," Rousseau said. "The first spire, which is like a rock jetty have been built so once that spit gets approved and everything we'll start working on the second one breakwater."
He says building the rock jetty is stage one and says the other stages can be completed faster.
"The contractors are making great movement," Rousseau said. " The rock has been in good supply. The hope would be that is the next couple of weeks the rock part would be done and then we can get into the sand and the marsh planting which should go pretty quickly."
Nearby Roaring Point needs restoration as well.
"They be able to open cove beach back up and reposition to roaring point to do the protection process at that beach as well," Rousseau said. "
So even though the beach is closed right now for the restoration project officials say you have to wait a little longer before we can enjoy the beach fun again.
Find out more on Cove Road Closer on Wicomico County Recreation, Park and Tourism's website. | https://www.wboc.com/news/cove-road-beach-restoration-project-is-on-schedule/article_66846838-2970-11ed-ba04-176787be07d3.html | 2022-08-31T23:08:05Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/cove-road-beach-restoration-project-is-on-schedule/article_66846838-2970-11ed-ba04-176787be07d3.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HURLOCK, Md. - The town of Hurlock is asking for funding, so they can place a school resource officer in Hurlock Elementary.
The Mayor of Hurlock, Reverend Charles Cephas Sr. says, they want protection in their schools, before it's too late. "Safe. In one word, safe. That is the idea of the resource officer. It's that they have security and protection and they know that someone is there to protect them from any intrusion. Or, anyone that wants to cause harm or put them to be in danger. That would eliminate that fear," says Cephas.
Cephas says the safety of the kids and community is their top priority. Cephas says, "It's for the protection of our families and our children. If someone were able to get into the school, and you do not have a resource officer, teachers do not have weapons. Teachers are paid to teach. They are all at the mercy."
However, putting an officer in the school is no easy feat. For things like training, benefits, and officer salary, Chief of Police Bruce Jones, says it would be around 80 thousand dollars in funding. And, this is not the towns first time applying for the grant. Jones says, "This will be our third year trying to seek funding for a school resource officer. The cops grant, there are only very few that are given out each year. It's a very competitive grant. But, we are not going to give up."
If the grant was awarded to the town, the Police Department would still need to hire one more officer before they put one in Hurlock Elementary. | https://www.wboc.com/news/hurlock-hoping-for-funding-for-a-school-resource-officer/article_a9f678dc-2974-11ed-8e31-3722b2c09b14.html | 2022-08-31T23:08:11Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/hurlock-hoping-for-funding-for-a-school-resource-officer/article_a9f678dc-2974-11ed-8e31-3722b2c09b14.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TANGIER ISLAND -- A $25 million investment has been proposed to help slow the erosion on Tangier Island. The investment would be used for a dredging project that would place dredged material from the Virginia part of the Chesapeake Bay onto the island. The project is not a done deal, but islanders hope it is soon. One of the main reasons islanders want it done quickly is because it's starting to affect the crabbing sheds.
"Our seas come in shore farther, and that's starting to encroach on top of the crab buildings that we have out here that sheds our soft shell crabs," said Norwood Evans, Tangier Islands Vice Mayor. "So any restoration work we can have done to help protect their inside harbor and all is a benefit for the waterman and the island itself."
The erosion is so bad in Canton Ridge, that areas where land used to be, are completely submerged. Wildlife have also been affected, as they've seen much of their habitats disappear over the last 20 years. Loss of habitat is just one of the reasons Vice Mayor Evans wants this project to move forward.
"It'll help build embankments up and stop the surge coming, and then it will also help with the turtles that nest in the area," said Evans.
Before anything can happen, however, the plan needs congressional approval.
"We're not there yet," said U.S Senator Tim Kaine. "I got to get it through the senate and then I got to rely on Congresswoman Luria on the house side, and we'll make this happen."
As of right now, there is no timetable for when the project could pass both the house and senate. Kaine and his office are hopeful that it happens sooner rather than later, but they say it's still up in the air. | https://www.wboc.com/news/proposed-dredging-project-for-tangier-island/article_3dbff7f8-2977-11ed-b775-1f88de0e9cdd.html | 2022-08-31T23:08:18Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/proposed-dredging-project-for-tangier-island/article_3dbff7f8-2977-11ed-b775-1f88de0e9cdd.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md.- Wicomico Goes Purple (WGP) prepares for National Recovery Month with the Tri-County Overdose Awareness Day Event.
The event took place on Aug. 31 at the WinterPlace Park in Salisbury.
The purpose of the WGP campaign is to spread hope and awareness about substance abuse. Wicomico health officials say they want to shatter the stigma surrounding drug addiction.
As the number of fentanyl related deaths continues to rise, the Wicomico County Health Department hopes the event will encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help.
"We want to let people know that they are worth it and that recovery is possible for them," says Jessica Taylor of the WCHD.
The awareness event included speeches from those affected by drugs, and a candle light vigil honoring those that have lost their battle with addiction.
WGP will host other events in September with the hopes of bringing the community together and shattering the stigma:
- Shatter the Stigma Walk-Sept. 10 at the Wor-Wic Community College
- A Night of Hope-Sept. 30 at the Salisbury City Park
- A month-long toiletry drive with five drop off locations throughout the county | https://www.wboc.com/news/tri-county-overdose-awareness-event-kicks-off-wicomico-goes-purple-campaign/article_707f300a-2972-11ed-b210-674155ea5103.html | 2022-08-31T23:08:24Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/tri-county-overdose-awareness-event-kicks-off-wicomico-goes-purple-campaign/article_707f300a-2972-11ed-b210-674155ea5103.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
City officials have quietly opened a “welcome center” to handle some of the roughly 8,000 newly arrived migrants that have flooded the Big Apple in recent weeks, The Post has learned.
The facility — aimed at enrolling their children in schools, offering job placement and helping the migrants complete their immigration paperwork — is operating out of the Red Cross complex in Hell’s Kitchen.
It is part of a $6.7 million city contract issued in August aimed at helping the thousands who have trekked or been shipped here to integrate into the five boroughs.
“The concept and the plan is to have various city providers on site as a one-stop, one-time, get as many things done as you can,” said a source familiar with the operation, who said the planning had been underway for about two weeks.
The scene there was quiet on Wednesday. A reporter observed only a handful of people using the facility, including a family of three exiting while another person was handed some paperwork.
The operation is being run by Catholic Charities, which recently posted a notice on its website seeking volunteers to help.
“Catholic Charities Community Services is currently experiencing an influx of individuals and families seeking asylum here in New York City,” the notice reads. “We need personable, professional volunteers to help our Case Management team with administrative duties and client-related activities.”
It adds: “You will primarily be, escorting and greeting asylum seekers, handing out bagged lunches, or performing various office tasks to aid the case management team in the new navigation center.”
More than 7,600 migrants have come to New York by bus and plane since May — some sent by the Biden administration and others shipped north by the busload by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott — putting the city’s shelter system and social services apparatus under intense pressure.
“What the city is trying to do is help with more than things that are needed in a moment,” said Alexander Rapaport, who heads the Masbia Soup Kitchen Network, which is helping provide food to migrants as they get off the buses at the Port Authority.
“Sometimes you need documents and it’s a process, you need to talk to an embassy — you need to be able to come back and forth.”
The welcome center’s opening comes as officials continue to inch toward opening a new intake facility for those streaming in from the southern border as well as identifying and renting hotels to provide additional shelter space for the recent arrivals.
The slow progress comes as the commissioner overseeing the city’s homelessness and social services agencies, Gary Jenkins, is spending nearly two weeks on vacation, The Post revealed on Monday.
The Department of Homeless Services now says that it has selected a finalist to manage the new initial processing point for migrants, where they complete a screening for physical and mental needs before being assigned a bed in the shelter system.
That request also called on potential contractors to line up 600 hotel rooms to go alongside the intake facility, which were initially slated for the ROW NYC hotel. However, that location was scotched and its unclear where they may now be located.
Separately, officials also said this week that they’ve received at least 18 applications to provide hotel beds in response to a second DHS request to secure an additional 5,000 hotel beds.
Mayor Eric Adams described the facility as being in the midst of a “soft opening” when asked about its delayed start-up on Monday.
“We want to make sure we get it right, because, as you know, the numbers are coming in at increasing pace,” he said.
City Hall representatives were not immediately able to comment on Wednesday. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/nyc-opens-6m-welcome-center-for-flood-of-migrants-kids-shipped-here/ | 2022-08-31T23:15:47Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/nyc-opens-6m-welcome-center-for-flood-of-migrants-kids-shipped-here/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK -- At the age of 18, Coco Gauff is the second-youngest player left in the women’s draw -- and yet, she’s widely viewed as one of the favorites to win the US Open title, along with top-ranked Iga Swiatek.
The No.12-seeded Gauff scuffled a bit Wednesday, then went on to defeat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 7-6 (4) in a second-round match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Reaching the final at Roland Garros has accelerated the expectations surrounding this teenager -- perhaps most importantly in her own mind.
Another day, another win for [12] @CocoGauff on Arthur Ashe 🏟🚶♀️
— wta (@WTA) August 31, 2022
She moves past Ruse, 6-2, 7-6(4) and will now face [20] Madison Keys in R3 🔜#USOpen pic.twitter.com/bK3r4SJSC0
“Getting to a final, I think people expect you to get over that final hurdle, and that’s something I expect of myself too because I know I feel it in me that I can repeat it and do it again,” Gauff said after her first-round win over Leolia Jeanjean. “I didn’t expect myself to be so nervous before the final. Now that I know what to expect, I expect myself to at least do better.”
She recently became the second-youngest WTA doubles No.1 in history and is seeded No.2 alongside Pegula this fortnight. She’s also No.6 in the WTA Race to the Finals for singles players on the strength of advancing to the quarterfinals in Toronto.
Ruse was serving for the second set at 40-15 when Gauff turned up the temperature. On the longest rally of the game (22 strokes), she blistered a backhand crossing shot for a winner and showed some real emotion. Ruse subsequently double-faulted to make it 5-all.
In the tiebreak, a huge backhand sent her into the win column. Gauff has now doubled up in her 2022 match results, winning 32 against 16 defeats. Ruse, a 24-year-old from Romania who is ranked No.101 acquitted herself well.
Gauff, who served up eight double faults, was visibly annoyed with herself on those occasions. She understands it’s something that she needs to clean up going forward.
“Regarding the pressure, I learned in my life that you just have to accept it, you can’t ignore it," she said. "It’s going to be there. You feel it. Everybody else feels it for you. So instead of trying to say, 'I’m not nervous,' I’m saying, 'I am nervous, I do feel pressure, I do feel this.'
“Now once you acknowledge a problem, you can solve it.”
And Gauff wasn’t the only American success on Wednesday. In fact, her next opponent, Madison Keys, was among a group of three seeded Americans that are also through to the third round in bottom-half: Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske-Amritraj and Keys.
Keys, after falling to No.87 in the rankings early this year, has looked like vintage Keys. She beat three consecutive major champions recently in Cincinnati -- Jelena Ostapenko, No.1 Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina -- before losing to a fourth, Petra Kvitova, in the semifinals.
MADI WITH A CLUTCH WIN 👊
— wta (@WTA) August 31, 2022
Former #USOpen finalist @Madison_Keys holds off a tough test from Giorgi with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6) victory in New York! pic.twitter.com/wFzk3TfVkV
Keys, the No.20 seed defeated Camila Giorgi in a rousing match, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (10-6).
No.29 Alison Riske-Amritraj defeated Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (10-5) in a match that ran 3 hours, 10 minutes. She won by converting her fifth match point. A finalist this year at Adelaide and Nottingham, Riske-Amritraj reached the third round for the second straight time after a 0-5 drought.
Earlier, No.31 Shelby Rogers defeated Viktoria Kuzmova 7-5, 6-1. In August, Rogers was a finalist in San Jose -- her first final in six years. In 2020, she advanced to the US Open quarterfinals. Next up: No.5 seed Ons Jabeur, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over another American wild card Elizabeth Mandlik. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2772812/gauff-moves-into-third-round-of-us-open-to-play-keys-next | 2022-08-31T23:16:30Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2772812/gauff-moves-into-third-round-of-us-open-to-play-keys-next | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
PLAYOFF CONTENDER: With the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs set to kick off this Sunday, this will be William Byron’s fourth appearance in the 10-race battle for the championship. The driver of the No. 24 heads into this year’s playoffs seeded in the fifth position – his highest ranking yet in the reseeded points standings. In the upcoming 10 races, the Cup Series has run on six of those tracks already this season and Byron has one win (Martinsville Speedway) and an average finish of 11.33 – the best average finish of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates in those six races.
UP FRONT: Byron has led the second-most laps so far this season with 612 behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, who has led 719. Those 612 laps led by Byron are not only his most in a single Cup Series season but came across 13 races – the seventh-most races led by a driver this year.
DARLINGTON DEETS: With eight previous Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Byron is looking to capitalize on his previously strong showings. Despite running well in most of his starts at the 1.366-mile track, Byron’s results don’t accurately represent the strength he had shown. While he has a track-best finish of fourth (May 2021), Byron has two top-five finishes and two top-10s. However, earlier this year, the 24-year-old driver was poised to take home the win at “The Lady in Black” until being moved out of the way for the victory with two laps to go, resulting in a 13th-place finish. In fact, in that race, he had a 6.11 average running position – his fifth-best race of the 2022 season (based on that statistic). Byron also has one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the venue, where he qualified sixth and raced to a fifth-place result as well.
THE FUGLE FILES: When the Cup Series returns to Darlington on Sunday, it will mark the fourth trip to the South Carolina track for crew chief Rudy Fugle at the top level of NASCAR. Earlier this year, Fugle and the No. 24 team started ninth and were leading before being moved out of the way for the win with two laps to go, resulting in a 13th-place finish. Last season, Fugle called the shots for Byron at Darlington twice, starting fifth and racing to a fourth-place result in the spring and in the fall, where the team was running within the top 10 before a flat tire ended the team’s race early. Prior to last season, Fugle had only three previous starts at Darlington Raceway – two in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
VALVOLINE RETURNS: Valvoline will be the primary sponsor of Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Darlington this weekend. This will be the third race that the Valvoline colors will be onboard Byron’s No. 24, with a fourth race coming at his hometown track for the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.
HONORING 'JUNGLE': For Sunday’s race at Darlington, the No. 24 will have a special passenger riding above the right-side window – Jim "Jungle" Gilbert – as a part of the Workforce Appreciation campaign that the industry is recognizing this weekend. Known as “Jungle” by his colleagues, Gilbert was a member of the NASCAR industry from 1989 to 2022 before having to retire due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Spending his career as a transporter driver, Gilbert worked at Hendrick Motorsports on the No. 5 team with driver Kasey Kahne before moving to the No. 24 team with Byron. He was also involved with wheel force testing while with the company.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE OF MIND: While the fueler on the No. 24 team hails from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Landon Walker also has significant ties to the southernmost Carolina state, having played football at Clemson University. The former college offensive tackle earned a scholarship to Clemson in 2007 after being named an All-American offensive lineman in his hometown at East Wilkes High School. While playing at Clemson, Walker recorded 3,131 snaps with 49 starts at tackle through four seasons at the university. In 2011, Walker was named team captain, the same season Clemson went on to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The college football standout was then recruited by Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and earned a position as the starting fueler for the former No. 5 (now No. 24) team in 2015.
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
HOW WE GOT HERE: Alex Bowman will make his fifth consecutive appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs – all with Hendrick Motorsports – when the elimination-style format gets underway Sunday at Darlington Raceway. He punched his ticket to this year’s postseason with a win in the third race of the 2022 Cup Series season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the regular season, Bowman tallied three top-five finishes and 10 top-10s, placing him 15th in the playoff standings.
NOT TOO SHABBY: In his previous 10 starts at the South Carolina track, Bowman has one top-five finish – a runner-up result in May 2020 where he qualified second and led 41 laps in the 293-lap event – and two top-10s. The No. 48 driver has also completed 3,243 of 3,296 laps at the egg-shaped track – or 98.4 percent.
THE SHOWMAN: Since the start of the 2021 Cup Series season, Bowman has the third-most wins of all drivers with five. He took home hardware at Richmond Raceway (April 2021), Dover Motor Speedway (May 2021), Pocono Raceway (June 2021), Martinsville Speedway (October 2021), and Las Vegas (March 2022). The 29-year-old only trails Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (6) and Kyle Larson (12).
QUITE THE PAIR: Bowman and crew chief Greg Ives have the fifth-most wins of all active driver-crew chief parings with seven. The duo is ranked right behind Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, and his crew chief Cliff Daniels (12). Last week, Ives announced that he would be stepping away from the pit box at the end of the 2022 season.
IVES AT DARLINGTON: Ives is no stranger to success at “The Lady in Black,” notching one top-five finish and three top-10s in his 11 starts at the 1.366-mile track in the Cup Series. The 42-year-old crew chief also has two starts atop the pit box in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he took home a win with Elliott in April 2014 and a seventh-place result in May 2013 with Regan Smith.
WORKFORCE APPRECIATION: The No. 48 will have the name of Richard “Shannon” Meadows on the right-side window for the Workforce Appreciation Weekend at Darlington. Meadows joined Ally in 2011 to start up Ally’s Growth channel. In October of 2020, he moved to be part of Ally’s new opportunities team and was recently promoted to the Senior underwriter position. A visit to the Darlington spring race helped him fall in love with the track and the sport.
SAVE THEM ALL: Each week of the season, Bowman and primary sponsor Ally have joined forces to contribute $4,800 to Best Friends Animal Society. If Bowman wins, the donation increases to $10,000. To date, a total of $134,800 has been donated to Best Friends Animal Society and its network partners in each race market the Cup Series visits.
HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /
Races
Wins
Poles
Top 5
Top 10
Laps Led
Stage Wins
*Most **Most (tie)
REVVING TO A MILESTONE: The engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports sits three wins away from 500 victories. To date, the company’s engine program is responsible for 337 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, 123 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, 22 wins in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and 15 wins in the ARCA Menards Series and the K&N Pro Series (now ARCA Menards Series East and West) ranks.
KEEP ON COUNTING: Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway will be the 1,300th Cup Series race for 14-time Cup Series champs. That total ranks fourth on the all-time list of races by team.
LEADING THE WAY: With nine wins through 26 Cup Series races in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has earned the most victories so far this season. It is the only four-car team to see all of its drivers win a race this season. The organization is the only one to have multiple drivers with at least two wins – Chase Elliott (four), Kyle Larson (two) and William Byron (two). On top of that, the 1,667 laps out front lead all teams in the series by 96 circuits. Elliott and Byron rank 1-2 in laps led this year.
PLAYOFF POWER: The 2022 season marks the fifth time that the organization has had four drivers make the playoffs – the most ever by a team. It is the 15th season that the team has had at least three drivers in the postseason and the 17th consecutive season that at least two of its drivers have made the playoffs. The latter two marks are the most of all organizations.
RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 53 wins in the playoffs. Jimmie Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott tops the board with six wins, followed by Larson with five and Alex Bowman has one. Nine different drivers have won a playoff race for the Concord, North Carolina-based team, which is the most in the Cup Series ranks.
STREAK GOING STRONG: Dating back to the 2021 playoffs, Hendrick Motorsports has won five straight races in the elimination-style postseason. That mark is one shy of the record six won by one team. Larson won four of those five en route to the 2021 championship while Bowman took the other victory.
ON TOP AT DARLINGTON: The company’s 14 wins at the South Carolina track are the most all-time by team – the Southern 500 has been won a record 11 times by the squad. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon accounts for half of the 14 track wins with seven. Johnson posted three wins, while Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Tim Richmond and Ricky Rudd each tallied one trip to victory lane at the track "Too Tough to Tame."
ENCORE, ENCORE: The No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro is making another Xfinity Series start beyond its initially announced three races. Larson will be behind the wheel at Darlington – he was previously announced to be driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – in Saturday’s race. Kevin Meendering will serve as the team’s crew chief. The organization has 26 wins in the series with Tony Stewart recording the last win to date at Daytona International Speedway in 2009. Larson, Bowman and Byron have each driven the No. 17 this year at Road America, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and Watkins Glen International, respectively. Those starts marked the organization’s first in the Xfinity ranks in 13 years.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: The No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity Series carries special significance to the Hendrick Motorsports family. It is the same number Ricky Hendrick drove in the Truck Series. That number has won 39 times in Xfinity Series history and two of the four drivers to win in it – Darrell Waltrip and Labonte – would go on to win in the Cup Series with the Rick Hendrick-owned organization.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Darlington Raceway and the Round of 16: "We had a really fast car last time before we had trouble. The first round has a lot of really good tracks for us. Darlington (Raceway), Kansas (Speedway) and Bristol (Motor Speedway). Those are honestly three of my best racetracks. I really like that round and hopefully we can do well in it and get some wins and get some bonus points. I have always run really well at Darlington, but have not gotten a win there yet. I finished second three times in a row before this year, so would love to be one spot better there and finally get that Darlington win that I have been close to getting."
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the challenge of setting a car up for Darlington: "It drives me crazy trying to set the car up but Darlington (Raceway) is hands down my favorite track on the circuit with Bristol (Motor Speedway) probably close behind that. Darlington is such a challenge. The track itself, how to race it, how to run your own race, executing the pit stops and the green-flag strategy. Everything around Darlington is a true, gritty, racer-type feel to the track and race – it just has that aura. I enjoy it but I am pulling my hair out every second of the day trying to get it right, have a good plan and have a good car to do the things we need to do but that is part of what makes it fun."
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on this weekend’s "DESI9N TO DRIVE" paint scheme and program: "Partnering with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been going on for about five years now, but last year was the first year we kind of brought it to life on track. That came through an opportunity with NAPA AUTO PARTS, which is my primary sponsor and has been a great partner. When you have a partner that is willing to give up its race to let someone design the car, get behind the foundation and try to make a difference in the community, I think that really says a lot. You don’t see that very often. I’m looking forward to having Dani, the young lady that designed the car, and her family at the track this weekend and hosting them. I’m hoping everyone loves that paint scheme as much as I do."
Elliott on kicking off the playoffs in Darlington: "Darlington (Raceway) is the beginning of a long road ahead. A lot can happen in 10 weeks. A lot can happen in one race weekend, much less 10. So, you know, it’s baby steps and one weekend at a time. Darlington is that first stop and you want to try to get off on a good note and see where it takes you. We’re happy to have those 15 bonus points. We’ve never been in a position to have many bonus points going into the final 10. Hopefully, we can take those points we’ve accumulated and help us get through these rounds. Hopefully, we don’t need them, but if you do have a bad day, you have a little bit of something to fall back on which is always nice. I’m looking forward to getting going and seeing where we stack up this first week and where we need to go from there."
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts for the first race of the playoffs: "I’m optimistic heading back to Darlington (Raceway) for the second time this year. We had the speed we needed in the spring to be in the lead when it mattered. The fall race is always a challenge though when it comes to heat and the transition throughout the race. I’m confident in Rudy (Fugle) and my team, though, that we’ll be prepared for every scenario. Getting off on the right foot for the first race of the playoffs is crucial so you’re not feeling like you are trying to play catch-up throughout the round. If we put together solid races and control the factors we can control, I think we can end the race with a win or at least a good result, which will set us up well for the next two races."
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects from Sunday’s race: "We ran well in the spring race at Darlington (Raceway) but this weekend’s race will be about as different as can be. It’s a longer race for starters, so there will be a bigger emphasis on strategy, especially with how high tire fall off is there. Sunday’s race is going to be much hotter than it was earlier this year. I do think we have some good notes to work off of since this race starts in the daytime. The biggest thing will be making changes to keep up with the track as it transitions from day to night. I think whoever keeps up with those changes the best will be the ones who find themselves running up front towards the end. Hopefully that’s the No. 24 team and we can kick off the first race of the playoffs with a good run."
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on making the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year with Hendrick Motorsports: "I am super happy to make the playoffs again and I think it shows the strength of our organization. We have a lot of really smart people working on our cars and giving me the best equipment each weekend to go out there and compete for wins. Greg (Ives) and myself have made the playoffs every season we have been together, and I am looking forward to getting another shot to compete for a championship."
Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on going into his last playoffs as a crew chief: "It’s bittersweet for me. Obviously, I have had a lot of success in the past, but this is my last shot to get a Cup Series championship. I think we have the team capable of contending every weekend and a driver that can get it done. We just have to continue to work hard, stay focused on each weekend and capitalize on every opportunity we get. I have enjoyed my career as a crew chief, and I will take in every moment as I close out this season."
Hendrick Motorsports PR | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72504-hendrick-motorsports-media-advance-darlington | 2022-08-31T23:17:06Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72504-hendrick-motorsports-media-advance-darlington | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Low-income and minority neighborhoods often bear the worst impacts of climate change and pollution, but lawmakers are aiming to address those issues through funding in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, “there are communities that are suffering from pollution disproportionately.” This is because polluting industries often border low-income and minority neighborhoods.
Regan says the Inflation Reduction Act dedicates about $60 billion to climate justice projects to address the problem.
“We will deploy those resources to communities on the ground that are grappling currently with the impacts of climate change,” Regan said.
The money will be split up into three major categories: Fighting pollution, access to affordable clean energy and building resiliency to climate change.
Block grants will be available for communities to fight pollution and the government will do more to monitor and address emissions from places like airports, railyards and ports.
“We need to make sure those investments are prioritized in communities that have been overburdened by energy costs and fossil fuel pollution,” said David Smedick, with non-profit RMI which focuses on clean energy and sustainability.
A greenhouse gas reduction fund will be used to accelerate production of green energy — largely in disadvantaged communities.
The environmental justice plan will also improve quality of life and resiliency by restoring coastal habitats, and forests, along with creating new green spaces in urban areas. | https://www.wspa.com/news/washington-dc/inflation-reduction-act-to-fund-climate-efforts-for-low-income-minority-communities/ | 2022-08-31T23:20:51Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/washington-dc/inflation-reduction-act-to-fund-climate-efforts-for-low-income-minority-communities/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Low-income and minority neighborhoods often bear the worst impacts of climate change and pollution, but lawmakers are aiming to address those issues through funding in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, “there are communities that are suffering from pollution disproportionately.” This is because polluting industries often border low-income and minority neighborhoods.
Regan says the Inflation Reduction Act dedicates about $60 billion to climate justice projects to address the problem.
“We will deploy those resources to communities on the ground that are grappling currently with the impacts of climate change,” Regan said.
The money will be split up into three major categories: Fighting pollution, access to affordable clean energy and building resiliency to climate change.
Block grants will be available for communities to fight pollution and the government will do more to monitor and address emissions from places like airports, railyards and ports.
“We need to make sure those investments are prioritized in communities that have been overburdened by energy costs and fossil fuel pollution,” said David Smedick, with non-profit RMI which focuses on clean energy and sustainability.
A greenhouse gas reduction fund will be used to accelerate production of green energy — largely in disadvantaged communities.
The environmental justice plan will also improve quality of life and resiliency by restoring coastal habitats, and forests, along with creating new green spaces in urban areas. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/inflation-reduction-act-to-fund-climate-efforts-for-low-income-minority-communities/ | 2022-08-31T23:24:50Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/inflation-reduction-act-to-fund-climate-efforts-for-low-income-minority-communities/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bird flu has returned to the Midwest earlier than authorities expected after a lull of several months, with the highly pathogenic disease being detected in two commercial turkey flocks in western Minnesota and a hobby flock in Indiana, officials said Wednesday.
The disease was detected after a farm in Meeker County reported an increase in mortality last weekend, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said. The flock was euthanized to stop the spread. The board later reported that a second flock in the county tested positive Tuesday evening.
They were the first detections of avian influenza in Minnesota since May 31, when a backyard flock was struck in Becker County. Indiana’s case was its first since a backyard flock there tested positive June 8, which had been the last detection in the Midwest before this week. However, there have been several detections in western states in July and August, including California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, plus a few in some eastern states.
“While the timing of this detection is a bit sooner than we anticipated, we have been preparing for a resurgence of the avian influenza we dealt with this spring,” said Dr. Shauna Voss, the board’s senior veterinarian. “HPAI is here and biosecurity is the first line of defense to protect your birds.”
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported that a small hobby flock of chickens, ducks and geese in Elkhart County, northern Indiana, tested presumptively positive on Tuesday, though final confirmation from a federal lab was pending.
Across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 414 flocks in 39 states have been affected since February, costing producers over 40 million birds, mostly commercial turkeys and chickens. The disease has struck 81 Minnesota flocks this year, requiring the killing of nearly 2.7 million birds.
Minnesota produces more turkeys annually than any other state.
This year’s outbreak contributed to a spike in egg and meat prices, and killed an alarming number of bald eagles and other wild birds. It also affected some zoos. It appeared to be waning in June, but officials warned then that another surge could take hold this fall.
The disease is typically carried by migrating birds. It only occasionally affects humans, such as farm workers, and the USDA keeps poultry from infected flocks out of the food supply. A widespread outbreak in 2015 killed 50 million birds across 15 states and cost the federal government nearly $1 billion. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/deadly-bird-flu-returns-to-midwest-earlier-than-expected/ | 2022-08-31T23:24:57Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/deadly-bird-flu-returns-to-midwest-earlier-than-expected/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KCAU) — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested four people after allegeing they found more than 100 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl during a Tuesday traffic stop.
A trooper saw a Nissan Rogue traveling with a license plate violation on Interstate 80 near Utica around 1:10 p.m., according to a NSP release. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 indicated that it detected the odor of a controlled substance coming from inside the vehicle.
The release stated that troopers searched the vehicle and found 101 pounds of methamphetamine and nine pounds of fentanyl concealed in bags in the rear of the vehicle.
The people in the car were identified as Jhonny Murillo Martinez, 38, of Hyattsville, Maryland, and passengers Tonny Guevara Chacon, 24, of Lorton, Virginia, Rene Rodriguez Morales, 27, and Marta Rodriguez, 38, both of Falls Church, Virginia.
All four were arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp.
All four were booked in York County Jail. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/nebraska-news/nsp-finds-101-lbs-of-meth-9-lbs-of-fentanyl-in-i-80-traffic-stop/ | 2022-08-31T23:25:10Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/nebraska-news/nsp-finds-101-lbs-of-meth-9-lbs-of-fentanyl-in-i-80-traffic-stop/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MERIDIAN, Idaho — The hit CBS TV show "Survivor" is returning for its 43rd season and welcoming 18 new contestants to the island. Among those 18 brave contestants is an Idaho resident and the oldest competitor for this season.
Originally from Houston, Texas, 52-year-old Mike "Gabler" Gabler currently lives in Meridian, which is in southern Idaho. He works in an operating room at Edwards Lifesciences as a heart valve expert, a career he has had for nearly 20 years.
Gabler believes his ability to operate on patients in a high-stress environment makes him a perfect contender to compete in "Survivor."
"I'm not your pretty typical device person," Gabler said in his introduction interview for "Survivor." "I have tattoos, I've got my beard and I'm a pretty big guy."
Gabler said the other contestants will likely perceive him as intimidating, but he hopes he can turn around their first impressions of him as the contest continues.
"I've got a heart of gold," he said. "I really care about people a lot, and the longer I'm in there and the more people get to know me, I think the better I will do with people."
At the end of the day, however, Gabler said his master plan to win the contest is based on three rules: outwit, outplay and outlast.
"Like I always say, a good friend will stab you in the front. So I hope I'm that good friend that can just take everybody out one by one with a smile," he said."
You can watch Gabler's full introduction interview by using the player below:
The Emmy Award-winning series kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8:00 p.m. PT. The series is also available to stream live and on-demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.krem.com/article/entertainment/idaho-survivor-contestant/293-5d85b48b-f21b-4425-a366-32017947deb4 | 2022-08-31T23:25:45Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/entertainment/idaho-survivor-contestant/293-5d85b48b-f21b-4425-a366-32017947deb4 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
16 mins ago - Economy & Business
Dolly Parton launches "Doggy Parton" pet apparel collection
Dolly Parton on Wednesday announced the launch of "Doggy Parton," a line of apparel, accessories and toys that seeks to help support an animal rescue organization.
Driving the news: The collection is now on sale on Amazon and part of the sales proceeds will go to support Willa B. Farms Animal Rescue, a Tennessee-based non-profit, according to a news release.
- Products in the collection include blonde wigs, cowgirl hats, dresses and plush toy guitars.
- The line will also be sold at DoggyParton.com.
- The line was made in partnership with SportPet Designs and more retailers will be announced in the future, per the release.
What they’re saying: “’Puppy Love’ was my very first record and 6 decades later, my love for pets is stronger than ever,” Parton said in the news release.
- “This inspired me to start my own line of Doggy Parton apparel, accessories, toys and more with a little ‘Dolly’ flair,” she said.
Yes, but: Don't expect to get many of the 62 products in the usual two-day Prime shipping.
- Many of the Doggy Parton products on Amazon say "usually ships within 1 to 2 months."
- Some products that are also labeled as "#1 new release" were listed as "temporarily out of stock."
More from Axios: | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/31/dolly-parton-doggy-parton-pet-products-amazon | 2022-08-31T23:25:57Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/31/dolly-parton-doggy-parton-pet-products-amazon | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HONOLULU — The U.S. Navy “harbored toxic secrets” when jet fuel contaminated drinking water for 93,000 military members and civilians in Hawaii, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday from four families who say they're still suffering from seizures, gastrointestinal disorders and neurological issues.
Hundreds of additional claims are expected from those who ingested the toxic water, said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu. Others going through the administrative process of the Federal Tort Claims Act will be added to the lawsuit.
At least twice last year, thousands of gallons of jet fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, a massive World War II-era military-run tank farm in the hills above Pearl Harbor, leaked into a well that supplied water to homes and offices in and around the sprawling base.
A Navy investigation blamed the water crisis on shoddy management and human error.
“Because government personnel then failed to disclose those leaks as required, the plaintiffs continued to ingest jet fuel and became sick from that exposure," the lawsuit said. "Instead of promptly and appropriately addressing the harm, government officials conducted a woefully inadequate clean-up and clearing effort, while government doctors provided medical care far below the standard of care.”
The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Each family lived in a home at or near Pearl Harbor with water provided by the Navy. The families include a mother who is a major in the Army, a father who is an active-duty Navy ensign, a father who is a senior chief petty officer in the Navy and a father who is an active-duty technical sergeant in the Air Force, according to the lawsuit.
The families have since left Hawaii.
They are asking for monetary awards to be determined at trial for damages including pain and suffering, mental anguish and medical expenses. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/lawsuit-navy-jet-fuel-tainted-tap-water-hawaii/507-91f75fbf-04b2-4d22-bc93-ad1351615441 | 2022-08-31T23:25:57Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/lawsuit-navy-jet-fuel-tainted-tap-water-hawaii/507-91f75fbf-04b2-4d22-bc93-ad1351615441 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LONDON, UK — Fans of the late Princess Diana placed tributes outside the gates of her Kensington Palace home on Wednesday, marking the 25th anniversary of her death in a Paris car accident.
An arrangement of white chrysanthemums spelling out “Princess Diana” sat among dozens of photos and messages left by admirers, some of whom said they make annual pilgrimages to the spot to remember the tragedy.
“We just come here, do the memorial and, you know, we just chat about things that she used to do, you know, to … let people know that we will never forget the princess, we will never forget what she’s done,’’ said Julie Cain, 59, who traveled 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Newcastle in northern England. “We just want her legacy kept, like, going as long as possible.”
Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997, at the age of 36, stunning people around the world who felt they knew the princess after seeing her successes and struggles play out on TV screens and newspaper front pages for 17 years. The tributes left outside Kensington Palace on Wednesday were a small reminder of the mountains of flowers piled there in the days after Diana’s death.
Diana was the focus of constant media attention from the moment she was engaged to marry Prince Charles until the night she died. Her fairytale wedding, ugly divorce and efforts to build a new life all made headlines.
The public watched as she blossomed from a shy teenager into an international style icon who befriended AIDS patients, charmed Nelson Mandela and walked through a minefield to promote the drive to eradicate landmines. Along the way, she showed the royal family, particularly her sons William and Harry, how to connect with people and be relevant in the 21st century.
On Wednesday morning, Cain and her friend Maria Scott, 51, paid their respects to Diana as dawn broke over the palace, just as they do every year.
“There was just something about that girl that really stood out. And of course, I watched the wedding, the fairy-tale princess,’’ Scott said. “And, you know, you see, she was like part of your life because you were seeing that every day on the television. She was in newspapers, magazines. She was all over. And you felt like she was part of your life.” | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/princess-diana-25th-anniversary-of-her-death/507-4c4f232b-6246-4cbe-ab3f-afc2a02a62ed | 2022-08-31T23:26:03Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/princess-diana-25th-anniversary-of-her-death/507-4c4f232b-6246-4cbe-ab3f-afc2a02a62ed | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SEATTLE — Editor's note: This story is part of KING 5's Seahawks season preview series.
There's nothing sports fans love quite like bold predictions.
It's the best way to stamp your hot take with a seal of approval, only for most bold predictions to (inevitably) be way off the mark at the end of the season.
But that's kind of the point. These predictions are Bold with a capital B. They're supposed to be unlikely, which is what makes this exercise fun.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: All of our stories breaking down the 2022 Seahawks
Let's get to our 10 bold predictions for the Seahawks' 2022 season, varying on the boldness scale from piping hot take to "don't touch that because you'll burn your hand on the kitchen stove" hot.
Drew Lock starts at least 3 games
He might not have won the starting job out of training camp, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has maintained throughout that he believes Lock is a capable No. 1 quarterback.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Long-term QB options for the Seahawks
Geno Smith might have been the safer choice, but it won't be long before a lackluster offense leads Carroll to give Lock a chance as the starter. Whether it be by injury or on-field product, Lock will get his chances to prove himself in 2022 after COVID-19 and an awful preseason finale kept him from winning the job out of camp.
Pete Carroll retires at the end of the season
This will be Carroll's 13th season as head coach of the Seahawks. He's won the franchise's only Super Bowl in 2013, very nearly won another in 2014 and led the team to the playoffs in nine of 12 seasons. The Seahawks have averaged 10.5 wins per season under his tutelage, one of the best marks in the entire NFL.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Game-by-game predictions for the 2022 Seahawks
This is a long way to say, simply, that Carroll has accomplished everything he could have in Seattle during his tenure and has nothing else to prove.
He's the NFL's oldest coach, too, and the Seahawks are positioned for a multi-year rebuild after Russell Wilson's trade.
Does he really want to continue coaching teams that are on the outside of the playoff picture?
Seahawks go winless in the division
Most fans aren't expecting more than one or two wins against the very deep NFC West. However, the disappointing preseason from the offense and youth of the defense ultimately keeps the Seahawks from getting a single victory against the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: How the Seahawks stack up against the NFC West
Not to fear, the Seahawks will have plenty of winnable games outside of divisional competition. Don't expect much success against divisional foes, however, at least not until the team upgrades the quarterback position.
Jamal Adams sets all kinds of career highs
Adams has yet to live up to the haul the Seahawks gave to the New York Jets in acquiring the safety, not to mention the significant contract the team signed him to the following year. To give him some credit, injuries have kept Adams from playing more than 12 games in either of his first two seasons in Seattle.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Ranking the 5 best games on the 2022 schedule
One of the team's most fierce competitors, Adams not only finds a way to stay healthy for all 16 games but manages to eclipse many of his career highs. Expect more tackles, interceptions and pass deflections as Adams works to prove he was worth every penny the Seahawks invested in him.
Seahawks finish dead last in total passing yards
This boldness varies, depending on your perspective of the Seahawks' quarterback rotation. Do you believe in Lock's physical talent? Do you think Smith can have a career renaissance?
If you do, then you'll feel this prediction is appropriately bold. But here's the case: Seattle was already 23rd in total passing yards (3,432) with Wilson starting in 14 games last season.
The teams that finished behind the Seahawks in passing yards either improved their quarterback this offseason (Colts, Browns, Panthers) or can expect a modest increase from a young quarterback understanding the offense (Eagles and Bears).
Meanwhile, the Seahawks downgraded from Wilson, one of the most efficient passers in the league that unlocked the offense, to Smith and/or Lock. Neither of the Seahawks quarterbacks has ever finished an NFL season with even 3,100 passing yards.
Tyler Lockett won't reach 1,000 receiving yards
We ranked Lockett as the Seahawks' No. 1 player heading into the 2022 season, but he stands to struggle the most with Smith at quarterback.
Lockett has totaled over 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons, largely because he's a magician with his footwork in the end zone. It's what allowed him to connect with Wilson even when facing impossible odds and tight windows of space between defenders.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: The Seahawks to draft and avoid in fantasy football leagues
Wilson's preferred areas to throw the ball down the field mirrored Lockett's strengths as a receiver. Smith, a game manager-type quarterback, doesn't utilize that part of the field nearly as often.
Expect Lockett's overall targets to drop this season and his chances for another 1,000-yard season to dip significantly.
Kenneth Walker III leads the team in rushing yards
Yes, despite a preseason injury that may sideline him for the early part of the regular season. This is a bet on A) Walker's intriguing talent and B) the durability concerns for Rashaad Penny, who has yet to finish a full season without an injury.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Meet the 2022 rookies that could make an impact in 2022
In the second half of the season, Walker III can cement himself as the team's primary ball carrier -- as long as his injury doesn't worsen.
Tariq Woolen will get at least 4 interceptions
We did say these were bold predictions.
The Seahawks had a pair of rookie cornerbacks that logged significant playing time this summer in Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant. Woolen in particular drew rave reviews after being a fifth-round draft choice and even has had former Seahawks players call him a potential starter already.
Woolen's combination of height, speed and vertical leap made him one of the more intriguing rookies in the 2022 draft. Opposing offenses love to target rookie cornerbacks, but Woolen will win a lot more battles than the rest of the league might believe. His length helps him pull down at least four interceptions this season and solidifies him as a piece of the secondary moving forward.
The Seahawks' passing efficiency will drop a loooooot, too
A big part of the Seahawks' atypical approach to scoring points centered around Russell Wilson's unique ability to be hyper-efficient with the limited amount of passing attempts he was given.
Here's where the Seahawks ranked in passing yards per attempt over the last nine seasons:
- 2021: 8th (7.7 yards per attempt)
- 2020: 13th (7.5 yards per attempt)
- 2019: 8th (7.9 yards per attempt)
- 2018: 6th (8.1 yards per attempt)
- 2017: 12th (7.2 yards per attempt)
- 2016: 6th (7.8 yards per attempt)
- 2015: 2nd (8.3 yards per attempt)
- 2014: 6th (7.7 yards per attempt)
- 2013: 2nd (8.4 yards per attempt)
Geno Smith's career average in yards per attempt is 6.9, while Drew Lock's is 6.7. The one-yard drop from Wilson (7.7 yards per attempt last year) may not seem like a big difference, but that would drop the Seahawks from 5th to 23rd in passing efficiency.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Can Seahawks win with a run-heavy game plan?
A bottom-five finish in yards per attempt is well within reason.
Will Dissly will top 500 receiving yards
Will Dissly has steadily improved over his first four seasons with the Seahawks and now should be in line for another uptick in production. Geno Smith's familiarity with Dissly could make him a more favorable target at tight end than newcomer Noah Fant.
KING 5 SEASON PREVIEW: Will a third pass catcher step up to help Metcalf and Lockett?
The UW product ends up doubling his career-high and takes advantage of all the attention being focused on DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the passing game. | https://www.krem.com/article/sports/nfl/seahawks/10-bold-predictions-for-2022-seattle-seahawks/281-24a2b8d5-1c4d-423e-94dd-e0cbfea0f68a | 2022-08-31T23:26:16Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/sports/nfl/seahawks/10-bold-predictions-for-2022-seattle-seahawks/281-24a2b8d5-1c4d-423e-94dd-e0cbfea0f68a | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It’s been quiet — too quiet — this Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists and residents of storm-prone areas whisper almost as if not to tempt fate.
A record-tying inactive August is drawing to a close and no storms have formed, even though it is peak hurricane season and all experts’ pre-season forecasts warned of an above-normal season. Nearly all the factors that meteorologists look for in a busy season are there.
Warm ocean water for fuel? Check.
Not a lot of wind shear that decapitates storms? Check.
La Nina, the natural cooling of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide and increases Atlantic storm activity? Check.
Yet zero storms formed. Surprised experts point to unusual persistent dry air and a few other factors. But each time they and computer simulations think something is brewing, nothing comes of it.
“It has been surprisingly and freakishly quiet in the Atlantic,” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said, pointing out that weak Tropical Storm Colin fizzled out on July 2 and there’s been nothing since.
It’ll be the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said. Since 1950, only 1997 and 1961 had no named storms in August and 1961 then went hyperactive in September, including deadly Carla, he said.
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, one of the more weather-battered cities in the past decade, residents have noticed how quiet the hurricane season is so far and it’s almost “testing fate” to bring it up, Mayor Nic Hunter said.
From August 2020 to August 2021, the city was hammered by two hurricanes — Laura and Delta — only six weeks apart, a deep freeze and spring flooding. Residents still have blue tarps on their roofs.
“I think there’s a lot of knocking on wood. There’s a lot of prayers,” Hunter said. “Until the season is over, I don’t think anybody’s going to have any sighs of relief.”
Certainly not 74-year-old Shirley Verdin, who lives about 200 miles (320 kilometers) away in Bayou Point-Au-Chien, where Hurricane Ida ripped through on Aug. 29 last year. She now lives in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer next to her gutted home that will be demolished down to the pilings this weekend so it can be rebuilt.
There are wisps of potential storm systems swirling in the Atlantic that meteorologists are following and so is Verdin. Closely.
“I know there’s something out there right now,” she said.
The National Hurricane Center is watching three thunderstorm systems in the Atlantic and gives them all at least a 50% chance of becoming a named tropical storm, with one of them a likely sounding 80%. But Colorado State’s Klotzbach has seen this before this year and isn’t counting on them.
Just late last week, the computer forecast models predicted three maybe four storms forming, including one becoming a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph (177 km/h), Klotzbach said.
Then nothing.
For the past month and a half, thunderstorms that could be seeds of hurricanes power off Africa looking strong enough “but then they encounter a lot of dry air that’s just sitting over the Atlantic,” University of Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero said. “The dry air has really been the main thing that’s been stopping storms from really getting going.”
Relative humidity is about 15% below normal and there’s been Saharan dust in there making it drier, McNoldy and Klotzbach said.
The dry air does a couple things, Corbosiero said. Those thunderstorms become more potent and get their energy as warm moist air rises off the ocean. The ocean is warm enough, but the dry air causes that water to evaporate, cool and go down, not up, she said.
That dry air also helps create cross winds about 2 miles up (3 to 4 kilometers) “that can really do damage to a storm trying to form,” Corbosiero said.
Matthew Rosencrans, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's lead hurricane outlook forecaster, said he sees signs that the dry air is ending and normal moisture will be returning, which could mean more storms. Rosencrans also says crosswinds at other heights, especially in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico also were a factor in dampening storm activity until now.
Other factors include a patch of sinking air over the Atlantic, a poorly located high pressure system also connected to the European heat wave and dust, the scientists said.
It's been weird in the tropics, too, but in a different way, Klotzbach said. Before this year, the north Indian Ocean has had only one named storm in August; this year there are two, he said. And in the Pacific, Supertyphoon Hinnamnor is not only the most powerful storm on Earth this year, but it’s moving southwest when these type storms usually move west to east, Klotzbach said.
“There’s some odd stuff going on,” Klotzbach said.
But in the Atlantic nothing’s really going on and victims of past years’ storms don’t want to jinx it.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful?” Louisiana resident Thomas Halko asked about whether the so-far quiet hurricane season will continue. Halko lives in southeastern Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, in an area hammered by Hurricane Ida last year. A house on his property shifted clear off its foundation and had to be demolished.
“We made it through the week and it looks like we’re in relatively good shape for the next five days or so,” he said of the upcoming weather report.
But it’s hard to appreciate the quiet when he feels a “nervous anticipation of doom” thinking about the ongoing hurricane season.
“There is this foreboding that really won’t go away,” he said.
Hurricane season peaks around Sept. 10 and stretches through Nov. 30.
“It is important to remember the lessons of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida and Louisiana in an otherwise quiet year,” National Hurricane Center acting Director Jamie Rhome said in an email. “It only takes one landfalling hurricane to make it a bad season for you, and we still have many months to go in the hurricane season.” | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/calm-before-storms-oddly-quiet-atlantic-despite-forecasts | 2022-08-31T23:28:22Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/calm-before-storms-oddly-quiet-atlantic-despite-forecasts | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(WXYZ) — The Lions have a new backup quarterback.
Detroit signed former 49ers backup Nate Sudfeld.
The team released David Blough on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after cutting Tim Boyle.
The Lions are interested in bringing back Blough to their practice squad.
Blough threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns with one interception this preseason. | https://www.fox17online.com/sports/lions-sign-qb-nate-sudfeld-to-back-up-jared-goff-release-david-blough | 2022-08-31T23:28:41Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/sports/lions-sign-qb-nate-sudfeld-to-back-up-jared-goff-release-david-blough | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Gian Paolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani, and Bob Wallace were at odds against their boss. These three young engineers wanted to create a Lamborghini race car to take on rival Ferrari at its own game. Lamborghini founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, wasn’t onboard.
Instead, he said he’d prefer a race car for the road. That was good enough for the engineers, each less than 25 years old. They began work on the prototype, which was called the P400.
In 1966, their work came to a culmination in the Lamborghini Miura, named after the Spanish fighting bull breed. Not only was the car a game changing automobile for the Italian firm, it made history. Until this time, nobody had ever heard of a “supercar.” The Miura perhaps defined the term for decades to come.
Why? To start, it was a major departure from previous front-engine Lamborghini cars. This time, the engineers stuffed the engine in the middle of the car. Original plans called for it to be a three-seater with a central driver seat and a longitudinal engine. Reality won out and it became a two-seater with a transverse engine. A center seater wouldn’t arrive until the McLaren F1 of the 1990s. However, the inherent benefits of a mid-engine package were clear and with a 3.9-liter V-12, the Miura had the power.
Specifically, this bull boasted 345 hp. Lamborghini decided on the “Miura” name, but kept the P400 as the standard car’s variant name. In the coming years, the team would build a P400S with 365 hp thanks to a different camshaft profile. Then, in 1971, the Miura SV arrived with a staggering 385 hp and more performance parts. The initial cars used 70-series tires because that’s all that was available. Low-profile 60-series tires had arrived by the time the SV hit the market, and they made a big difference in handling.
The Miura brought out the bull’s horns. It was no grand tourer as Mr. Lamborghini had long pursued to one-up Mr. Enzo Ferrari.
The car featured a beautiful design by Marcello Gandini of the styling house Bertone. Its face featured round headlights with available “eyelashes” that became a signature element of the car. Low and wide, with a set-back cabin, It had clamshell bodywork front and rear. Lamborghini offered the car in a series of bright colors that helped it stand out even more.
The Miura debuted at the Turin motor show in 1965, and it was an immediate hit with enthusiasts, who put down deposits before the engineering and design were completed. It originally sold for $20,000 in the U.S., which is more than $160,000 in today’s dollars. Lamborghini built 763 Miuras from 1966 to 1973, 275 were P400s, 338 were P400S models, and 150 were P400SVs. Miura P400 Jota, P400 SV/J, Roadster, and SV/J Spider models were built as well, either as one-offs, show cars, or conversions from existing models. They are the rarest of these rare cars. Today, all Miuras are seven-figure collector cars that look as good now as they did new.
With the success of the Miura well documented by the end of its production run in 1973, work was underway to continue the Italian marque’s newfound taste for supercars. The Countach succeeded the Miura in 1974.
The Miura did more than start a trend of mid-mounted engines for supercars. Without the Miura, the Countach likely wouldn’t have been the extreme, wedgy supercar it turned out to be. Forget about the Diablo, the Murciélago, and today’s Aventador.
If anything, Lamborghini’s engineers did the one job Mr. Lamborghini wanted to do all along: give Ferrari something to think about. The Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer? We can thank Lamborghini for that, too.
—Sean Szymkowski contributed to this report.
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Higher Ed Gamma
MOOCs and beyond.
Title
Who You Gonna Believe?
Seeking truth in the age of disinformation.
A now forgotten turn-of-the-20th-century song, “Do You Believe Your Baby or Your Eyes?,” apparently gave birth to one of that century’s most famous witticisms. If you are caught red-handed in an undeniably awkward, embarrassing, or illicit situation, one way out is to beg for trust. No need to confess or apologize or be humiliated.
Instead, be audacious. Deny. Ask rhetorically: “Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?”
Variations of that classic line can be found in the Marx Brothers’ nihilistic comedy Duck Soup, a 1948 column by the syndicated advice giver Dorothy Dix, and more recently by Richard Pryor and Cher.
Much of what people claim to know rests on trust and deference. Most of us rely heavily on those who claim special expertise, whether the topic is COVID or climate change.
But in our age of disinformation, photo, video, and audio manipulation, doxxing, and big lies, how can we possibly be sure that anything is unambiguously true? Given the inaccurate, ever-shifting advice provided by the CDC and the World Health Organization over the pandemic’s course, it’s easy to conclude that Nietzsche right when he wrote in his notebook around 1886: “There are no facts, only interpretations”?
The comedian, television host, and political commentator Stephen Colbert coined the word truthiness to describe the public’s tendency to confuse wishful thought and opinions rooted in fantasy as accurate, irrespective of logic or factual evidence. On many issues, our identity determines our personal truth. As one newspaper headline put it: “Belonging is stronger than facts.”
The 2016 presidential campus touched off an explosion of books and articles on disinformation, as well as widespread calls to combat misinformation and the supposedly growing contempt for verified facts in today’s post-truth moment. Less than a year ago, former US Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling and a collaborator declared: “Just as young people should be taught coding, they must be taught the decoding of news and information as a prerequisite of informed citizenship.”
Of all the recent books on propaganda, disinformation, fake news, and misinformation, two examples stand out: Frederick Schauer’s The Proof: Uses of Evidence in Law, Politics, and Everything Else and Jerry Z. Muller’s The Tyranny of Metrics.
Muller’s book looks at the use and abuse of quantitative measures by business, medicine, education, and government, and shows how the growing fixation upon data analytics, while sometimes beneficial, can also result in harm. You’ll recall the textbook example: Body counts during the Vietnam war. In his classic account of the follies of American leadership in Vietnam, David Halberstam recounts an occasion when former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg asked a Pentagon spokesman the number of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese deaths during the 1968 Tet Offensive and the ratio of wounded to killed (which was about 4.45 to 1). If the Pentagon body counts were correct, then all of the enemy’s troops were casualties. The absurdity of the relying on body counts to measure battlefield success was laid bare.
The Tyranny of Metrics offers a number of striking examples about how quantitative measures, stripped of context and interpreted without critical and ethical judgment, can not only mislead but inflict harm, distorting behavior, squandering time, promoting a short-term focus, discouraging innovation, and degrading performance. Here are some of Muller’s examples:
- Surgical scorecards may actually increase patient deaths by encouraging surgeons to refuse to operate on high-risk patients.
- Medical checklists can lead physicians to substitute a list of procedures for experience-informed judgment.
- The police sometimes focus on petty crimes, often drug-related, to beef up statistics in the war on crime.
While it’s true as the management guru Peter Drucker declared that “You can't improve what you don't measure,” even accurate data can lead us astray. Statistics can be cherry picked. Books can be cooked. Numbers can be gamed and fudged and manipulated. Numbers can lie. Teachers can teach to the test, or, believe it or not, lower standards to meet predetermined educational goals.
Muller’s book seeks to refute supports several well-known axioms:
- Goodhart's and Campbell’s law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure".
- The False Cause Fallacy: Confusing correlation with causation.
- McNamara Fallacy: Relying solely on metrics in complex situations leads to losing sight of the big picture.
- Anscombe's quartet: Very different data distributions can produce identical descriptive statistics.
As we know from the college rankings, higher education isn’t immune from the tyranny of metrics, and the incentives to distort or omit data. Some law schools admit less qualified students on a part-time or probationary status to exclude them from the rankings that look exclusively at full-time students. 4-year institutions do something similar when they enroll “weaker” students in a general studies unit or require them to enter during the Spring or Summer terms. Here are some of Muller’s other arguments:
- When productivity or merit is measured in terms of the number of publications or citations, faculty members will publish more, but quality may diminish.
- When learning is assessed largely through multiple choice tests, “students too often learn test-taking strategies rather than substantive knowledge” and frequently fail to achieve conceptual understanding.
- When more students earn bachelor’s degrees, the value of the degree as a signaling device declines.
- When colleges are evaluated based on enrollment or graduation rates, the institutions respond rationally, by reducing admissions or grading standards; when, in contrast, colleges are assessed in terms of value added, the most selective and richly resourced institutions or those focused most heavily on engineering and business, predominate.
Let’s take Muller’s message to heart:
“There are things that can be measured. There are things that are worth measuring. But what can be measured is not always what is worth measuring; what gets measured may have no relationship to what we really want to know. The costs of measuring may be greater than the benefits. The things that get measured may draw effort away from the things we really care about. And measurement may provide us with distorted knowledge—knowledge that seems solid but is actually deceptive."
In other words, don’t use data mindlessly, and always remember, measurement isn’t the same thing as understanding.
Perhaps you’ve heard of “Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword, a concept devised by the Australian mathematician Michael Adler. Put far too simply, it says that if a claim has no observable consequences, it should be dismissed. I don’t think Adler’s Razor can be readily applied to teaching, because much of what’s most valuable in an instructor isn’t easily measured. Passion for a subject, Infectious enthusiasm. A connecting with students. Dedication to bringing students to success.
Let’s turn next to Frederick Schauer’s thoughtful reflections on:
- What constitutes a fact, which can be empirical and therefore verifiable or evaluative and likely contested.
- How laypersons can be assess the validity of a particular truth claim that is outside their area of expertise.
- The extent to which non-specialists can rely on an expert consensus.
- How to decide what policy decisions or prescriptions should be drawn from science or data
As a law professor and a former defense attorney, it is not surprising that Schauer approaches issues of evidence through a legal lens, focusing on questions of inference, relevance, reliability, probability, burden of proof, and degrees of guilt. The book devotes several chapters to the devices that lawyers use to evaluate and challenge the weight and strength of evidence and testimony, including the testimony from dueling experts. His essential argument is that in assessing evidence, we need, first of all, to recognize that evidence comes in degrees (from weak to strong, from extraneous to relevant) and that probability, the likelihood that the evidence or testimony is accurate, matters.
The book tackles some extraordinarily controversial topics:
- What should we think when a work of art that had been authenticated by various tests and museum experts and art historians, turns out to be the work of a self-confessed forger?
- What practical difference does it make between applying a “preponderance of the evidence” standard of proof or a “clear and convincing” in sexual disciplinary proceedings against those accused of sexual violence?
- When scientists disagree, for example, about the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms, who should non-scientists trust and on what basis?
Schauer likens his approach to Bayesian statistics. He is interested in whether a particular fact, finding, or piece of evidence tends to support or undercut a particular hypothesis. Two phrases sum up his argument: “Uncertainty in factual judgments is an inevitable aspect of the human condition” and “all evidence involves statistical inference.”
But, an opposing lawyer might object, observing that the courts are averse to the use of statistical evidence, at least when applied to individual defendants, as opposed to cases involving corporations or municipalities or states accused of discrimination. Schauer suggests that the courts’ resistance to the use of statistical generalizations seeks to compel prosecutors to come up with stronger evidence.
Much of our knowledge is secondhand. We rely heavily on various kinds of testimony (for example, about when and where we were born), and we need to learn, Schauer argues, to do what juries do: calibrate the credibility and trustworthiness of that testimony. This requires us to understand whether testimony is shaded, embellished, fudged, or the product of an erroneous perception or an honest mistake.
Schauer has fascinating things to say about the reliability of eyewitnesses, hearsay, and lie detectors, the efficacy of honor codes and courtroom oathtaking, and the trustworthiness of letters of recommendation. Readers will also learn a great deal about paltering, that is, attempting to decisive without saying anything literally false, and the debate over groupthink versus the collective wisdom of crowds. Especially interesting is his discussion of the precautionary principle, a legal concept popular in Western Europe that holds that when there is evidence that a practice or substance presents a plausible, but uncertain, risk, it should be banned.
My takeaway from the Schauer and Muller books is that everyone need to think more like – ta-da -- a humanist. We need to learn how to weigh evidence, draw inferences, and interrogate claims. We also need to become more mindful, alert, observant, and emotionally intelligent. As we navigate postmodern environments laced with uncertainty, ambiguity, and indeterminacy, our most reliable sextants and compasses are informed judgment and discernment, the very qualities that the humanities nurtures.
Steven Mintz is professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin.
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- Sea of sameness: why universities have trouble with branding | https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/who-you-gonna-believe | 2022-08-31T23:31:43Z | insidehighered.com | control | https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/who-you-gonna-believe | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Fort Smith man charged with murder in woman's death appears in court
A Sebastian County judge appointed a public defender to represent a Fort Smith man who is charged with murder in the death of a woman whose body was found wrapped in a comforter and drop cloth in Franklin County.
Maurice Anthony Richardson, 60, wore an orange jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and a pale blue facemask when he appeared for an arraignment Wednesday morning before Circuit Judge Stephen Tabor. Richardson was the first inmate from the Sebastian County Jail on the docket for arraignments Wednesday morning.
Richardson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tonia Tran Tram, 53, whose body was found south of Interstate 40 along State Highway 186 on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Prosecutors allege she was sexually assaulted and battered. She had been wrapped in a comforter and a drop cloth. The death is being investigated by the Arkansas State Police.
When investigators went to a duplex where Richardson had lived with Tram, they found another woman who resembled Tram who had moved in already, according to an affidavit attached to the charge.
More:Neighbor saw homicide suspect carry mattress from victim's duplex
Tram's vehicle with California license plates was found at the duplex in the 1400 block of N. 41 Street in Fort Smith. A bloody mattress was found at a house where Richardson worked.
In the courtroom Wednesday, Richardson told Judge Tabor his family members plan to help him hire an attorney if he could be released from jail to get back to work. Tabor set bail at $500,000, and told Richardson he can hire an attorney later and have his defense case switched over from a public defender to another attorney.
Richardson entered a not guilty plea Wednesday. He was taken back to the jail after the arraignment.
Prosecutors allege Richardson is a habitual offender who has a conviction from 1982 in Fort Smith on a charge of promoting prostitution.
Judge Tabor set the trial date for Jan. 17. Tabor told Richardson he could face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted. | https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/31/fort-smith-man-murder-charge-trial-date-set/65465703007/ | 2022-08-31T23:32:36Z | swtimes.com | control | https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/31/fort-smith-man-murder-charge-trial-date-set/65465703007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Arkansas football's Sam Pittman on gameday excitement: 'You can feel it'
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football's season opener against Cincinnati is just days away, with the No. 23 Razorbacks and No. 22 Bearcats meeting in Fayetteville on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ESPN). Anticipation has been building since last season ended with a 9-4 record, Arkansas' best in years.
For coach Sam Pittman, the excitement of game day begins on Friday. That's when he addresses the whole team in a meeting. From there, it only grows, and one of his favorite parts of Saturday comes just before the team runs out onto the field.
"It's 30 seconds, 35 seconds, but you can feel it," Pittman said. "You can feel it, what’s getting ready to happen and the excitement with the kids. Those are the special moments."
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ICED TEA OR LIQUOR?What Sam Pittman hopes Arkansas football is 'bringing to the party' against Cincinnati
That moment isn't far away now, and as anticipation increases, so does anxiety. Pittman decided to structure this week's practices to allow for some rest as game day gets closer. In preparation for what Pittman expects to be a physical game, the team went hard in practice Monday and Tuesday but will practice in light gear Wednesday and Thursday. The focus in the second half of the week, he said, is watching film and knowing the opponent. It's part of an effort to mitigate those pregame jitters.
Come Saturday, the time for watching film and thudding in practice will be over, and the Razorbacks will get to show off what all the work has been for. Pittman is looking forward to hearing the fans at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"The state is excited about the football team; we’re excited to show the state our team," Pittman said. "We have one of the most special things in the world in our Hog Call. I mean, it’s powerful, it’s moving, it’s a lot of things."
But Pittman's very favorite moment of a game day? That comes later, when the fans have started to file out of the stadium and the opponent is boarding its bus. After a win, Pittman loves to celebrate. He's known for postgame antics, from bowling balls to jukeboxes and beyond.
"I like to win and go in the locker room and see those kids," Pittman said. "There ain’t enough money in the world can buy it. ... That’s why you coach. It’s incredible. I love that."
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Southwest Times Record and USA Today Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@swtimes.com. | https://www.swtimes.com/story/sports/college/2022/08/31/arkansas-football-coaches-sam-pittman-favorite-part-of-game-day/65459262007/ | 2022-08-31T23:32:43Z | swtimes.com | control | https://www.swtimes.com/story/sports/college/2022/08/31/arkansas-football-coaches-sam-pittman-favorite-part-of-game-day/65459262007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke city officials are considering how to boost business at the city’s Kmart plaza.
22news reporter Kaelee Collins is live in Holyoke to explain what options are on the table for the future of the Kmart store, which has been vacant since 2020. City Councilors met earlier this week in front of the Kmart store, located at the corner of Northampton Street and Whiting Farms Road in Holyoke, to discuss future opportunities for the space. This Kmart closed back in 2020 during a nationwide retreat by Kmart, as the retail store was struggling to compete with Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
Now, Holyoke officials are working on making the shopping area vibrant once again. Mayor Joshua Garcia, told 22news, that he and OPED are communicating with current property owners, to propose the reuse of the property. “It all comes down to the owners, and how a priority for them and how hard they want to push to bring some resolution,” said Garcia.
Holyoke City councilors believe the space is a key area for economic development. It’s close not only to residential neighborhoods but also to the highway and the Holyoke Ingleside Mall. Illinois-based Transformco owns the Kmart building., and several other properties across the country. The mayor and city councilors intend to continue their dialogue with Transformco to redevelop this site. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/kmart-plaza-redevelopment-in-holyoke/ | 2022-08-31T23:34:39Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/kmart-plaza-redevelopment-in-holyoke/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Serena Williams plays 2nd seed Kontaveit in US Open Round 2
NEW YORK (AP) — For as long as Serena Williams remains in the U.S. Open bracket, there is one overwhelming question that will hang over the proceedings and help define the moment: Could this be the last chance to watch her play?
The second opportunity for spectators to shower Williams with adoration — and for the 23-time major champion to enjoy that outpouring at what she has hinted, but purposely not definitively declared, will be her final tournament — began Wednesday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest arena in Grand Slam tennis.
The opponent this time: No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, a 26-year-old from Estonia whose current ranking is much better than Williams’ is, but whose career resume lacks so much as one quarterfinal victory at any Slam event.
About 1 1/2 hours before the scheduled start of that match, Williams went out to the practice courts for a 30-minute warmup session. She crossed paths with her sister, Venus, who was wrapping up some doubles work on that same court.
As Serena left after her hitting session, crowds cheered, and she paused to wave in their direction with her right hand as she checked her cellphone in her left.
Forget, for a minute, the relative merits of the two players’ skills and styles of play in the Williams vs. Kontaveit matchup. Forget the X’s and O’s. Because this trip to Flushing Meadows is, as always, about the points and the games and the sets and the scores for Williams, who won her first trophy here at age 17 in 1999 and is now 40.
As strident a competitor as tennis, or any sport, has seen, as rightly self-confident in her abilities as an athlete, Williams was not about to think of this whole exercise as merely a farewell tour.
She came to New York wanting to win, of course.
That’s what Williams showed in the first round on Monday, when she got past some early shakiness to beat 80th-ranked Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 in front of a packed house that roared with approval from start to finish. The crowd of more than 23,000 in the stands and thousands of others watching on a video screen outside Ashe helped break the U.S. Open record for largest attendance at a night session.
“I was just thinking, like, ‘Is this for real? Really?’” Williams said about the roars that greeted her entrance for the match, so raucous she “could feel it in my chest.”
“At the same time I’m also thinking, I still have a match to play and I want to be able to play up to this reception, almost. It was so loud. I just was overwhelmed in a good way. But at the same time, it’s like you have to be focused, you have to be laser-focused,” she added. “That’s what I needed to do and that’s what I tried to do.”
Other players who watched from the seats, or on TV, were struck by the scene. One that seemed likely to be repeated on Wednesday.
“For sure, it was like the most popular first round of a Slam, ever. Yeah, it’s just amazing. It shows how much she has changed our sport and how much she has done. I’m pretty happy that she can experience something like that,” said No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek, a 21-year-old from Poland who owns two French Open titles. “I also feel that not every player would handle that kind of fuss around your first match of the tournament. She’s handling it pretty well, as usual. So that’s just confirmation of how great she is.”
On Wednesday, Williams wore the same glittery crystal-encrusted top and diamond-accented sneakers — replete with solid gold shoelace tags and the word “Queen” on the right one, “Mama” on the left — that she sported Monday. Long someone whose on-court fashion has stood out from the crowd, Williams helped design the Nike combo, which was inspired by what figure skaters wear to compete. Williams’ daughter, Olympia, who turns 5 on Thursday, wore her own version to sit in the stands Monday, along with beads that paid tribute to Mom’s hairstyle when she won her first major title 23 years ago.
Regardless of how Williams vs. Kontaveit went, there would be more in store for the American, who announced on Aug. 9 she was intent on “evolving” away from her playing days (she said she does not like using the word “retirement”).
Williams will team up with Venus in doubles on Thursday night against the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova. It marks the reunion of a partnership that produced 14 Grand Slam doubles championships but last participated in that event anywhere in 2018.
Venus said it was Serena’s idea to enter the doubles.
“More than anything,” said Venus, who is 42, “I just want to hold my side of the court up and be a good sister.”
___
More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/31/serena-williams-plays-2nd-seed-kontaveit-us-open-round-2/ | 2022-08-31T23:36:51Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/31/serena-williams-plays-2nd-seed-kontaveit-us-open-round-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'That's a name' - Celtic boss reacts to transfer link with Danish international holding midfielder
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou danced around reports that the club could attempt to recruit Danish holding midfielder Oliver Abildgaard in the final hours of the window.
After watching his side confidently despatch Ross County 4-1 in the Premier Sport Cup to set up any away quarter-final against Motherwell in mid-October, he indulged in a spot of badinage when asked if the 26-year-old player, currently on special leave from Russian club Rubin Kazan, was a name he recognised.
“That’s a name, definitely a name,” he said of a player from a club Celtic have already raided for Sead Haksabanovic and Carl Starfelt. “There have been a lot of names. There are 24 hours to go, there are still some outgoings we are working on as well. We’ll see how things fall.”
An echo of a television post-match interview in which Postecoglou stated that “potentially, there could be an opportunity to bring someone in”, the speculation followed an evening in which the Celtic manager brought in a host of fringe players to negotiate a tie that will give way to Saturday’s derby with Rangers, and a Champions League opener against Real Madrid three days later.
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To play the kind of football we want, if you rely on a certain core of players eventually they will break down,” said the 57-year-old, who made nine starting changes from the 9-0 battering of Dundee United and handed first starts to Aaron Mooy, Alexandro Bernabei, and Benjamin Siegrist, with Haksabanovic making his debut from the bench. “Now we are in a position where we don’t need to do that. I can rotate the team and make sure that we’ve got everyone in really good condition.”
There was one exception to that, with Stephen Welsh withdrawn early in the second period with “a bit of niggle in his groin”, according to the Celtic manager. Postecoglou’s own niggle seemed to be in the cup draw taking his team to Fir Park, meanwhile.
“Another away game, It would be nice to be at home at some point…” the Celtic manager said. “It’s another good challenge for us. The most important thing is that we’re still in it. In a cup game, that’s the ultimate aim, and it’s pleasing for me that we did that in a convincing way.”
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/thats-a-name-celtic-boss-reacts-to-transfer-link-with-danish-international-holding-midfielder-3826616 | 2022-08-31T23:43:59Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/thats-a-name-celtic-boss-reacts-to-transfer-link-with-danish-international-holding-midfielder-3826616 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
16-year-old allegedly carjacked 4 victims at gunpoint in Chicago --- all in the same day
CHICAGO - A 16-year-old boy has been charged with carjacking four people at gunpoint in Chicago — all in the same day.
Another juvenile, 17, has been charged with three of those four carjackings as well.
The 16-year-old faces four felony counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, one felony count of possessing a stolen vehicle and one misdemeanor count of theft.
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According to Chicago police, the teen was arrested Tuesday and was identified as one of the suspects who carjacked multiple victims at gunpoint.
The incidents occurred at the following locations and times:
- Aug. 20 — 6500 block of South Kedzie Avenue; 50-year-old man
- Aug. 20 — 5700 block of South Richmond Street; 45-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 6700 block of South Washtenaw Avenue; 33-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 8600 block of South Halsted Street; 43-year-old woman
The teen was also charged for allegedly possessing a stolen vehicle in the 2900 block of South Union Avenue. The vehicle was stolen from a 21-year-old woman.
No additional information was made available by police. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/16-year-old-allegedly-carjacked-4-victims-at-gunpoint-in-chicago-all-in-the-same-day | 2022-08-31T23:44:58Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/16-year-old-allegedly-carjacked-4-victims-at-gunpoint-in-chicago-all-in-the-same-day | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Does anyone else smell pumpkin spice? It's probably just me, and probably because I’m one of those people who can’t wait for fall. Sweaters come out of storage and, as the weather cools, I’m energized. I refresh the house and I refresh my look (by which I mean my hair, which always needs it after the sweltering summer!). If you enjoy this kind of “refreshment” as well, don’t miss our Fall Beauty Refresh section.
Of course fall also heralds the return of school. And while I like to think most teachers are good, I happen to know that one teacher in particular is great. The kids in her class at Bull Run Middle love her. And the kids on her school bus do, too. Hurry on over to our Local Hero feature and meet the incredible Angela Leatham for yourself.
We’ve got lots of terrific features this month, including a new one called The To-Do List. It’s filled with fun local things to do, see, read, and taste right here in Haymarket and Gainesville. (Feel free to send me items to include!) I hope you enjoy it and the rest of this issue.
Cheers and happy reading!
To pick up a copy of Haymarket- Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine, visit the locations listed here. | https://www.insidenova.com/whglifestyle/swing-into-fall-with-the-september-issue-of-haymarket--gainesville-lifestyle-magazine/article_ccf0fcb8-2979-11ed-b09d-cbd4c1629d92.html | 2022-08-31T23:44:58Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/whglifestyle/swing-into-fall-with-the-september-issue-of-haymarket--gainesville-lifestyle-magazine/article_ccf0fcb8-2979-11ed-b09d-cbd4c1629d92.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chicago police celebrate life of Officer Ella French on what would've been her 31st birthday
CHICAGO - The Chicago Police Department honored Officer Ella French on what would have been her 31st birthday Wednesday.
The special roll call took place on the city’s West Side outside CPD’s 10th District Police Station.
French was the first female officer killed in the line of duty in Chicago in two decades.
Known as a cop’s cop, French worked for CPD for three years. She received one department commendation, 14 honor mentions, a Police Blue Star Award, and the Superintendent's Award of Valor.
French was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Englewood last August. Thousands attended her funeral service.
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Two brothers are now charged in her death.
So far this year, more than 40 Chicago police officers have been shot or shot at.
French’s partner Carlos Yanez was also shot and is still recovering from his injuries.
At the special roll call, there was prayer and ice cream.
French’s mother and other loved ones were in attendance as well. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-celebrate-life-of-officer-ella-french-on-what-wouldve-been-her-31st-birthday | 2022-08-31T23:45:04Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-celebrate-life-of-officer-ella-french-on-what-wouldve-been-her-31st-birthday | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FDA clears the way for updated COVID-19 booster shots
CHICAGO - Get ready to roll up those sleeves again.
New COVID-19 booster shots are expected to be available soon with the recipes tweaked to target Omicron.
"We're dealing with a different virus now than we than we did the beginning of the pandemic. And that's just logical that you'd want to have a vaccine that's specifically against the latest virus," said Dr. Richard Novak, UI Health, Chief of Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Novak says UI Health was involved in creating a booster to target the BA.1 subvariant, but the Pfizer and Moderna boosters just authorized by the FDA are more up to the minute.
They target BA.5, that's currently dominant, as well as the original virus. That combination aims to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.
"If you remember, we had beta, alpha, delta, etc. and so it really provides the broadest opportunity for protection against COVID-19," said Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer vaccine chief.
"The only way we can keep up with the evolution of the virus is to do it this way to jump on the variants as that come out and mass produce the vaccine to it as quickly as possible," adds Dr. Novak.
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Dr. Novak says this is like getting your yearly flu shot which targets the current threat. The timing is key, with the booster roll out designed to blunt an expected winter surge.
"COVID is not done with us. You may be done with COVID It's not done with you. And if you want to not have to deal with it over the fall and winter, I'd encourage you to get the shot," said Dr. Novak.
These boosters are designed for those who've already had the original COVID vaccines, at least two months earlier.
Moderna will be available for those 18 and up.
Pfizer can be used for those as young as 12.
The CDC still has to sign off, but the updated boosters could be available as soon as next week. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/fda-clears-the-way-for-updated-covid-19-booster-shots | 2022-08-31T23:45:16Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/fda-clears-the-way-for-updated-covid-19-booster-shots | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Goats on a boat: ComEd 'interns' cruise Chicago River before fall labor
CHICAGO - Summer vacation is already over for school kids, but as of Wednesday, it's also over for a group of 200 goats who are about to go back to work for the local power company.
ComEd treated several of the goats to cruises along the Chicago River, for their last summer hurrah before a month of hard labor.
"Our goats are out here celebrating their last week of summer before they go work for us," said Tom Ringhofer, manager of ComEd's Vegetation Management program.
It's serious work, too, in preventing power outages caused by overgrown vegetation. Turns out, no one is better at clearing it than goats.
The goats will be working at Mathiessen State Park near Starved Rock, clearing brush in areas too difficult for humans to safely work. "There are steep ravines. And they'll be clearing brush under the ravines for 4 weeks and after they're done they go back home and do it all again somewhere else," said Ringhofer.
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It's the fourth year for the program, which started as a light-bulb moment when human crews came up short. "We were walking near a job down near Peoria and someone said, "this is ridiculous we can't get our crews in here! We need to figure something out," said Ringhofer, who then contacted "Goats on the Go" - a company which provides the goats.
ComEd will employ 200 goats for the month of September. The utility said the goats offer not only an eco-friendly solution to clearing vegetation, but also drastically reduce safety risks for their human colleagues.
"We were able to clear the 17 acres in Peoria, and we reseeded the area this past spring, so now there's wildflowers growing there and we hope to do the same thing at Mathiessen State Park." | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/goats-on-a-boat-comed-interns-cruise-chicago-river-before-fall-labor | 2022-08-31T23:45:22Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/goats-on-a-boat-comed-interns-cruise-chicago-river-before-fall-labor | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Lawsuit claims Lyft failed to protect passengers and drivers from sexual, physical assaults
SAN FRANSICO, Calif. - The San Francisco-based rideshare company Lyft is facing 17 major new lawsuits filed by passengers and drivers, including a Chicago resident, who are survivors of sexual assault or victims of physical assault that allegedly occurred while using Lyft.
Three of the sexual assault survivors and two of the physical assault victims shared their stories publicly during a video-based news conference Wednesday.
Attorneys are calling Lyft's lack of safety a "national crisis."
Legal Action has been filed by plaintiffs from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
"Nothing can undo the pain and suffering they endured, but it’s their hope that by sharing their stories, they can make Lyft hear them, force Lyft to protect its users, and drastically reduce the number of violent acts during Lyft rides in the future," Tracey Cowan, partner at Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise (Peiffer Wolf), said.
One of the plaintiffs who spoke out was Stella Grant, a Lyft driver and physical assault victim from Chicago.
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Grant said she picked up a passenger on Aug. 30, 2021.
The passenger's name was different from the one shown on the ride request, Grant said.
Grant then attempted to confirm the passenger's identity during that time, and said that the passenger was intoxicated.
According to Grant, the passenger started cursing at her and began punching her in the head, face, back and shoulder, so she called 911.
The passenger then allegedly lunged forward and grabbed the steering wheel from the backseat while Grant was still driving the vehicle. The vehicle then crashed.
Grant says the passenger struck her in the face with a sharp object — cutting a deep gash.
She says she had to go to the emergency room due to profuse bleeding.
According to Grant, the assault left her with back pain, which interfered with her ability to drive. She says this has impacted her ability to provide for herself and her kids.
Her doctor recommended physical therapy for her back, but she said she could not afford treatment.
"After losing my job due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a friend told me about driving for Lyft so I could continue to pay my bills and take care of my two sons," said Grant. "This whole incident has affected me mentally, financially, and emotionally. I’m scared to look at my mirror because the scar reminds me of being attacked. I’m scared to drive for Lyft because I’m scared of being attacked by a Lyft passenger again," said Grant.
On Wednesday, Lyft addressed the lawsuits, saying:
"We’re committed to helping keep drivers and riders safe. While safety incidents on our platform are incredibly rare, we realize that even one is too many," said a Lyft spokesperson. "Our goal is to make every Lyft ride as safe as possible, and we will continue to take action and invest in technology, policies and partnerships to do so."
Additionally, Lyft said the company has "instituted processes" that will detect and take action against "unsafe rider behavior.
This includes temporarily and permanently deactivating accounts, blocking users for creating new accounts and requiring riders to submit additional information before requesting a ride.
Lyft says that every single driver on the platform must go through a screening, which requires a background check. Additionally, the driver will have to submit to a background check every year they drive and continuous criminal monitoring.
Any driver who does not pass the initial, annual and continuous screenings is barred from the platform.
The attorneys for the plaintiffs allege that Lyft knows about the danger their app poses for drivers and passengers and they continue to operate without adequate background checks and screenings. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/lyft-sued-by-sexual-assault-survivors-for-failure-to-protect-passengers-drivers | 2022-08-31T23:45:35Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/lyft-sued-by-sexual-assault-survivors-for-failure-to-protect-passengers-drivers | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Teen carjacked 9 victims at gunpoint in Chicago over the course of one day: police
CHICAGO - A 17-year-old boy is accused of carjacking 11 victims at gunpoint over the last two weeks.
Nine of the carjackings occurred on the same day.
The teen faces 11 felony counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and two felony counts of criminal damage.
The teen was arrested Tuesday after he was identified by Chicago police as one of the offenders who carjacked multiple victims while armed with a gun.
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The incidents occurred at the following locations and times:
- Aug. 30 — 8700 block of South Vincennes Avenue; 49-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 8000 block of South Campbell Avenue; 33-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 3400 block of West 72nd Street; 58-year-old man
- Aug. 20 — 2900 block of South Union Avenue; 21-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 6500 block of south Kedzie Avenue; 50-year-old man
- Aug. 20 — 5600 block of South Albany Avenue; 26-year-old man
- Aug. 20 — 5700 block of South Richmond Street; 45-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 8400 block of South Sangamon Street; 40-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 6600 block of South Artesian Avenue; 66-year-old woman
- Aug. 20 — 6700 block of South Washtenaw Avenue; 33-year-old woman
- Aug. 18 — 6600 block of South Albany Avenue; 35-year-old woman.
The teen was placed into custody and charged accordingly. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/teen-carjacked-9-victims-at-gunpoint-in-chicago-over-the-course-of-one-day-police | 2022-08-31T23:45:53Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/teen-carjacked-9-victims-at-gunpoint-in-chicago-over-the-course-of-one-day-police | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ROME, N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – The Rome Police Department is reporting that two men have been given multiple criminal weapons charges after an incident at Denny’s in Rome that took place on August 31st.
Around 6:21 pm on Wednesday, officers arrived at the Denny’s Restaurant at 200 South James Street after receiving a suspicious activity complaint. On the scene, a Denny’s employee told officers that a man, who would later be identified as 37-year-old Sandick Dorvil of Rome, allegedly came into the restaurant through the back door wearing a black mask and carrying a handgun. Dorvil allegedly then left through the same back door and was seen walking away with another man, who would later be identified as 31-year-old Vincent Nelson of Rome, toward Walgreens.
Officers were able to find two men who fit the description of Dorvil and Nelson around 213 South James Street in Rome and began to approach them for questioning. But as they did, Nelson fled down Canal Street, starting a brief foot pursuit. Dorvil stayed and identified himself to the police.
During the chase with Nelson, officers allegedly witnessed him reach for his waistband and discard what appeared to be a handgun onto the roof of a building. Officers were then able to take him into custody shortly after without further incident.
The Rome Fire Department was called in to assist with gaining access onto the roof where officers saw Nelson throw the object during the chase. When they did, they allegedly recovered a loaded black and dark gray 9mm handgun with 6 rounds of additional ammunition.
At the conclusion of the investigation 37-year-old Sandick Dorvil was charged with the following:
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Firearm
- Menacing in the Second Degree
31-year-old Vincent Nelson was charged with the following:
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Firearm
Dorvil and Nelson were processed and held for arraignment where they were remanded to the Oneida County Jail. If you should have any information about this case, please contact the Rome Police Departments TIP line at 315-339-7744. You can also make an anonymous tip at the Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers website, by calling 1-866-730-8477 (TIPS), at www.p3tips.com, or by using the P3 Tips mobile app. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/rome-pd-give-two-men-multiple-criminal-weapons-charges/ | 2022-08-31T23:47:41Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/rome-pd-give-two-men-multiple-criminal-weapons-charges/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
UTICA, N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees (The Center) a Community Health Award of $5,000 to support transportation assistance for diverse communities.
“The Center is committed to providing the support and services necessary for diverse populations to integrate into the community and become contributing and engaged members of the Mohawk Valley,” explained Jennifer VanWagoner, manager of grants and community engagement.
This program provides access to transportation for refugees, immigrants, and newcomers to the Mohawk Valley area Centro bus passes, which allows them to utilize transportation programs to travel to work, medical appointments, and/or mental health services.
“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve Van de Wal, Utica regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “We recognize that addressing social determinants of health, such as transportation availability, is vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities.” | https://www.wwlp.com/news/world/the-center-awarded-5k-for-refugee-transport-services/ | 2022-08-31T23:47:47Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/world/the-center-awarded-5k-for-refugee-transport-services/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WXMI — A pilot threatened to return the plane to its gate after someone sent them naked pictures via AirDrop.
A TikTok video, posted by @teighmars, identifies the flight as belonging to Southwest Airlines.
In the video, you can hear the pilot say, “So here’s the deal: If this continues while we’re on the ground, I’m going to have to pull back to the gate. Everybody’s going to have to get off. We’re going to have to get security involved and it’s vacation that’s going to be ruined. So folks, whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures and let’s get yourselves to Cabo.”
AirDrop lets you quickly transfer files between iPhones, iPads and Macs without using Wi-Fi or cellular data.
The video had nearly three million views just six days after getting posted. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national-news/pilot-threatens-to-return-to-gate-after-someone-sent-nude-photos-via-airdrop | 2022-08-31T23:51:14Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national-news/pilot-threatens-to-return-to-gate-after-someone-sent-nude-photos-via-airdrop | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reports of sexual assaults across the U.S. military jumped by 13% last year, driven by significant increases in the Army and the Navy as bases began to move out of pandemic restrictions and public venues reopened, The Associated Press has learned.
Mirroring the increase in those reports is the disclosure that close to 36,000 service members said in a confidential survey that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact — a dramatic increase over the roughly 20,000 who said that in a similar 2018 survey, U.S. defense and military officials said.
The latest numbers are certain to anger lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have been critical of the Pentagon's efforts to get a handle on sexual crimes and misconduct.
According to officials, the overall increase is largely fueled by a nearly 26% jump in reports involving Army soldiers. It's the largest increase for that service since 2013, when such reports went up by 51%.
The increase in Navy reports was about 9%, the Air Force was a bit more than 2% and the Marine Corps was less than 2%, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the reporting has not yet been made public.
The big increase is especially troublesome for the Army, which is struggling to meet its recruiting goals and is expected to miss the target by at least 10,000 — or by anywhere from 18% to 25% — at the end of September. Army leaders have acknowledged that it is important for parents and others who influence recruits to feel comfortable that their son or daughter is safe and will be taken care of in the service.
Army officials said the numbers are alarming and that they certainly could have an impact on recruting, if parents believe their youth are at risk of assaults. They said Army leaders saw the growing numbers last year and began trying to implement new programs. Already, they said, some programs are working and the sexual harassment and assault numbers have been coming down this year.
COVID-19 and the pandemic restrictions make year-to-year comparisons complicated. Officials said they do not have enough data to determine if — or how much — the pandemic played a role in the higher reporting and survey numbers.
The Pentagon and the military services have long struggled to come up with programs to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage reporting. While the military has made inroads in making it easier and safer for service members to come forward, it has had far less success reducing the assaults, which have increased nearly every year since 2006.
Army leaders said they've seen some results with a training program that soldiers get when they report to their first duty station. It is rolled out right away, and has soldiers acting out dangerous situations and emphasizes training on how to respond. They also said they are improving evaluation programs that grade unit leaders, including randomly picking peers and others to do the assessments.
The double-digit overall increase comes after two years of relatively small increases in reports filed by or involving service members. In the budget year ending September 2020, reports of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact edged up by 1%, as much of the world largely shut down due to the pandemic. The previous year, reports went up by about 3% — a substantial improvement over 2018, which also saw a 13% increase.
The widespread restrictions on travel and movement for the military continued during fall 2020 and the early part of 2021, and many businesses, restaurants and bars were shut down or had limited service. Things began to open up as more people were vaccinated in the summer and fall, but it's also not clear whether that greater freedom contributed to the increase in assault reports.
The Pentagon releases a report every year on the number of sexual assaults reported by or about troops. But because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department began to do a confidential survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem. The 2018 survey found that more than 20,000 service members said they experienced some type of sexual assault, but only one-third of them filed a formal report.
The latest report, expected to be publicly released Thursday, estimates that about 35,800 service members experienced some type of sexual assault in the previous year, based on the confidential survey. That means that only about one in every five service members reported an incident that happened in the previous year.
Every year as many as 10% of the assaults that service members reported happened before they joined the military.
Officials familiar with the findings said survey respondents also reported increases in hostility in the workplace, as well as more sexual harassment, which can sometimes lead to other sexual assaults or misconduct. They said the survey revealed that about 8% of all women and 1.5% of men in the service said they had experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact.
Officials said the survey suggested that, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a woman's chance of being sexually assaulted in the military was about the same as a woman in the general population. But for men, the risk for those in the military is much lower than in U.S. society.
Defense officials have argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people are reluctant to report it, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system and greater comfort with the support for victims.
It's unclear, however, whether the increased reports last year actually represent a growing problem or whether those who say they were assaulted were just more willing to come forward.
The Pentagon has been under persistent pressure from Congress to improve prevention and prosecutions. Lawmakers acted late last year to take some prosecution authority out of the hands of commanders and instead use independent prosecutors.
Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don't trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. They also worry that commanders may not press ahead with some cases if they know the accused. Members of Congress argued that using independent prosecutors would make the process more fair, and make victims more comfortable coming forward. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/reported-sexual-assaults-across-us-military-increase-by-13 | 2022-08-31T23:51:20Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/reported-sexual-assaults-across-us-military-increase-by-13 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Boomerang page plan, Sept. 1 Aug 31, 2022 Aug 31, 2022 Updated 1 hr ago Comments Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save BOOMERANG page plan for THUSDAY, Sept. 1 A1 (send color)Tease 1TODAY’S PICK US clears updated COVID boosters targeting newest variants, Page A3Tease 2:Sports teaseTease 3:IN THE FIELD Road cycling is where all senses come into play, Page A6MAIN PACKAGE: Breathing room: UW student loan borrowers react to debt relief, Abby (photos)Loan plan reactions mixed: Students happy, politicians not so much, WNE – compliments main; can use one of the photos with this.Buchanan confident in election process without him, WTE (mug, bug)Jumps to A3A2 (send color)Today/tomorrowWorth notingWhat’s happening?WeatherCorrection policy A3 (send color)Today’s pick: US clears updated COVID boosters targeting newest variants, AP (photos)Jumps from A1A4 (send B&W)Syndicated cartoonState leaders ignored school funding, now the bill has come due (Wyoming editorial)Adler column (Other voices)New letters policyA5 (send color)Obits (none that I see)Special prosecutors to serve in child murder case, WTE (photos)People are going gaga for new sport, WNE (photo)Vol. 142 No. 179 A6 OUTDOORS (send B&W)Road cycling, where all senses come into play, Travsky column (photos)Yellowstone volcano, earthquake monitoring plan updated, UW (photo)Out and about briefsMysterious moth-eating grizzlis have a people problem, WNE (file photo) – can hold if you want A7 (send color)Jumps from A6Fishing report – ad goes over it A8 (send color) – HEALTH PRO PAGEShelly sent another ad to plug into hole (email)Shelly also will send a pdf of the story to fill the main holeB SECTION B1-B3 SPORTS (B1 color, B2-B3 B&W) B4-B5 COMICS/PUZZLES (send B&W) B6-B8 CLASSIFIEDS (send color) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Borrower Student Loan Photo Finance Politics Bank Chemistry Color Plan Cycling Ad Clear Linguistics Covid Recommended for you Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus Trending Now Highway Patrol trooper arrested Tuesday; charges unknown Crumbl Cookies opens location in Cheyenne Hoss Woodard is doing all he can to give Cheyenne a 'Little Taste of Texas' Cheyenne day care worker to appeal manslaughter conviction New Unitarian Universalist minister finds home in Cheyenne Latest Special Section 2022 UW Football Preview To view our latest Special Section click the image on the left. Latest e-Edition Wyoming Tribune Eagle To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/boomerang-page-plan-sept-1/article_14781484-2977-11ed-b320-f764b7c04487.html | 2022-08-31T23:51:46Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/boomerang-page-plan-sept-1/article_14781484-2977-11ed-b320-f764b7c04487.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
With the highest rate of suicide per capita in the nation, Wyoming is working through issues that limit mental health care to the state’s rural areas. Metro Creative Photo
The Federal Communications Commission requires phone companies support the 988 number for people to call to reach an existing suicide-prevention hotline, including in Wyoming.
With the highest rate of suicide per capita in the nation, Wyoming is working through issues that limit mental health care to the state’s rural areas. Metro Creative Photo
Metro Creative Photo
The Federal Communications Commission requires phone companies support the 988 number for people to call to reach an existing suicide-prevention hotline, including in Wyoming.
Lawmakers, looking to alleviate Wyoming’s mental health professional shortage, are considering measures that would make it easier for practitioners to work across state lines.
The Joint Labor, Health and Social Services committee considered two draft bills in August that would allow the state to join interstate psychology and counseling compacts. By enabling professionals licensed in one compact state to practice in all compact states, advocates say the agreements would give Wyoming patients access to more counselors and psychologists, and give Wyoming providers access to larger markets. The committee voted to move forward with the draft bills and formally finalize them in its next meeting.
Wyoming residents could connect virtually with a counselor in Denver, for example, or a University of Wyoming student going home for the summer could continue treatment with a Laramie-based psychologist. The expansion of mental health care options is especially appealing in a rural state where the per-capita suicide rate is often the highest in the nation.
Advocates of the bill say state licensure requirements can be prohibitively time consuming, costly and ultimately discourage psychologists and counselors from going through the process. Skeptics, however, are concerned joining the compacts could wrest regulatory control away from the state and cost mental health professionals clients.
The nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health America ranked Wyoming last in its 2022 state of mental health report because of a dangerous combination of factors: a high prevalence of mental illness and poor access to care.
There’s been a shadow pandemic of behavioral health issues taking place across the country, said Julia Harris, senior policy analyst for the health policy project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “There’s been some of the highest rates of overdose that have ever happened in this country during the pandemic. There’s growing anxiety and depression because of the pandemic pressures.”
High demand
“The demand is way up,” said Casper-based psychologist and Wyoming Psychological Association President Donald Benson. “Part of that has been the pandemic and the stress people have been under.”
“My phone’s ringing off the hook,” Cheyenne-based counselor Lindsay Simineo said. It’s been a long time since she’s had an opening in her schedule.
“We do not want our Wyoming counselors getting to the point where they are so burned out by the overwhelming need, they walk away from the profession,” Simineo said. “So that additional workforce from out of state is going to be hugely important in supporting our current mental health workforce.”
Simineo also lobbies on behalf of the Wyoming Association of Counselors, which supports joining the counseling compact.
Need is outstripping the supply of mental health professionals, but the two compacts provide a potential way to alleviate that stress. Plus, joining them could make Wyoming a more attractive place for specialists to live and work.
Utah joined both the psychology and counseling compacts in the last few years.
Anna Lieber, licensed clinical mental health counselor and president of the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, points to Logan, Utah’s proximity to the Idaho border as a prime example of the compacts’ benefits. “Most therapists in Logan have to be licensed in both Idaho and Utah,” Lieber said. “Which is a financial burden.”
“With COVID, we realized we could use telehealth a little more efficiently and better,” said Amanda Alkema, assistant director of substance abuse for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. “It’s really helped in our rural areas to expand that.”
She noted that Mountain West states are often competing for the same workforce, and the compacts allow for more collaboration and shared expertise.
Compacts
Wyoming has joined several compacts in the past few years, noted Wyoming Hospital Association president Eric Boley.
Physician and nursing compacts proved particularly helpful during the pandemic. Nurses and physicians from participating compact states were able to work in Wyoming without going through an arduous licensing process.
“We haven’t seen any downside to this at all,” Boley said. “It’s all been really positive.”
The Wyoming Psychological Association has yet to take an official position on the compact, Benson said.
“There absolutely are people that worry that the people in other compact states will cherry pick patients from Wyoming,” Benson said. “And that will cut into the livelihoods of psychologists here.”
Additionally, some worry about states losing regulatory control over their counselors and psychologists.
“And when it comes to the Legislature,” Boley of the Hospital Association said, “there’s always concern about oversight and who’s ultimately responsible for making sure that they’re good practitioners, and they’re adhering to all the rules and regulations and guidance.”
However, he also said that the previously enacted physician and nursing compacts haven’t resulted in substandard care. “There’s still oversight and they’re still licensed in their home states,” Boley said.
The compact is just one important step forward, said Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers Executive Director Andi Summerville. “But we still need people on the ground in Wyoming. Telehealth is wonderful, but it’s not a panacea.”
She says the state should still focus on growing the number of counselors who live and work in Wyoming and improving pay.
Summerville is supportive of the psychology and counseling compacts and the potential for more telehealth options.
“It’s important to recognize that that’s the way the country is moving in general,” Summerville said. “And without being part of the compact, it creates barriers for folks to come practice in our state.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/state-mulls-joining-mental-health-care-compacts/article_5074937e-28b2-11ed-a5a0-8b2d94965abd.html | 2022-08-31T23:51:58Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/state-mulls-joining-mental-health-care-compacts/article_5074937e-28b2-11ed-a5a0-8b2d94965abd.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt forgiveness in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, on Aug. 24 in Washington. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona listens at right. AP
CHEYENNE – Wyoming ranks first in the nation for the percentage of federal student loan borrowers whose debt will be completely eliminated with $10,000 in forgiveness.
The opportunity may be available to residents following the announcement from President Joe Biden that he will forgive $10,000 in federal student debt for most borrowers, and up to $20,000 for recipients of Pell Grants. An additional payment pause will be extended through Dec. 31, and undergraduate loan payments may be capped at 5% of an individual’s monthly income.
If the administration follows through with the plan, nearly 37.8% of residents who took out federal student loans will have a zero balance, according to the analysis done by Student Loan Hero. The data from the U.S. The Department of Education shows the other two states impacted at the highest percentage are Nevada and Utah at just above 36%.
Student Loan Hero Senior Economist Jacob Channel told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this is made possible in part because loan borrowers in Wyoming owe 20% less than the national average of $36,689. At close to $29,000 per federal and private student borrower, only residents in Nebraska and North Dakota have a similar low student debt portfolio.
“The reason for that primarily has to do with the fact that there aren’t necessarily a ton of private schools in Wyoming,” he said. “A lot of people gravitate toward either community college or the University of Wyoming, both of which are generally cheaper options that don’t require as much debt as some other institutions might. So in that regard, I think that Wyoming is in pretty good shape.”
While the average is $29,000 among borrowers across the state, the statistic is influenced by the residents in the older age demographic.
The Education Data Initiative reported that as of April 2022, the highest number of borrowers fell into the 36-to-49 year old category at 17,900, and they owed an average of $40,000. This totals more than $740 million in student debt. Residents age 50 and older also owed the highest amount of debt, with an average of more than $40,000 per borrower.
Channel said many older borrowers may have not been able to afford to back the amount requested by the Department of Education, and the debt had to sit there and accumulate.
“You do have some contingent of people who are going to school later in life for the first time, who maybe missed out on some opportunities for scholarships that might be a little bit more readily available to high school students,” he said. “The main reason would be that based on how student loans work, if you’re not able to make a full payment on them…your debt can quickly spiral out of control because of the interest rates on it.”
He added this can happen in spite of college tuition costing significantly less 20 to 30 years ago. It is confirmed by reports from the National Center for Education Statistics that found after adjusting for currency inflation, college tuition has increased 747.8% since 1963.
Although younger students are expected to pay thousands more in tuition, they are among the borrowers with the least amount of student loan debt. There are close to 8,500 Wyoming residents who are 24 years old and younger and owe an average of $10,5888, according to the Education Data Initiative. Former students between ages 25 and 34 owe an average of $26,257, and there are 17,900 borrowers.
“It still illustrates that for a lot of new borrowers, these younger groups that we often talk more about when we’re talking about student loans, they can easily find themselves in the same situation as older people,” Channel said. “Where they can’t pay their payments and then their debt can balloon.”
Jasmine Hall is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s state government reporter. She can be reached by email at jhall@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3167. Follow her on Twitter @jasminerhphotos and on Instagram @jhrose25. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyoming-significantly-impacted-by-possible-student-loan-relief/article_f4cf9dcc-297c-11ed-9498-171e404e856e.html | 2022-08-31T23:52:23Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyoming-significantly-impacted-by-possible-student-loan-relief/article_f4cf9dcc-297c-11ed-9498-171e404e856e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A landmark reform of California’s flawed probate system, spotlighted by the troubled Britney Spears case, is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 1663, sailed unanimously through both houses of the state Legislature this week, promising relief to the elderly and disabled trapped in never-ending and potentially exploitive conservatorships. Newsom has until Sept. 30 to make a decision.
Conservatorship is a tool in probate court by which professionals appointed by a judge can decide, among other things, where people live, how their money is spent and even who they can talk to. Some activists argue that state prisoners have more civil rights than someone under a conservatorship.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, D-San Diego, the bill makes it more difficult to establish a conservatorship, easier to get out of one and promotes alternatives to court. It also codifies the use of supported decision-making, which basically is seeking informal help in making decisions rather than jumping to conservatorships.
“It’s a landmark concept,” said Maienschein, whose bill received little if any opposition. “We really had to educate people. (Conservatorship) is complicated.”
Judy Mark, president of the statewide group Disability Voices United, called the bill “a game-changer.”
Mark said there is a belief among judges, fiduciaries and lawyers that conservatorships are among the only options for the elderly and disabled who need help making decisions, creating a pipeline to probate court.
“What (the bill) is doing is putting a giant plug in that pipeline,” she said.
When used properly, probate can be a way to protect the elderly and disabled from physical and financial bullying by family, friends and associates. But the process also can open the door for predatory professionals to exploit their clients, eating through their life savings and assets and walling them off from family.
In Santa Ana, for example, court-appointed conservators drained a retired judge’s savings and then forced her into a jumbo reverse mortgage on her $1.8 million house in Newport Beach to keep the money flowing.
Also in Santa Ana, a conservator sold part of his client’s real estate to the owner of a land brokerage where the conservator worked. The conservator then tried to collect a $9,800 commission on the sale.
And then there is the Spears case, where her right to make decisions was taken away and given to her father — sparking a nearly 13-year battle that ended in 2021 when her conservatorship was finally ended.
Maienschein said he witnessed abuses in the system while serving as a law clerk for a probate judge.
“It was personal for me,” he said. “I was young and working in conservatorship court. It left a big impression on me.”
Maienschein added that his bill, in essence, will educate people on their rights before and during probate proceedings, making it easier to modify or exit a conservatorship.
His bill also would promote “supported decision making,” helping disabled or elderly people avoid conservatorships altogether. Under Maeinschein’s proposal, conservatorship would be a last resort.
Mark, of Disability Voices United, explained that supported decision making is basically seeking help in making choices, perhaps from a trusted friend or family member.
“The courts are not involved, you don’t have to pay for a lawyer … and you do it informally,” she said. “It’s an empowerment tool as opposed to conservatorship, which is about disempowerment.”
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida Department of Health is doing its part to have potential live-saving medication for an opioid overdose available.
According to a news release provided by the Florida Department of Health Wednesday, it will begin an initiative to ensure readily available access to naloxone.
The medication will be available at county health departments statewide.
The Florida Department of Health of Leon County noted that it is not a part of the initial phase of this initiative, but will be included when distribution is expanded to all 67 county health departments in Florida.
Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose; restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of being administered to a person who has overdosed.
The medication is delivered via a nasal spray known as Narcan.
“Addressing the opioid epidemic is a top priority for the state,” said Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Kenneth A. Scheppke in a statement. “In 2021, almost 8,000 people in Florida lost their lives to drug overdoses, the highest one-year total ever recorded in our state.”
According to the department of health, increasing access to naloxone is a key component in battling the opioid epidemic, especially in rural areas or counties with limited access to health care. | https://www.wtxl.com/community/florida-department-of-health-expands-access-to-naloxone | 2022-08-31T23:55:14Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/community/florida-department-of-health-expands-access-to-naloxone | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The consensus box of Del Mar picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Art Wilson, Terry Turrell and Eddie Wilson. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Assistant Director of Media Relations at Florida A&M University said the Compliance Office has already started interviewing for the 5 new compliance positions.
In 2019, FAMU had three compliance officers for athletics. Now, they are down to just one for more than 330 athletes. President Dr. Larry Robinson said the university's compliance program is working to help the one officer in athletics.
"We did commit to five additional people to work on athletic related issues, whether it's financial aid, academic progress issues and so forth," said Robinson.
On Tuesday, President Robinson pledged to provide 5 new compliance officers. Officers that are crucial in making sure players are certified to play through the NCAA.
No matter the size of the college, when it comes to athletics, compliance officers are key. Chuck Moore is the Athletics Director at Tallahassee Community College. He says that a compliance officer's main job is to file eligibility and know rules and regulations for the student athletes. Moore said the process of keeping student athlete's paperwork up needs to start on day one.
"As an incoming freshman, you need to start gathering all their stuff right then, and it's pretty much as I say progression from there. Each semester you should be keeping the right documentation and making sure they're registered for the right classes, so you are moving them forward," said Moore.
TCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
For TCC, Moore is the one that signs off on all eligibility and compliance forms each semester for student athletes. He said they have three people working on compliance and eligibility and one part-time academic adviser and success coach for their 110 student athletes.
At FAMU, there is currently one compliance officer and one academic adviser for athletics. President Robinson said the university is looking to have at least two of those compliance officers in place in the next 45 days. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/florida-a-m-university-working-on-hiring-more-compliance-officers | 2022-08-31T23:55:26Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/florida-a-m-university-working-on-hiring-more-compliance-officers | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ANAHEIM — The Ducks acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday in a trade for future considerations.
The 31-year-old Kulikov had seven goals and 17 assists with a plus-23 rating over 80 games last season for the Wild, who signed the Russian to a two-year contract as a free agent last summer.
The Florida Panthers’ first-round pick in 2009 will begin his 14th NHL season with his seventh team next month. He has 42 goals and 156 assists in 805 career games.
Kulikov is the latest low-risk veteran addition to the rebuilding Ducks, who have bolstered their gifted young core with complementary talent during their first offseason under new general manager Pat Verbeek. The Ducks signed productive defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year deal after signing center Ryan Strome and forward Frank Vatrano to multiyear deals.
Kulikov has one year and $2.25 million remaining on his contract. Minnesota has spent much of the summer attempting to squeeze its payroll under the NHL salary cap.
The Ducks are still currently near the league’s minimum payroll as Verbeek carefully manages his long-term commitments with a rebuilding roster.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — "Knowing that we have partners, we have community support, we have people that are rooting for us and that they want to see our kids succeed," says Maurice Stokes.
Maurice Stokes is the principal for John G. Riley Elementary. The school has participated in the 'If you Give a Child a Book' campaign the last 2 years.
Their participation allowed kids to take home over 1,000 books.
He says one of his favorite things about the book fair is that it is free, and every child can participate.
"Traditional book fairs students are responsible for bringing money and this was not that. We had two book fairs, one in the fall of the year and another one in the spring of the year. The students felt good being able to walk in and literally choose any book that they wanted," says Stokes.
The newest school to participate in the campaign is Thomasville's Garrison Pilcher Elementary. Assistant Principal Robin Binion feels this is a great community effort to push students forward.
"Just want the community to understand how important it is to have programs like this that reach out to our schools, and we're blessed to be a part of it," says Robin Binion. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/scripps-book-fair-leads-to-student-literacy-improvement | 2022-08-31T23:55:32Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/scripps-book-fair-leads-to-student-literacy-improvement | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Los Angeles County reported 3,237 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, Aug, 31, as the number of virus-positive patients in local hospitals appeared to fall again.
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Tuesday that COVID hospitalization figures are in flux due to an issue with the system used by hospitals to report patient numbers to the state. She said the problem has resulted in some questionable fluctuations in the numbers over the past week.
The state reported 796 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Wednesday, although the county noted that the number could change. The figure is down from the 841 reported on Tuesday. Of those patients, 79 were being treated in intensive care.
Health officials have said roughly 43% of COVID-positive hospital patients were actually admitted for virus-related illness, while the others were admitted for other reasons, with some only learning they were infected when they were tested at the hospital.
The 3,237 new cases reported by the county lifted the overall total from throughout the pandemic to 3,408,413.
Ferrer reiterated Tuesday that the numbers reported by the county are likely an undercount, since many people now rely on at-home tests, the results of which are not reported to the health department.
Another 17 COVID-related deaths were reported by the county Wednesday, raising the death toll from throughout the pandemic to 33,155.
The average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus was 8.4% as of Wednesday.
Ferrer told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that the falling case rate in recent weeks could result in the county being moved to the federal government’s “low” virus activity category, rather than the current “medium” classification.
The county was placed in the “high” virus level by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in mid-July, thanks to a new infection rate that topped 200 per 100,000 residents and an average daily virus-related hospitalization rate that topped 10 per 100,000 residents. On Aug. 12, however, the county moved back to the “medium” category when the hospitalization rate fell below 10 per 100,000 residents.
Moving into the “low” category will require the county’s hospitalization rate to remain below that threshold, and for the rate of new infections to fall below 200 per 100,000 residents. That rate has been steadily falling, reaching 213 per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, down substantially from a month ago, Ferrer said.
“It’s possible L.A. County … could move to the low community level in this next week, should that case rate drop below 200,” Ferrer said.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Reports of sexual assaults across the U.S. military jumped by 13% last year, driven by significant increases in the Army and the Navy as bases began to move out of pandemic restrictions and public venues reopened, The Associated Press has learned.
Mirroring the increase in those reports is the disclosure that close to 36,000 service members said in a confidential survey that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact — a dramatic increase over the roughly 20,000 who said that in a similar 2018 survey, U.S. defense and military officials said.
The latest numbers are certain to anger lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have been critical of the Pentagon's efforts to get a handle on sexual crimes and misconduct.
According to officials, the overall increase is largely fueled by a nearly 26% jump in reports involving Army soldiers. It's the largest increase for that service since 2013, when such reports went up by 51%.
The increase in Navy reports was about 9%, the Air Force was a bit more than 2% and the Marine Corps was less than 2%, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the reporting has not yet been made public.
The big increase is especially troublesome for the Army, which is struggling to meet its recruiting goals and is expected to miss the target by at least 10,000 — or by anywhere from 18% to 25% — at the end of September. Army leaders have acknowledged that it is important for parents and others who influence recruits to feel comfortable that their son or daughter is safe and will be taken care of in the service.
Army officials said the numbers are alarming and that they certainly could have an impact on recruting, if parents believe their youth are at risk of assaults. They said Army leaders saw the growing numbers last year and began trying to implement new programs. Already, they said, some programs are working and the sexual harassment and assault numbers have been coming down this year.
COVID-19 and the pandemic restrictions make year-to-year comparisons complicated. Officials said they do not have enough data to determine if — or how much — the pandemic played a role in the higher reporting and survey numbers.
The Pentagon and the military services have long struggled to come up with programs to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage reporting. While the military has made inroads in making it easier and safer for service members to come forward, it has had far less success reducing the assaults, which have increased nearly every year since 2006.
Army leaders said they've seen some results with a training program that soldiers get when they report to their first duty station. It is rolled out right away, and has soldiers acting out dangerous situations and emphasizes training on how to respond. They also said they are improving evaluation programs that grade unit leaders, including randomly picking peers and others to do the assessments.
The double-digit overall increase comes after two years of relatively small increases in reports filed by or involving service members. In the budget year ending September 2020, reports of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact edged up by 1%, as much of the world largely shut down due to the pandemic. The previous year, reports went up by about 3% — a substantial improvement over 2018, which also saw a 13% increase.
The widespread restrictions on travel and movement for the military continued during fall 2020 and the early part of 2021, and many businesses, restaurants and bars were shut down or had limited service. Things began to open up as more people were vaccinated in the summer and fall, but it's also not clear whether that greater freedom contributed to the increase in assault reports.
The Pentagon releases a report every year on the number of sexual assaults reported by or about troops. But because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department began to do a confidential survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem. The 2018 survey found that more than 20,000 service members said they experienced some type of sexual assault, but only one-third of them filed a formal report.
The latest report, expected to be publicly released Thursday, estimates that about 35,800 service members experienced some type of sexual assault in the previous year, based on the confidential survey. That means that only about one in every five service members reported an incident that happened in the previous year.
Every year as many as 10% of the assaults that service members reported happened before they joined the military.
Officials familiar with the findings said survey respondents also reported increases in hostility in the workplace, as well as more sexual harassment, which can sometimes lead to other sexual assaults or misconduct. They said the survey revealed that about 8% of all women and 1.5% of men in the service said they had experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact.
Officials said the survey suggested that, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a woman's chance of being sexually assaulted in the military was about the same as a woman in the general population. But for men, the risk for those in the military is much lower than in U.S. society.
Defense officials have argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people are reluctant to report it, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system and greater comfort with the support for victims.
It's unclear, however, whether the increased reports last year actually represent a growing problem or whether those who say they were assaulted were just more willing to come forward.
The Pentagon has been under persistent pressure from Congress to improve prevention and prosecutions. Lawmakers acted late last year to take some prosecution authority out of the hands of commanders and instead use independent prosecutors.
Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members don't trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. They also worry that commanders may not press ahead with some cases if they know the accused. Members of Congress argued that using independent prosecutors would make the process more fair, and make victims more comfortable coming forward. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/reported-sexual-assaults-across-us-military-increase-by-13 | 2022-08-31T23:55:44Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/reported-sexual-assaults-across-us-military-increase-by-13 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
California’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, Aug. 31, agreed to decide whether Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has the power to bar his lawyers from asking for stiffer terms for offenders with prior convictions.
The high court granted a petition for review that stemmed from Gascón’s appeal of rulings in Los Angeles Superior Court and in the Second District Court of Appeal that largely favored claims made by the Association of Deputy District Attorneys concerning the lawfulness of his orders on sentencing enhancements.
Gascón issued a series of special directives upon taking office, with many of them raising the ire of some law enforcement officials who accused him of being soft on crime.
Gascón, elected in 2020 on a progressive agenda, has said he had a mandate from the people who wanted to see changes in the justice system, moving away from excessively long prison sentences that he claims have done little to reduce crime or act as a deterrent.
In 2021, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled largely in favor of the association, saying Gascón cannot issue a blanket order telling prosecutors to ignore laws the ADDA contends were designed to protect the public, including three-strike additions and other sentencing enhancements.
A three-judge panel of the California Second District Court of Appeal largely agreed in a 71-page ruling in June, stating in part that “voters and the Legislature created a duty, enforceable in mandamus, that requires prosecutors to plead prior serious or violent felony convictions to ensure the alternative sentencing scheme created by the three-strikes law applies to repeat offenders.”
In July, Gascón announced plans to appeal that ruling, saying it “sets a dangerous precedent.”
“The court is effectively taking the charging decision out of the prosecutor’s hands — the core function of a prosecutor’s office,” according to the statement from the District Attorney’s Office. “The decision also forces prosecutors around California to ignore important research that shows longer prison sentences do not lead to increased public safety and to ignore the unique factors of each individual case that militate against using strikes.”
Gascón maintains the three-strikes law imposes draconian penalties on defendants who were previously convicted of certain prior felonies.
“These policies increase recidivism rates, have little-to-no deterrent effect and keep people in prison long after they pose any safety risk to their community,” according to the District Attorney’s Office. “They also disproportionately affect minorities — almost 93% of people sent to prison from Los Angeles County are Black people and people of color.”
In a statement released after Gascón announced his appeal, the ADDA said Gascón’s decision to take the case to the state Supreme Court shows he thinks the rule of law doesn’t apply to him.
“He believes his election is a mandate from the voters that vests him with unlimited power to impose his personal ideology, even when doing so means disregarding the will of the voters, the legislators, and the governor who enacted the three-strikes laws,” according to the association. “He insists on treating first-time offenders and repeat offenders the same. Yet the ‘science and data’ on which he relies dissolves under basic scrutiny.”
A second attempt to recall Gascón failed earlier this month because proponents could not collect enough valid petition signatures to place the proposal on the ballot.
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An infographic displays information about U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. James Jacobson, Pacific Air Forces deputy commander, visiting Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 16-20, 2022. During his visit, Jacobson toured the installation and visited with Airmen across the base. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Anna Nolte)
This work, PACAF DCOM visits Kadena, by A1C Anna Nolte, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397231/pacaf-dcom-visits-kadena | 2022-08-31T23:59:19Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397231/pacaf-dcom-visits-kadena | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Preparations for the school year continue for many families some being gifted important supplies for the classroom on Wednesday.
These donations being made possible by Altranais Homecare. The home care group setting up shop on Chestnut street on Wednesday afternoon offering backpacks, haircuts, and family fun.
Those who came out also getting the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked and to learn more about their own health.
And Altranais homecare tells 22News that type of health awareness is even more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/back-to-school-supplies-giveaway-in-springfield/ | 2022-09-01T00:00:31Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/back-to-school-supplies-giveaway-in-springfield/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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As airports grow busier and more stressful to navigate, it’s no wonder fliers are seeking calm within the chaos and ways to enhance their preflight experiences. An optimal solution is to seek refuge in an airport lounge. Depending on the lounge, amenities may include full-service cocktail bars, gourmet food spreads, showers, micro-spas, design-forward relaxation areas, and dedicated work zones (not to mention simpler luxuries of personal space, power outlets, and free Wi-Fi).
Once upon a time airport lounge access was exclusive to those holding business- or first-class tickets, but times have changed. Nowadays, scoring entrance often entails having the right credit card or buying your way in. Here are seven different ways you can obtain airport lounge access and transform your airport experience into an enjoyable one.
Get a top-tier credit card with lounge benefits
Many high-fee travel credit cards offer airport lounge access as a primary perk of being a cardholder. Lounge access varies by card, but at a minimum, most top-tier travel credit cards provide a form of Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited access to more than the 1,300 airport lounges in the Priority Pass network globally. Entrance is granted on the flight date, regardless of airline or class flown, with up to two guests complimentary.
Those with the Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee, see rates and fees)—hands down the best personal credit card available for airport lounge access—have much to choose from outside the Priority Pass cohort (enrollment required). They can also enter over 40 Amex-branded Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges, Delta Sky Club airline lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, AirSpace lounges, Lufthansa lounges, and more. Holders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee) can enjoy the Priority Pass network, Plaza Premium lounges, and Capital One’s growing network of amenity-rich branded lounges. Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550 annual fee) cardholders also will soon have options beyond Priority Pass lounges; Chase’s new lounge concept, Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club, will be unveiled later in 2022.
Other personal credit cards that offer a Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access to lounges include Citi Prestige ($495 annual fee), Hilton Honors Aspire Card ($450 annual fee), and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card ($450 annual fee—see rates and fees).
For frequent fliers of legacy airlines like American, Delta, or United, it may be worth getting a premium airline-specific credit card with lounge benefits. The United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee), for example, comes with United Club membership while the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($450 annual fee) comes with access to Admirals Club lounges, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee) provides entry to Delta Sky Club.
Get the $95 annual fee Hilton Surpass credit card
It may seem odd that a low-fee, hotel-branded credit card is the smartest—and cheapest—solution to airport lounge access, but that’s exactly the case. With the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ($0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95, see rates and fees), you get 10 free lounge visits to Priority Pass’s 1,300+ lounges for every year enrolled in Priority Pass Select membership. You can use these 10 visits on yourself or your travel companions, all at once or spread throughout the year.
This clearly isn’t the unlimited entry of a high-fee card, but for those who travel infrequently or want to dabble in airport lounging, it’s a wise choice. No other personal credit card at this fee level offers such lounge access.
Buy a Priority Pass membership
You don’t need to have a credit card to enter lounges in the Priority Pass network. It’s possible to buy a membership outright (though it doesn’t make sense financially).
There are three levels of membership—Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige—all of which have an annual membership fee and charge for guests.
If you are considering buying a Priority Pass membership, getting a credit card is more cost-effective. As seen above, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers essentially the same as the Standard Plus Membership but for a $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95 instead of $299. Meanwhile, the cost of Prestige membership is in the ballpark of the annual fee commanded by most premium credit cards (while credit card membership allows two guests free of charge versus $32 apiece).
Buy an annual membership to a legacy airline’s lounge network
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines have their own lounge networks, which can be accessed through annual memberships.
While pricing can vary based on elite status or being an active cardholder of a cobranded credit card, here are the starting membership fees for non-elites:
- Alaska Airlines Alaska Lounge Membership: $450
- American Airlines Admirals Club Membership: $650
- Delta Sky Club Membership: $545
- United Airlines United Club Membership: $650
Note that while Alaska lounges allow members to enter when flying same-day ticketed air travel on any airline, the other legacy carriers require same-day ticketed air travel on their metal or their partner airlines. It’s also important to point out that the annual fees for lounge membership with American, United, and Delta are higher than the annual fees of their respective premium credit cards, which come with lounge membership.
Buy a day pass
It’s possible to get airport lounge access by buying a day pass to select lounges within the Priority Pass network, Plaza Premium lounges, and some airline-branded lounges. One great way to find out which lounges can be accessed for the day is by downloading the LoungeBuddy app or visiting the website. The app and website contain helpful information about almost every lounge worldwide and indicate which can be accessed for one-time use and for how much (starting at $25). At press time, due to overcrowding and the COVID legacy of lounge closures, far fewer lounges are available for day passes than in early 2020.
Type London Heathrow (LHR), for example, on LoungeBuddy, and the page will populate with details on each of the airport’s 44 lounges, including eight that can be potentially booked for the day through LoungeBuddy (we say potentially because three of the eight remain temporarily closed). The five bookable for day passes include the Lufthansa Business Lounge in Terminal 2A for $74 per person and the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 4 for $39 per person. Before booking, note your departure terminal and ensure that you can physically access the lounge via your terminal’s designated security checkpoints.
Although LoungeBuddy is a handy tool, it does not sell day passes to legacy airline lounges. Those seeking to access a United Club for one-time use can do so for $59 through the United app. American also sells day passes to its Admirals Club through its website for $59. Alaska Lounge Day passes can be purchased directly at its San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York–JFK lounges for $60 per person. Delta does not sell day passes.
Fly long-haul business or first class
A boarding pass for a long-haul international flight in business or first class can be the ticket to some of the world’s best airport lounges—ones that aren’t even accessible to credit card holders or Priority Pass members. For example, the only way to access Air France’s La Première lounge is with a first-class ticket on Air France.
One of our favorite lounges on the planet, Qatar Airways’ stunning Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha Airport, is included for passengers flying Qatar Airways First Class and Business Class (Elite, Comfort & Classic) and oneworld First Class and Business Class passengers. However, those flying Business Class (Lite) and economy class on Qatar Airways can also prepurchase lounge entry (at press time the price fluctuates around $100).
In some cases, a business- or first-class ticket no longer guarantees lounge access. This rings true for domestic tickets within the United States as well as short-haul international flights from the U.S. to the likes of the Caribbean and Central America.
Achieve top elite status and fly internationally
Some airlines grant airport lounge access to their top elite members under specific circumstances. For example, those with Delta Gold and Platinum Medallion Status are considered SkyTeam Elite Plus and have access to SkyTeam lounges for international flights, even on economy tickets. United Airlines’ MileagePlus Gold, Platinum, and 1K members can enter United lounges with a same-day international United boarding pass, regardless of class flown, as well as Star Alliance partner lounges when flying Star Alliance member airlines outside the United States.
Takeaways
Airport lounge access, with the promise of preflight indulgences, was once reserved for business- and first-class ticket holders only. Nowadays, it’s within easy reach for those holding the right credit card or willing to pay for entrance.
While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available. | https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-get-airport-lounge-access | 2022-09-01T00:04:05Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-get-airport-lounge-access | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cruise lines are very upfront about their tipping policies. Unless you are on an all-inclusive ship that covers gratuities in the cruise fare, such as luxury cruise lines Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Virgin Voyages, it is recommended that you tip the crew.
How much to tip on a cruise is actually easier to figure out than you may think, with major cruise lines providing precise tipping guidelines and even automatically adding a suggested gratuity amount to passengers’ onboard account. Some cruise lines even allow passengers to prepay gratuities before they board. Thus, there’s usually no need to determine how much to tip each individual crew member, such as the waiter or the housekeeper—you can often do it all in one lump sum at the start or end of the cruise.
Why are tips expected? The gratuities are supplemental income for the international crew, who often work for low base wages knowing that tips will help augment the amount they are paid—in a similar manner to the tips waiters at your local restaurant receive. While not technically required, tips are generally expected when noted by the cruise line.
No matter the suggested amount, you are free to visit the purser’s desk on your ship to adjust based on the service you were provided. Passengers who are impressed by the service they received might add more, if they make any adjustment at all.
Here’s what to know about tipping on cruise ships.
How much are the suggested gratuities on a cruise?
The total daily tipping rates for cruise waitstaff, cabin stewards, and other shipboard personnel are typically outlined both on the cruise line’s website and on passengers’ cruise documents that they receive prior to their cruise.
The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between $12 and $16 per passenger, per day—which for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between $84 and $112 extra per person, or $336 to $448 extra for a family of four. There may be an additional suggested amount (typically another $4 per day) for those staying in a suite with a personal butler. Some cruise lines (but not all) will suggest waiving gratuities for children under the age of three.
Many river cruise lines include the gratuities, but for those that don’t, the suggested range is between $10 and $20 per passenger, per day. Similarly, some expedition cruise lines include gratuities while those that don’t recommend a gratuity of around $10 to $15 per person, per day.
The money collected for tips is divided up between the dining service team (servers and assistant servers, for instance) and the cabin steward team (the people responsible for tidying accommodations). In the past, passengers had an assigned table and the same waitstaff throughout the entirety of their cruise. But now, on most cruise lines, guests can choose to dine wherever and whenever they like—a tipping pool ensures that everyone who takes care of passengers receives a tip.
Personally, when I have a great housekeeper, even on a ship that includes gratuities, I will leave a small cash bonus (maybe $20 per passenger) at the end of the cruise. The same goes for waiters. It’s also a nice gesture to hand a small tip ($1 to $2) to room service attendants, especially if they come to your cabin with heavily laden trays when you, for instance, order breakfast in bed.
While the bulk of tips may be made by credit card at the end of the cruise, having some small bills on hand during your cruise vacation is never a bad idea for some of the added gratuities you may want to provide. For these smaller tips, U.S. dollars are typically fine, though it doesn’t hurt to offer it in the local currency if you have some available.
Bar, spa, and specialty dining tipping
Tips for bar personnel are usually included in the bar bill at a rate of 15 to 20 percent of the total bill. The same automatic tipping applies in shipboard coffee bars and ice cream shops. Note that there may be a space on the bill for a tip, which passengers can use to add anything extra on top of the included gratuity, but it’s not necessary.
Some cruisers like to give a bartender a tip of around $20 at the start of a sailing hoping that they will get extra attention, but of course this strategy is completely at each passenger’s own discretion. At the end of a cruise, some may also hand off a few dollars to a favorite bar waiter.
Big ships will automatically add a gratuity of about 18 percent to your massage at the spa or to a blowout in the salon. There may also be a space for an extra tip if you want to add one. Small ships might not automatically add a tip, so be sure to check the bill and leave around 15 to 20 percent if a gratuity wasn’t included and you feel the service warrants it. Also, the spa is one service for which a tip often isn’t included even on luxury cruises that cover all other gratuities. So again, be sure to take a close look at the line’s policy regarding tipping.
At specialty restaurants where meals costs extra, gratuities are typically (but not always) included in the added fee, so be sure to ask about whether or not they are. Even if included, you are free to add more for service that goes above and beyond.
Additional gratuities off the ship
On shore excursions, it’s expected that passengers tip tour guides and bus drivers. How much you tip on cruise excursions is entirely up to you, but a suggested starting price is $3 per person for a half-day tour and $6 per person for a full-day tour for the guide and $1 to $2 for the bus driver. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. Bond with your snorkel guide? Up the tip to $20.
Also expecting tips of around $1 to $2 per bag are the porters who collect bags at the pier. If a cruise includes a pre- or post-cruise hotel night, consider leaving a gratuity for the housekeeping staff at the hotel—I typically leave $2 to $5 per day.
Don’t tip everyone on a cruise
While cruisers can get overwhelmed by the extraordinary service and generous amount of tipping that can take place on any given sailing, there are some circumstances under which reaching into your wallet is neither expected nor customary—for instance, it is generally considered bad form to try to tip the captain, officers, and the rest of the management team, such as the hotel director, cruise director, and executive chef.
The same is true with the entertainment team, with the exception of a piano player performing at a bar who may have a bowl for both tips and song requests.
No tipping is expected for the youth counselors who watch children at onboard kids’ clubs, though passengers can offer a gratuity to them if they would like. | https://www.afar.com/magazine/when-and-how-much-to-tip-on-a-cruise | 2022-09-01T00:04:11Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/magazine/when-and-how-much-to-tip-on-a-cruise | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Larimer County 911 callers can now share videos with responders in real time
Christopher Cawdrey was eating lunch at his remote home in far northern Larimer County when he noticed smoke coming over the hill in the direction of his neighbor’s house.
Once outside, he could see the house was on fire and quickly called 911.
The dispatcher asked his location and other critical questions, then asked if would be willing to livestream video from his cellphone of what he was seeing.
He agreed, and the dispatcher texted him a link. He clicked on the link and was able to walk around the burning home to show the dispatcher the fire in real time. The dispatcher relayed the video to emergency responders who could better assess the scene.
Because the house fire was near the Wyoming border, 90 minutes from Fort Collins, firefighters couldn’t save the home. Still, Cawdrey, who tried to extinguish the fire with a water hose, and emergency responders believe the new tool will prove invaluable.
“It was super useful, especially because we are in the boonies about a mile from the Wyoming border,’’ Cawdrey said. “It was terrible my neighbor’s house was burning down, but I was also concerned it was going to burn the grass and get into a draw and going to run all the way to Tie Siding.’’
NOCO Link is the latest tool Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority is using to link Larimer County emergency communication centers to livestream videos and photos from mobile callers with reception in real time.
In response to the house fire July 19 near the Wyoming border, Justin Whitesell, director of Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations, said Cawdrey’s videos was critical in helping determine resources necessary to respond.
He said those witnessing an event such a house fire often are under stress and the traumatic experience can cause problems in relaying an accurate account of the situation. He said videos and photos more clearly help responders assess the situation.
“It had been hot and dry and there was an initial concern the fire could turn into a catastrophic wildfire,’’ Whitesell said. “We were ramping up a bunch of resources and had Wyoming (responders) coming down and looking at what aircraft were available. Then when we were able to see the video, we could see the grass was green and the fire wasn’t spreading and so we could determine we didn’t need all those resources. That saved the county a lot of money.’’
More: How to get emergency alertsWith the frequency of flash floods and wildfires increasing, it's even more important to prepare
How video sharing will work on a 911 call in Larimer County
Kimberly Culp, LETA chief executive officer, said when 911 dispatchers receive a call, callers might be asked if they are willing to share video and photos, depending on the situation. She said participation is voluntary and consent of the caller is required.
The consenting caller will receive a livestream link via text message enabling the caller to activate live video. The real-time data received can be shared with first responders on their computer screen while they are responding to the call.
She said the video call function does not provide emergency communication centers in Larimer County with access to contents or settings of a caller’s phone. She added that personal safety comes first and callers should provide videos and photos only if they can do so safely.
“Nothing replaces a first-party report of what is going on,'' she said. "But this technology allows first responders to be able to get eyes on the scene much earlier while providing situational awareness to keep callers safe.''
Cawdrey said that was the case when he shared his video of the house fire.
“The area is off the grid and the fire was around solar panels and batteries, and I was trying to stop the fire with a hose,’’ he said. “When they saw that, they told me to put the water down so I wouldn’t get hurt.’’
Whitesell said the service was recently used on a rescue near the top of Greyrock Mountain in the Poudre Canyon. A hiker decided to take a shortcut by climbing down the rock and got stuck. He didn’t have a cellphone, but a climber came upon the man and called 911. He agreed to livestream where they were located on the mountain.
A Larimer County Search and Rescue member saw the video and knew where the two were and how to safely get the hiker down.
Culp said NOCO Link can be used in any emergency, including river rescues, floods, fires, active shooter situations and crimes in progress. The service is available to all LETA partners, including law enforcement, fire departments and emergency services throughout the county, she said.
Several companies offer the service, Culp said, and the county chose Prepared as its contractor. Culp said the basic service is free for 911 centers but the county added the ability to conference or share multimedia with first responders on their computer screens to enhance the effectiveness of the tool. She said for proprietary reasons, she could not share the cost of the service.
For more information, visit https://leta911.org/nocolink/. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/31/larimer-county-911-callers-can-share-real-time-videos-with-responders/65464699007/ | 2022-09-01T00:06:29Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/31/larimer-county-911-callers-can-share-real-time-videos-with-responders/65464699007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The United Nations' human rights chief has released a long-delayed report on abuses in China's Xinjiang region, despite substantial pressure from Beijing to block the report for the better part of a year.
The 48-page document concludes that "serious" human rights violations have been committed against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in the region in the name of counter-terrorism.
It also says "the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention... may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity."
The report comes as Michelle Bachelet, the UN's high commissioner for human rights, served out her last day in office, after announcing earlier that she was not seeking another term for "personal reasons."
Xinjiang, a huge, resource-rich region in the west of China, is where the authorities since 2017 have arbitrarily detained and imprisoned hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs, as well as other historically Muslim minorities such as the Hui and Kazakhs.
China at first denied it was detaining ethnic minorities, but later came to characterize detention camps and the intensive digital surveillance and policing that blankets the region as counterterrorism and economic development initiatives.
However, former detainees in Xinjiang have described accounts of physical and mental torture in the region's detention facilities and a network of expanded prisons. Leaked data and whistleblower accounts have turned up internal Chinese government documents confirming the extralegal detention of ordinary Uyghurs and the prison-like conditions in which they are held and "re-educated" to be loyal to the Chinese state.
The UN said it interviewed dozens of individuals with direct and firsthand knowledge of the situation in Xinjiang, including 26 who said they had been detained or worked in "various facilities" in the region since 2016.
"Allegations of patterns of torture or ill-treatment, including forced medical treatment and adverse conditions of detention, are credible, as are allegations of individual incidents of sexual and gender-based violence," the UN report said.
It called on China to take a number of steps, including releasing detainees, undertaking a full review of the legal framework for counter-terrorism work in the region, investigating allegations of rights violations, and providing "adequate remedy and reparation" to victims.
Before the report was released, China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, said Beijing was "firmly opposed" to it.
"We all know so well that the so-called Xinjiang issue is a fabricated lie [made] out of political motivations, and its purpose definitely is to undermine China's stability and to obstruct China's development," he told reporters.
Bachelet, the former president of Chile, expressed a desire to visit the region herself after beginning her tenure as the UN's top human rights officer in 2018.
In May this year, she finally managed to visit Xinjiang as part of a controversial, six-day fact-finding mission, which human rights activists criticized for being highly stage-managed by Chinese authorities. On the visit, she also talked to China's leader Xi Jinping by video, a conversation in which Chinese media quoted her as praising the country's human rights record.
"She expressed admiration for China's efforts and achievements in eliminating poverty, protecting human rights and realizing economic and social development," according to a readout from China's state news agency Xinhua.
But nearly 10 months after Bachelet floated the idea of putting together a report on Xinjiang's human rights conditions, her office had yet to finalize a date, confounding diplomats and activists.
Reuters reported earlier this summer that Chinese diplomats at the UN were circulating a petition lobbying other countries to help China bury the report.
And as late as this week, Bachelet appeared to backpedal on her commitment to release the report, saying that there was "tremendous pressure to publish or not publish." She said her office received "substantial input" from China on the report, which they had to review before releasing it.
Human rights groups say China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been rapidly building up coercive leverage within the multinational institution in part to stymie meaningful investigation into human rights abuses.
"China's introduced competing narratives at the UN that try to block or weaken UN resolutions on civil society and human rights," said Maya Wang, a senior China researcher at advocacy group Human Rights Watch.
Michele Kelemen contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-31/the-united-nations-says-crimes-against-humanity-may-have-happened-in-chinas-xinjiang | 2022-09-01T00:13:51Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-31/the-united-nations-says-crimes-against-humanity-may-have-happened-in-chinas-xinjiang | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A shopper stocks up on merchandise at a Sam's Club store on January 12, 2018 in Streamwood, Illinois. The warehouse club, owned by Walmart, announced that it's raising its annual membership fee by 11% — from $45 to $50 — beginning in October.
Add a Sam's Club membership to the list of subscriptions that are getting more expensive.
The warehouse club, owned by Walmart, announced Wednesday that it's raising its annual membership fee by 11% — from $45 to $50 — beginning in October. It's the first change to the fee in nine years.
The cost of a premium membership plan will also increase from $100 to $110 for the first time since the plan was introduced in 1999.
Sam's Club said it will offer $5 in rewards to shoppers with a basic membership and $10 to premium customers as a perk for renewing after the price hike goes into effect.
A regular membership at rival Costco, the largest warehouse club, costs $60. Costco typically raises the price of a membership about every five years. Its last hike was in 2017.
Warehouse clubs gained market share during Covid. More consumers were buying online during the shutdown as fear of catching the virus kept many shoppers away from crowds.
Sam's Club and BJ's even added same-day curbside pickup for customers who bought online. Club stores gained 0.5% of market share in 2020 and 0.5% in 2021, adding up to around $16 billion, according to IRI data. They have also had the fastest sales growth in 2021 compared to 2020 among all retail channels. | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/sams-club-is-raising-its-membership-by-5/article_5c3390a5-af92-59ea-ada1-ee53d8dc3831.html | 2022-09-01T00:13:51Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/sams-club-is-raising-its-membership-by-5/article_5c3390a5-af92-59ea-ada1-ee53d8dc3831.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JACKSON, Miss. — Beatrice Gilmore has been trying to get some of the water being handed out around town since she lost nearly all pressure in her taps on Monday. She has spent hours traveling to distribution sites and waiting in line, only to have the stock run out just a few cars ahead of her. So she was excited Wednesday when she finally got one case of water for herself and her sister.
"I will take a sponge bath!" she laughed. She'll also use it for drinking and cooking, a welcome change from the canned food she has been heating up all week. Another man in the line said all he and his son have eaten is cereal.
Historic rain and flooding led to a drop in pressure at Jackson's main water-treatment plant Monday. That has left people with just a trickle of water — Gilmore says hers is "brownish" — or none at all. President Biden has declared a disaster, triggering federal aid, and the state is sending in the National Guard. But until that ramps up, the demand for bottled water is far exceeding what's available.
When Gilmore got one of the last cases, a long line of cars still snaked around the parking lot of a Walmart, which had donated the water. It went in an hour, but Maj. Ethan Frizzel of the Salvation Army said another truck with water would show up soon.
"With gas prices and challenges, we don't want to take any more time from people than necessary to get such a basic human need."
The lack of water has also shut down school buildings and businesses, upending the lives of people like Ayesha Stevenson.
She came to the parking-lot water line with her 5-year-old and 7-year-old in the back seat, because they're now learning remotely. Schools are boiling water to make breakfast and lunch bags for pick up. The poverty rate in Jackson is 25%, and many families rely on those school meals. Stevenson is a cook at a Waffle House that had to close down, so Wednesday was her third day out of work without pay. She said she would need to find something to make up for that loss.
But her biggest frustration is that this is just the latest in a series of water crises. Since the previous one early last year — after a record-setting February freeze — Stevenson has not gone back to tap water because it makes her kids sick.
"I can't even picture myself drinking it," she says. But "you go broke buying food and water all the time. It's very expensive."
In a late-day news conference, Governor Tate Reeves said 600 members of the Mississippi National Guard will deploy on Thursday for a larger-scale distribution of bottled water and hand sanitizer.
"I know it's not easy, nor is it fair, that any of you have to deal with this," he said. "In fact, it's a tremendous burden that you as citizens should not have to shoulder."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-08-31/jackson-residents-face-long-lines-and-short-supply-in-a-frustrating-search-for-water | 2022-09-01T00:13:57Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-08-31/jackson-residents-face-long-lines-and-short-supply-in-a-frustrating-search-for-water | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The US Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning Tuesday about "brightly-colored fentanyl used to target young Americans."
The agency said it and its partners in law enforcement seized colored fentanyl and fentanyl pills in 18 states this month.
"This trend appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people," the DEA said.
"Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that resembles sidewalk chalk. Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through DEA's laboratory testing that this is the case. Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous."
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid intended to help people such as cancer patients manage severe pain. It's 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It's used illicitly because of its heroin-like effect, and even small doses can be deadly.
"Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country," the DEA said.
More than 109,000 people in the United States died of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending March 2022, according to provisional data published this month by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were involved in more than two-thirds of overdose deaths in that time -- up from just over half at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, annual drug overdose deaths have jumped 44%. There were 75,702 deaths in the 12-month period ending March 2020, compared with 109,247 deaths in the latest 12-month period ending March 2022.
Drug deaths among children are relatively rare. But unintentional overdoses led to 200,000 years of lost life for US preteens and teens who died between 2015 and 2019, and experts suspect that the problem has gotten worse during the pandemic. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/dea-warns-of-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-to-target-young-americans/article_489130b4-053f-5aa9-b9cf-8c25bf9d1ea9.html | 2022-09-01T00:13:57Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/dea-warns-of-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-to-target-young-americans/article_489130b4-053f-5aa9-b9cf-8c25bf9d1ea9.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Slow down, stay in your lane, and be courteous.
That sounds like good advice for drivers on the road, but actually it’s for people using the City of Springfield’s paths.
Starting in September, officials are launching a campaign that will make city pathways accessible and safe for all.
“The impetus is that during the pandemic, a lot of folks started using the paths more," said Kelsey Moore, the Transportation Options Specialist for the City of Springfield. "And over the last five years we’ve also seen an increase in the range of bikes and wheeled devices, including electric devices that are using the paths. So the paths, speeds, and number of folks who are out using paths have increased.”
Moore said on September 7th, an event at the Riverbank Path will provide free bike repairs, maps, and prizes. Phase 2 of the campaign will launch in summer of 2023, with speed monitoring, signage, and data collection for paths.
Copyright @2022, KLCC. | https://www.klcc.org/politics-government/2022-08-31/city-of-springfields-campaign-addresses-growing-use-of-paths | 2022-09-01T00:14:03Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/politics-government/2022-08-31/city-of-springfields-campaign-addresses-growing-use-of-paths | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In the buildup to the current Ukrainian counteroffensive, the US urged Kyiv to keep the operation limited in both its objectives and its geography to avoid getting overextended and bogged down on multiple fronts, multiple US and western officials and Ukrainian sources tell CNN.
Those discussions involved engaging in "war-gaming" with Kyiv, the sources said -- analytical exercises that were intended to help the Ukrainian forces understand what force levels they would need to muster to be successful in different scenarios.
The Ukrainians were initially considering a broader counteroffensive, but narrowed their mission to the south, in the Kherson region, in recent weeks, US and Ukrainian officials said.
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN that "the United States has routine military-to-military dialogue at multiple levels with Ukraine. We will not comment on the specifics of those engagements. Generally speaking, we provide the Ukrainians with information to help them better understand the threats they face and defend their country against Russian aggression. Ultimately, the Ukrainians are making the final decisions for their operations."
Officials say they believe there is now increased parity between the Ukrainian and Russian militaries. But western officials have been hesitant to label the nascent Ukrainian operation -- which appeared to begin on Monday in the southern province of Kherson -- a true "counteroffensive."
How successful Ukraine is likely to be in regaining lost territory remains an open question, sources familiar with the latest intelligence tell CNN. Ukrainian officials have already said this offensive will likely be a slow operation, and punishingly cold winter weather is coming and then an early spring mud, both of which could force pauses in the fighting.
Still, there is a distinct feeling amongst Ukraine's US and western advisers that the Ukrainian military is on much more even footing with Russia than was believed even just a few short months ago, multiple officials told CNN. Russia still maintains superior numbers in overall manpower and massed artillery.
But Ukrainian capabilities, bolstered by sophisticated western arms and training, have closed an important gap, officials say -- particularly the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, that Ukraine has been using to launch attacks behind Russian front lines in recent months.
"It shows you what the sustained training and weapons provision can do when the force is highly motivated and capable in its employment," a senior NATO official told CNN.
Another US military source put it more bluntly: Ukraine has made up for Russia's advantage in sheer volume of fire with its "competence."
Growing momentum
Ukraine has been publicly signaling for months that it intended to launch a major counteroffensive to retake territory lost to Russia in the six-month war. And even before Monday, when Ukrainian forces began increasing their artillery rocket and missile fire on the frontlines in southern Ukraine, Kyiv had been actively disrupting Russian resupply efforts and command and control across the region.
For weeks, Ukraine has used a mix of partisan supporters, long-range fire and special operations forces to launch a series of attacks far behind Russian lines -- including in Crimea -- that have targeted logistics and command and control hubs in preparation for the southern offensive.
"I don't think it's possible yet to confirm the extent of Ukrainian advances, but they've certainly impacted Russia's ability to move north and south across [the Dnieper River] with their attacks on bridges," the senior NATO official said on Wednesday. "And in terms of future prospects, I'd note that Ukraine is much closer to parity in troop numbers in Kherson than it has been in recent weeks" in the eastern provinces of the country, where fighting has ground on for months.
Attacks in Crimea have been a particularly smart strategy, one official said, because Russia has been using the peninsula as a launchpad for its operations in southern Ukraine.
Russia has also been forced to pull resources from the east "simply because of reports that the Ukrainians might be going more on the offense in the south," John Kirby, the communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said on Monday.
"And so they've had to deplete certain units ...in certain areas in the East in the Donbass, to respond to what they clearly believed was a looming threat of a counter offensive," Kirby said.
A narrower mission
US and Ukrainian sources tell CNN that earlier plans for the Ukrainian operation were initially broader, and involved a more ambitious effort to regain other territory lost to the Russian invasion over the last six months, including the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
But by Monday, Ukrainian officials appeared laser-focused on retaking the Kherson region.
An administration official told CNN that in recent months, Ukraine has been asking the US for weapons specifically suited to their planned southern counteroffensive. The US fulfilled many of those requests -- including additional ammunition, artillery and javelins -- over the course of several presidential drawdown assistance packages provided to Ukraine over the last two months, the official said.
The planning exercises also helped the United States better grasp what kind of equipment, munitions or intelligence it could offer that would be most useful to Ukraine. Over the course of the war, the US has been regularly providing Ukraine with military advice and intelligence, along with billions of dollars in equipment and weaponry.
'A slow operation to grind the enemy'
Officials say that Ukraine now appears more evenly matched with Russian forces not only because of the advanced western weaponry that Ukraine has been using effectively, but also because the Ukrainians still have the advantage in terms of morale, unit cohesion, tactical acumen, and a superior ability to improvise on the fly.
They have another advantage, too, two officials said: a population that is largely appalled by the Russian occupation, and willing to engage in partisan attacks to expel them -- such as assassinations and sabotage efforts behind enemy lines.
Still, despite a more bullish assessment of Ukrainian fighting capabilities, US officials aren't placing any bets that Ukraine will successfully retake Kherson -- yet.
"I'm not sure this is going to be the big, massive counteroffensive that folks might be waiting on — it might be a smaller number of forces," the US military source cautioned. Much will depend on how well Russia is able to defend newly-claimed territory, the source said—something that it has not yet been called upon to do in the last six months.
A Ukrainian presidential adviser also warned that the offensive will be a "slow operation to grind the enemy."
"This process will not be very fast," Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in a statement posted on his Telegram account late Monday, "but will end with the installation of the Ukrainian flag over all the settlements of Ukraine."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/us-war-gamed-with-ukraine-ahead-of-counteroffensive-and-encouraged-more-limited-mission/article_2c3e2c26-6df5-5028-a462-bacd60759b45.html | 2022-09-01T00:14:03Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/us-war-gamed-with-ukraine-ahead-of-counteroffensive-and-encouraged-more-limited-mission/article_2c3e2c26-6df5-5028-a462-bacd60759b45.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
When the bell rings at Casa Grande Union High School, more than seventy sophomores pile into Stacy Brady's biology class.
The rural school district outside Phoenix can't find enough certified teachers, especially for math and science, so 13 classes are doubled up, with several holding more than 70 students. Some of those classes get a teaching assistant, but others rely on a single teacher.
"It's been very chaotic," Brady said. "I wish I could clone myself because I can't get to every kid who needs help."
Situated between Phoenix and Tucson, Casa Grande has struggled to find teachers for years, hiring roughly 30 from the Philippines each year to fill the gap. But that alarming trend is hitting a more dire point. Jennifer Kortsen, a district spokesperson, says, in her 29 years here, she's never seen a shortage like this.
"I've never had a school year start where we've had so many vacancies, and it's really sad," Kortsen said. "We have it posted, we've gone to job fairs, and there's simply no teachers out there to be had right now."
After two years of weathering pandemic health concerns, learning loss, and tense public scrutiny, teacher burnout is surging nationwide.
Jennifer Zanardi just quit her high school teaching job in Palm Beach, Florida, to become a corporate recruiter. She says the relatively low salary was a big factor, but the political pressure and the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill were the tipping points. She found herself working more hours and walking on eggshells.
"The public was actually saying that teachers were trying to indoctrinate students," Zanardi said. "It affected my mental health and my stress in a huge way."
Enrollment in teacher preparation programs is also plummeting, down 33% between 2010 and 2020 -- a trend that has only intensified during the pandemic, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Schools are competing for a shrinking pool of teachers, and wealthier suburban districts are winning out over those with fewer resources, especially rural schools and those that support more low-income families and students of color.
"(Teachers) are not going to the schools that are the most disadvantaged," said Chad Aldeman, policy director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. "The same schools that were struggling in 2019 are struggling even worse in 2022."
In Prince George's County, Maryland, where there's a high concentration of poverty, at least 8 percent of the public school district's teacher slots are vacant, more than twice as many as last year, according to the teachers union.
Dr. Donna Christy, the president of the Prince George's County Educators Association, is seeing a scramble to fill the gap.
"It definitely feels like there's been an exodus," Christy said. "They're leaving the profession, but they are leaving for other districts as well. Where there's higher pay, where there's better working conditions, where they feel more supported, or they've heard there's more support."
Geva Hickman-Johnson, a high school English teacher in Prince George's County, just found out she'll need to prep lessons for the new substitutes in her department. She also expects her class sizes to grow.
"It means that my students may not be getting the best teacher this year," Hickman-Johnson said. "I may not be able to be at my best because I'm being pulled in so many different directions that I'm not going to really be able to focus on the students that I'm standing in front of every day. It's hard."
On top of learning loss during the pandemic, many teachers across the country have also noticed worsening student behavior. At a time when many students need more attention, Christy fears they'll receive less.
"They were falling through the cracks before," she said. "It's going to be like opening the floodgates. It's going to be really hard to keep up with our struggling students."
Like many districts, Prince George's County Public Schools are now scrambling to fill those empty classrooms, shifting staff around, increasing pay for subs, and combining classes when necessary.
States are getting creative to fill vacancies, though some of the plans are controversial. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking veterans with no teaching degree to lead classrooms.
"It was a slap in the face," Jennifer Zanardi said. "Like what you do doesn't matter, your education doesn't matter, anybody can do what you do. And that's simply not true. We're professionals."
Casa Grande Elementary School District is one of many that have moved to a 4-day week to retain staff -- a strategy it says helped them keep several teachers.
The high school district is looking to hire more teachers from overseas. In some classrooms, paraeducators without expertise on the topic are teaching lessons prepared by certified teachers, like Stacy Brady.
"I think of myself," Brady said. "I struggled with math. And if I was sitting in that classroom, I needed help, I had questions, I needed somebody to break it down a different way, and there was nobody who has the content knowledge to do that, I (would) shut down. And I'm thinking many of our students might be shutting down as well."
Brady expects to lead classes with 70-plus students most, if not all year. She fears the teacher shortage in Casa Grande is only going to get worse.
"My biggest fear, I think, is that some kid is getting hurt in some way, emotionally or physically," she said. "And I'm not able to see it, because there are so many students in the room."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/why-teachers-are-burning-out-and-leaving-districts-scrambling-to-fill-jobs/article_2ffaaa2d-c5ef-5777-912e-7fe33c865f1d.html | 2022-09-01T00:14:09Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/why-teachers-are-burning-out-and-leaving-districts-scrambling-to-fill-jobs/article_2ffaaa2d-c5ef-5777-912e-7fe33c865f1d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SEATTLE (CN) — A Ninth Circuit panel on Wednesday took up Montana conservation groups' six-year battle with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over what the groups say is a failure to develop adequate recovery plans for endangered bull trout.
If successful, the appeal could amend recovery plan requirements under the Endangered Species Act to include target population numbers before a species is delisted. However, attorneys for Save the Bull Trout, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Save the Wild Swan caught resistance from the panel, which noted they'd already heard the claims in a previous lawsuit.
The issue essentially goes back to 1992, when the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Friends of the Wild Swan petitioned Fish and Wildlife to list bull trout as endangered and designate critical habitat. The service finally listed bull trout as endangered in November 1999. But in 2001, the same groups filed a lawsuit against the agency for failing to designate critical habitat for bull trout as required under the Endangered Species Act. The issue was not resolved until 2010.
Then, in 2013, the groups sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the service, stating it must complete a recovery plan for bull trout. The agency agreed to issue a final recovery plan by mid-September 2015, but a month later, the groups sent yet another 60-day notice calling the recovery plan inadequate. Litigation began in the District of Oregon in April 2016, after which a federal judge found the court lacked jurisdiction and dismissed the case — leading the groups to appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal, leading the groups to file an amended complaint that was also dismissed. However, the judge offered one glimmer of hope: “I also find that Judge Acosta’s findings and recommendation made no predetermination of plaintiffs’ ability to be heard on the merits if they choose to file a new complaint.”
As a result, the groups filed a new complaint in 2019, this time with Save the Bull Trout as a primary plaintiff. According to 8KPAX, Save the Bull Trout attorney Rebecca Smith argued the 2015 recovery plan was too subjective because it allowed Fish and Wildlife to decide the fish’s status based on their evaluation of threats to various populations. Additionally, the 2015 plan did not include population targets when its 2002 draft plan did. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto questioned whether populations were necessary, stating that she was unaware of any recovery plans that included such numbers, and subsequently denied the motion for summary judgment a week later.
The groups again appealed, and a win at the Ninth Circuit could cap nearly 30 years of litigation to save the endangered bull trout. Still, the panel appeared unconvinced that attorney Smith could appeal a case that is, effectively, only different by one plaintiff.
“If we take your view of this, doesn’t that mean that you would be able to just continue to refile in district courts in the Ninth Circuit? No matter how many times?” asked U.S. Circuit Judge Gabriel Sanchez, a Joe Biden appointee. “Because if those actions fail, it’ll be based on a lack of subject matter jurisdiction, which means that you’d have license to file it again.”
Smith answered, “I don’t believe that there would be a cycle of filing and refiling. This is really only the second lawsuit that has been filed. And it was directly filed in response to this court’s prior memorandum opinion, which seemed to open the door and leave way for these two specific claims to be raised.”
After rebuttals from government attorney Dina Mishra, Smith was met with a similar question from U.S. Circuit Judge Mary McKeown, a Bill Clinton appointee. “Were we to determine that, with respect to how this lawsuit came about, that there was claim preclusion, would that prevent some other party, not in privity with these parties, from filing under your same theories?”
“No, your honor,” replied Smith. And with that, McKeown, Sanchez, and U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins — also a Clinton appointee — adjourned with no indication of how they may rule.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It’s been quiet — too quiet — this Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists and residents of storm-prone areas whisper almost as if not to tempt fate.
A record-tying inactive August is drawing to a close and no storms have formed, even though it is peak hurricane season and all experts’ pre-season forecasts warned of an above normal season. Nearly all the factors that meteorologists look for in a busy season are there.
Warm ocean water for fuel? Check.
Not a lot of wind shear that decapitates storms? Check.
La Nina, the natural cooling of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide and increases Atlantic storm activity? Check.
Yet zero storms formed. Surprised experts point to unusual persistent dry air and a few other factors. But each time they and computer simulations think something is brewing, nothing comes of it.
“It has been surprisingly and freakishly quiet in the Atlantic,” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said, pointing out that weak Tropical Storm Colin fizzled out on July 2 and there’s been nothing since.
It’ll be the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said. Since 1950, only 1997 and 1961 had no named storms in August and 1961 then went hyperactive in September, including deadly Carla, he said.
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, one of the more weather-battered cities in the past decade, residents have noticed how quiet the hurricane season is so far and it’s almost “testing fate” to bring it up, Mayor Nic Hunter said. From August 2020 to August 2021, the city was hammered by two hurricanes — Laura and Delta — only six weeks apart, a deep freeze and spring flooding. Residents still have blue tarps on their roofs.
“I think there’s a lot of knocking on wood. There’s a lot of prayers,” Hunter said. “Until the season is over, I don’t think anybody’s going to have any sighs of relief.”
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Certainly not 74-year-old Shirley Verdin, who lives about 200 miles (320 kilometers) away in Bayou Point-Au-Chien, where Hurricane Ida ripped through on Aug. 29 last year. She now lives in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer next to her gutted home that will be demolished down to the pilings this weekend so it can be rebuilt.
There are wisps of potential storm systems swirling in the Atlantic that meteorologists are following and so is Verdin. Closely.
“I know there’s something out there right now,” she said.
The National Hurricane Center is watching three thunderstorm systems in the Atlantic and gives them all at least a 50% chance of becoming a named tropical storm, with one of them a likely sounding 80%. But Colorado State’s Klotzbach has seen this before this year and isn’t counting on them.
Just late last week, the computer forecast models predicted three maybe four storms forming, including one becoming a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph (177 km/h), Klotzbach said.
Then nothing.
For the past month and a half, thunderstorms that could be seeds of hurricanes power off Africa looking strong enough “but then they encounter a lot of dry air that’s just sitting over the Atlantic,” University of Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero said. “The dry air has really been the main thing that’s been stopping storms from really getting going.”
Relative humidity is about 15% below normal and there’s been Saharan dust in there making it drier, McNoldy and Klotzbach said.
The dry air does a couple things, Corbosiero said. Those thunderstorms become more potent and get their energy as warm moist air rises off the ocean. The ocean is warm enough, but the dry air causes that water to evaporate, cool and go down, not up, she said.
That dry air also helps create cross winds about 2 miles up (3 to 4 kilometers) “that can really do damage to a storm trying to form,” Corbosiero said.
Matthew Rosencrans, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's lead hurricane outlook forecaster, said he sees signs that the dry air is ending and normal moisture will be returning, which could mean more storms. Rosencrans also says crosswinds at other heights, especially in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico also were a factor in dampening storm activity until now.
Other factors include a patch of sinking air over the Atlantic, a poorly located high pressure system also connected to the European heat wave and dust, the scientists said.
It's been weird in the tropics, too, but in a different way, Klotzbach said. Before this year, the north Indian Ocean has had only one named storm in August; this year there are two, he said. And in the Pacific, Supertyphoon Hinnamnor is not only the most powerful storm on Earth this year, but it’s moving southwest when these type storms usually move west to east, Klotzbach said.
“There’s some odd stuff going on,” Klotzbach said.
But in the Atlantic nothing’s really going on and victims of past years’ storms don’t want to jinx it.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful?” Louisiana resident Thomas Halko asked about whether the so-far quiet hurricane season will continue. Halko lives in southeastern Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish, in an area hammered by Hurricane Ida last year. A house on his property shifted clear off its foundation and had to be demolished.
“We made it through the week and it looks like we’re in relatively good shape for the next five days or so,” he said of the upcoming weather report.
But it’s hard to appreciate the quiet when he feels a “nervous anticipation of doom” thinking about the ongoing hurricane season.
“There is this foreboding that really won’t go away,” he said.
Hurricane season peaks around Sept. 10 and stretches through Nov. 30.
“It is important to remember the lessons of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida and Louisiana in an otherwise quiet year,” National Hurricane Center acting Director Jamie Rhome said in an email. “It only takes one landfalling hurricane to make it a bad season for you, and we still have many months to go in the hurricane season.”
___
By SETH BORENSTEIN AND REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press
Borenstein reported from Washington.
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ST. LOUIS (CN) — Coin, gold and other precious metal dealers struck it rich at the Eighth Circuit on Wednesday, when the federal appeals court found that a Minnesota regulation requiring them to register with the state’s Department of Commerce violates the U.S. Constitution’s dormant commerce clause.
A three-judge panel of two Donald Trump appointees and one George W. Bush appointee struck down what remained of a Minnesota statute governing bullion transactions, much of which bit the dust in a 2021 ruling by U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel, a Trump appointee.
Brasel granted partial summary judgment to bullion traders Thomas Styczinski and Treasure Island Coins, striking down a collection of rules for bullion sales that she found discriminated against out-of-state dealers and sought to regulate transactions outside the state. She did not, however, find that rules requiring dealers to register with the state and to maintain a surety bond in order to sell to Minnesota residents created an undue burden on sellers– a finding that the Eighth Circuit panel reversed Wednesday.
“Chapter 80G does not merely burden in-state dealers with a monetary obligation,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Steven Grasz, a Trump appointee. “Rather, it prohibits an in-state dealer… from conducting any bullion transaction, including out-of-state transactions, without first registering with the Commissioner.”
The St. Louis-based appeals court reversed Brasel’s partial grant of summary judgment to the state's commissioner of commerce, with instructions on remand to determine whether offending provisions could be severed from the rest of the statute.
“While Minnesota certainly has an interest in requiring dealers to register before doing business in Minnesota,” Grasz continued, “such interest does not allow Minnesota to pin its law onto its in-state dealers and their transactions wherever they travel.”
The bond requirement, Grasz noted, “does not fare any better.” Giving the example of a Las Vegas dealer selling to a Minnesota resident, he noted that the rule, which requires dealers to secure their sales with bonds proportional to the value of the metal being sold, “could apply to a Nevadan—unbeknownst to him or her—who has never set foot in Minnesota nor conducted any business there.”
The rules were passed in 2013, and amended this year in an effort to comply with Brasel’s ruling.
Attorney Erick Kaardal, who represented the bullion dealers, said he thought Grasz had struck the right vein in the order.
“The Department of Commerce commissioner was taking the position that Minnesota can regulate transactions out of state, Las Vegas, Hong Kong,” he said.
The rules, he added, had led bullion dealers to avoid selling in Minnesota at all.
“It destroyed the market in Minnesota for certain types of coins in volume,” Kaardal said. “This decision’s going to open up the market in Minnesota so that out-of-state dealers can operate in the state freely.”
Kaardal also speculated that the opinion could have an impact on another hot-button issue: abortion bans, noting that states attempting to ban abortion seekers from traveling out of state should take notice.
“We think it’s a significant victory,” he said, adding that he is planning on looking at other regulations in the area of precious-metals dealing.
Grasz was joined on the unanimous panel by U.S. Circuit Judges Bobby Shepherd and Jonathan Kobes, appointed by Bush and Trump, respectively.
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DETROIT (AP) — General Motors said Wednesday that a new electric vehicle battery plant built in Ohio has started producing cells, which could help customers get federal tax credits.
The joint-venture plant near Warren, Ohio, is focused on training as it prepares to ramp up manufacturing. A spokeswoman for the venture said it is producing cells but they are not yet being shipped. They'll go into vehicles with GM's Ultium batteries, which currently include Hummer EVs, Chevrolet Silverado EV pickups and the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV.
Eventually, though, the plant should help GM's EVs meet requirements to qualify for a $7,500-per-vehicle federal tax credit.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act recently signed into law, electric vehicles and their batteries must be manufactured in North America to get the credit. Battery minerals must be mined or recycled on the continent as well, or half the tax credit would be lost. And the batteries can't have any components from China, another difficult hurdle.
The requirements are designed to build a North American supply chain for EVs so the country isn't reliant on China and other overseas countries.
GM says it's working to meet the requirements. The Ohio plant built with battery maker LG Energy Solution is a step toward getting the credits, which are key to boosting electric vehicle sales. No automaker wants to put EVs on the market that cost $7,500 more than the competition.
The $2.3 billion, 2.8-million-square-foot battery plant now employs 800 people, and eventually it will have 1,300. The factory is near Lordstown, Ohio, where GM closed a huge small-car assembly plant.
GM has a goal of making only electric passenger vehicles by 2035, and CEO Mary Barra has pledged to unseat Tesla as the top seller of EVs by the middle of this decade.
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SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A well-publicized fraud lawsuit brought by the district attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles accusing California law firm Potter Handy of shaking down small businesses with phony disability rights complaints met its end this week with a San Francisco judge’s dismissal of the case on privilege grounds.
Then-San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin and his LA counterpart George Gascón filed the high-profile case seeking the return of millions of dollars the business owners paid to settle thousands of groundless disability-rights lawsuits.
The pair claimed lawyers for the San Diego-based firm file thousands of boilerplate Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits on behalf of a handful of disabled clients against small businesses only to pressure the owners to quickly settle for an amount between $10,000 and $20,000.
Boudin, who was recalled by voters this past June, told Chinatown small business owners at a town hall in May that his office was committed to helping their community fend off predatory lawsuits and recoup the funds they’d already spent on settlements.
“We cannot and will not allow lawyers to enrich themselves by abusing the law and shaking down and extorting money from hardworking small business owners, particularly when they are targeting folks they know do not have access linguistically or financially to any ability to defend themselves,” Boudin said.
In a brief ruling Monday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow found the DAs’ case barred by rules governing “litigation privilege” that protect the filings and communications connected to Potter Handy’s ADA lawsuits from being used against them as they pursue their clients’ interests.
"The gist is that there is a recognition that bringing civil litigation is protected by the First Amendment right to petition the government. Prosecuting claims based on filing a lawsuit is a direct attack on this right, and inherently implicates numerous other rights,” Potter Handy partner Dennis Price said in an email Wednesday. “How do you engage in civil discovery when virtually every document is covered by attorney-client privilege? Further, if there is a threat of future litigation derived from bringing a lawsuit, it can have a chilling effect on future claims.”
Price said ADA filings from firms have dropped off since the district attorneys' lawsuit, but Potter Handy is still filing cases.
Karnow did not give the attorneys an opportunity to amend the case, but said they can still bring criminal charges against Potter Handy, and that its lawyers could be disciplined by the State Bar for ethics violations "if the complaint's allegations are true."
Randy Quezada, a spokesperson for Boudin’s successor Brooke Jenkins said Wednesday that that are "considering all options before making any decisions."
Price described the original civil suit as a “publicity stunt” meant to drum up support for Boudin and Gascón, who were both facing recall elections at the time. Only Gascón remains in the job.
“Gascón and Boudin wasted taxpayer money to shore up support from the small business communities that had lost faith in each of them by attacking a convenient scapegoat,” Price said. “People with disabilities are a small, politically forgotten, minority. This is the same cold calculation California businesses often make: disabled patrons represent a tiny fraction of their potential customer base, and people with disabilities face some of the highest rates of poverty of any minority group. Why invest in making physical changes to accommodate persons with disabilities? This is the reason the ADA was needed over 30 years ago and why it is still needed today.”
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MEXICO CITY (CN) — Mexico’s president Wednesday announced that his administration will provide the Supreme Court with a list of corrupt judges ahead of a vote to eliminate mandatory pretrial detention.
“We’re talking serious crimes, we’re talking about corruption, about kidnappings, femicides, of course, homicides, money laundering, organized crime,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador told reporters at his morning press conference Wednesday.
López Obrador has harshly criticized the country’s judicial branch since Supreme Court Justice Luis María Aguilar last week proposed an initiative to declare mandatory pretrial detention unconstitutional.
“There is no argument in favor of the existence of this concept that is not linked to the arbitrary use of punitive power,” reads the 191-page initiative. “Arguing in favor of its validity can only be done in the shadow of human rights and in a manner not in accord with the prevailing reality in this country.”
The initiative would do away with mandatory pretrial detention for 16 crimes, including organized crime, homicide, femicide (the murder of a woman on the basis of her sex), rape, corruption and kidnapping, among others.
Mexico’s other preventative custody measure, justified pretrial detention, is based on a defendant’s perceived risk of failing to appear in court, endangering victims or witnesses, or otherwise obstructing the administration of justice.
López Obrador has claimed that the elimination of mandatory pretrial detention would increase corruption in Mexico’s judicial system.
“The majority of the members of the judicial branch are not people characterized by honesty,” he said Tuesday. “They don’t resist cannon shots of money, they don’t resist temptation, or they’re representatives of vested interest groups, they don’t represent the people.”
Mexico’s national federal judges association JUFED responded to López Obrador’s accusations Tuesday, saying in a tweet that it does not accept “unjustified generalized labels.”
“As judges of the federal judicial branch, our only commitment is to safeguard the Constitution and the human rights of all Mexicans,” read the accompanying press release. “The rule of law, above all things, is the route that guarantees the viability of a democracy in which the citizenry can exercise its liberties.”
López Obrador’s crusade against corruption is arguing a “false debate” in the arena of mandatory pretrial detention, according to Javier Martín Reyes, a law professor at Mexico’s National Autonomous University.
“It’s true that there are corrupt judges — we can’t generalize, but there are some cases at both the federal and local levels,” said Reyes. “But keeping mandatory pretrial detention does nothing to help avoid that corruption.”
Criminals who want to influence a judge can do so at other points in the judicial process, Reyes said, like bribing or intimidating to avoid being charged in the first place.
One sector of Mexican society would surely see a benefit from Aguilar’s initiative, and it is comprised of the very people López Obrador claims to champion.
“What mandatory pretrial detention does do is make those who cannot afford good lawyers the ones who are the most affected,” he said. “Prisons in Mexico are full of poor people who simply don’t have the resources to pay for a good defense, because public defenders offices leave much to be desired. Those who can’t afford to fight in the justice system are those who typically end up convicted.”
Forcing judges to order pretrial detention on a case-by-case basis would actually incentivize police and district attorney’s offices to do what they largely do not do in Mexico: investigate crimes.
“We’re never going to have justice in Mexico until we can guarantee that victims and society are given the truth, that those who commit crimes pay for them, that victims will receive redress and guarantees that the crime won’t be committed again,” said Reyes.
While the court was set to debate the issue last Thursday, Chief Justice Arturo Zaldívar postponed the discussion until Monday, Sept. 5.
The idea of eliminating mandatory pretrial detention came after Zaldívar made an unorthodox and unprecedented visit to a women’s prison in Mexico City to discuss alleged abuses of the legal concept with inmates.
Zaldívar spoke with over 200 female inmates of the Santa Martha women’s prison, many of whom claimed to have been behind bars for years without ever having been convicted of a crime.
While the law states that a person cannot be held in mandatory pretrial detention for more than two years, several of the women told Zaldívar that they had been in prison for much longer, some for as long as 15 years.
Since then, a collaborative effort by the federal judiciary, the Mexico City government and the Federal Institute of Public Defenders has orchestrated the release of three women from the Santa Martha prison.
However, none were in mandatory pretrial detention. All three had been convicted of the crimes they committed, and had been granted reduced sentences, but were unable to get released due to inadequate defenses.
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(CN) — When Stella Grant lost her job early on in the pandemic, she turned to driving for Lyft to help support herself and her two sons. But a brutal assault at the hands of one of her passengers would mar her life forever.
“That turned out to be the mistake of my life,” she said. “My life changed forever just because of that decision.”
Grant still bears the physical and emotional scars from the attack on Aug. 30, 2021. The woman who got into her car was not the person who had requested the ride, and became irate when Grant tried to verify her identity.
“She quickly began abusing me verbally and physically. She was really violent with me while I was driving and she punched me in the face and back,” Grant said.
When Grant tried to call the police, her assailant forced her way to the front of the vehicle and grabbed the steering wheel.
“I was trying to get control back of my car so we wouldn't crash. I was scared for my life,” Grant said. “She hit me with an object in the face. I started bleeding. Blood was gushing everywhere.”
The assault left her with a scarred lip, chronic back pain and a nagging fear of being attacked again. Grant says she’s too scared to get back on the app. “I'm afraid of being attacked again by a passenger like that. I don't know what I'm going to do to provide for my two boys.”
For attorneys at Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise, stories like Grant’s are exceedingly common, for both drivers and riders. They say that despite admitting to persistent safety lapses on its platform, Lyft has done nothing to protect drivers and passengers from beatings, rapes and sexual assaults.
On Wednesday, the firm filed an unprecedented raft of lawsuits across the country that claim the ride-hail giant refuses to adequately monitor rides or require in-car cameras and dash cams to mitigate attacks, and ignores complaints from victims of violence.
“Lyft has a responsibility to protect its passengers and drivers, period. Its refusal to do so has resulted in acts of violence that have left our clients with disabilities, permanent deformities and lifelong trauma,” Peiffer Wolf partner Tracey Cowan told reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “Lyft is not only failing to provide reasonable protection for its users, but even after an assault occurs, Lyft ignores, minimizes or downright stonewalls the victim's efforts to report the incidents and get help.”
Driver Stuart Berman suffered a broken nose and a brain bleed that required two neurosurgeries after being beaten by a drunk passenger. He said he still cannot walk or climb stairs properly. He said Lyft put $750 in his account as compensation, but did nothing else.
Attacks against drivers and passengers are well-known to Lyft, Cowan said, citing a “safety report” the company released in 2021 that revealed 4,158 reports of sexual assaults had occurred during Lyft rides between 2017-2019.
“Predators are still allowed to drive for Lyft,” Cowan said. “There are even forums about how to get laid or get girls' interest during Lyft rides.”
She said Lyft also blocks riders and passengers from obtaining information about their assailants and brushes off reports of attacks with canned responses.
A spokesperson for Lyft disputed these claims in an email sent to Courthouse News late Wednesday, saying 99% of Lyft rides occur without incident. "In our Community Safety Report you can see that the rate of reported sexual assault incidents from 2017 to 2019 remained constant at 0.00002%," they said, adding that Lyft rigorously screens every single driver on its platform. "Violence and harassment are not tolerated on the Lyft platform, and drivers or riders who engage in such behavior or otherwise violate our Community Guidelines can and do result in those users being permanently removed from the platform," the spokesperson said. | https://www.courthousenews.com/lyft-hit-with-18-lawsuits-over-beatings-sexual-assaults-of-drivers-and-passengers/ | 2022-09-01T00:18:20Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/lyft-hit-with-18-lawsuits-over-beatings-sexual-assaults-of-drivers-and-passengers/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan elections board on Wednesday rejected an abortion rights initiative after its two Republican board members voted against putting the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
The two Democrats on the Board of State Canvassers voted in favor, but getting the measure on the ballot required at least three votes of the four-member board. The Reproductive Freedom for All campaign, which gathered signatures to get the measure on the ballot, is expected to appeal to the Democratic-leaning Michigan Supreme Court in the coming days and expressed confidence it would prevail.
The board's administrative and clerical work on elections was once carried out in obscurity, but it drew national attention in 2020 when Donald Trump pressured Republican members not to certify Joe Biden's electoral win in the state. Its partisan split was evident on another issue Wednesday, when it deadlocked 2-2 on a measure to expand voting, with Democrats for it and Republicans against.
Abortion rights have become a powerful motivator for voters since Roe was overturned. In conservative Kansas, voters overwhelmingly defeated a ballot measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright, and the issue has swayed votes in special elections for Congress, including in a battleground district in upstate New York. Nationally, Democrats have seen an increase in fundraising since the Supreme Court decision.
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother. The meeting drew hundreds of people, who packed the hearing room and overflow rooms for a chance to comment. Abortion opponents also protested outside.
Michigan's 1931 law — which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June — remains blocked after months of court battles. A state judge ruled Aug. 19 that Republican county prosecutors couldn’t enforce the ban, saying it was “in the public’s best interest to let the people of the great state of Michigan decide this matter at the ballot box."
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Darci McConnell, a spokeswoman for Reproductive Freedom for All, the group backing the measure, said she remains confident.
"We had more than 730,000 people who read, signed and understood what they signed. The board was supposed to do one thing today and affirm that we had the signatures, their own bureau said we did. So we’re still optimistic that we’ll be on the ballot in November,” McConnell said.
Supporters of the other initiative, to expand voting including adding ballot drop boxes, also are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Groups have seven business days to appeal and the ballot must be finalized by Sept. 9.
Having abortion rights on the ballot in November would almost certainly be a boon for Democrats in Michigan, a swing state where voters will also be deciding whether Democrats keep control of statewide offices, including governor and secretary of state. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats have put abortion rights front and center in their campaigns, and after Republicans chose businesswoman Tudor Dixon as the GOP nominee for governor, Democrats released an ad blasting her strong opposition to abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.
Abortion opponents protested noisily outside as the meeting got underway Wednesday. Their muffled yells could be heard inside the hearing room, and the Republican board chairman at one point asked security to tell them to stop banging on the windows.
During the public comment period, Dr. Jessica Frost, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Lansing, told the board “we must restore the reproductive protections lost when Roe was overturned.”
Opponents said the ballot language was confusing. Several called abortion immoral and warned board members against approval.
“I can’t imagine a more important decision that you have to ever make in your life, because I know that you and I will kneel before Christ someday and answer for the decision you make today,” Billy Putman said.
The Bureau of Elections verified last Thursday that the abortion ballot initiative petition contained enough valid signatures for the amendment to qualify for the ballot and recommended that the state Board of Canvassers approve the measure.
On Wednesday, Mary Ellen Gurewitz, a Democratic canvasser, said the board had “no authority to reject this petition due to challenges to the content of the petition.” But Tony Daunt, a Republican canvasser, said errors in some petition language were “egregious.”
The Michigan Board of Canvassers, comprising two Republicans and two Democrats, has become increasingly partisan in recent years.
Trump's pressure in 2020 led one member, who has since resigned, to abstain from certifying Biden's win. The other GOP board member, who voted to certify, wasn’t nominated again by the state GOP party and was replaced by Daunt, the board chairman.
Earlier this year, two leading candidates for the GOP nomination for governor were dropped from the primary ballot after the board deadlocked along partisan lines on whether too many fraudulent signatures on their nomination papers made them ineligible. A tie vote meant the candidates lost.
___
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and SARA BURNETT Associated Press
Burnett contributed from Chicago.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the bright lights and electronic billboards across New York's Times Square, city authorities are posting new signs proclaiming the bustling crossroads a “Gun Free Zone.”
The sprawling Manhattan tourist attraction is one of scores of “sensitive” places — including parks, churches and theaters — that will be off limits for guns under a sweeping new state law going into effect Thursday. The measure, passed after a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June expanded gun rights, also sets stringent standards for issuing concealed carry permits.
New York is among a half-dozen states that had key provisions of its gun laws invalidated by the high court because of a requirement for applicants to prove they had “proper cause” for a permit. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that she and her fellow Democrats in the state Legislature took action the next week because the ruling “destroyed the ability for a governor to be able to protect her citizens from people who carry concealed weapons anywhere they choose.”
The quickly adopted law, however, has led to confusion and court challenges from gun owners who say it improperly limits their constitutional rights.
“They seem to be designed less towards addressing gun violence and more towards simply preventing people from getting guns — even if those people are law-abiding, upstanding citizens, who according to the Supreme Court have the rights to have them,” said Jonathan Corbett, a Brooklyn attorney and permit applicant who is one of several people challenging the law in court.
Under the law, applicants for a concealed carry permit will have to complete 16 hours of classroom training and two hours of live-fire exercises. Ordinary citizens would be prohibited from bringing guns to schools, churches, subways, theaters and amusement parks — among other places deemed “sensitive” by authorities.
Applicants also will have to provide a list of social media accounts for the past three years as part of a “character and conduct” review. The requirement was added because shooters have sometimes dropped hints of violence online before they opened fire on people.
Sheriffs in some upstate counties said the additional work for their investigators could add to existing backlogs in processing applications.
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In Rochester, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said it currently takes two to four hours to perform a pistol permit background check on a “clean” candidate. He estimate the new law will add another one to three hours for each permit. The county has about 600 pending pistol permits.
“It’s going to slow everything down just a bit more,” he said.
In the Mohawk Valley, Fulton County Sheriff Richard C. Giardino had questions on how the digital sleuthing would proceed.
“It says three years worth of your social media. We’re not going to print out three years of social media posts by everybody. If you look at my Facebook, I send out six or 10 things a day,” said the sheriff, a former district attorney and judge.
The list of prohibited spaces for carrying guns has drawn criticism from advocates who say it's so extensive it will make it difficult for people with permits to move about in public. People carrying a gun could go into private business only with permission, such as a sign posted on the window.
Giardino has already started giving out signs to local businesses saying people can carry legal firearms on the premises. Jennifer Elson, who owns the Let’s Twist Again Diner in Amsterdam, said she put up the sheriff’s sign, along with one of her own reading in part “per our governor, we have to post this nonsense. If you are a law abiding citizen who obtained a legal permit to carry, you are welcome here.”
“I feel pretty strongly that everybody’s constitutional rights should be protected,” she said.
But in Times Square, visited by about 50 million tourists annually, and many less crowded places carrying a gun will be illegal starting Thursday.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said Tuesday she looked forward to seeing authorities move to “protect New Yorkers and visitors who frequent Times Square.”
One lawsuit challenging provisions of the law argued the rules make it hard for license holders to leave home without violating the law. A federal judge is expected to rule soon on a motion challenging multiple provisions of the law, which was filed on behalf of a Schenectady resident who holds a license to carry.
The Supreme Court ruling also led to a flurry of legislation in California to tighten rules on gun ownership, including a new law that could hold gun dealers and manufacturers responsible for any harm caused by anyone they have “reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk” of using a gun illegally.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a measure that would require gun permit applicants to undergo personal interviews with a licensing authority.
New Jersey required people to get training before receiving a permit and would require new residents to register guns brought in from out of state.
Hawaii, which has the nation’s lowest number of gun deaths, is still weighing its options. Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the state has only granted one new gun permit.
While New York does not keep statewide data on pistol permit applications, there are reports of long lines at county clerks' office and other evidence of a surge in applications before the law takes effect.
In the Mohawk Valley, Pine Tree Rifle Club President Paul Catucci said interest in the club's volunteer-run safety courses “blew right up” late this summer.
“I had to turn hundreds of them away,” he said.
___
By MICHAEL HILL, MAYSOON KHAN and BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press
Hill and Khan contributed from Albany, New York.
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National
Pfizer and Moderna to roll out omicron-specific Covid-19 boosters
Updated boosters are expected to come out as soon as next week after the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to modify their respective shots to better protect Americans against the omicron strain of Covid-19.
Courthouse doors slam in US against relic-restitution fight
U.S. courts will not decide whether Nazi rule helped the Prussian state acquire a world-renowned collection of medieval German ecclesiastical art in 1935, concluding a long-running court battle initiated by the heirs of Holocaust victims.
Regional
Wisconsin federal judge rules disabled voters can get help casting absentee ballots
A Wisconsin federal judge on Wednesday ruled disabled voters who need help from someone else to place their absentee ballot in the mail or return it to the municipal clerk cannot be barred from getting that assistance under state law because it is a federally protected right.
Fifth Circuit asked to block permit for Texas gas export terminal
An attorney for the Sierra Club told a Fifth Circuit panel Wednesday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should not have approved a permit for a liquified natural gas facility in Texas that allows dumping into wetlands.
Federal prison warden faces inmate sex abuse charges
A federal prison warden was arraigned in federal court in Oakland on Wednesday on charges of sexually abusing several inmates.
International
Danish government aims to crack down on gang recruitment
Ahead of upcoming national elections, the governing Social Democratic Party has presented 30 proposals for stricter sentencing on organized crime activities. The legislative package focuses on prevention rather than acts of violence.
UN panel voices deep concern over abortion, racial justice in America
The review committee of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination expressed deep concern Wednesday about the treatment of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning abortion rights and continued brutality of law enforcement against people of color.
Science
Talk about moxie: Machine has success creating oxygen on Mars
A lunchbox-sized instrument can create a small tree’s worth of oxygen on Mars.
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Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. | https://www.courthousenews.com/top-8-today-8-31-2022/ | 2022-09-01T00:18:39Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/top-8-today-8-31-2022/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After its upcoming premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde, will join the likes of Showgirls and Blue Is the Warmest Color as one of the rare major films rated NC-17 (not suitable for audiences under age 18). Although star Ana de Armas isn’t totally on board with the distinction.
“I didn’t understand why that happened,” she said when asked about the rating by French fashion magazine L’Officiel. “I can tell you a number of shows or movies that are way more explicit with a lot more sexual content than Blonde. But to tell this story, it is important to show all these moments in Marilyn’s life that made her end up the way that she did. It needed to be explained. Everyone [in the cast] knew we had to go to uncomfortable places. I wasn’t the only one.”
She isn’t the only one confused by the controversial rating, either. Filmmaker Andrew Dominik, who adapted Blonde from Joyce Carol Oates’s best-selling 2000 novel of the same name, told Vulture in May that he hadn’t anticipated receiving such a rating. “I was surprised. Yeah. I thought we’d colored inside the lines,” Dominik said. Still, he maintained that “Americans are really strange when it comes to sexual behavior, don’t you think? I don’t know why. They make more porn than anyone else in the world.”
Dominik took a slightly harsher tone when speaking to Screen Daily about the film’s sexual content in February. “It’s a demanding movie. If the audience doesn’t like it, that’s the fucking audience’s problem,” he declared. “It’s not running for public office. It’s an NC-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe. It’s kind of what you want, right? I want to go and see the NC-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story.”
In the upcoming film, which, according to Netflix, “blurs the lines of fact and fiction to explore the widening split between [Monroe’s] public and private selves,” de Armas stars as the titular sex symbol alongside Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, and Evan Williams.
Blonde—and all of its pearl-clutching content—is headed to Netflix on September 28. | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/ana-de-armas-blonde-nc-17-rating | 2022-09-01T00:22:04Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/ana-de-armas-blonde-nc-17-rating | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Succession is apparently just as important behind-the-scenes at House of the Dragon. Miguel Sapochnik, co-showrunner of the Game of Thrones spinoff, is leaving the HBO drama less than two weeks after its record-breaking premiere.
The filmmaker, who directed the premiere episode of House of the Dragon, will remain an executive producer on the show as he transitions into a first-look deal with HBO to develop new projects, the network confirmed to Vanity Fair on Wednesday. Ryan Condal, who served as co-showrunner on the first season alongside Sapochnik, will lead the series as its sole showrunner in collaboration with series co-creator and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
To fill Sapochnik’s shoes as a director, HBO has hired another Game of Thrones veteran, Alan Taylor, who will serve as an executive producer and director for several episodes of House of the Dragon’s second season. Like Sapochnik, who directed a number of episodes of the original series, Taylor was a regular in Westeros during the show’s eight-season run.
“It was incredibly tough to decide to move on, but I know that it is the right choice for me, personally and professionally,” Sapochnik said in a statement. “As I do so, though, I am deeply comforted to know that Alan will be joining the series. He’s someone I’ve known and respected for a long time, and I believe this precious series could not be in safer hands.”
House of the Dragon debuted in late August, more than three years after Game of Thrones went off the air. The return to Westeros proved a major draw—the show had the largest premiere in HBO history with 10 million cross-platform viewers, earning it a quick second season renewal. HBO said Monday that the premiere episode was approaching 25 million viewers in the US a week after its debut.
Sapochnik was reluctant to join Condal as co-showrunner of House of the Dragon despite his work developing the project for HBO, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported news of his departure from the show. But he eventually relented, also agreeing to direct three of the first season’s 10 episodes.
“Miguel Sapochnik has done amazing work on the first season of House of the Dragon, establishing its signature look and feel,” an HBO representative said in a statement. “This series simply could not have come together the way it did without him. While we would have loved to have Miguel continue in the same role, we are thrilled to have his ongoing collaboration in this new creative capacity. Looking forward, we’ve had a decades-long relationship with Alan Taylor, and we are delighted to have him join Ryan and rest the talented team.”
Listen to the Still Watching: House of the Dragon podcast, and sign up to receive a weekly “Westeros Update” in your inbox. | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-a-co-showrunner-departs-the-show-without-bloodshed | 2022-09-01T00:22:10Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-a-co-showrunner-departs-the-show-without-bloodshed | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Corporate capital expenditure up 4.6% y/y (vs. Q1 result of +3.0%)
- company profits +17.6% y/y in Q2 (prior +13.7%)
- sales are +7.2% y/y (prior +7.9%)
Corporate capital expenditure up 4.6% y/y (vs. Q1 result of +3.0%)
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America’s favorite ad is getting a sequel. Billy Ray, the screenwriter behind Nicole Kidman’s beloved ad for AMC theaters, has confirmed exclusively to Vanity Fair that a sequel to the viral ad is already in motion.
“I got a text from the chairman of AMC about a month ago asking me if I would write the next one, and of course the answer to that is yes,” Ray said. “It’s already written.”
Prior to writing the iconic line “somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this,” Ray was primarily known as an accomplished Hollywood screenwriter, penning films like Flightplan, The Hunger Games, Richard Jewell, and Captain Phillips, for which he received an Oscar nomination. Kidman and Ray previously collaborated on the 2015 film Secret in Their Eyes; she’s next set to star in Adrian Lyne’s forthcoming film adaptation of the suspense thriller The Silent Wife, which Ray adapted from the novel by A.S.A Harrison. Ray says Kidman reached out directly to ask if he’d write the first AMC ad.
“When Nicole first asked me to do it, I was just doing it as a favor,” says Ray. “I said I would do it for free just because I’m a fan and a friend of hers.” Luckily for Ray, his agent cautioned him against doing the gig for free. “My agent said, ‘No, that’s not what’s happening here. You need to be paid for this,’” he says with a laugh. “And it turns out my agent was right, because it’s had real value.”
The power and impact of Kidman, clad in a sparkling gray suit as she walks down the hallways of an AMC theater before taking her seat, has been a surprise to Ray. “Nobody saw this coming,” says Ray. “Nobody.” Since the ad began playing before films at AMC theaters across the nation, it’s spawned multiple parodies, from Bravo ads to Broadway. The spot was so successful that AMC announced it had extended Kidman’s contract for another year, though it was unclear when or whether a new ad would be ushered into the world.
Luckily, there’s now another one in the works. “I’m very, very excited about it,” Ray says. When asked what the new ad might look like, though, the screenwriter was relatively tight-lipped. “All I can tell you about it is we are not dumb enough to fly in the face of the one we’ve already done and try to top it,” he says. “So it’s a very, very different approach that is a little bit of a wink to the one we’ve already done.”
And if you were worried that AMC may be going in another direction and courting a different actress to welcome us back into the theater, fear not: Kidman is here to stay. “Of course it’s with Nicole,” Ray says. “I’m not doing it without Nicole.”
AMC did not immediately respond to Vanity Fair’s request for comment. | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/nicole-kidmans-amazing-amc-ad-is-getting-a-sequel | 2022-09-01T00:22:16Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/nicole-kidmans-amazing-amc-ad-is-getting-a-sequel | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Netflix’s famous largesse has afforded many venerable directors the chance to pursue their pricey passions. Martin Scorsese got to reverse the aging of his favorite actors. David Fincher was able to finally see his late father’s film dream lavishly come to life. And now Noah Baumbach, fresh off the glossy and awards-bedecked Marriage Story, has been given the chance to adapt a seismic tome from his youth, 1985’s White Noise, which brought author Don DeLillo worldwide acclaim.
This is Baumbach’s first time directing an adaption of someone else’s work—an interesting new angle for a writer-director so known for putting his personal grievances, peccadillos, and memories on screen. His affection for the material makes sense. White Noise’s satire and critique—both biting and strangely loving—helped set the tone for a Gen X worldview, mordant and dyspeptic but not exactly nihilistic. Baumbach’s own work has gradually become more sentimental as middle age has crept in and agitation has given way to gentle resignation.
White Noise concerns vaguely Midwestern professor Jack Gladney (Adam Driver), who specializes in Hitler studies at a tony little liberal arts college. He and his wife, Babette (Baumbach’s own partner, Greta Gerwig), have both been married several times in the past and have a blended coterie of children, ranging from late teens to a toddler. Their existence is busy, full of the common din of family life and the omnipresent drone of the world outside. True to his film’s title, Baumbach keeps White Noise at a constant hum, a natter of crosstalk, radio and TV reports, a supermarket P.A., and Danny Elfman’s swelling and ebbing score.
The effect is probably deliberately disorienting, a sensory overload meant to plunge us into a world that’s recognizable but more archly articulated than our own. All of that sound and activity ominously coalesces in the film’s second chapter, which follows the fallout of an accident involving hazardous chemicals. The Gladneys evacuate their home and embark on a mini odyssey, one that seems to bring them closer to danger rather than further from it. Here, Baumbach gets to try his hand at car crashes and an explosion, action-y set pieces that are far afield from the talky interiority of his other films. He stages this fright and jumble confidently, but at a slight remove, as if the idea of these things is happening rather than the actual things.
That’s a problem with White Noise on the whole, the sense that there is something impenetrable about DeLillo’s work that Baumbach can’t quite crack. The story’s themes—fear of death, societal atomization at the dawn of the information age—are clearly stated, but there’s little passion pulsing beneath the thesis. It’s a respectful, and respectable, film to a fault; it’s hard to locate the animating why of White Noise. Despite some alterations, the film seems to exist more as a recitation of the book than its own kind of invention.
Which is so often the pitfall of literary adaptations, especially those done by filmmakers deeply invested in the source material. White Noise is a reverent appreciation of DeLillo’s nearly 40-year-old text that has trouble connecting its philosophies and conundrums to our palpable present tense. On occasion, one of the film’s strange little fugues resonates: a moment of shared mortal terror between husband and wife, a parental huff of appreciation for a precocious and maturing kid, a sense of awe at a terrible thing looming on the horizon.
But those brief bursts of enriching feeling aren’t enough to sustain the film. So much else in White Noise is curiously cold to the touch—or maybe room-temperature. Baumbach avoids extremes, even when his characters are shooting guns or are stuck floating down a river in a wood-sided station wagon. We don’t feel the closeness and ardor that gave Marriage Story such prickly life, that gave The Squid and the Whale its acidic fizz, that gave such delicate shape to Frances Ha.
Perhaps White Noise is simply dated, in all its pre-Internet, pre-9/11, pre-everything else musing on American life and culture. The script, much of which is transposed from the novel, doesn’t help matters. The cast—which also includes Don Cheadle as an Elvis-obsessed professor and Lars Eidinger as an addled drug pusher—tries hard to make stiff lines sound conversational, but they often come up short. There’s a stilted quality to White Noise, which certainly may be the point when, say, the film is spoofing the high, hot wind of academic pretension. But that style fails the characters in the film’s more intimate interludes. It was probably better left on the page.
Driver comes closest to breaking out of the film’s cramped confinement. He makes Jack pompous and sweet, occasionally shrewd but mostly oblivious. He’s affable and annoying, a drifter through the late-millennium struggling to confront the inevitability rushing at him. There’s a poignant decency to his performance, rounding out a character that could easily have been just a simple American caricature. If only Baumbach could have harnessed that raw energy and applied it to the rest of the film, which is so often in need of the ache and wonder that Driver deftly embodies. It’s through him that White Noise most closely approximates a message, a shaggy portrait of humanity in flux that sees helplessness reframed as something like freedom. | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/white-noise-movie-review-venice | 2022-09-01T00:22:22Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/white-noise-movie-review-venice | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The yen found a bid during the timezone here yesterday on the back of a data release:
That has long since dissipated, USD/JPY surged overnight. And, on a longer view:
As a heads up we have some data due from Japan very soon, at 2350 GMT:
Perhaps there will be another yen response today. I doubt it but could be wrong.
Meanwhile GBP/USD has hit its lowest in 2.5 years in morning Asia trade circa 1.1594 | https://www.forexlive.com/news/usdjpy-extending-gains-over-13920-20220831/ | 2022-09-01T00:22:23Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/usdjpy-extending-gains-over-13920-20220831/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It won’t be full-on Dark Brandon. No lasers will shoot from Joe Biden’s eyes when he speaks Thursday night in Philadelphia. But the tone of the president’s speech should be plenty blunt and aggressive. “This is not just stump. It’s something new,” a Biden insider says. “He’s not afraid of talking about Trump anymore. He’s not afraid of making the direct contrast anymore. The ‘let’s come together’ stuff? That’s over. We did that and got a lot done. Now it’s about winning.”
Biden is ramping up his retail appearances around the country just as the November midterms really start closing in, as is traditional. Campaigns believe voters truly start paying attention after Labor Day. His speech in Philadelphia will be the second of Biden’s three stops in Pennsylvania within a week, as he tries to help Democratic candidates running in key, tight swing state races—Josh Shapiro, for governor, and John Fetterman, for U.S. Senate, one of Democrats’ best shots at flipping a currently Republican-held seat in Congress’s upper chamber (Fetterman returned the favor by publicly pushing Biden to reform marijuana laws).
But the president’s newfound intensity is being fueled by two things. The first is a policy winning streak that seems to be boosting Biden’s popularity, particularly among independent voters, whose approval of the president climbed nine points in August, according to a new Gallup poll. Overall, Biden was still underwater, at 44%, but even that job approval rating was up six points from July, when he hit a record low. “Starting with Eisenhower, there’s only one president whose job rating improved from the summer into the midterms, and that was Trump, by just two points, in 2018, which shows you how hard it is,” says John Anzalone, Biden’s pollster. “So this president is doing something that is counter to every historical trend.” Progress, yes, though the precedent isn’t entirely encouraging: In 2018, the GOP still lost the House in a landslide.
A backlash against the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade is also clearly benefiting Biden and the Democrats. So the president and his advisers, who have not given up on wooing sane Republicans to Biden’s side, see Thursday’s speech as an opportunity to start converting momentum into political capital. “This is a historically difficult time for messaging to break through,” says Jen Psaki, who was Biden’s White House press secretary for the first 15 months of the administration, and who will start her new job as an MSNBC commentator in September. “Biden’s never going to out-Trump Trump. Nor should he—no one elected him to do that. But it’s better to have a little wind at your back to give a speech like this.”
The White House is teasing Thursday’s speech—which is expected to be written by Biden’s longtime close adviser Mike Donilon—as focusing on the “battle” for democracy, “and who is fighting for those freedoms.” Which is of course an important big picture theme, but one that still needs to be tied to everyday concerns if it's going to resonate with voters. “The ‘threat to democracy’ is something that’s said so much it almost sounds like a talking point,” Psaki says. “People sitting in Ohio say, ‘Okay, but my eggs cost a lot of money and so does my gas, and I’m concerned about the cost of college.’ There are answers to that, and you need to make the connection. The president is someone who is very good at extracting highfalutin’ issues and making them mean something to people.”
Which is related to the second part of what’s animating Biden at the moment. He is a political lifer, and in Trump’s ongoing secret-document fiasco, Biden certainly sees an opening to exploit. But he also still takes this American experiment thing personally. On Tuesday, in a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, speech ostensibly devoted to crime, the president took a not-very-veiled shot at Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who recently threatened that there would be riots if Trump is indicted. “The idea you turn on a television and see senior senators and congressmen saying, ‘If such and such happens, there’ll be blood in the street,’” Biden said, at high volume. “Where the hell are we?”
Biden has talked frequently about his 2020 bid for the White House, and its “battle for the soul of America” slogan, as being spurred by the 2017 white supremacist and neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, part of a “Unite the Right” rally. Thursday’s speech promises to be a spirited sequel, with Trump’s cavalier handling of national security documents and his supporters’ threats against the FBI providing the fresh contextual backdrop—and Independence Hall providing the literal backdrop, just in case Biden’s message isn’t obvious enough. “The president often says, ‘Don’t compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative,’” Psaki says. “I expect he will continue to lay out the choice and the contrast. It’s exactly the right time to do it.” | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/08/joe-biden-hits-the-campaign-trail-ready-to-take-on-trump | 2022-09-01T00:22:28Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/08/joe-biden-hits-the-campaign-trail-ready-to-take-on-trump | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, received backing from eight GOP figures this week in his race against State Senator Doug Mastriano, a far-right Republican backed by Donald Trump who has touched off tensions within the GOP around where the party should be headed without Trump in office. This week’s endorsements came just less than two months after an additional nine current and former Pennsylvania Republican officials threw their support behind Shapiro, the state’s attorney general.
James Schultz, a former associate White House counsel under Trump, explained his support for Shapiro in a Monday op-ed for Philadelphia magazine, noting that Mastriano led a baseless campaign to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results. “Because some in our state GOP leadership have put self-preservation over principled conservatism, we’re stuck with a conspiracy theorist candidate,” wrote Schultz. “But by no means must we stick by Doug Mastriano. I’m a proud Republican. I’m backing Josh Shapiro.” In a statement, Shapiro promised to continue bringing “Republicans and Democrats together” if elected, adding that he was “proud to receive the endorsement of these Republican leaders who are putting our commonwealth ahead of partisan politics in order to come together and move Pennsylvania forward.”
Other names on Shapiro’s new roster of Republican supporters include Michael Chertoff, the former secretary of homeland security during George W. Bush’s second term; David Heckler, a former district attorney; Mario Civera, the former Delaware County Council chairman; and four former state lawmakers. Like Schultz, Chertoff singled out Mastriano’s voter-fraud conspiracy theories in his endorsement of Shapiro. “Although I am a long-standing Republican, I am deeply troubled by Doug Mastriano’s embrace of dangerous extremism,” Chertoff told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, urging Americans to support candidates who will “defend our democracy,” no matter which party they claim. “Josh Shapiro, on the other hand, is a staunch defender of our democratic institutions and will lead Pennsylvania with honor and integrity,” Chertoff added. “I am proud to support his campaign for governor.”
Mastriano’s controversial views go beyond just the 2020 election. The winner of a 2019 special election for State Senate, Mastriano has called legal abortion a “barbaric holocaust” and argued that the separation of church and state, as outlined in the US Constitution, is a “myth.” Reuters also recently reported that Mastriano donned a Confederate uniform in a 2014 faculty photo at the Army War College.
Mastriano, a retired military officer, was put on the MAGA map in March 2020 while live streaming Facebook diatribes against COVID-19 lockdowns, according to The New York Times. A video he took in April of that year ended up amassing more than 850,000 views. Several months later, Mastriano propelled himself into Trump’s orbit after attending a “Stop the Steal” rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and he eventually partook in an alternate-elector plot designed to subvert Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election.
After Republicans in the State Senate rebuked the scheme, Mastriano warned them of his influence amongst their voting bloc. “I have more followers on Facebook alone than all 49 other senators combined,” he said during an appearance on a local conservative podcast, per the Times. “That any colleague or fellow Republican would think that it would be a good idea to throw me under the bus with that kind of reach—I mean, they’re just not very smart people.” Since launching his gubernatorial campaign, Mastriano has by and large shunned mainstream outlets, relying almost exclusively on social media platforms—including Gab, a far-right site that he recently distanced himself from—and friendly media figures to promote his candidacy. | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/08/republicans-running-away-mastriano | 2022-09-01T00:22:34Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/08/republicans-running-away-mastriano | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Helping the tailwind for the USD in Asia here this morning. Yield circa 3.5%.
Yen is a lot lower (circa 139.40), and other FX is losing ground against the dollar also. GBP/USD is on 2.5 year lows.
EUR/USD turning down:
Helping the tailwind for the USD in Asia here this morning. Yield circa 3.5%.
Yen is a lot lower (circa 139.40), and other FX is losing ground against the dollar also. GBP/USD is on 2.5 year lows.
EUR/USD turning down:
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Armie Hammer's Aunt Says Upcoming Docuseries 'House of Hammer' Reveals Harrowing Family Secrets
“House of Hammer” dives deep into the wealthy oil and Arm & Hammer baking soda dynasty and premieres this Friday on Discovery Plus. Armie Hammer’s aunt, Casey Hammer, is featured in the docuseries, as are women who say they were abused by Armie Hammer.
Armie Hammer was a Hollywood star on the rise, famous for roles in “The Social Network,” “Death on the Nile” and “Call Me by Your Name.”
But it all came crashing down last year when several women accused him of sexual and emotional abuse and having cannibalistic fantasies.
Armie Hammer’s aunt, Casey Hammer, says she wasn’t shocked by the allegations.
“Basically growing up in my family and my experience, the Hammers was a very toxic environment,” Casey said.
Casey is revealing twisted family secrets in a new docuseries on Discovery Plus called “House of Hammer,” which dives deep into the wealthy oil and Arm & Hammer baking soda dynasty.
“If you believe in making deals with the devil, the Hammers are top of the totem pole,” Casey says in a trailer for the show.
The series features women who say they were abused by the actor.
“He said, ‘I’m 100% a cannibal.’ I’m freaking out,” one woman says in the trailer
“It was all he ever wanted to talk about,” another woman says.
One alleged victim shares a disturbing voicemail message she says she received from Hammer.
Hammer's ex-girlfriend, model Paige Lorenze, spoke to Inside Edition last year. She says their relationship took a dark turn when he allegedly told her that he wanted her to be his "perfect little slave.” She also says Hammer branded her with the initial of his first name.
The final straw was when she says he brought up cannibalism.
“He would say, ‘Oh, I want to remove your ribs. We’re going to find a doctor in LA, and I want to smoke them and eat them,’” Lorenze said.
Hammer has denied all allegations against him, saying any interactions were "completely consensual in that they were fully discussed, agreed upon and mutually participatory."
But his career in Hollywood is, at least for now, dead. Just one month ago, he was seen selling condo unit timeshares at a resort in the Cayman Islands.
The three-part documentary premieres this Friday on Discovery Plus.
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Biden Adminitration's Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Plan Could Leave Borrowers Owing Tax Money
A recent analysis from the Tax Foundation says that because the student loan relief funds are not tax-exempt at the state level, borrowers from 13 states could incur tax debts from the forgiveness.
The Biden administration's plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt is postured to benefit middle-class Americans, but the plan could add tax bills as high as $1,100 for borrowers in certain states, according to a recent Tax Foundation analysis.
Last week, President Biden announced his plan to forgive up to $10,000 for student-loan borrowers, with borrowers who received a Pell Grant — a grant reserved for low-income students — eligible for up to $20,000.
To be eligible, an individual borrower must earn less than $125,000 and married couples qualify if they earn less than $250,000 collectively, and private loans are not included in the forgiveness, according to CBS News.
The Biden administration noted its loan forgiveness will not be considered federal taxable income under a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act, which makes the recent analysis from the Tax Foundation a surprise.
While the Tax Foundation’s analysis says that some states will likely follow the federal law in their treatment of the loan relief, the rescue plan law does not make loan forgiveness exempt at the state level.
According to Bloomberg News, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia have already decided to exempt student loan forgiveness money from state taxes.
Arkansas, California, Massachusetts and South Carolina are currently undecided, and Mississippi's Department of Revenue confirmed that it will tax the student loan forgiveness dollars, according to Bloomberg.
This means that while the administration believes the loan relief will positively affect up to 43 million borrowers, as many as 13 states could consider Biden's loan forgiveness to be taxable income.
According to the Tax Foundation, borrowers who receive up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness could be looking at a tax bill of between $300 to $1,100 in the following states:
- Arkansas: $550
- Hawaii: $1,100
- Idaho: $600
- Kentucky: $500
- Massachusetts: $500
- Minnesota: $985
- Mississippi: $500
- New York: $685
- Pennsylvania: $307
- South Carolina: $700
- Virginia: $575
- West Virginia: $650
- Wisconsin: $530
Jared Walczak, the foundation's vice president for state projects, wrote in the recently released analysis that these potential tax debts could double for those receiving $20,000 in debt forgiveness, and the debts will be due in the tax year the loan is forgiven.
For example, if the loan relief is provided in 2022, those state taxes will be due by April 15, 2023, which is the filing deadline for that year's taxes.
"In the coming weeks and months, we are likely to see states issue guidance on the treatment of discharged student loan debt," Walczak said in the analysis.
Despite the potential of states siding with the federal decision, the foundation suggests that borrowers consult their tax preparers in the meantime.
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California Paramedics Say Their Ambulance Was Stolen by Stranger Wielding a Wooden Stake
The two San Francisco paramedics are safe after allegedly being chased around the parking lot by the man who they claim took their vehicle.
Two paramedics with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) say their ambulance was stolen by a random man with a wooden stake, according to local reports.
According to local outlet KTVU, Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman with the San Francisco Fire Department, called this an unprovoked attack.
"From what it sounds like, this was just random," Tim Finch, one of the directors with San Francisco Fire Union 798 said to local outlet ABC 7.
Around 7 a.m. the two paramedics in the fire department ambulance were staging at a Best Buy when they were approached by the stranger.
Danny Gracia, president of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, told ABC 7 that the suspect shattered the ambulance windows with a wooden stake, leading the medics to get out of the vehicle for their safety.
"He basically came at them with a spear, and was jabbing and spearing through all the windows of the ambulance including doors in the side of the ambulance," Baxter said to KTVU.
According to KTVU and ABC 7, authorities said the suspect jumped inside the vehicle before driving laps around the Best Buy parking lot in the stolen ambulance, appearing to chase down the paramedics.
He eventually abandoned the vehicle and was last seen scaling a fence, according to KTVU.
"They are super lucky they did not get injured at all, much less significantly," Finch said.
The SFFD director told the outlet that attacks on their crews are increasing in frequency and becoming normalized. "Some kind of assaultive behavior happens, whether it was on a call or just posted waiting for calls and it happens," Finch said.
"They go 'oh it is just part of the job' except, it's not."
According to the KTVU, the fire union believes the abundance of mental health and addiction issues in the city make up a good portion of these incidents.
Baxter said they are reevaluating their safety measures and that, "Both of the paramedics were physically not injured but both of them are going to have everlasting emotional and mental distress from this incident," according to the outlet.
"We aim to help everyone in the city. But it is tough. it is. Especially when someone is not fully aware of what they are doing,” Finch said to the outlet.
"Whether it’s patients having a crisis and not understanding and becoming violent or just random people walking by, it’s definitely concerning.”
A statement from San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s office echoed Finch’s concern.
"This is upsetting when it happens to our residents, visitors, and city staff. Our firefighters, paramedics and all first responders work hard every single day - often putting their lives on the line - to ensure the safety of San Franciscans,” the statement read.
“We take incidents like this seriously and want to thank SFPD for their involvement in these investigations."
According to KTVU, Finch said the department wants to work with the city to help solve these problems.
District 6 supervisor Matt Dorsey told the outlet that this attack was a wakeup call.
"We ask so much of first responders and we expect so much for them we should never expect this," he said.
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Ex-Owner Says He Bought $12.6M Mickey Mantle Baseball Card in 1991 for $50K
The mint condition 1952 Topps baseball card was purchased in 1991 for just $50,000, the previous owner tells Inside Edition. Anthony Giordano just sold the card at auction for a record $12.6 million.
A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 has sold at auction for $12.6 million, making it the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia in history.
The seller, Anthony Giordano, has owned the card since 1991, when he purchased the card for $50,000. Back then, it was the highest price ever paid for a card.
“It was quite high, because I think the book value at the time for a ‘52 Topps Mickey Mantle was in the $20,000 range,” Giordano said.
But Giordano knew he’d made a great investment.
“I guess it was about seven years ago, we were offered $2 million for it, but we just decided we didn’t want to sell it,” Giordano said.
Mantle played his entire career with the New York Yankees and is considered the best switch hitter in the history of baseball. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, and died in 1995, when he was just 63.
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Father and Son Reunite With Cops Who Saved Them From Floating Cooler After Boat Capsized in Boston Harbor
As the men fought to stay afloat in the water, fate was about to extend a helping hand.
A father and son who survived a nightmare at sea by clinging to a floating cooler are revealing how close they came to a watery grave.
Tommy and Joe Azeredo were lobster-fishing eight miles off the New England coast when their boat hit rocks, and they had to abandon ship.
“I called on the radio, I was like, ‘Mayday, mayday, we're going down,’” Tommy said. “As the boat was flipping, I heard, ‘We got you, we know where you are, we're coming.’”
Tommy's father had a life vest, but Tommy lost his in the chaos. As he fought to stay afloat in the water, fate was about to extend a helping hand.
“When I turned around, I see the cooler. From the miracle of god, the cooler was there at that moment,” Tommy said.
The two men clung on for dear life.
“Every minute felt like an hour,” Tommy said.
They were tired and almost ready to give up when help finally arrived from the Boston Police Harbor unit.
“I wanted my dad to go on first,” Tommy said.
“I was so weak. When they pulled me up, it hurt so bad, my bones are aching. You can see I’m all beat up,” Tommy said.
The father and son later had a chance to thank their rescuers, and all of them are grateful the day didn't end in tragedy.
But the duo says their lobster-fishing days are now over.
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